Summit County Council approved $6.7 million for projects in the 2013 Capital Improvement Plan on Monday night.
Some of the major projects this year include the county’s routine pavement maintenance at $2.9 million and $1.2 million in vehicle purchases in several departments, including the Sheriff’s Office, engineer’s office and the department of environmental services.
Other big item amounts are $435,000 for sewer projects, $365,000 in highway engineering projects and $760,000 for an upgrade of the heating ventilation and air conditioning system in the county jail.
The county’s five-year forecast also is predicted to be on target.
Brian Nelsen, the county director of finance and budget, gave his economic forecast for the county, saying the county will save money by the end of the year. Expenditures are budgeted at $102 million, but that number will be more like $100 million due to some additional revenue, attrition and other factors.
“It appears that property values are picking up, which is a good sign that the economy continues to move in the right direction,” Nelsen said. “There is also some growth in the sales tax and we are seeing a casino tax for the first time this year.”
He said the county is working with funds similar to the amount available in 2007.
Council also approved:
• Auctioning off 28 surplus county vehicles from the Department of Environmental Services through Skipco-Auto Auction.
• Appropriating $6 million in carryover balances from various funds for the county executive’s department of community and economic development.
• Appropriating grant funds of $696,000 in carryover balances for 2013 for the prosecutor’s office.
• Appropriating carryover funds for the Juvenile Court Clerk fees fund in the amount of $10,000 through Dec. 13 for the Court of Common Pleas-Juvenile Division.
Council also confirmed purchase orders by the Board of Control:
• A service contract for a year with Wadsworth Veterinary Hospital for veterinarian services at the Division of Animal Control for $45 an hour, not to exceed $65,000.
• A one-year maintenance renewal agreement to provide software and equipment support services as well as educational services in an amount not to exceed $74,000 for the fiscal officer.
• A purchase order for $60,000 with the city of Akron for fiscal 2013 for maintenance costs for the 800 megahertz regional radio system for the executive’s department of law insurance and risk management.
• A professional service contract for $139,500 with the Clerk of Courts to provide federal financial participation reimbursement to the courts for filing services and expenses directly related to the child support enforcement agency.
• A professional service contract with URS Corporation for the jail heating ventilation and air conditioning upgrade project for $11,959.
Marilyn Miller can be reached at 330-996-3098 or mmiller@thebeaconjournal.com.