OMAHA- Just a week after they expressed interest in its creation, State Sens. Justin Wayne and Terrell McKinney went before the Omaha City Council on Thursday to urge the city to establish a nine-member inland port authority near Eppley Airfield, arguing that it could bring in as much as $500 million in investments. "We just need some more laser focus in this area," said Wayne.

Supported by Omaha Mayor Jean Stothert, the authority, if approved by the Council, would become the fourth such entity in Nebraska, a state where only five inland port authorities are allowed by law. While the Council won't vote on the matter until next year, several members spoke favorably about the proposal. Councilwoman Juanita Johnson, while supportive, said that she and her constituents would need to be more involved in the authority's establishment and discussions surrounding the topic.

In response to a question from Councilman Danny Begley, Wayne told the Council that he expects the district could get at least $10 million from the state to launch, and that Sen. McKinney plans to pursue legislation this session that could redirect up to $120 million from the Department of Economic Development towards to the project. Wayne also told the council that he is supportive of yielding state power over the port authority to the city, which would allow Mayor Stothert to appoint the governing board.

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