Council approves $300,000 Muskingum Watershed grant application for Hinman Ditch project

Heidi Swindell of the Summit County Engineer's Office asked council to approve an application to the Muskingum Watershed Conservancy for $300,000 to help construct work on the Hinman Ditch and the Stonewater Basin at Coventry Crossing. Swindell explained the basin and sections of ditch cross Coventry and Akron and said the watershed district funding creates matching dollars that were previously unavailable, which could offset local assessments.

During questions, Swindell confirmed the county's surface water management (stormwater) fund would supply the local match and explained that motor vehicle and gas tax funds cannot be used for off‑road drainage. Council members asked for an overview of stormwater projects and then moved to suspend the rules and adopt the resolution; the motion carried on recorded 'Aye' votes in the transcript. The resolution text lists a local cash match of $220,219.75 for a total project cost of $520,219.75.