By Rick Armon
Beacon Journal staff writer
POSTED: 08:10 p.m. EDT, Sep 14, 2009
Downtown Akron is getting a new pharmacy — one sponsored by Summit County government.
County Council on Monday approved a deal to hireExpressMed Pharmacy Services of Monaca, Pa., to open the retail and mail-order business.
As part of the agreement, the company will turn over a third of the net profits to the county and manage pharmacy benefits for more than 3,000 county workers.
Local officials say it's the first public-private partnership of its kind in the state and could serve as a model for other communities if it's a success.
The pharmacy, to be located at a county-owned building at 191 S. Main St., will be open to the general public. But the goal is to reduce the amount of money the county spends on prescription drugs by steering county employees there.
The county spends between $7 million and $10 million each year on medications for workers. Officials estimate that the government will save between $600,000 and $700,000 a year through a combination of lower prescription costs and the profit-sharing.
''It's a great deal for the county and for employees,'' Councilman Tim Crawford said.
The downtown pharmacy also will be convenient for county workers, Council President Nick Kostandaras said.
In other business, council approved a new storm-water maintenance assessment for about 870 property owners.
The county has the ability to charge an annual drainage fee in new township subdivisions, but hasn't pursued the charge for several years. The money is needed to help pay for water retention and basin maintenance in those neighborhoods, officials have said.
The fee averages $134 a year per property. It will raise $114,133 annually.
Property owners in the following six townships are affected:
-- Bath Township: Estates of Bath, Estates of Bath Extension and Firestone Trace Phase V.
-- Copley Township: Cherrywood Crossing, Creekside Estates, Creekstone, Hametown Woods No. 4, Hillside Estates, Ridgewood Reserve, Swan Lake Phase IV, West Ridge Estates and Ridge Park Drive Development.
-- Richfield Township: Forest at King's Creek, and Glencairn Forest Phases VII and VIII.
-- Sagamore Hills Township: Red Hawk Reserve.
-- Springfield Township: Mill Run Estates.
-- Twinsburg Township: Twin Oaks and Ridgetop Estates Subdivision No. 1.
The council also approved a 30-month policing contract with the Akron Metropolitan Housing Authority. The sheriff's office will dedicate four deputies and three vehicles to the agency.
The contract, which is retroactive to July and runs through 2011, is worth $955,570.
Rick Armon can be reached at 330-996-3569 or rarmon@thebeaconjournal.com.
