The city of Athens will extend the public walking track that extends from the Sportsplex to Swan Creek Park on to Forrest Street.

On Monday the City Council voted 3-to-1 on the measure with Councilman Johnny Crutcher voting against it.

“If we keep going, we’ll be all the way to Bojangles on U.S. 72,” said Crutcher.

Crutcher joked during the discussion period on the vote that he wanted to be consistent because he had voted against extending the track to the Sportsplex, but after the meeting he said that maintaining that much more greenway would entail more man hours and more equipment.

“First thing you know the Parks and Recreation Department will be coming to us for another person then another mower, neither of which we can afford,” said Crutcher.

However, Mayor Dan Williams said that if any more extensions are approved, they would probably be toward the north. There had been some talk in recent years of connecting the Athens walking track with the Rails to Trails Project that runs to Hays Mill on the south end.

Monday’s measures passed or failed without Councilman Henry White’s vote. On Monday, White submitted his resignation for the council after having been elected the District 5 House representative in last week’s General Election.

Council members and the mayor commended White for the job he did on the council as he leaves in the midst of his second term. White had been appointed council president at the beginning of the fiscal year.

“This is probably the shortest tenure as council president in a long time,” said White, in accepting an appreciation plaque from Williams.

In a unanimously approved resolution, the council seated Councilman Harold Wales as council president and Crutcher as president pro tem.