STEUBENVILLE --City Council gave final approval Tuesday to legislation that will abolish the inactive city port authority and a second ordinance to create a countywide port authority.
The approval came after a third and final reading by the council.
The Jefferson County commissioners are expected to vote Thursday during their weekly meeting to approve the new port authority.
According to Davison, the countywide port authority will be used as an economic development tool, capable of using eminent domain powers, issuing bonds and generating money through assessments for infrastructure for economic development projects.
" There will be no elected public officials on the port authority board," Davison said.
City Council and the commissioners each appoint four members with a ninth member to be appointed by the Jefferson County Regional Planning Commission.
The Community Improvement Corp. will transition into the new port authority, and the port authority will become the economic development tool of the county. Progress Alliance will continue to be a private-public partnership.
"We met a year ago for the first time, and it took a year to get to this point. It has been well worth it because it laid the foundation for other projects, It is a good relationship," Davison noted.
County Commissioner David Maple said the port authority will put all the county's economic development tools in one place.
In other business during the regular meeting the city council approved a resolution accepting and reserving the transfer of a C Class Liquor permit for the Hartley Company into the city for an economic development project.
The Hartley Company of Cambridge has indicated an interest in obtaining a liquor permit to sell alcoholic beverages at the BP station on South Third Street.
The council also approved emergency legislation to hire the W.E. Stillson Consulting Company for professional engineering services for the 2013 Brady Avenue and University Boulevard resurfacing improvements.
Read the Wednesday edition of the Herald-Star for all the details from the City Council meeting.
