Stow · issues
Civic issues
Topics getting the most attention in Stow public meetings, ranked by how frequently they come up.
Water meter replacement and OPWC funding
Stow wants to replace its aging water meters citywide with a connected smart-meter system, funded by a $4.1 million, 0% OPWC loan. Old meters that don't send readings mean lost water revenue. Residents raised privacy and radiation concerns, but no opt-out is planned.
Summit County Pump Station No. 19 replacement (Wyoga Lake)
A 61-year-old sewer pump station near Wyoga Lake failed in 2023 and has been limping along on salvaged parts while the county's replacement project has dragged since 2015. Residents fear a second failure could send sewage into homes, the lake, and downstream into the Cuyahoga River. The county now says construction could start in mid-2027.
Stormwater detention study
The city wants to know if two parcels it owns — on Hibbard Drive and Maplewood — can be turned into detention basins to reduce downstream flooding. E.L. Robinson Engineering would study it for up to $56,472 from the storm water fund.
THM removal system contract at City Center water tower
Council approved year five of a contract to keep removing trihalomethanes (disinfection byproducts) from Stow's water.
Water Department GIS and Leak Detection Tools
The Water Department got a GIS services contractor and new leak detection/line location equipment to find and fix water line problems faster.
Homewood and Echo Road Storm Improvements
Council authorized bidding for stormwater projects on Homewood ($300,000 budgeted) and Echo Road to fix drainage problems.
King Drive water line replacement
A resident reported roughly 45 water line breaks on King Drive and asked if replacement is planned. The city says the project is on the list, waiting for funding.
Rising emergency waterline repair costs
The contract for emergency water main break repairs with M Campbell Contracting rose to $150,000, driven by more breaks on aging pipes and extreme temperature swings — a sign of growing infrastructure strain.