Trending
EAST LIVERPOOL -- The Columbiana County Port Authority board took action at Monday's meeting to officially limit its size to no more than five members and no less than three.
The move comes one month after the board approved a comprehensive revision of port rules and regulations. Port Executive Director Penny Traina said she realized after the changes were approved in August there was no section specifically setting the board size, which at one time stood at nine members until county commissioners -- the appointing authority -- decided years ago to reduce the number of members to five to save money. Board member pay ranges from $516 to $570 per month, depending on what other duties they perform, plus they are eligible to receive health insurance.
The board is currently down a position following Brian Kennedy's resignation last month, and Traina said the decision to specifically limit the size was made after discussing the matter with the board's executive committee. When asked if commissioners were considering shrinking the board size again, Traina said she was unaware of any such plans.
In other action, the board renewed its comprehensive insurance policy with Minor-Cooper Insurance of East Liverpool at a cost of $46,607, which was the lowest of the three quotes solicited. Traina noted the coverage cost $82,460 as recently as 2013, but the staff has been working to reduce it and has been quite successful.
Port Finance/Management Administrator Diane Ksiazek, who was hired in 2013, said they were able to save about $25,000 immediately by eliminating coverage for a portion of the port industrial park in Wellsville under lease to a terminal operator. They did this after discovering the company that operates the riverfront terminal was required to carry insurance for the multi-million dollar crane system as part of its lease with the port.
Ksiazek said she discovered it after reviewing leases. "Fresh eyes looking at it, that's all," she explained.
The board also renewed the leases of 12 tenants at the main port facility on St. George Street in East Liverpool. The board also renewed its agreement with Humtown Products, which is leasing the former network operations building at the port's industrial park in Leetonia for the company's expanded industrial 3-D printing operations.
The initial lease was entered into in September 2016, with Humtown agreeing to pay for $52,000 in building improvements in exchange for free rent over the first 12 months. The company will now begin paying $1,956 per month to lease 2,824 square feet of industrial space and 230 square feet of office space.
"They've been a great tenant and great to work with," Traina said.
Traina announced the port, in partnership with NAISpring, will be hosting a half-day seminar on Nov. 8 at the East Liverpool Country Club to discuss job growth along the Ohio River corridor. Panelists include private and public organizations working to attract businesses along the river, with a particular emphasis on how to take advantage of what will come from petrochemical "cracker" plants being built along the river. It is invitation only, and the cost is $99.