Akron.com

County continues fiber network project



DOWNTOWN AKRON — Summit County Council moved forward on it fiber ring network project by approving contracts totaling over $2.2 million with Mann Parsons Gray Architects, PTA Engineering and Tatman Associates for the design of a data center and substation in Fairlawn as part of a countywide public safety fiber and communications network project.
The network will initially consist of a 125-mile fiber optic cable ring connecting Summit County and its 31 city, village and township governments to gigabit speed internet service and a data center to be operated by the City of Fairlawn.
The county will fund the estimated $35 million cost of the fiber ring design and construction with a portion of its federal American Rescue Plan funds and will additionally invest approximately $22 million in General Capital Improvement Funds.
Council also approved the list of routine items.
New legislation introduced that evening to be reviewed in committee meetings next week included:
• the 2023 operating budget for all funds, departments and agencies and appropriating funds totaling $534,495,088;
• the 2023 operating budget for the Alcohol Drug and Mental Health Services Board of Summit County of $52,775,900;
• the 2023 operating budget for the Executive’s Department of Job and Family Services of $52,268,300;
• participation in a sublease-purchase arrangement with the Ohio Secretary of State to acquire and implement voting machines and equipment and finance certain costs;
• a one-year contract with CBRE Inc. for the future sale of property at 2525 State Road in Cuyahoga Falls;
• a one-year contract for $114,814 with Community Support Services for two part-time peer support specialists and one full-time case manager of the Court of Common Pleas – General Division to refer and link Hope Mental Health Court participants to community resources and provide case management services;
• a one-year contract fir $229,183 with Oriana House Inc. for two full-time case managers and one full-time recovery support specialist to provide support and treatment services to Valor Court participants through the Court of Common Pleas – General Division, Adult Probation; and
• a resolution supporting the work of Summit County Age-Friendly and the Akron- Summit Age-Friendly Task Force in its efforts to make the county age-friendly.
Summit County Council will next gather Nov. 14 at 4:30 p.m. for committee meetings in Council Chambers, located on the seventh floor of the Ohio Building at 175 S. High St. The meeting also is livestreamed and archived on Council’s Facebook page.