AkronNewsNow.com

AUDIO Soap Box Derby, Capital Budget Passed
2/8/2010 9:32:04 PM | Aaron Coleman, AkronNewsNow.com

Two important issues for Rubber City residents were on the table Monday night in Akron City Council chambers and will now be going into effect.

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The City of Akron along with the Soap Box Derby has reached an agreement that will keep the historic race in Akron for years to come. The City will be guaranteeing a loan for $623,000.

Councilman Mike Freeman felt it was necessary to keep the Derby in Akron to preserve the one of the city's oldest traditions.

"It's as much a part of the tradition of Akron as Goodyear and Firestone and it is really one of the icons for family -based theme the city has. "

LISTEN to Freeman discuss the importance of the Derby and its new look for the future

City Council unanimously passed the decision to enter into a loan agreement with First Merit Bank to guarantee the debt the race accumulates when there is no national sponsor, as well as re-organize the Board of Directors to include members of Akron's business community.

Freeman says he was not surprised by Council's decision.

"This council knows how much of a tradition is in the city, especially those of us who are over 50," Freeman explained.

"They know what this means to the City and what it means to the state of Ohio."

Freeman says that Council is working with the Greater Akron Chamber along with other businesses to help the sustainability if the Derby.

LISTEN to Fusco discuss the new capital budget

Also, after weeks of discussion the 2010 Capital Budget for the City of Akron will hit the ground running.
Councilman Jeff Fusco explains what this means for the city.

"We will see new streets, a number of parks we are looking to upgrade, as well as as pushing for job creation and development of the city."

Notable aspects of the 2010 capital budget plan include revamping Goodyear and the Bridgestone-Firestone complex. This year's capital budget is 254 million dollars with federal funds accounting for 24 percent of the total budget.

Fusco points out that every project contained in the capital budget will be discussed at length in future Council meetings.

"Every project that's in this budget, Akron City Council will look at it, and legislation must be passed on it before it goes any further."

Other capital budget projects include transportation improvements, public facilities and neighborhood improvements such as building a fence on the Y Bridge, constructing a new grocery store in the Highland Square area, and a series of projects that will overhaul the city's sewer system in response to a million dollar federal environmental lawsuit.

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posted at 2/8/2010 10:09:05 PM (19553)
misstia said:

uh, they got stimulus money for the y-bridge, why is that in the capital budget? or did they spend that on something else already??
and why is the CITY being responsible for building a grocery store in highland square??
and...........if they had worked with the EPA, or starting like 20 years ago, there would not have been a multi-million dollar lawsuit....the city put it off and put it off and the costs just kept increasing....

posted at 2/8/2010 10:47:30 PM (19554)
hankster said:

So we will still have the soap box derby, but just don't have a heart attack while at the race because there will be no emergency response.

posted at 2/8/2010 11:16:07 PM (19555)
misstia said:

well put hankster!!!

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