Economic growth in Scioto County remains at a standstill as officials wait for the dust to settle from the Robert Horton corruption scandal. With no economic development director in place and the Southern Ohio Port Authority (SOPA) only now beginning to regroup after nearly a year of dormancy, county leaders say it may be some time before a new economic strategy can move forward.
Waiting for the Other Shoe to Drop
During Thursday’s Scioto County Commissioners meeting, Commissioner Scottie Powell made it clear that uncertainty still looms.
“I wish I had an update,” Powell said. “It’s a tough proposition when there’s still potentially other things coming down the road. When you look at the indictment, there’s still other unnamed co-conspirators. The last thing we want to do is build a system around something that could fall apart because of new news. That gives me pause.”
However, Powell remains hopeful, stating he’s been in discussions about what the future of economic development in Scioto County could look like.
“A lot of organizations are willing to move forward. I’ve been spending this time researching what it could and should look like, and what other counties are doing.”
SOPA Slowly Coming Back to Life
Powell also noted that SOPA is back in operation—sort of.
“I think they found their bank accounts this week. That was encouraging.”
The agency, which abandoned its Portsmouth offices after the state raided them, is now preparing to return to its original headquarters on Court Street after temporarily operating out of a garage in Minford.
Despite the cloud of corruption, Powell says some major projects are still in the works.
“There’s some good things happening despite the bad,” he assured.
Commissioner Cathy Coleman echoed that optimism, saying the new SOPA board members are eager to move forward.
The Scandal That Stalled Growth
The Horton scandal has shaken local government to its core. Robert Horton, Scioto County’s former Economic Development Director and SOPA head, was hit with a staggering 15-count indictment on Valentine’s Day. His wife, Lioubov Horton, is also facing 12 charges.
The charges include:
🔴 Theft in office
🔴 Aggravated theft
🔴 Money laundering
🔴 Bribery
🔴 Tampering with public records
Prosecutors say the Hortons and three unidentified co-conspirators ran a fake business to funnel money from SOPA and the Minford Emergency Ambulance Service. Horton allegedly disguised bribes as commissions for his wife and later ordered businesses to destroy evidence once the Ohio State Auditor’s Office began investigating.
What’s Next for Scioto County?
While the scandal put economic development on hold, Powell insists good things are coming.
“There are substantial projects in the pipeline, and residents can expect an announcement soon.”
For now, Scioto County waits—hoping the worst is over, but bracing for what’s next. 🚨
