Akron committee places Britton Road reservoir loan ordinance on consent agenda

The City of Akron Public Service Committee voted to place an ordinance on the consent agenda that would authorize the mayor or the mayor—s designee to apply for and enter into loan agreements with the Ohio Environmental Protection Agency Water Supply Revolving Loan Account (WSRLA) and the Ohio Water Development Authority to plan, design and construct the Britton Road reservoir replacement project.

Deputy Service Director Jeff Bernowski told the committee the legislation would allow the city to enter a loan agreement with the Ohio EPA WSRLA program for construction of the Britton Road reservoir replacement project. "This legislation will allow us to enter into a loan agreement with the Ohio EPA water supply revolving loan account, otherwise known as WSRLA," Bernowski said. He said the current WSRLA construction loan rate for this project is 3.73% for a 30-year term and that WSRLA funds are available for water treatment and water main distribution projects.

Committee members asked clarifying questions about the loan term; Bernowski confirmed the loan term would be 30 years. After discussion, a committee member moved and another seconded that the item be placed on the consent agenda. The committee voted by voice; the chair called for ayes and recorded no opposition. The committee did not take a final adoption vote on the ordinance at this meeting.

The ordinance text read into the record authorizes the mayor or designee to file applications and to enter into agreements with WSRLA and the Ohio Water Development Authority for planning, design and construction and includes emergency language. The clerk read the ordinance as authorizing applications and agreements for the "Britton Road reservoir replacement project." Bernowski referred to the project as the "Bridal Road reservoir replacement project" in his remarks; the ordinance language as read identifies the project as Britton Road.

The committee also approved last week—s minutes earlier in the meeting by a voice vote and then adjourned. The Health & Social Services Committee time and membership were announced at the end of the meeting.

Clarifying details: The committee discussion specified the WSRLA construction loan rate as 3.73% for a 30-year term; no dollar amount or project budget was provided in the meeting record. The ordinance reading named the project as Britton Road; a speaker used an alternate pronunciation/spelling in spoken remarks. The committee placed the ordinance on the consent agenda but did not vote to adopt it at this meeting.