By DORIS COOK

Staff Writer

dcook@starbeacon.com

JEFFERSON - - The Ashtabula County Port Authority hired the consulting services of Michael Baker Jr. Inc. of Cleveland for the next phase of work at the former FirstEnergy Plant C.

At Thursday's meeting, the ACPA board approved the firm's proposal to draft the soil remediation bid specifications and direct permitting processes necessary to move this phase forward. Baker's price of $36,774 was accepted by the board after some discussion.

Baker consulting engineer, Stephen Collar also recommended some of his firm's planning experts to meet with the board for discussing the highest and best use of the plant's 21-acres parcel on Lake Road. A meeting was set for 8 a.m. Nov. 2 with the engineer consultants.

Board President John Palo said the port authority will continue to own the plant for it's valuable water pumping operation, which supplies raw Lake Erie water to eight surrounding industries in the area. The board also wants to save the plant's filtration treatment equipment for future uses.

Development of the acreage for more industrial or commercial uses is a long range goal for the ACPA. The board also briefly discussed the need to consider selling portions of the scrap metal inside the building.

The majority of asbestos abatement work was completed last month in the pump and screen rooms inside the lower portions of the building, officials said. Praxair employees will begin training soon to operate the water pumping equipment and monitor billing for the industrial customers.

Several board members met this week with Ohio Environmental Protection Agency, Ohio Department of Development officials and representatives with the Clean Ohio Act Funding program for a tour of the former utility plant. Palo said COAF and ODOD officials will be asking for more information on the board's application for a $750,000 COAF grant.

In other action, the board authorized spending up to $500 to fix a small roof leak problem and repair a door. Security cameras were recently installed on the perimeter of the building along with new security linked entrance keys for the board members.

The board voted to hire Cantor & Associates, a Youngstown-based accounting firm for $5,290 to conduct a financial audit on 2005 records. Palo said the state auditor's office recommended the port authority hire a private firm for the audit.

Star Beacon Print Edition: 10/8/2006

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