By David RotensteinNKyTribune reporter
The Northern Kentucky Port Authority (NKPA) was created in 1967. Its mission, determined by Kentucky statutes, was simple: operating facilities related to river commerce and navigational facilities in Boone, Campbell and Kenton counties. In recent years, the NKPA drifted well outside its narrow channel.
After being mostly dormant for its first 54 years, the NKPA roared back to life in 2022 with a new mission and new people at the helm. Now, four years later, the authority has completed several high-profile projects that some observers say go well beyond its original mandate. Rep. Matthew Lehman (D-Campbell County) has introduced a bill to legalize the NKPA’s new activities by expanding its mandate.
Northern Kentucky — along with Cincinnati — has a port authority because its three counties occupy valuable and strategic riverfront property. The Ohio River is an inland waterway that connects the region to the world through international shipping…