(Tallmadge, Ohio) – Summit DD’s Board was the final governing body to approve a Cooperative Agreement between the County of Summit, City of Tallmadge and Summit County Developmental Disabilities Board (Summit DD) for the future use of the Summit DD Tallmadge campus on the corner of SR 91 and Howe Rd. The County of Summit Council and City of Tallmadge Council approved the agreement earlier this month.
The Cooperative Agreement has been in discussions since Summit DD announced plans in September 2019 to renovate its vacant workshop sites in Cuyahoga Falls and Barberton into office spaces and vacate the Tallmadge Campus that housed the former Weaver Workshop and Weaver School.
The agreement divides the 29-acre Tallmadge campus into four parcels. The County will purchase the east and west parcels, which is the current Tallmadge Center and Transportation Garage, to house the consolidated dispatch center and to address the storage needs of Summit County public safety teams. The City of Tallmadge would acquire the central parcel (current Administration Building and former Weaver School) and the ballfields for economic development and job growth. The ballfield will continue to support Challenger Baseball.
“In my opinion this is an exciting project for City [of Tallmadge] and for all of us” commented Mayor David Kline at the Tallmadge City Council meeting. “The sky is the limit on how we can utilize this building.”
The Weaver School and Workshop was dedicated on September 12, 1971 and was funded by bond levies raised when House Bill 169 passed in 1967 to create county boards of developmental disabilities.
“Our Tallmadge buildings were built from the grassroot efforts of parents and advocates and have served our community for more than 50 years,” stated Superintendent John Trunk. “As our programs and services have evolved over 50 years to become more community based, it gives us great comfort to know the legacy of these buildings will continue to serve the needs of Summit County.”
Proceeds acquired by the implementation of the Cooperative Agreement will round out the funding to implement plans announced in September 2019 to move from the Tallmadge Campus into Summit DD’s Barberton and Cuyahoga Falls locations.
Summit DD’s Board approved contracts with Hasenstab Architects and Summit Construction earlier this year to renovate the Cuyahoga Falls and Barberton workshops into office space. The City of Cuyahoga Falls passed a land purchase economic development agreement in 2019 to purchase the land adjacent to Summit DD’s site and construct a parking lot.
“The collaboration between Summit DD, the County, Barberton, Cuyahoga Falls, and Tallmadge to best serve the needs of the community and those with disabilities is government at its best,” commented Trunk.
“Our goal has always been to honor our history while we provide a hub for those we serve, our staff and the community to support our efforts of advocacy and engagement,” commented Trunk.
Construction on the Barberton and Cuyahoga Falls locations is expected to begin in the Spring of 2021. Summit DD is expected to relocate staff by the Spring of 2022.
