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NewsJune 11, 1991

SCOTT CITY - Construction of a railroad spur into the Southeast Missouri Regional Port is now under way, port authority commissioners were advised Monday. Executive Director Allan Maki told the board at its monthly meeting that a notice to proceed with construction was given Thursday to CRW Construction Co. of Little Rock, Ark., and work began Saturday...

SCOTT CITY - Construction of a railroad spur into the Southeast Missouri Regional Port is now under way, port authority commissioners were advised Monday.

Executive Director Allan Maki told the board at its monthly meeting that a notice to proceed with construction was given Thursday to CRW Construction Co. of Little Rock, Ark., and work began Saturday.

CRW had the lowest bid on the $1.5 million project, which is the first of two phases of construction on the spur.

Maki explained that the contract was finalized after right-of-way acquisition was completed 10 days ago with the purchase of 61 acres from Lone Star Cement Co.

Following the meeting, Maki took commissioners on a tour of the construction site.

Monday's meeting marked the first one for two commissioners appointed recently to fill unexpired terms. Irvin Garms of Cape Girardeau was appointed to fill the term of Charles Blattner, who resigned. The Scott County Commission appointed Bill Bess of Sikeston to fill the remainder of a term held by John Brannock of Sikeston, who died recently.

With the additional right of way purchased for the railroad, Maki told the board that the port authority now owns 405 acres and has a five-year option to purchase any or part of 186 acres along the site for extending Nash Road into the port authority.

Once the rail spur is finished, construction of a road entrance into the port from the Nash Road industrial complex likely will become the next major capital priority of the port authority.

The port is paying $7,116 a year for the option, Maki said.

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Maki also predicted that by the end of June the port will have handled more tonnage than for the entire years of 1989 and 1990. In May, 4,075 tons were moved through the port on six barges, bringing the year-to-date total to 25,421 tons. For all of 1990 the total tonnage was 28,400; in 1989 it was 27,400.

"By the end of June we will have passed our past year-end totals, and I feel confident that we are on a pace to make 50,000 tons for the year," said Maki.

He said Girardeau Stevedores, which has a contract for operating the public dock at the port, has added seven additional employees, giving the company a total of 15. Maki said the increase was due to increased tonnage passing through the port.

He said once grain starts moving through the tonnage should increase dramatically.

Maki recently advised the board that the director of marketing for the Port of New Orleans visited the port in an effort to establish a working relationship with inland ports. Maki said having a relationship with the New Orleans port will help the port in expanding its potential container traffic and increase opportunities for moving grain and serving potential industries that might locate here.

Board Chairman Morty Potashnick of Sikeston appointed new committees to include the new board members. He also suggested the four committees establish regular monthly meeting times.

Treasurer Mysie Keene of Jackson will head the finance committee, which will consist of Fred Surman of Chaffee, Jim Limbaugh of Cape Girardeau and Bess.

Serving as chairman of the construction committee will be Surman. Other members will be Limbaugh, Garms and Alvie Modglin of Scott city.

Peter Kinder of Cape Girardeau was named chairman of the energy committee. Other members are Hence Winchester of Sikeston, Garms, and Bess.

Keene is chairman of the marketing committee, which includes Kinder, Winchester and Modglin.

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