Hudson · issues
Civic issues
Topics getting the most attention in Hudson public meetings, ranked by how frequently they come up.
Velocity Broadband residential expansion
The annual update showed a near-50% take rate in the pilot, new construction tracking dashboard, material cost inflation and 44-week lead times, and emerging overlap with Windstream/Kinetic builds that could change which neighborhoods get city fiber.
Advanced water and power metering (AMI)
A $3 million bond note on second reading would fund smart meters for the water and electric utilities, enabling real-time usage data between the City and customers.
Fiber-to-the-Home phase two rebid
Council authorized bidding for construction of the second phase of the city-owned residential fiber build-out — a re-bid after the original contracts were cancelled over updated safety specs.
Darrow Road Park Stormwater Pond
Chagrin Valley Engineering will design a stormwater pond in Darrow Park to cut flood flows hitting properties off Tamarisk and Lascala Drive.
Sewage Backup on Middleton Road
A resident described three weeks of sewage backups, over $100,000 in damage, and poor communication from city officials. The mayor explained the sanitary sewers are owned by Summit County, which is replacing the collapsed pipe.
N. Main Street stormwater improvements
A new storm sewer along N. Main Street, built in partnership with a homeowner doing an addition, will finally fix backyard flooding and backflow problems for Owen Brown Street residents who've waited through repeated postponements of the road project.
Substation transformer repair costs
Council members met with First Energy to push for faster outage restoration, proactive tree-trimming, and long-awaited grid upgrades in Bridgewater, Tobridge, and the Shires — with materials already delivered for Bridgewater.
AMP Community Energy Savings Smart Thermostat Program
Hudson Public Power customers could volunteer smart thermostats for peak-demand adjustments, earning a $55 incentive while the city cuts capacity and transmission costs. Estimated net savings about $101 per thermostat.
Storm studies and $25 million in projects
Bidding is underway for storm sewer and culvert lining across Hudson plus repair of a big 78-inch pipe at Darrow Park, with easements secured along Baldwin and N. Main streets.
Federal water infrastructure funding redirect
Council backed a technical correction shifting federal FY24 community project funds to the Hudson Drive waterline, a City Hall waterline, and a new well at the water treatment plant.