By Bethany Ulrick

Council President Russ Balthis

Susan Spinner, Ward Two

Joe Siegferth, Ward Four

Michael Brillhart, Ward Five

Gary DeRemer, Ward Six, 

Jerry James, Ward Seven

Frank Stams, Ward Eight 

Mary Nichols-Rhodes, At-large

Brian Ashton, At-large

Mayor Don Walters
Nick Mayer, Woodridge Local Schools director of athletics and communications 

Twelve new resolutions were introduced in a first reading and assigned to committees. 

At the recommendation of Mayor Don Walters, council appointed Rachel Victor to the Civil Service Commission and Michael Bowman to the library board. 

The council recognized Kendall McAllister, Kendrick McAllister, Atticus Sloan and Ben LeBay, as well as the track and field coaching staff and other team members, for their Division 2 State Championship title in the Boys 4x800m race in the spring of 2025.

The meeting minutes were approved for the July 14 and 28 council meetings.

Notices from the Ohio Department of Commerce regarding new liquor permits and permit transfers were read. 

The following legislation was introduced and assigned to committees in a first reading:

Temporary Resolution B-65, Finance and Appropriations Committee: “A resolution accepting the amounts and rates of taxation as certified by the Summit County Budget Commission, authorizing the necessary tax levies, certifying such authorization to the County Fiscal Officer, and declaring an emergency.” 

Temporary Resolution B-66, Finance and Appropriations Committee: “An ordinance authorizing the Director of Public Service to enter into a contract or contracts, without competitive bidding, with Altec Industries, for the purpose of replacing the truck body on the 2016 Altec Model M2-106 Digger Derrick, and declaring an emergency.”

Temporary Resolution B-67, Finance and Appropriations Committee: “An ordinance authorizing the Director of Public Service to enter into a contract or contracts, according to law, for the installation of above-ground fuel storage tanks and associated equipment, and declaring an emergency.”

Temporary Resolution B-68, Finance and Appropriations Committee: “An ordinance authorizing the Parks and Recreation Board to enter into a contract with BOLD Designs & Recreation LLC for the installation of play equipment at Valley Vista Park, and declaring an emergency.”

Temporary Resolution B-69, Finance and Appropriations Committee: “An ordinance authorizing the Parks and Recreation Board to enter into a contract with Safe Slide Restoration for water slide paint and repairs at Water Works Family Aquatic Center, and declaring an emergency.”

Temporary Resolution B-70, Finance and Appropriations Committee: “An ordinance authorizing the Director of Public Service to enter into a contract or contracts, without competitive bidding, with Collins Excavating Construction and D&C Construction & Excavating for the maintenance and repair of the City’s storm water, sanitary sewer, and water distribution systems, and declaring an emergency.”

Temporary Resolution B-71, Finance and Appropriations Committee: “An ordinance authorizing the Director of Public Service to enter into a cooperative agreement with the County of Summit, Ohio to share the cost of engineering of the North Main Street bridge over the Cuyahoga River, and declaring an emergency.”

Temporary Resolution B-72, Public Affairs: “A resolution authorizing the Electric Utility Superintendent to represent the City of Cuyahoga Falls as a member of the Board of Trustees of American Municipal Power, Inc., and declaring an emergency.”

Temporary Resolution B-73, Public Affairs: “An ordinance amending the Traffic Control File, and declaring an emergency.”

Temporary Resolution B-74, Public and Industrial Improvements: “An ordinance amending Ordinance No. 38-2025 for the purpose of including construction of a new training facility and training prop in the contract or contracts, and declaring an emergency.”

Temporary Resolution B-75, Planning and Zoning: “An ordinance approving text amendments to the Cuyahoga Falls Development Code, as more fully described and depicted herein, and declaring an emergency.”

Temporary Resolution B-76, Community Development: “An ordinance authorizing the Mayor to execute the revised Summit County Intergovernmental Memorandum of Understanding for Job Creation and Retention and Tax Revenue Sharing, and declaring an emergency.”

A motion was passed to recess council to hold a Committee of the Whole meeting to consider mayor’s appointments. Walters nominated candidates to fill two openings. 

Bowman was recommended to serve on the library board. Walters described him as a long-time Cuyahoga Falls resident who is actively involved in the community. He graduated from Kent State University and currently works as a supply chain analyst.

Walters also recommended Victor to fill the vacancy on the Civil Service Commission. He said that Victor has been a member of the Rotary Club for six years, graduated summa cum laude from the University of Akron, has several volunteer roles in the community and works at Wayne Agency. 

Both candidates were unanimously approved by the Committee of the Whole. The committee was adjourned, and the regular council passed a motion to approve the recommended candidates. 

The council provided a schedule of upcoming committee meetings. A public hearing for Temporary Resolution B-75 will be held on Monday, Oct. 20 at 6:30 p.m.

The next Planning and Zoning, Finance and Appropriations, Public and Industrial Improvements, Public Affairs and Community Development Committee meetings will be held at the next Cuyahoga Falls City Council Meeting on Monday, Sept. 15.

Walters also presented students and staff from Woodridge High School to congratulate the 4x800m relay team for winning the Division 2 State Championship title in the spring of the 2024-2025 school year with a time of 7 minutes and 52 seconds. 

Woodridge Athletic Director Nick Mayer was invited to speak. He credited the community, coaches Jeff Howard and Scott Mercer and each student involved in the track and field program for supporting these individuals and making their championship win possible. 

Walters presented certificates to the 4x800m relay champions Kendall McAllister, Kendrick McAllister, Sloan and LeBay. 

A motion was passed to excuse the absences of council members Rachel Loza and Meika Marie Penta. 

The meeting was adjourned.