OHM recommends Silver Lake connect to Akron via Stow; council hears costs, safeguards and public concerns

Council President Matt Plesich on May 20 hosted a special Village of Silver Lake meeting where OHM Advisors recommended that the village pursue a consecutive water connection to the City of Akron routed through the City of Stow and decommission the village standpipe.

Tony Burgoyne of OHM presented the study and told council, "OHM is recommending alternative 1 b: a consecutive connection to Akron via Stow with a decommissioned standpipe." He said the move could yield long-term savings on wholesale water purchases and improve fund stability for the village enterprise while noting the need for careful contractual safeguards.

Why it matters: Silver Lake’s water system relies on a 0.5 million-gallon standpipe installed in 1956 and distribution mains largely laid before 1930. Burgoyne told the council the village faces rising purchase costs and aging infrastructure and presented three broad options: route Akron water through Stow (Alt 1 with suboptions), build a direct Akron connection (Alt 2), or remain with Cuyahoga Falls and rebuild a new standpipe (Alt 3). The study’s cost slide lists estimated total construction and engineering costs of about $958,000 for Alt 1a, $1,152,000 for Alt 1b (the recommended option, which includes roughly $200,000 to decommission the standpipe), about $3.34 million for Alt 2a and $2.06 million for Alt 3.

Funding and household impact: Burgoyne said the village could pursue Ohio Public Works Commission grants and Ohio Water Development Agency low-interest loans and stated, "it was likely" the village could be responsible for "20 cents on the dollar," a figure he framed as hopeful, not guaranteed. The consultant projected that, in favorable years, typical households might see monthly water bill savings in the range of $15 to $17; he emphasized that some savings would need to be reinvested to address local infrastructure.

Rate mechanics and tax-sharing: The presentation explained wholesale-versus-retail rate dynamics and noted that intergovernmental agreements with Akron could include municipal income tax sharing (described in the slides as JED agreements). Mayor Dunphy said she had reviewed three similar agreements that averaged 22.5 percent and that discussions with Stow had been positive, but she declined to discuss specific figures until terms were in writing.

Operational and safety questions: Council and residents pressed staff on fire protection, backups and operational changes. Burgoyne said most alternatives would maintain or improve residual pressure for firefighting and that Stow’s higher elevation could eliminate the village’s need for booster pumps, with pressure-reducing valves to prevent distribution breaks. On emergency supply, Burgoyne said backups could come from a secondary line from Stow and noted geographic limits on alternative suppliers, adding that Akron operates two reservoirs.

Testing and certifications: Officials said regulatory testing requirements would be reviewed; Assistant Service Director Mike Anderson said village service staff would not need new certifications and that daily testing is already performed by Class II-certified employees. Ben Gregory, the Director of Public Service, is coordinating with OHM on any testing changes. Resident Karen Hrdlicka, who identified herself as Class II certified, told the council she vouched for the water quality from both Akron and Silver Lake.

Public concerns and contract protections: Several residents voiced concerns about entering agreements with neighboring cities. Min Runion said she worried about "putting money into somebody else's pocket," questioning long-term exposure if partner cities update infrastructure or raise costs. Law Director Rubright said the goal is a long-term agreement that protects the village from unforeseen expenses, and Mayor Dunphy added that any new contract would include more provisions than the current arrangement with Cuyahoga Falls.

Votes at a glance: The only formal recorded vote during the special meeting was to excuse Council Member Jim Kurtz’s absence; Chris Scott moved, Phil Kaplan seconded, and the motion passed unanimously.

Next steps: OHM outlined follow-up work including engineering design refinement, intergovernmental coordination with Akron and Stow, regulatory water-quality review, and public communication and rate-setting. The council set its next regular meeting for June 1, 2026, where staff and consultants are expected to return with more details. No formal council action to adopt any supply alternative was taken at the May 20 meeting.