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West Side News & Notes



Summit County judge, husband quarantined after trip to Italy

GREATER AKRON — Two Summit County residents have been quarantined after returning from Italy March 1, according to Summit County Public Health (SCPH) officials.
SCPH officials stated that one of the residents consulted with the Ohio Department of Health after a family member who the resident visited recently outside the country became ill, possibly with coronavirus disease, or COVID-19, and the decision was made to recommend quarantine as a precautionary measure.
After the person was identified in the media, Summit County Court of Common Pleas Administrative Judge Amy Corrigall Jones confirmed the resident to be Common Pleas Judge Alison McCarty, of Bath.
SCPH officials added McCarty’s husband, Tom McCarty, also has been quarantined. Also, the sick family member — an adult daughter living in Paris — was quarantined there.
SCPH officials stated that neither of the McCartys is currently considered persons under investigation for COVID-19 per Center for Disease Control (CDC) guidelines. A person under investigation must be symptomatic and have been in contact with someone with a laboratory-confirmed COVID-19 infection within 14 days of symptoms onset and/or travel to an affected area within 14 days of symptoms onset. There currently are no confirmed COVID-19 cases in Ohio, but CDC officials last week issued a travel warning for Italy due to a COVID-19 outbreak there, which is why the quarantine with the McCartys was initiated.
Corrigall Jones stated Judge McCarty’s courtroom docket will be handled.
“I will work with local and state officials in executing a plan moving forward to address concerns surrounding the coronavirus,” she added.
SCPH officials offered the following precautions to prevent the spread of any type of flu: Get a flu shot (a coronavirus vaccine is not yet available); wash hands with soap and water; do not touch your month, eyes or face with unwashed hands; stay away from sick people; cough/sneeze into your sleeve or a tissue; and get plenty of sleep.
For more information about COVID-19, visit www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/index.html.

 

Leadership Akron accepting applications for three programs

GREATER AKRON — Leadership Akron, which has been offering immersive learning experiences for leaders who live or work in Summit County for over 35 years, is seeking applicants for its 2020-21 programs.
According to Leadership Akron, its programs inspire, strengthen and empower community members and build leadership skills, community awareness and connectivity. The programs’ goals are aimed at unlocking the potential of leaders that will serve as catalysts to create a greater Akron.
“Our [program] graduates share a common commitment to serving community, working together to strengthen the Akron area,” said Barry Dunaway, president of Leadership Akron.
The programs currently accepting applicants include:
• the Signature Program, which unites the area’s top leaders for a transformative year-long journey of learning, collaboration and inspiration;
• the Diversity on Board program, which provides leadership development, education and placement opportunities for participants to help advance minority representation on nonprofit boards. This is presented in collaboration with United Way of Summit County; and
• NEXT, which is designed for experienced individuals at or nearing retirement to help define their next chapter of community involvement and impact.
The registration deadline for the above three programs is March 31.
Area residents interested in applying for one of these programs are encouraged to attend an informational session to learn more set for tomorrow, March 6, from 8 to 9 a.m., or March 10 from 5:30 to 6:30 p.m., both in the Mandel Family Community Room at the Sojourner Truth Building, 37 N. High St. in Downtown Akron.
Registration for these events are available by visiting leadershipakron.org and choosing the “News & Events” tab.
Leadership Akron also offers a one-day immersion program titled Insight Akron for senior-level leaders who are new to the area or those looking to reacquaint themselves with the Greater Akron community. Insight Akron will be presented April 30 in partnership with the Greater Akron Chamber and the Akron/Summit Convention & Visitors Bureau. To register, visit bit.ly/InsightAkron2020.

 

CVNP’s Sanford Run restoration project nearly complete

CVNP — The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (USACE) Buffalo District officials announced the Stanford Run ecosystem restoration project in the Cuyahoga Valley National Park (CVNP) was mostly completed in early January.
Officials stated that for this project, they restored nearly 1,200 feet of the small stream Stanford Run under the original Stanford Run Restoration Project contract awarded to Ryba Marine Construction Co. The district awarded a second contract to Armitage Architecture P.C. at the end of September 2019 to continue the restoration work, which included an additional 1,000 lineal feet.
Officials explained Stanford Run became degraded when sediments built up in the floodplain and blocked a stone culvert under the historic Ohio & Erie Canal Towpath Trail. Eventually, the stream channel filled in upstream of the blockage, which backed up sediments into another culvert under Stanford Road. The blocked culvert at Stanford Road diverted flow north into an adjacent watershed, where it caused massive erosion and habitat degradation.
Officials added Ryba Marine Construction installed a new box culvert under the Towpath Trail that is sized to accommodate present-day storm flows and restored a major portion of the stream, including planting native trees and shrubs along the stream banks. Armitage Architecture continued stream restoration and removed sediment from the blocked culvert under Stanford Road, allowing stream flow to return to the channel.
“Primary work specified in the contract is complete, but minor work such as additional grading and seeding at the disposal area will resume in the spring,” said Russell Brandenburg, USACE Buffalo District project manager. “There’s a possibility we will execute another option in the contract for additional work.”
Funding was provided over two years through the Great Lakes Restoration Initiative. The project is the result of ongoing collaboration between USACE and the National Park Service within the region, district officials said.
Restoring Stanford Run to its historic alignment should allow natural processes to take over and supports CVNP’s mission to preserve and protect the natural, scenic and historic values of the park, according to district officials. It is the largest habitat restoration project completed so far at CVNP.
The restoration work has had positive results, according to CVNP officials.
“We’re already seeing fish swimming in the restored creek and beavers working upstream of the restoration area,” said Chris Davis, a biologist stationed at CVNP. “Sand and gravel in the bottom of the creek, as well as streamside vegetation, will provide structure and shade to support insects and other in-stream creatures.”

 

New gas pump stickers coming

SUMMIT COUNTY — Officials from the Summit County Fiscal Office announced a new sticker is being affixed to gas pumps throughout the county.
Officials explained these stickers are issued by the State of Ohio and itemize the taxes included in the price of a gallon of fuel. The stickers are a requirement of the state due to last year’s state transportation budget, which raised the state tax on gasoline by 10.5 cents per gallon on July 1, 2019. The diesel fuel tax increased by 19 cents per gallon. Proceeds from the fuel tax are used to maintain and upgrade Ohio’s roads and bridges.
Officials added the approximately 4-by-4-inch stickers will show a breakdown of state, local and federal taxes that are being levied on gasoline and diesel fuels, along with the total tax amount. Per the new law, the stickers were created and paid for by the Ohio Department of Agriculture.
Officials said the stickers are being affixed by the Summit County Fiscal Office’s Services Division during routine inspections conducted by Weights and Measures staff, and must be placed on the gas pumps in each county and city jurisdiction by September. They do not need to be used if the tax information is displayed in another way, such as on a video screen or in a prominent place at the gas station. Stickers will be updated with any future changes to the gas tax.
“These stickers will allow for more transparency of fuel prices and make consumers aware of the state’s gas tax increase,” said Fiscal Officer Scalise.
For details, contact the Fiscal Office’s Services Division, Department of Weights and Measures at 330-630-7233.

 

Use of public resources to influence levies or bond issues illegal

OHIO — State Auditor Keith Faber has released a video at www.youtube.com/watch?v=Zkksi1–Iik&feature=youtu.be to remind public officials that most local governments and public school districts cannot use tax dollars to support or oppose ballot levy or bond issues.
“You cannot campaign or influence the outcome of a levy or bond issue using tax dollars,” said Faber. “This time of year, my office receives lots of questions regarding the use of tax dollars and resources on these issues, so here are some direct answers.”
• Public money should not be used to support or oppose the passage of a levy or bond issue. This includes compensating employees for time spent on influencing the outcome of a bond or levy.
• Information that supports or opposes the outcome of a levy should not be published by the entity or posting on official social media accounts.
• The entity cannot spend money to create and send home political subdivision-sponsored levy-related communications that support or oppose the passage of a levy.
• Employees cannot speak at levy committee meetings during regularly paid work hours if they are advocating for a preferred outcome.
• A levy committee is not allowed to use their subdivision’s resources such as equipment and supplies free of charge. The committee must pay for the usage and the committee with the opposite position shall have the same opportunity.
• Public funds should not be used to support or oppose the nomination or election of a candidate for public office.
• Public funds should not be used to support a particular campaign committee or fund, political action committee, political party or candidate.
For a complete list, see Ohio Revised Code section 9.03.
To report fraudulent practices, visit ohioauditor.gov/fraud.

 

Maria Lindsay contributed to these reports.