Akron Renewable Energy Facility to receive $8.5 million for improvements

Akron City Council approved an $8.5 million bond to cover the cost of improvements to the polymer system at the Renewable Energy Facility, located at 2677 Riverview Road in Akron.

The existing polymer system’s tanks were installed in the 1980s and the system has  “reached the end of its useful life,” said Rob Scarlatelli, the manager of Water Reclamation Services. The replacements will have a useful life of about 50 years.

At the treatment facility, about 250,000 gallons of sewage sludge per month are sent to the Renewable Energy Facility, Scarlatelli said. This sludge is then converted from about 4% solids to 25% solids before polymers are used to dewater the sludge. The polymers are the start of the process of generating electricity.

Electricity created through this process saves the city about $600,000 a year, Scarlatelli said. 

The Renewable Energy Facility will most likely begin advertising for bids in August, Scarlatelli said. Construction should begin later this year and will take about 12 months to complete. 

The bond, provided by Ohio’s Water Pollution Control Loan Fund, will be paid for over the next 45 years using revenue from the city’s wastewater system.

Akron firefighter opposes external hiring amendment 

During public comment, Kevin Gostkowski, president of the Akron Fire Fighters Local 330, spoke out against the proposed charter amendment that would allow for the hiring of external candidates for the chief and deputy chief positions in the Akron fire and police departments. 

Gostkowski said that active-duty police officers and firefighters were not asked to serve on the committee working on the amendment, even though they were making decisions that directly impacted their careers. 

“This career is still a trade,” Gostkowski said. “It takes a lot of knowledge, skill and a little bit of guts to be a firefighter, especially here in the City of Akron.” 

He also added that if diversity is what is being sought, Local 330 is “all in for the conversation,” but that it needed to start from the bottom up.

“Seek those that want to make Akron a career,” Gostkowski said, “not a stop on their way to a suburban department or to find out it’s not like it is on TV.”

Gostkowski said Local 330 will oppose the legislation moving forward. 

Akron to move forward with recreational marijuana sales

Council also passed an amendment to the city’s general provisions for marijuana use, codifying the laws for recreational sales.

Marijuana facilities cannot be located within 500 feet of schools, churches, public parks, public playgrounds or public libraries. Additionally, dispensaries cannot be within a mile of another licensed dispensary or proposed marijuana facility. 

Requests for recreational retail sales will go through city council, including for facilities that already sell medical marijuana. Council has already begun to receive requests for recreational sale permits. 

North Hill Community Development Corporation receives funds for redevelopment project 

Council added to the consent agenda $600,000 in ARPA funds for the rehabilitation of a property owned by the North Hill CDC. 

Located at 771 N. Main St., the building will be a “mixed-use, affordable housing redevelopment project,” according to the NHCDC’s website. The space will also house the NHCDC offices and coworking and community spaces. 

The renovated property will also open into People’s Park, the outdoor event space where people can host personal meetings and public festivals.