Port Authority alters travel policy

A state audit made no findings for recovery.
By D.A. WILKINSON
VINDICATOR SALEM BUREAU
EAST LIVERPOOL -- The Columbiana County Port Authority has made two minor changes to its policies after a state audit.
The Ohio Auditor's Office recently released its audit of the authority for 2002 and 2003.
There were no findings for recovery, though the state made several recommendations and issued a noncompliance citation.
Timothy Brookes, the authority's lawyer, said that anything the state requested has been addressed.
The port authority is a quasi-public entity that has an annual operating budget of about $1.3 million a year.
The authority does not receive public funds, such as tax revenue, directly.
The authority is involved in a number of development projects throughout the county, most recently bringing a trailer manufacturing business to Salem.
And though it is called the "Columbiana County" port authority, it is an entity separate from other county agencies.
Concerns, recommendations
The state audit noted that Tracy Drake, the authority's chief executive officer, has an authority-issued American Express card. Drake sometimes had business expenses on the authority card, or paid for expenses, such as gasoline, in another way and then asked for reimbursement.
The state audit recommended that to prevent any problems, the authority should adopt a policy of only paying mileage.
Brookes said that the authority expanded and clarified the language in its policy on business travel. The policy states that workers may get the mileage fee or reimbursement for expenses but not both.
Drake had built up frequent-flyer miles on the authority credit card. The audit recommended that the authority approve a policy that would restrict the use of frequent flyer miles to official travel or business.
Brookes said the authority changed Drake's contract to give him the frequent-flyer points for his personal use as part of his compensation. Brookes said the points were worth about $200.
Drake said the authority has an outside auditing firm to independently checks the books.
The authority has the state do the audit, Drake said, as "an extra set of eyes."
The audit issued one noncompliance citation that said the authority did not approve an annual budget, certify its money to the Columbiana County auditor's office or adopt annual appropriations.
Brookes said the authority did approve a budget and appropriations. But he said he was not sure if the financial documents were filed with the auditor's office.
wilkinson@vindy.com