Akron council approves Cooper Excavating bid to repair nine fire hydrants, OKs Beach Street sinkhole fix

On April 15, 2025 the Village of Akron council voted to accept a bid from Cooper Excavating to repair or replace nine fire hydrants for up to $62,325 and approved a separate repair to a sinkhole/water leak on Beach Street.

Council member T. Tait moved to accept Cooper Excavating’s proposal to repair/replace nine hydrants for $62,325 or less; D. Meyer supported the motion and the measure passed unanimously among the four members present. Council noted Cooper’s work could take about 40 days for parts and equipment. T. Tait said the hydrants “visually look terrible” and that some covers suggested they were not operable; council agreed that if hydrants are repairable they should be repaired rather than fully replaced to reduce cost. Marv asked Cooper to prioritize the most vulnerable hydrants first.

Public works also reported a separate, smaller repair on Beach Street with an estimate of $3,050. T. Nusz moved (T. Tait supported) to authorize that work; the motion carried.

The council’s vote followed staff reports that visual inspections did not always reveal underlying issues and that the exact scope of work could change once crews begin hands-on assessment. The council instructed staff and Cooper Excavating to begin with the highest-risk hydrants and to report back if costs approach the approved limit.

Next steps: Cooper Excavating will schedule the work (council noted an approximate 40-day lead time), public works staff will coordinate priority locations, and the council will reevaluate priorities if bids or repair estimates change.