Village of Akron receives 3.1-million-dollar Department of Energy Grant
Akron Village Board members announced Monday night that they were awarded a 3.1-million-dollar grant from the Department of Energy through NYSERDA. Seeking funding to add a third transformer at the village electric substation on Eckerson Avenue, the village applied for the grant over two years ago. Receipt of the funding will help the village put that transformer in place and create redundancy should one of the two current transformers experience a problem, and it will help provide energy to meet increasing needs.
The substation was designed to accommodate three transformers and village electric crews have constructed the infrastructure needed to install the third unit. The village is working through next steps as they anticipate receiving the funds.
Village Board members voted to submit a Community Development Block Grant application for a project to replace sidewalks on Main Street on the north side from Church Street to Townsend and on the south side from Church to Parkview. In addition, they will submit as a second project the shared Rural Transit Van service.
A grant application for state funding for the East Avenue Water/Sewer Line replacement project was denied for the third time. The village can apply again when the next round of funding is announced. Mayor Brian Perry said the village continues to work toward coordinating the project with Erie County which plans to rebuild East Ave and the storm sewers. Perry noted that it is hoped the project – new village sewer and waterlines and rebuilding the road can be done at one time so residents are not required to navigate construction more than once. He noted that if the county constructs the roadway to the village’s specs with the proper sub-base it will last a long time. “We want to do it once, right,” he said.
Budget work on the State Street bridge project was set to take place on Tuesday.
Tree planting
Trustee Peter Forrestel reported plans to plant around 30 trees this fall, many on Shephard Ave.
Vandalism
Board members discussed vandalism at the bike path shelter on Eckerson Ave and plans to repair the damage and to install cameras.
Action items
Resolutions were approved to authorize the Village clerk to re-levy all unpaid tax balances as of November 3, 2026 to Erie County; Moved Deputy Clerk Emily Kostanciak, Water Treatment Plant Operator AJ Dyrbala, Skilled Laborer up a step in their relevant Grade levels. Also adopted was a new fee of fifty dollars per month for those in non-compliance for responding to meter replacement requests.
Building permits were approved for roofs at 18 Colony Pl, 57 Brooklyn St., 4 Skyline Dr., 39 Cedar St., 95 East Ave., 29 Front St.; Sanitary Sewer 17 Shepard Ave.; shed 23 Crescent Dr., fence 5 Ice Cream Plaza, Foundation repair 41 Main St.
Temporary Dumpster permits were approved for 4 Skyline Dr., and 23 Hoag Ave.