Summit County Council recommended approving several amendments to its Capital Improvements Program for 2013 to 2018.
The engineer’s office wants to start a new project this year, buying loader scales. The department wants to buy five loader scales at $9,000 apiece, which will allow them to know exactly how much salt goes into salt trucks.
“When the individual drivers are loading the road salt onto their trucks, some are skilled at getting a larger shovel full than others,” said Assistant Engineer Steve Brunot. “We are trying to measure how much salt is going down on the road and how long it takes drivers on their route. We need these scales to help us make sure we’re keeping better track of exactly how much product we are using up.”
It also helps when the department is reordering salt, he said, because the scales will help determine how much is lost when it spills over the side of the truck.
“Up to this point it hasn’t been that precise,” he said. “We are looking at saving money.’’
Other amendments to the spending plan include:
• A resolution confirming the change order to a service contract with URS Corp. for the county jail heating, ventilation and air conditioning upgrade project. The amount is not to exceed $11,959, which is an 18.5 percent increase.
• A resolution authorizing the county executive to advertise for bids for the jail project not to exceed $680,000.
• A resolution confirming a one-year renewal service contract with Inspiron Logistics for the wireless emergency notification system for public safety agencies throughout Summit County for $26,750. There are 500 users and 28 groups.
• A resolution confirming an award by the Board of Control of a purchase order with the city of Akron for maintenance costs for the 800 megahertz regional radio system for 2013.
Council also recommended leasing office space to the Akron Civic Theatre.
The nonprofit corporation also known as the Community Hall Foundation Inc. would lease the area for $1 per year. The 1,112 square feet of vacant office space is on the first floor of 175 S. Main St., across the street from the Civic.
The office would be available to the public from 7:30 a.m. to 4 p.m. Monday through Friday.
The lease would run for a five-year period.
Marilyn Miller can be reached at 330-996-3098 or mmiller@thebeaconjournal.com.
