EAST LIVERPOOL, Ohio -- The Columbiana County Port Authority advertised for bids Monday to build an articulated crane to handle bulk materials exclusively at its Wellsville Intermodal Facility, CEO Tracy Drake reported last night

The overhead crane is so busy a second crane is needed, Drake told its board of directors at their reorganization meeting (READ STORY). Bids will be opened in early February, he said.

A state grant is slated to pay for construction of the articulated crane, also known as a loader or knuckle-boom crane, which could be in operation within a year and would add seven or eight full-time jobs in the county. While this crane would primarily serve Cimbar, a handler of bulk materials at the Wellsville site, at least at the outset, Drake sees it operating two shifts per day and likely three.

The articulated crane “could free up the bridge crane and allow the handling of increased bulk materials,” the CEO said

Business at the site of the 60-ton overhead crane “is growing faster than we can keep up,” Drake said. The activity reflects the health of the county economy, especially from the oil and natural gas extracted from the Utica shale. 

Pier 48, the company that operates the overhead crane, would also run the articulated crane.

Marathon Oil continues to weigh whether to purchase another 3.6 acres inside the Wellsville industrial park, Drake said. Marathon led the port authority to believe it would reach its decision by year-end. “We hope to know within the next two months,” Drake said.

The board approved allowing the Canton Christian Home in Stark County to issue up to $4.5 million in tax-exempt bonds under its authority to finance the expansion and renovation of the home and the Aultman House for Aged Women.

The state of Ohio allows each port authority to allow the issuance of up to $10 million annually in tax-exempt bonds in behalf of nonprofits.

The Stark County Port Authority reached its limit -- the Christian Home is seeking $15 million -- and last June approached the Columbiana County Port Authority to use its capacity. The Columbiana board agreed.

Monday night the Columbiana County Port Authority followed through. As Drake noted, never before had the port authority exercised its power on behalf of a nonprofit; moreover residents of Columbiana County live in the Canton Christian Home.

Pictured: Wellsville Intermodal Park.

Copyright 2015 The Business Journal, Youngstown, Ohio.
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