STEUBENVILLE - The nine members of the Jefferson County Port Authority were named Thursday during a ceremony on the steps of the Jefferson County Courthouse.
A port authority is an economic development tool, capable of using eminent domain powers, issuing bonds and generating money through assessments for infrastructure for economic development projects.
The city had a port authority, and council voted to abolish it to make room for the countywide port authority.
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Mark Law
MEMBERS NAMED — The nine members of the Jefferson County Port Authority were named Thursday during a ceremony on the steps of the Jefferson County Courthouse. The members are, from left, Greg Nemeth, Robert D’Anniballe, Debbie Venci, Gary Cain, Geary Bates and Mike Thomas. Also named were Jayson Zatta, Mark Teramana and Edward Florak. The city and county each appointed four members, with the county regional planning commission appointing the ninth member.
The county commissioners and City Council each appointed four members, with the ninth member coming from the Jefferson County Regional Planning Commission.
The city's four members are Debbie Venci, Mark Teramana, Robert D'Anniballe and Edward Florak. The county's four members are Geary Bates, Gary Cain, Jayson Zatta and Mike Thomas. The regional planning commission appointee is Greg Nemeth.
City Mayor Domenick Mucci said city and county officials wanted a good cross section of leaders to move the port authority forward.
"They will work together on the economic opportunities for Jefferson County. It is a good cross section of business, education and professional," Mucci said.
Jefferson County Commissioner Thomas Graham said there are high expectations for the port authority.
County Commissioner David Maple thanked Steubenville officials for their collaboration and cooperation in forming the countywide port authority.
"We have a lot of potential growth here in the next two to three years," Maple said in reference to the budding oil and gas industry development in the county.
County Commissioner Tom Gentile said he was really excited about the port authority members.
"They have extremely diverse backgrounds. They bring leadership, expertise and (professional) experiences. History was made with Jefferson County and Steubenville like we have never seen before with the cooperation it took to make this happen. We worked hard to make it happen," Gentile said.
Mucci said building a consensus on both sides of Market Street was a "historical moment."
"It shows cooperation and collaboration is truly the way to go,"Mucci said.
City 3rd Ward Councilman Greg Metcalf said the formation of the port authority is just the beginning of the cooperation between the city and the county.
"We had numerous meetings to hammer this (port authority) out," he said.
