Akron Ohio News – Akron Council applauds Firestone robotics teams

4/25/2019 – West Side Leader
     

By Cassaundra Smith

DOWNTOWN AKRON — Akron City Council April 22 offered a congratulatory proclamation to the Firestone Community Learning Center (CLC) robotics teams and Coach Dan Spak for qualifying to participate in the VEX Robotics World Championship.

“All of us applaud your success because you represent the City of Akron, and how well you do that,” said Councilwoman Marilyn Keith (D-Ward 8).

The team has qualified to compete at the championship, set for April 24-27 in Louisville, Kentucky, for the fourth time. Firestone students’ robots will compete among the best robots from 42 countries, according to Keith.

“It’s positively amazing, at a high school level, what you guys are doing, and I’m so impressed,” she said.

According to Firestone officials, teams that qualified during this year’s state level competition include 7316 Team B, Team F and Team E.

Spak, who started Firestone’s Robotics Club in 2012, also was commended by Council for being named Ohio’s Robotics Coach of the Year at the VEX state level competition, according to Firestone officials.

“The students here represent the future of Akron, and from what I can see, it’s pretty darn bright,” Spak said.

In other business, Akron City Council members will vote next week on allowing Chief City Prosecutor Gert Wilms to apply for a $60,000 state grant to partially fund the salaries of two domestic violence investigators.

The legislation was placed on next week’s consent agenda, which is a list of routine legislation that can be approved without discussion.

The Violence Against Women Act (VAWA) grant, which is administered by Ohio’s Office of Criminal Justice Services, requires a 15 percent match from the City of Akron, according to the ordinance.  The legislation also outlines entering into an agreement with Oriana House to implement the grant.

“We have received this grant more on than off for the last 20 years,” Wilms told Council members during the Public Safety Committee meeting.

One of the domestic violence investigators is Marcus Miller. Sharon Price retired from the position in February and now John Bell, who works in the Akron Police Department’s (APD) Detective Bureau, will fill the role, likely beginning in May. These investigators must be retired and in good standing and still working as reserve officers for the APD, Wilms said.

According to Wilms, these investigators perform a number of tasks that assist in the prosecution of domestic violence cases.

Council members also continued a discussion on finding a practice facility for the Akron Inner City Soccer Club, representatives from which requested use of the Copley Road Soccer Complex for that purpose a few weeks ago at a Council meeting. According to Mayor’s Office Chief of Staff James Hardy, city officials are working on a solution, as the fields on Copley Road are for games only. Other fields have been offered to the club as an alternative.

In other business, Council approved as part of its consent agenda:

• authorizing Director of Neighborhood Assistance John Valle to enter into a contract with Akron Public Schools to provide meal preparation and delivery services as part of the city’s annual Summer Food Service Program. According to Valle, the program provides nutritious meals to children in low-income areas when school is not in session. Last year, 79,268 breakfast and lunches were served during the summer program;

• paying the costs associated with the city’s participation in the Ohio Municipal League and the National League of Cities; and

• applying for the utilization of tax increment financing (TIF) for improvements made to the future new home of Babcock & Wilcox in East Akron.

Council’s next meeting is set for April 29 at 7 p.m. in Council Chambers on the third floor of the Akron Municipal Building, 166 S. High St. Committee meetings are set to begin at 12:30 p.m. that day, also in Council Chambers.