AKRON
Public hearing set
AKRON: Akron City Council will have a public hearing at 1 p.m. Monday on a council proposal to basically keep its public speaking opportunities the same.
The proposed rules would make permanent a speaking period council has been offering at 6:30 p.m. on Mondays, which is a half-hour before regular meetings and is attended by at least one council member and representatives of the administration.
The guidelines also would continue to allow people to speak during committee and regular meetings with the permission of the committee chairman or council president, and to submit a written request to the council president to speak to council on issues not pending before council.
Akron Councilman Mike Williams and other critics, including former Akron Councilmen Ernie Tarle and Warner Mendenhall, think the proposal doesn’t go far enough to satisfy a charter amendment overwhelmingly approved by voters last November.
They say council needs to adopt a speaking period during the regular council meetings, so citizens have the chance to address the entire council.
BARBERTON
Charity effort
BARBERTON: Mayor Bill Judge has started a monthly event asking residents to give back and donate to local charities.
The event, called Change for Change, will start this week.
Tips will be collected from 4:30 to 7 p.m. Friday at David B’s Grille & Pub, 524 W. Tuscarawas Ave.
The Change for Change tips this month will go to Barberton Area Community Ministries.
BATH TOWNSHIP
Bridge work
BATH TWP.: Four of the bridges in Bath Township are slated for repairs this construction season.
The bridges on Everett, Martadale, Ghent and Cleveland-Massillon roads all cross over Interstate 77 and will require road closings, changes in traffic patterns and detours.
Effective March 5, the Martadale Road bridge over I-77 will be closed for the duration of repairs. Also, on March 5, the traffic pattern on the Ghent Road bridges over I-77 will change.
Traffic will be routed to the two-lane north expanse of the two bridges and be limited to one lane in each direction. Once the repairs on that section are completed, the traffic pattern will be switched to the other bridge.
CAMPAIGN TRAIL
Campaign kickoff
AKRON: Supporters of Jennifer Hensal’s candidacy for a seat on the 9th District Court of Appeals will hold a Summit County kickoff from 5 to 8 p.m. Friday at Johnny J’s Pub & Grille, 1282 Weathervane Lane, Akron. Suggested donation is $50.
The campaign will schedule similar events in Medina and Wayne counties.
Meet-and-greets
NORTHEAST OHIO: Steve Barry, a Democratic candidate for Summit County sheriff, will have two meet-and-greet events Saturday.
Barry, a retired sheriff’s captain, is facing Frank Martucci Jr. a retired Akron police detective, in the March 6 primary.
Barry’s events will be from noon to 2 p.m. at Donato’s, 1710 State Road in Cuyahoga Falls, and from 3 to 5 p.m. at New Era, 10 Massillon Road.
Free refreshments will be served.
GREEN
Fire damage
GREEN: A Feb. 14 fire in a building shared by All-American Box & Supply and Car Tech Collision at 2984 Chenoweth Road caused an estimated $2 million in damage to the building and contents, said Green spokeswoman Valerie Wolford.
The fire inside a building housing the two businesses was confined to the All-American Box & Supply, but smoke and water damaged the neighboring Car Tech Collision.
The auto repair business has had to close temporarily in the wake of the fire.
The box company, which prints pizza boxes and sells paper and janitorial supplies, has relocated to 708 Killian Road in Coventry Township, said owner Brian Collins.
The fire started in a truck inside the All-American Box & Supply, Wolford said.
HARTVILLE
Sheetz proposed
HARTVILLE: Village Council will hold a public hearing at 6:30 p.m. April 17 to discuss the proposed rezoning of six acres on the southwest corner of West Maple Street and Market Avenue.
The vacant parcel, owned by HRM Enterprises Inc., is zoned for light industrial use.
The proposed use for the property is for business.
Sheetz, of Altoona, Pa., wants to put a gas station and convenience store on the site.
The Planning Commission has recommended the change.
The hearing will be in Village Hall at 202 W. Maple St.
In addition to scheduling that hearing at their meeting Tuesday, Village Council heard from state Rep. Christina Hagan, R-Marlboro Township.
Her legislative projects include a measure aimed at ensuring the integrity of governmental fiscal officers.
She said the bill would specify a judicial procedure for removing a fiscal officer, such as a county treasurer, for misfeasance, malfeasance or nonfeasance.
It would replace an existing law that was judged unconstitutional after Stark County commissioners used it to remove a county treasurer following a theft.
KENT
Fracking opponents
KENT: Groups that are opposed to hydraulic fracturing, or fracking, in the Kent area will meet at 6:45 tonight at the Kent Free Library, 312 W. Main St.
Several grass-roots groups, including Concerned Citizens Ohio, are sponsoring the meeting.
Organizers want to lobby for more local control of oil and natural gas drilling, said spokesman George Sosebee.
The drilling is now regulated by the Ohio Department of Natural Resources.
RAVENNA
State bonds
RAVENNA: The city is getting $6 million in state bonds to overhaul equipment and systems at six municipal buildings and a majority of the city’s traffic signals.
The money, provided by the Ohio Air Quality Development Authority, will enable Ravenna to modernize its water and sewage plants. The lighting systems in the six facilities and the traffic signals also will be replaced with high-efficiency systems. The improvements are expected to sharply reduce operating costs for the city. Ravenna is the third Ohio city to seek the energy-conservation funding.
TALLMADGE
Suspect caught
TALLMADGE: A man wanted by Akron police on robbery and burglary charges was arrested Tuesday night.
Nicholas Snyder, 20, was found in a Tallmadge apartment building on Brittain Road by members of the U.S. Marshals Northern Ohio Violent Fugitive Task Force. He was being held in the Summit County Jail on two counts each of aggravated robbery and burglary.
Snyder was wanted for a Nov. 2 home invasion and robbery on Snowfall Spur. He is accused of forcing his way inside with several other men and robbing the residents at gunpoint.
TALLMADGE SCHOOLS
Derby club plans
TALLMADGE: Tallmadge Middle School students have begun a club that will lead them to the Soap Box Derby this year.
The Board of Education has accepted funding for the Soap Box Derby Club, which received a donation from Tallmadge Collision Centers to purchase kits for two racers.
Rob Kearns, principal at Tallmadge Middle School, says that several area Tallmadge businesses have stepped up to provide funding for the program, which will have a team of 10 boys, and a team of 10 girls.
The teams will construct the racers over the next several months, and will participate in a school racing competition at Derby Downs in May.
The drivers at the May competition will be eligible to compete at the local All-American Soap Box Derby, to be held later in the summer.
Teacher Justin Christopher is in charge of the new club, which includes a specific course curriculum to be taught as part of club activities.
WADSWORTH
Cruisers purchased
WADSWORTH: City Council Tuesday voted to buy two 2012 Dodge Charger Police Special Cruisers from Key Chrysler Jeep & Dodge Inc. for the city’s police department.
In other action, the council voted to take bids and to improve the state Route 94 water tower.
