A community benefits agreement between the city of Akron and a waste management company is moving forward, despite some calls from residents to continue negotiating.
The agreement relates to a planned waste transfer station on East Archwood Avenue on the city鈥檚 east side.
WM, formerly Waste Management, has agreed to invest $1 million dollars into the city over a 10-year period, and $40,000 annually once the station has opened. The company also committed to community meetings, local hiring and litter cleanups.
City officials unveiled the agreement May 11. Over the past week, residents and elected officials have debated whether it goes far enough to support the communities surrounding the facility.
Ahead of council's vote Monday night, Marc Tibb, a local pastor and principal with the nonprofit Akron Community Action Network, criticized the agreement.
鈥淭here鈥檚 a lot of other promises in the development agreement, but few of them are quantified in dollar amounts, so it鈥檚 hard to even figure how this could possibly be a balanced and fair document,鈥� Tibb said.
The nonprofit Akron Families Against City Transfer Stations released a statement Monday in favor of the contract.
鈥淎fter 30 years of enduring environmental injustice and two years of litigation and negotiation, we believe the current arrangement is both fair and sufficient,鈥� the letter, which is signed by more than a dozen people, states.
Councilmember Johnnie Hannah, who represents East Akron where the station will be built, questioned why city officials did not negotiate for more money from WM.
Hannah also criticized the project plans, which were approved by city council in 2024. In addition to the new transfer facility, the project includes decommissioning an aging facility on Fountain Street, which has caused environmental concerns in the neighborhood for 30 years, Hannah added.
鈥淲hy and how did you stop with $1 million?鈥� Hannah said. 鈥淢y opposition is moving it from one area in Ward 5 to another area in Ward 5.鈥�
Several council members spoke in favor of the agreement and pledged to hold the company accountable in the coming years.
鈥淚鈥檓 going to be voting yes, but I鈥檓 also going to be making sure that the oversight after the fact 鈥� the money, and the complaints 鈥� also have an extra eye,鈥� Councilmember Fran Wilson said ahead of the vote.
Akron City Council approved the agreement by a 12 to 1 vote, with only Hannah dissenting.
