Officials discuss Belpre economic development
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BELPRE -- The city of Belpre and the Southeastern Ohio Port Authority are continuing joint efforts to make plans for economic planning and development for the city.
Port Authority Director Andy Kuhn gave an update on plans at Monday's meeting of Belpre City Council.
The authority and the city want to collect information on programs and services that Belpre can use in economic development and planning for the future, he said. That ranges from determining the city's utility base to developable properties to other types of opportunities available in the community.
Kuhn also wants to work on regional planning and how Belpre's needs and assets work into the larger picture.
At its Aug. 12 meeting, Belpre received a $5,000 grant from the Belpre Area Community Development Foundation toward the cost of having a consultant develop a comprehensive economic development strategy. Kuhn said the port authority board is expected to vote soon providing additional funds for the study, up to $10,000.
In other business, Mayor Mike Lorentz said safety-service director Ron Cross found new employment and left the city on Friday. He had served in that position since January 2016. Lorentz said he and city code enforcement officer Leonard Wiggins would share that office's responsibilities while the search for a new safety-service director is conducted, possibly through the end of the year.
Council approved the first reading of an ordinance to update the city's code book with the changes and additions approved by council in the last year. Two more readings will be held at future council meetings.
Several committee meetings will be held in the coming weeks. The finance committee will meet at 6:30 p.m. Sept. 9 to discuss several proposed ordinances and at 6:30 p.m. Sept. 23 to discuss a proposed city impound yard ordinance. The police and fire committee will meet at 6 p.m. Sept. 12 to continue discussion on a proposed golf cart ordinance.