Summit County Council Approves Labor Contracts, Infrastructure Funding at April 13 Meeting

Board confirms appointments, authorizes millions in road, sewer and facility projects Summit County Council convened April 13 and moved quickly through a packed agenda, approving new collective bargaining agreements, authorizing infrastructure contracts totaling several million dollars, and confirming appointments to a half-dozen county boards and commissions. The meeting, called to order by Council President, concluded at 5:05 p.m. Board and Commission Appointments Council confirmed six appointments and reappointments to county advisory bodies: Nicole Kowalski, the new Stow Municipal Clerk of Courts, was appointed to the Facility Governing Board, replacing Judge Amber Zibritoski. Alexandra Burt, a staff attorney in the Department of Public Safety, was confirmed to the Emergency Management Executive Committee, replacing Faylin Thurn, with Greta Johnson named as alternate. Dr. Kristy Waite, Deputy Medical Examiner for Summit County, was appointed to the Child Fatality Review Board, replacing Dr. Lisa Kohler. The board also reappointed Dr. Ashleigh Welko, with Dr. Paul McPherson as first alternate and Dr. Danielle Maholtz as second alternate. Tim Longworth of Summit County Children Services and Tim Davidson of the Summit County Family and Children First Council were confirmed to the Ohio Children Trust Fund Regional Prevention Council. Alisa Benedict O Brien, an assistant dean at the University of Akron School of Law, was appointed to the Public Defender Commission alongside the reappointment of Darrin Toney. Catherine Van Horne, Deputy Director and Chief Legal Counsel at Summit County Children Services, was confirmed to the Juvenile Court Citizens Advisory Board. Labor Contracts Council approved two new collective bargaining agreements on an emergency basis, both covering the period of April 1, 2026, through March 31, 2029. The contracts cover employees in the Executive Office Unit and the Medical Examiner office, both represented by Ohio Council 8 and Local 1229 of the American Federation of State, County and Municipal Employees, AFL-CIO. Both contracts mirror wage increases previously negotiated with the deputy union — 4% in the first year, 3.5% in the second and 3% in the third — and include minor language clarifications and equity adjustments. Infrastructure and Public Works Council authorized a significant slate of road and sewer expenditures, including: Up to $593,719 for a regional concrete pavement repair program with Perrin Asphalt & Concrete Up to $162,031 for a regional crack sealing program with Protect-A-Cote Inc. Up to $192,811 to OHM Advisors for design of the Killian-Pickle Roundabout Project in Springfield Township Up to $2,325,000 to Karvo Companies Inc. for the Akron-Cleveland Road Sanitary Sewer Extension in Boston Township Up to $321,705 for a cooperative agreement with the Village of Lakemore for sanitary sewer rehabilitation Council also authorized legal notices and set final hearing dates for two ditch improvement projects — the Springfield Lake Outlet project, with a hearing scheduled for June 8, and the Copley Ditch project, with a hearing set for June 15. Routine legislation passed included several road resurfacing contracts totaling more than $8 million and a $487,000 software contract with GovWell Technologies for the Division of Building Standards. Insurance Renewal Council approved the county annual insurance package on an emergency basis, authorizing up to $2,266,239 for coverage through Wickard Insurance Services for the period of April 15, 2026, through April 15, 2027. The renewal reflects an increase of just over 6%, which county law and risk management officials described as competitive given current market conditions. Law enforcement liability coverage was noted as an increasingly difficult line to place, with fewer insurers willing to underwrite that risk. Appropriations Council passed a mid-cycle appropriations measure to address several funding gaps, including additional funds for the clerk of courts and the library system indirect cost plan, 911 dispatch center AT&T contract costs, a higher-than-anticipated software renewal for the fiscal office Eagle recorder system, a $10,000 allocation for the Youth Success Summit program from juvenile court funds, and $10,000 from the Secretary of State office for 2026 election expenses. Other Actions Council declared May 3–9, 2026, as National Small Business Week in Summit County and advanced a second reading of a resolution that would authorize up to $160 million in bonds for the Akron-Summit County Public Library District for facility improvements. A second reading was also held on a $234,000 renewal with Needl. Inc., doing business as Aurelian, to provide automated voice assistance for non-emergency calls at county public safety answering points.