Several pieces of end-of-year legislation discussed
DOWNTOWN AKRON — Summit County Council Dec. 1 heard a presentation from Doug Piekarz, president and CEO of the Akron Zoo, who reports to Council yearly.
Piekarz said the zoo’s mission is “to connect your life to wildlife while inspiring lifelong learning and moving everyone to conservation action,” and noted the organization is based on three pillars: community, education and conservation.
Piekarz said the Akron Zoo is home to 61 animal habitats and “well over” 2,000 individual animals.
The zoo currently sits on 107 acres of land, which Piekarz called “a pinch-me moment” recalling that when he began his career at the zoo more than 30 years ago, it was only about an acre-and-a-half developed.
Now, Piekarz said, the zoo is Summit County’s most visited attraction — and is “on track” to have a record-breaking attendance year.
Aside from being a community staple, the zoo focuses many of its resources toward education.
“We are a premier partner in STEM [Science, Technology, Engineering and Math] education,” Piekarz said, noting that total student engagement across the STEM fields in 2024 included 57,000 students engaged in Akron Zoo education programming and 35,000 students attending Akron Zoo field trips.
Piekarz said last year the Akron Zoo reached a milestone by successfully partnering with all 16 Summit County school districts. He noted in previous years the zoo has “gotten close to” but had never reached 100% participation from county districts.
Piekarz also noted the zoo is one of 250 accredited zoos by the Association of Zoos and Aquariums, and encouraged residents to visit the zoo during its Wild Lights events from 5 to 9 p.m. on select dates through Dec. 30. For more information, visit akronzoo.org.
Also during the meeting, Jessica Bohon, communications director for Habitat for Humanity Summit County, reported the organization is distributing senior safety kits to Akron residents 62 and older that meet certain income guidelines. For a one-person household, Bohon said the income limit is $56,200.
Bohon said Habitat for Humanity received a grant from the City of Akron for 400 safety kits, and have distributed about 200 kits so far, with 200 more to be delivered in the next two weeks.
The kits include a new carbon monoxide detector, a new fire extinguisher, a fire safe for important documents such as medical records or deeds, flashlights and EMS notes.
To apply for a kit, download an application at tinyurl.com/4h7vn9f. Completed forms may be dropped off at 2301 Romig Road or emailed to maris saL@hfhsummitcounty.org.
Council also discussed several pieces of end-of-year legislation, which will be voted on next week, including:
• establishing legal holidays for nonbargaining county employees for 2026;
• to approve and adopt the report on staffing for calendar year 2026;
• salary adjustments for classified nonbargaining employees Deborah Atkins, Maurice Dorrell and Brian Tebelak. Director of Administration for the Summit County Engineer’s Office Heidi Swindell said the construction team manager will be retiring Dec. 31 after 34 years with the county, and rather than hiring a new employee, the Engineer’s Office will distribute his duties across five different employees. She said this will create a net savings of $70,000;
• to extend the final design report to April 1 for Springfield Township’s Springfield Lake Outlet ditch petition and Copley Township’s Copley ditch petition;
• to advertise for bids as needed for stormwater improvement projects for the Summit County Surface Water Management District’s 2026 Capital Improvements Program at an estimated cost not to exceed $13.8 million. Swindell said this is a blanket authorization to advertise at the end of the year so the county can more easily put projects out to bid in the new year. She added bid prices are better in January and February, and all projects will come back to Council individually for approval;
• to advertise for bids as needed for road and bridge construction projects in the engineer’s 2026 Capital Improvements Program at an estimated cost not to exceed $7.9 million, which Swindell described the same as the stormwater legislation;
• to execute an intergovernmental agreement with the City of Akron for co-ownership of the countywide radio system for a five-year term; and
• a contract renewal with Roetzel Consulting Services to provide economic development strategy, project management and consulting services to the county for 2026 for $96,000.
These, and other pieces of legislation, will be voted on next week at Council’s final meeting of the year.
Summit County Council will meet Dec. 8 at 4:30 p.m. at the new Board of Elections facility, 1050 E. Tallmadge Ave. The meeting is also livestreamed on Council’s Facebook page.
