Note to readers:
The following item is a written record of the Ward 6 meeting from July 16 compiled by Akron Documenter Joshua Repp. It is not a reported story.
Documenters are residents who are trained to observe and document local government meetings. Their notes are edited before publication for clarity and accuracy — unless quotation marks are used, all text is paraphrased.
If you believe anything in these notes is inaccurate, please email us at documenters@signalakron.org with "Correction Request" in the subject line.
Summary
- Flock cameras are sometimes criticized by residents, Akron City Council Member Brad McKitrick told attendees at the July 16 Ward 6 meeting in Ellet. He said he and Akron Police officers stand by the cameras for their usefulness. Flock cameras record license plates and are used by police when searching for suspects.
- A new “Blessing Box” was placed in Akron by the Halo Foundation, and there could be more in the future to combat food insecurity. A blessing box is similar to a little library, but instead of books that are stocked and free to take, they are a 24/7 food pantry.
- Akron is replacing two sanitation vehicles (trash trucks) that have aged out with new vehicles that are 50 percent trash, 50 percent recycling. This solves the problem of needing two trucks. The city will spend time conducting testing to make sure they are effective.
Documenter follow-up questions
- What do Akron residents think about Flock cameras? Is the reported damage to cameras widespread? How many arrests were made using the cameras?
- Will Ward 6 be enthusiastic about the proposal to have a “Blessing Box” in the neighborhood? Will more boxes be made?
- How widespread are illegal gambling operations, and is reporting them a permanent solution?
Ward 6 meeting notes
Ward 6 Council Member Brad McKitrick opened the meeting at Ellet Community Center by thanking members for coming despite smoky conditions.
McKitrick talked about past complaints about a gambling location on Wedgewood Drive, and said that after talking with ownership of the establishment, the issue should be taken care of.
Flock cameras attract residents concern, help police
McKitrick brought up the issue of the city’s Flock cameras, and said that many of them are being torn down and damaged by vandals. He pushed back on criticism against the surveillance tools and said that they are a valuable tool for fighting crime. He pointed out that by tracking vehicle information and people’s descriptions, police can solve certain cases sooner.
Akron began installing Flock cameras in 2022 with the goal of having 145 devices across Akron, according to a Linkedin post by the company.
This open-source, volunteer-run website shows locations of Flock cameras in Akron and across the U.S.
McKitrick asked Akron Police Officer Eric Wagner to answer questions. McKitrick said that Akron’s Flock camera contracts are up next year, and he expects a lengthy discussion about the decision to renew it. He said that City Council has received many emails about the topic, but he believes that if a few peoples’ lives are saved, it’s worth it. He points to Cleveland’s extension of its Flock cameras contract as an example.
Wagner said that police are not continuously using the Flock cameras to track everyone. He said that officers need to have a reason to search for information on the system.
Halo Foundation builds “Blessing Boxes” for neighborhoods
McKitrick introduced Matthew Turner, who works for the Halo Foundation in Ward 8. Turner introduced the foundation, which has its roots in crowdsourcing donations related to the September 11, 2001 attacks. Today, their mission is to teach Akron kids skills to turn them into servant leaders.
Turner discussed one of their projects called a “Blessing Box,” similar to a little library, which is a 24/7 food pantry. The pantry boxes are constructed by the students at Ellet Community Learning Center, in their career pathway construction program. He said the students “jumped at it,” and built it in a period of about four weeks. The community, he said, is now starting to stock the boxes with their extra groceries now that they have a place to do it.
Another program they’re starting, called the “bright start” program, partners with individual teachers across the city to ask them what they need. High school students collect donations and money that goes directly to teachers.
A 2027 project, which their board still needs to vote on, will aim to start a young gentleman’s and young lady’s academy. The academies will teach students practical skills such as how to tie a tie or do an interview, and will be a six-week summer class taught by community leaders and business managers.
Ward 6 was asked if they would be interested in helping to monitor and do upkeep for a potential Blessing Box if it were to be built for the ward.
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McKitrick shares public safety updates
- Ward 6 recently received a FEMA grant for a new safety trailer, part of Safety Town, that they will use to train kids on how to stay safe with house fires.
- The City of Akron has not done an EMS or fire study in decades. They’ve since changed their emergency services systems, so they will have a company come in to evaluate its effectiveness.
- The city is working on a grant to replace a ladder fire truck, as well as another grant to get four SUVs for inspection operations.
- Cleveland Clinic Akron General is going to do a health screening for all firefighters. They’re trying to be proactive instead of reactive to combat health risks that come with firefighting.
- McKitrick discussed the elimination of SAFER grants, which compensated the hiring of firefighters and police officers for three years. He’s just received word that it has been reinstated, but only at 50 percent.
- Because the city is replacing two sanitation vehicles (trash trucks) that are aged out, they are buying new vehicles that are split down the middle: 50 percent trash, 50 percent recycling. This solves the problem of needing two trucks. The city will spend time conducting testing to make sure they are effective. They’re going to be leased, which takes care of the maintenance, saving about 19 percent of the cost. The two-year lease for both vehicles is $378,000.
Residents raise concerns about gambling, street lights and more
- Residents raised concerns about a few streets where pulling out to turn can be a problem. McKitrick said he would pass this along to the Ward 6 traffic engineer.
- Residents also complained that new lights the city is installing are extremely bright — like a “spotlight” or “football stadium light.” McKitrick said he would report it to a city engineer. He said that street lights going out can also be an issue in the city.
- A question was raised about an old church and whether the old Board of Education building will ever be torn down. One resident said that it looks old and is falling apart.
- Concerns were raised about a neighbor with unruly conduct.
- There were further questions about gambling machines in a different location.
The next Ward 6 meeting is Sept. 10. This is a change from the third Thursday of the month to the second Thursday of each month. There is no Ward 6 meeting in August.
