Commissioners table draft SIP intergovernmental agreement with port after policy clarifications requested

Morrow County commissioners reviewed a draft intergovernmental agreement (IGA) meant to set a permanent county-port process for negotiating Strategic Investment Program (SIP) tax-exemption agreements with prospective businesses. The board did not vote to approve the draft; members instead requested specific edits and tabled the item to return with revisions at the next meeting.

Commissioner Sykes and staff said the IGA's purpose is to avoid ad-hoc negotiations and to provide clarity to businesses considering locating in the county. Commissioner Peterson and others raised concerns about the IGA's termination language and scope. "My concern is, as currently written, the IGA could stand in place even if the law changes," one commissioner said, asking for a clause that would let the IGA expire if the state alters SIP authority.

Other commissioners asked staff to clarify whether the IGA should apply only to port-owned property, to port-industrial or industrially zoned lands, or to countywide SIP applications, and to define when the port should have direct involvement (for example, when infrastructure or utilities are provided by the port). Port/administration participants suggested adding mutual policies for application review and agreed to add termination language tied to legislative change.

The board moved to table the IGA so staff can translate the commission's requested clarifications into revised draft language for legal review and return the item at the next meeting.