MANSFIELD — The Richland County Port Authority is open.
Open for business, that is, according to local officials.
The new governmental entity had its organizational meeting on Wednesday morning, officially adding an economic development tool breathed into life by the Richland County Board of Commissioners.
During a two-hour public meeting at Richland Area Chamber & Economic Development, Columbus attorney Gregory Daniels explained to the new five-member board how a port authority operates and how it can benefit local development efforts.
He said such entities are designed to spur the kind of public-private partnerships that can attract new business, help in the expansion of current companies and improve the climate for housing developments, among other things.
He also went over the board’s responsibilities as a public entity in terms of open meetings laws, public records/retention laws and the need to identify potential conflicts of interest.
There are now 63 port authorities in Ohio, rules for which are found in Ohio Revised Code 4582.
What is a port authority
A port authority is authorized under Ohio law to construct facilities, issue bonds, make loans, and sell or buy real and personal property.
A port can also offer economic development financing products in which other governmental organizations cannot.
— It can acquire, construct, furnish, equip, maintain, repair, sell, exchange, lease to or from, lease with an option to purchase, convey other interests in, or operate real or personal property;
— Issue bonds or notes for the acquisition, construction, furnishing, or equipping of any real or personal property;
— By resolution of its board of directors, it can issue revenue bonds beyond the limit of bonded indebtedness provided by law, for the acquisition, construction, furnishing, or equipping of any real or personal property;
— It can do any of the following, in regard to any interests in any real or personal property, or any combination thereof, including: loan moneys to any person or governmental entity for the acquisition, construction, furnishing, and equipping of the property; acquire, construct, maintain, repair, furnish, and equip the property; sell to, exchange with, lease, convey other interests in, or lease with an option to purchase the same or any lesser interest in the property to the same or any other person or governmental entity; guarantee the obligations of any person or governmental entity.
It can construct, maintain, repair, furnish, equip, sell, exchange, lease, or lease with an option to purchase, any property that it is authorized to acquire. A port authority that is subject to this section also may operate any property in connection with transportation, recreational, governmental operations, or cultural activities.
Port authority discussions gained traction in April when Ellen Heinz, chamber president and CEO, and Tom Vanderhorst, a financial specialist at the chamber, shared with commissioners the advantages a port authority could provide to spur development.
In May, commissioners approved an engagement letter for the creation of a port authority, authorizing $10,000 from the county’s general fund for legal work completed by Daniels & Rhodes.
Commissioners officially approved the port’s creation June 10.
“There’s been an overwhelming support (to create a port authority),” Heinz told commissioners last week.
“In fact, we have a number of projects that have reached out to us already asking to get involved to see if there is some way that their project might be a good fit for the port authority,” she said.
Near the end of the port authority’s organizational session Wednesday, also attended by all three commissioners and representatives from the chamber, board members also selected their leadership team.
— Mark Masters, president and CEO of Mechanics Bank, was selected board chair.
— David Eichinger, senior vice president and senior consultant at The Eichinger-Brafford-McClead Group, was picked to be vice chair.
— Randa Payne, general counsel at Adena Corporation, was selected board secretary, a role that includes the work of the group’s fiscal officer.
Other board members, all of whom were appointed last week to four-year terms, are DeLee Powell, president of Baker’s Collision, and Mansfield resident John Olivieri, executive director of the County Engineers Association of Ohio.
Commissioner Tony Vero has said the board selection process prioritized seeking individuals with business and economic development experience, as well as in finance.
Officials have said the powers of a port authority are capable of attracting developers to Richland County, as well as assisting existing local businesses and development projects.
While specifics are currently private, Heinz said three existing businesses within the county have interest in pursuing sales-tax exemptions through the port authority.
A developer has also shown interest in bringing two to three projects that would be new to the county.
“If it wasn’t for the port, they (developer) wouldn’t be looking at doing a project in the county,” Heinz said.
The board will meet at least quarterly and more often as required.
