WINTERSVILLE — The Jefferson County Port Authority board of directors Friday afternoon agreed to sign a 12-month lease with the Jefferson County Commissioners to move the economic development agency to The Towers building by Sept. 1.
The Authority currently maintains offices and holds its monthly meeting at the Jefferson County Airport.
“The Authority directors and the commissioners have been in talks for several months regarding a possible move to downtown Steubenville and Friday’s decision was prompted by board member Jay Zatta who asked when a decision would be made.
“We have always envisioned the port authority being in the county seat. And the better location is The Towers on the first floor. There is sufficient parking that will be black topped soon. And The Towers building will soon have a new roof and air conditioning. The building is now 70 percent occupied,” stated Commissioner Thomas Graham.
“We would like to see the Brooke-Hancock-Jefferson Metropolitan Planning Commission move into The Towers but that has happened yet. The Ohio State University Extension Service will soon move into the building,” added Graham.
“The airport is very convenient for me but I feel it would be a better impression for visitors and investors coming to the Port Authority for the offices to be in Steubenville,” said Board Chairman Gary Cain.
The five board members at Friday’s meeting voted unanimously to move to Steubenville.
The discussion also sparked comments from Board member Greg Nemeth who said a receptionist may be needed to answer the phones in the new office.
“I know I can’t stand calling a business and getting an answering machine. That just isn’t good business,” commented Cain.
Authority Executive Director Evan Scurti said he will review the office staff schedule and bring ideas back to the board.
The board members also held a lengthy discussion on the current split of board appointees between Steubenville and the county commissioners.
And Board member Mark Teramana suggested Scurti send a letter to all of the communities in Jefferson County encouraging them to send a representative to the board meetings.
“We want every community to be involved and to feel they are a part of the port authority,” said Teramana.
The board also agreed to send a list of proposed by-law changes to the county commissioners and the Steubenville city council for approval.
“I was appointed by the city but I feel we are all in this together. We work for the entire community not just the people who appointed us to this board,” Board member Ed Florak said.
In other business the board approved a bid from Geno Morelli to cut the grass at the Jefferson County Industrial Park.
And the board heard from Ed Looman and Brad Blair of the Appalachian Partnership for Economic Growth regarding the creation of a Community Development Financial Institution.
From Herald Star | July 1, 2017
