DOWNTOWN AKRON — Summit County’s new engineer has asked to withdraw three pieces of legislation regarding projects from the previous administration, but a County Council committee declined two of the requests.

During the Public Works Committee meeting Feb. 2, letters from Summit County Engineer Alan Brubaker were shared by County Executive Russ Pry’s office regarding the three projects in question.

Council President Nick Kostandaras (D-District 1) told committee members the legislation could be withdrawn only if all sponsors of the legislation agreed to it. He then asked to be added as a sponsor to one piece of legislation, which concerns a contract for a shoulder improvement and pavement resurfacing project on Everett Road in the townships of Bath, Richfield and Boston.

Previous County Engineer Greg Bachman proposed the project, which received the promise of federal funding thanks to U.S. Rep. Betty Sutton’s (D-District 13) office. After Bachman lost in the Nov. 4 General Election, the legislation for the project was put on hold.

Brubaker took office in January. According to the letter sent to Pry, Brubaker said a recent field review of the Everett Road project revealed “several significant deficiencies ... that must be corrected prior to constructing the project.”

Kostandaras said the federal funding for the project is not in jeopardy, but he did not want to see the legislation withdrawn.

“If it’s withdrawn, then it has to be reintroduced,” he said.

Committee chair Jerry Feeman (D-District 6) also added his name as a sponsor.

The next piece of legislation, which concerns the intersection of Ridgewood and South Cleveland-Massillon roads in Copley and Fairlawn, was withdrawn without any discussion.

In his letter on that resolution, Brubaker said the contract for roadway improvements at the intersection limits the engineer to providing only roundabouts as the solution to problems there.

“Potentially, more cost effective safety solutions, such as lane additions, traffic signal improvements or the possible relocation of the Ridgewood Road east and west intersection approaches into a single intersection are omitted from further analysis,” Brubaker wrote.

In a third piece of legislation, concerning a bridge on South Cleveland-Massillon Road in Barberton, committee member Tim Crawford (D-District 7) followed Kostandaras’ lead and asked to be added as a sponsor to keep the piece from being withdrawn. The project is in Crawford’s district.

Brubaker said two of the senior staff members of the company considered for the project had left, and the company no longer could complete the project.

In other news, the Planning and Economic Development Committee recommended Council adopt legislation granting the Summit County Port Authority $75,000 for 2009.

According to Jason Dodson, chief of staff for Pry, the grant is less than it has been. In 2007 and 2008, the Port Authority was granted $125,000 and in 2006 it received $175,000.

Chris Burnham, Port Authority president, said it has been the organization’s intention to move toward being self-sufficient, but he added, “It’s going to be a challenging year.”

Dodson said the Port Authority is “critical in economic development.”

“They are a very valuable asset to the county and community,” Dodson said.

“Although the economy is tight, this is a small amount for us to invest,” Kostandaras said.

Also Monday, the Finance Committee recommended Council adopt legislation allowing the county to move forward with accepting credit card payments for some transactions.

If adopted by Council at its next regular meeting, the county would contract with Official Payments for merchant services and bank card processing services for a two-year period.

Once the system is in place, residents could use credit cards to pay property taxes and fees in Building Standards, as well as for animal adoptions at Animal Control.

Those who use the cards as payment will be subject to a processing fee, according to Helen Fusco, of the Summit County Fiscal Office.

Council is set to meet Feb. 9 for caucus and 6 p.m. for the meeting in Council Chambers on the seventh floor of the Ohio Building, 175 S. Main St.