The Akron Town Council met Tuesday, April 3.  Mayor Brandon Hill called the meeting to order, which was followed by the Pledge of Allegiance.

The Board approved the minutes from the March 6, 2023 regular meeting, as well as the March 2023 bills.

Randy Hayes from the airport said he didn’t have a lot to add since last month, in regard to grants.  Congress is not expected to pass appropriations for federal money until May or June, which paces everything since they supply most of the money.  He finished by saying airport staff has extra housekeeping to do this spring because of the harsher winter, but that it will all get done.

Sam McCoy gave the Washington County Sheriff’s report, stating they had 266 calls for service in Akron last month.  Overall, they spent 61.3 percent of their time in Akron, 32.3 percent out in the County and 6.5 percent in Otis.   McCoy said the department is keeping their K9 at the pound when not being used, and they received a call that a person(s) has been feeding and playing with the K9 through the fence.  It was decided they will put up a camera and multiple signages, and maybe some type of barrier around the outer fence.  Trustee Braden Brent asked regardless of what animal is out there, wouldn’t they want some type of barrier to limit access to the public, to which everyone agreed.

Akron Volunteer Fire Department Chief Steve Marshall was in attendance and said he wants to start attending at least quarterly to keep the Board informed.  In 2022, they had 59 calls for service.  In the first quarter this year, they have had 20 calls for service and Marshall said it’s looking like it will be a busy year.  He gave an update on the bunker gear situation addressed last year, saying it’s going great.  They received 10 sets last year and have already gotten in three this year, with three more sets ordered.  The gear is working wonderfully and he thanked the Board.  They received pictures of the new truck, currently being built, but do not have an estimated delivery date.  The department has been looking for grant writers, especially with coming up on needing new extrication gear, as one set is nearly 16 years old.  The department is coming up with a list of projects and then will then see what they can swing, as the cost of grant writers vary depending on how much they do.

Commissioners Gisele Jefferson touched on a few things, beginning with the County moving forward with a big remodel project on the old…