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The Washington County Commission voted 2-1 on Thursday to move $1,500,000 into a separate item line for development in anticipation of a loan proposal by The Southeastern Ohio Port Authority (SeOPA) to redevelop the former AMP-Ohio Gorsuch site into a road, river, and rail-served port facility.
"The relationship and support of our SeOPA has proven that the collaboration to improve development standards is a constant in our minds. Site acquisition is a key part of this," County Commissioner Charlie Schilling said in a narrative submitted to the commission. "The vision to have a multimodal port facility located in Washington County on the Ohio River provides a significant economic impact that will resonate throughout the county."
The former AMP-Ohio Gorsuch site, located on the Ohio River Scenic Byway across from Eramet, is cited by the SeOPA as, "the only opportunity for Washington County to marry the rail and the river." The SeOPA said in turn they would connect Muskingum River Industrial Park (MRIP) in Waterford to the river, opening it up to the world market.
The terms written into the initial proposal are:
≤ $1,500,000 loan at 5% for 10 years
≤ 3 years with no payments, interest-only payments years 4-6, with full payment due years 7-9
≤ A balloon payment of the balance due in year 10 (estimated at $350,000-$400,000)
≤ The county nets over $400,000 in interest and sees a clear ROI (return of interest) with the redevelopment.
Commissioner James Booth, who was the lone no vote, said the terms in the loan are not defined enough to make a contract at this time.
SeOPA Executive Director Jesse Roush said while the terms play out well for the county they were willing to work on them. He said the commission voting to move that money into a separate item line has given the port authority the confidence to move forward with the project. He said the 55 miles of Ohio River frontage was the number one inland watering port in the country. He said combined with the 50 miles of rail, it would restore lost jobs, revenue and taxes to the area.
Booth said he had some concerns with the proposal. He said developing on this site could impact other local businesses and that local governments should not be in direct competition with private businesses.
He said there was also the concern of the site being brownfield land, land that is abandoned or underutilized due to pollution from industrial use, and that there was no sewer line to the site. He said the county has been working on that but they have only been developing from Belpre to Blue Knob Road.
"We should stay in our lane," Booth said.
He said although he has his concerns and voted no, he would do his duty and make sure this is a success for the citizens of Washington County.
Schilling said in his narrative that this was the time for Washington County to capture an amazing opportunity via a collaborative endeavor.
"I have 100% faith in the vision the Port (Authority) has and the good paying jobs this type of project has for our workforce moving forward," Schilling said. "If we are going to compete with other areas of the state we are going to need site control and a plan of attack to attract funding for speculative development. This is a key part of the building block that's missing."
Booth said the matter would be discussed by the commission at a later meeting.
Douglass Huxley can be reached at dhuxley@newsandsentinel.com