Crowd shows support for Agricultural Society
By Kathleen Folkerth
DOWNTOWN AKRON — Supporters of the Summit County Agricultural Society filled Council Chambers during Summit County Council’s Oct. 16 meeting to show their support for Council overriding the veto of legislation canceling the society’s debt.
County Executive James McCarthy vetoed legislation two weeks ago that had been unanimously approved by Council Sept. 25. The legislation transfers county fairground property to the Agricultural Society and forgives its debts to the county, which totals about $1 million from the construction of an indoor arena.
Council can override a veto with eight or more votes. It must act during the two meetings that follow the veto, meaning that Council would have had to take action this week or on Oct. 30, its next regular Council meeting.
About 40 supporters were in the audience, many of them teens active in the county’s 4-H programs.
Public comments are usually not
taken during regular Council meetings, but Council President
Clair Dickinson (D-at large) made an exception so two
Agricultural Society supporters could address
Council.
John Graf, of Copley, thanked
the Council for its previous support and asked the group
to continue its help.
“We need to overcome our
past,” Graf said. “As long as we’ve
got controversy going on, we’ll get nowhere.”
Richard Storey, of Tallmadge,
who is vice president of the Agricultural
Society, said the Summit County Fair has a positive
effect on the community.
“Since the resolution was
passed and subsequently vetoed, the facts have not changed,”
Storey said. “We ask that you stand by your decision
and override the veto so the society can put this issue
to rest.”
Dickinson told the audience that
no action would be taken
at the meeting. He then directed several questions regarding
the issue to Leonard Foster, director of human resources
for the county, who represented McCarthy during the
meeting.
Dickinson said he would like
to know how much money the county has collected on the
society’s debt in the last five-and-a-half years.
He also wondered what impact
carrying a bad debt has on the county’s bond rating.
Councilman Pete Crossland (D-District
4) asked what McCarthy is doing to resolve the issue.
“I don’t think we
have a realistic plan,” Crossland said.
Councilman Tom Teodosio (D-District
2) said it’s possible the property in question
could be transferred to
Metro Parks, Serving Summit County, which could then
work out a lease agreement with the society for the
fairgrounds.
In other business, Council approved
on first reading legislation that authorizes a cooperative
agreement and guaranty agreement in connection with
the issuance of Development Revenue Bonds, Series 2006
by the Summit County Port
Authority to the Akron Urban League.
The league’s new facility
is under construction on Vernon Odom Boulevard and is
set for June completion.
Council also approved all routine
legislation unanimously agreed to by committee, which
included two pieces of legislation regarding the Royal
Meadows subdivision off Ira Road in Bath. According
to county officials, the subdivision was left incomplete
by its developer.
Of the two pieces of legislation,
one approves and confirms an assessment to complete
the neighborhood’s roads, while the other will
authorize the county to advertise for bids and execute
a contract for the roadwork.
Council is set to meet for committee
meetings Oct. 23 at 4:30 p.m. in Council Chambers on
the seventh floor of the Ohio Building, 175 S. Main
St.
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