CUYAHOGA FALLS — City Council approved a resolution of support for Issue 5 — the Cuyahoga Falls Library levy appearing on the May 5 primary election ballot — at the March 23 regular Council meeting.
Library Director Andrew Harant presented the levy to Council during March 16 committee meetings, urging passage of the five-year, 2.2-mill replacement levy — the first new-money library levy Cuyahoga Falls voters have seen in 15 years.
The Cuyahoga Falls Library is an independent public library serving the residents of Cuyahoga Falls and Silver Lake, and the 1.9-mill levy currently funding the library expires this year. Harant said the levy provides nearly half of the library’s funding to provide books, movies and programs for all ages, adding that library usage continues to increase despite a significant decrease in state funding. In 2025, he said, more than 163,000 people visited the library, borrowing over 715,000 items. Additionally, the library saw a 37% increase in program attendance in 2025 over 2024. Meanwhile, state library funding sits stagnant at the same dollar amount rate as 25 years ago.
The replacement levy is expected to generate nearly $2.5 million annually and would cost a homeowner $77 per year for each $100,000 of their home’s valuation.
“This levy will ensure you and your neighbors continue to have access to library services,” Harant said, noting that if the levy did not pass, the library could face a reduction in services or hours — particularly its Sunday hours — as well as staff and program cuts.
Also during the meeting, Council adopted a resolution declaring the month of March as Developmental Disabilities Awareness Month.
As home to the Summit County Developmental Disabilities (Summit DD) Board, Russ Duplain, director of information technology and facilities at Summit DD, said the resolution sends an important message that Cuyahoga Falls is a community that welcomes.
DuPlain said Summit DD supports nearly 6,000 people across the county, 500 of whom live in Cuyahoga Falls.
“It is because of communities like Cuyahoga Falls that children learn together in schools, businesses benefit from having dedicated employees, and neighborhoods become places where everyone can belong,” he said. “We’re proud to call Cuyahoga Falls home.”
In other legislative business, Council authorized the mayor to apply for, and, if awarded, accept and enter into a Water Supply Loan Account Agreement with the Ohio Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) on behalf of the city for replacing noncopper water service lines and designating a repayment source for the loan.
In 2024, the United States EPA required all water systems, including the City of Cuyahoga Falls, to replace lead and galvanized service lines within a 10-year period. Since then, the city has identified over 3,400 noncopper service lines in need of replacement.
According to the legislation, the city intends to apply for a Water Supply Revolving Loan Account (WSRLA) with the Ohio EPA to replace noncopper water service lines in Fiscal Year 2026, and the WSRLA requires a government authority to pass legislation for the application of the loan and the execution of an agreement. According to Water Superintendent Russ Kring, this legislation will allow the city to set up a zero-interest loan program to assist residents and businesses with the replacement costs.
Kring said the city plans to complete approximately 400 to 500 homes per year, with the program running from May to October each year until the city reaches compliance.
Similarly, Council approved an ordinance authorizing the director of public service to enter into a contract or contracts for replacing the noncopper water service lines, which allows the city to go out for bids for the water service line work.
Also during the meeting, Council approved:
• authorizing the Parks and Recreation Board to enter into a contract with GameTime for the purchase and installation of a splashpad at Valley Vista Park. Parks Director Sara Kline said construction is expected to begin in May and be completed by fall; and
• an ordinance amending Chapter Seven of the city’s codified ordinances to define, regulate and permit temporary outdoor special events and mobile food vendors on public property or city-owned rights-of-way. This includes any city-sponsored events, any events that are approved by the city in advance, all annual heritage festivals and Downtown Cuyahoga Falls Partnership events. Applications are available in the Office of Neighborhood and Excellence, Communications and Outreach, and proof of current insurance must be presented by the applicant in order to qualify for a permit.
Council also announced a public hearing will take place May 4 for an ordinance approving text amendments to the city’s general development code and adopting regulations regarding best management practices for stormwater facilities.
Cuyahoga Falls City Council will next meet April 6 at 6:30 p.m. in the Natatorium, 2345 Fourth St.