Port Keeps an Eye on Budget

The Port Authority is beginning to put their 2011 budget together.

Due to the economic downturn  the port is keeping tight reigns on spending in the upcoming budget year, as they prepare preliminary numbers for the auditor.

"Over the past four years the Port Authority has spent over a million dollars, $1.2 million on projects," explained Mike Jacoby port authority executive director. "We’ve invested a lot into the general fund and that’s an investment that hasn’t completely paid off so that’s kind of a reason to watch the general fund."

Jacoby said some of the general fund spending includes getting permits and doing studies on wetlands. One of the projects nearing completion is the job ready site at Eastpointe which has hit a small snag.

A sewer line, not yet in service is in danger of breaking due to a slip in the land.

Jacoby said, "You can’t have that land slipping anymore because the line will break and if the line was in service, we would have a sewage spill and we can’t have that."

Muskingum County Engineer Doug Davis is working with the Port to assess the problem and work on a way to prevent any damage to the line.

The Port Authority also says that a construction meeting for the State Route 93 turn lane will take place June 1st with work scheduled to begin in July.