Akron.com

City seeking federal funds for trail project



NEW FRANKLIN — New Franklin City Council Nov. 3 authorized the application for federal Transportation Alternate Set Aside (TASA) funds through the Akron Metropolitan Area Transportation Study (AMATS) to construct a multipurpose trail on Vanderhoof Road connecting the Ohio & Erie Canal Towpath Trail to Portage Lakes State Park.
At the meeting, Mayor Paul Adamson said the city has been in discussions with state and local officials, including the City of Green, about constructing more than 100 miles of trails at the state park since at least 2011.
“We were awarded a grant to update the plan and did that with [architectural firm] GPD Group,” Adamson said. “This [AMATS grant application] would be to build the trail from the state park to the Towpath. This is a very slow process.”
He added that if the city were awarded the grant, a 20 percent local match would be required. The mayor also stated the project would be “a significant expenditure,” but added the city has been successful in the past at finding alternate funding options to cover local costs on other projects.
Councilman David Stock (Ward 3) noted applying for the grant is not obligating the city to any project at this point.
“This is nothing new to us, applying for grants,” he said. “And if we get them, we consider [options] at that point.”
Residents at the meeting asked about the AMATS Oct. 29 deadline for applying for the TASA funds and expressed concern with the proposed trail project potentially encroaching onto or being constructed close to private properties.
Adamson said GPD has assured the city there is still time to apply for the funding and added that if the trail project comes to fruition, work would be done in road right-of-ways, with buffering from private residences a required part of the plan.
Council also approved a three-year, $17,500 website design and hosting agreement with Civicplus to redesign, host and provide security, maintenance and support for the city’s website, with estimated recurring annual costs of $5,000.
Councilman Andrew Fetterman (Ward 4) said he initially had reservations about the cost.
“It sounds like a considerable amount of money to build a website, but I looked and that is pretty much in line [with the industry],” he said.
Also at the meeting, Adamson announced the city plans to host its annual Tudor House Christmas event in person Dec. 5 as an outdoor tent event.
“We will see how it goes, but right now we fully intend to have it in person,” he said.
New Franklin City Council’s next regular meeting is scheduled for Nov. 17 at 6 p.m. at City Hall, 5611 Manchester Road.