CUYAHOGA FALLS
Memorial for cyclist
CUYAHOGA FALLS: The family of Jim Lambert, one of two Akron Bicycle Club members killed last year during an evening jaunt through the Cuyahoga Valley National Park, will hold a special memorial at 3 p.m. Saturday at Chestnut Hill Memorial Park, 2613 Sackett Ave.
Fellow rider Matthew Billings was killed instantly when a pick-up truck struck five bike riders on Sept. 17, 2015. Lambert died a few days later; Saturday’s memorial is the one-year anniversary of his death.
The public is welcome to the memorial, which will also feature speakers on the topic of cycling safety and the need to increase awareness among motorists on sharing the road with bikes and motorcycles.
GREEN
Council OKs union pacts
GREEN: City Council last week ratified three-year labor contracts with members of Local 2714 of the American Federation of State, County and Municipal Employees representing service department field staffs (43 workers) and six lead positions as well as the 12-member dispatcher staff in the same union local.
The dispatchers and service employees were granted 3 percent increases each year while the six others were granted 1 percent hikes to go with 10 percent increases granted previously, according to Jeanne Greco, the city’s Human Resources manager.
The contracts, which expired April 16, will run through April 15, 2019.
The council approved changing zoning from R-1 single family residential to I-1 general industrial on 14.79 acres north of Forest Lake Drive between East Turkeyfoot Lake Road and Corporate Woods Parkway at the request of Jeff Mockbee, CAM Inc. president and developer, for potential future expansion in what is now a wooded area. The move also could lead to the extension of Forest Lake Drive north to state Route 619.
Christian & Son Inc. of Burbank, Ohio, is to receive another $15,650 for timber repairs and replacement in coordination with the roof replacement at the Levi Hartong historic barn in Southgate Park. The project was originally approved at $47,800 before the damaged timbers were found and had to be replaced, Planning Director Wayne Wiethe told council.
summit county
Parks to hold fall outings
Celebrate autumn with two free annual events in the Summit County Metro Parks.
Fall Family Outings will be held:
• 6-9 p.m. Oct. 1 at Goodyear Heights Metro Park, 2077 Newton St., Akron.
• 6-9 p.m. Oct. 8 at Silver Creek Metro Park, 5000 Hametown Road, Norton.
Both events are free and include hayrides, bonfires, stargazing, live music, storytelling, kids’ activities, mascot appearances, seasonal refreshments and more. A wheelchair-accessible hay wagon is available.
WADSWORTH
City acts to update system
WADSWORTH: City Council on Tuesday awarded a $475,913 contract to Advanced Media Technologies to install the necessary equipment to update the city’s cable and internet system from analog to digital.
Service Director Robert Patrick said the update will allow the city to offer features including high definition channels and higher speeds with the project to be completed in six months.
The city provides cable, internet, telephone and home energy monitoring services through its City Link System. Patrick said the city has 3,581 cable and 4,290 internet subscribers.
In other business, the council accepted a $799,975 Federal Aviation Administration grant to improve the city’s airport. Plans include improvements to the runways. The council approved a contract with Shelley Co. to do the improvements.
The council also voted to contract for a study of the downtown fire station to determine if a new building is needed. Cost for the contract is $25,000 with the money supplied by the fire and EMS funds.