A Division of the Central Services Department Environmental Coordinator  Lara Mathes 706-613-3530 x 245 Office Location 150 East Hancock Avenue Simon Michael II Building Location Map Mailing Address P.O. Box 1868 Athens, GA 30603

Central Services > Environmental Coordinator

new! The Athens-Clarke County Central Services Department has selected Lara Mathes for the Environmental Coordinator position. In the Athens-Clarke County Planning Department, Mathes implemented the Neighborhood Notification Initiative (NNI) to increase citizen involvement and also produced the ACC Infill Housing Study as an effort to reconcile the community's sustainable growth goals of supporting infill development and of conserving the character of established neighborhoods.  In addition, Mathes is a member of the Athens Land Trust board, serving as Vice President and as a member of their Conservation Committee.  She is also a part-time instructor at the University of Georgia College of Environmental Design.

Mathes was a Neighborhood Planner with over six years of experience in the ACC Planning Department.  She holds a Master of Urban and Environmental Planning degree along with a Graduate Certificate of Historic Preservation from the University of Virginia.  Her undergraduate studies were conducted at the University of Georgia where she graduated Summa Cum Laude with a Bachelor of Arts degree in Spanish and Political Science. Mathes is a Certified Planner, a LEED Accredited Professional, and Level IA Certified by the Georgia Soil and Water Conservation Commission

Mathes' community involvement, education, and experience give her the necessary skills and knowledge to successfully fill the Environmental Coordinator position and to continue to serve the Athens community. She has been working in a transitional capacity between the two departments and is expected to begin full-time Environmental Coordinator duties by early June.

Athens-Clarke County Unified Government LEED (Leadership in Energy & Environmental Design)-certified buildings:

• Bobby N. Snipes Water Resources Center (Silver)
• Fire Station #9 (Silver)
• East Police Substation (Certified)
• West Substation (Certified)
• Family Protection Center (Certified)
• East Athens Educational Dance Center (Certified)

Other buildings are registered as LEED projects and are in various stages of application, construction, and design.

The Environmental Coordinator is responsible for a variety of activities associated with the planning and coordination of environmental programs and activities with the objective of ensuring Athens-Clarke County's efforts at achieving compliance with local, state and federal environmental regulations. It also serves as a central point of contact for ombudsman efforts with citizens, businesses and industries within ACC. Other duties include coordinating ACC's energy conservation and efficiency initiatives.