Akron disaster declaration goes to council after June storms damage roads and utilities

Akron’s Town Council is being asked to ratify Mayor Bowin’s local disaster declaration after late June storms damaged roads, water and wastewater facilities, airport property and other town infrastructure.

According to the July 6 council agenda packet, Bowin signed Resolution No. 29-2026 in coordination with Washington County emergency response after severe weather hit the county over several days in late June.

A town staff report in the packet says two storms on June 22 and June 24 flooded streets and left debris that forced crews to clear storm drains, improve drainage and remove fallen trees from roads.

The report says the Atteberry well house roof was completely removed, the Railroad well roof was peeled back, and the wastewater plant’s fresh-water well electronics and pump were badly damaged before being returned to service.

Other public facilities were also hit. The report says 2nd Street suffered major road damage and will need hot patching. The golf course and pond sustained tree and debris damage but reopened within 24 hours after temporary closures. The airport terminal flooded, airport road access washed out and was repaired, and cemetery roads were also being fixed.

The agenda packet does not include a damage estimate or say whether Akron has received outside aid. It says sanitation service continued without interruption, though crews made extra landfill trips and handled heavy cleanup loads after the storms.

The county resolution language included in the packet says a local disaster declaration activates local and inter-jurisdictional disaster plans and authorizes aid and assistance under those plans. State guidance says a local declaration can help communities coordinate with Colorado and support later requests for state or federal aid, but does not by itself guarantee reimbursement.