Portsmouth Council approves emergency riverfront contract and advances several ordinances

Portsmouth City Council on March 3, 2025 approved an emergency contract authorizing the city manager to enter into a $3,902,188 agreement with Allard Excavations LLC for riverfront boating-facility work and advanced several other ordinances during a regular meeting at the Hut Croaker Innovation Hub at Shawnee State University.

The action on the riverfront project was taken as an emergency ordinance so the city can obligate and spend Ohio Department of Natural Resources funds before a stated deadline. City Manager Sam Sutherland told council, "The Department of Natural Resources money has to be spent by the end of this year. So if we don't spend it, we're gonna lose it," and described rising construction costs and an additional Appalachian Regional Commission grant secured to cover the increase in the project estimate.

Why it matters: council members said the riverfront work — which officials described as replacing the old Court Street boat ramp and adding parking and lighting —…