The Cuyahoga Falls City Council meeting on April 28 featured updates on the long-awaited Gorge Dam removal project, with Environmental Protection Agency representative Bill Zawiski announcing that the project is moving forward after securing necessary funding. Zawiski reported that the sediment management phase has begun, with contractors expected to mobilize in May.
According to Zawiski, the project will require “about two complete years to remove and manage the sediment,” with work likely continuing into 2027. The removal of the dam structure itself will follow the sediment management phase, though the timeline for that portion remains uncertain due to the substantial size of the concrete structure. “It’s 40 feet wide at the bottom, so it’s a big chunk of concrete,” Zawiski explained.
The EPA will hold a public meeting about the project on May 19 from 6 to 8 p.m. at the Akron Public Library main branch downtown, with contractors present to discuss details.
Council unanimously passed three ordinances at the meeting:
- Temporary Ordinance B-26: Authorizing the director of public service to contract with Hatch Company for the purchase of two in-line manganese meters for the water treatment plant
- Temporary Ordinance B-27: Authorizing the Parks and Recreation Board to contract with Ohio Drilling Company for inspections, maintenance, and repair of water wells at Brookledge Golf Club
- Temporary Ordinance B-28: Amending the traffic control file based on recommendations from the traffic committee
City Engineer Tony Demasi updated council on the annual resurfacing program, announcing that Perrin Asphalt will begin mobilizing in June to start concrete ramp repairs, sidewalks where necessary, and curbs before moving on to milling and paving.
Demasi reported that Valley Road between Portage Trail and State Road, originally slated for resurfacing, will be postponed until next year due to the need for water line repairs. “Rather than pave the road and have a possibility of some trenches with the tie-ins and services, we thought it best to postpone the resurfacing of Valley Road to next year,” Demasi said. In its place, the city will pave Fillmore between Bailey and Oakwood.
Finance Director Bryan Hoffman delivered his monthly financial report, noting that municipal income tax collections have increased 1.5% through March. The withholding tax specifically has shown a 4.5% increase, which Hoffman described as positive. “That is the W2 income in the city. And that’s a function of either number of jobs or wage growth for the jobs that we have,” Hoffman explained.
The Natatorium continues to show strong performance with charges for services up 7.3% over 2024, while Water Works pre-sale revenue has increased 34% through March.
In economic development news, Director Diana Colavecchio announced that Boston Heights has joined Cuyahoga Falls, Peninsula, and Akron as a gateway community to Cuyahoga Valley National Park. Colavecchio also reported that the city’s downtown has exceeded growth projections made by consultant Bob Gibbs in 2014, with Gibbs now using Cuyahoga Falls as an example nationwide of successful pedestrian mall conversion to vehicular traffic. According to Colavecchio, Gibbs believes the downtown could support an additional 95,000 square feet of retail and generate an additional $35 million per year.
A new development in Boston Township within the Joint Economic Development District (JEDD) was also announced, with plans for a winery and spa on seven acres of recently cleared land just north of the Boulder Estates residential development.
The next council committee meetings will be held on Monday, May 5, with the Public and Industrial Improvements Committee meeting at 6:30 p.m. and the Community Development Committee meeting at 6:35 p.m.
Discover more from Northeast Ohio News
Subscribe to get the latest posts sent to your email.
