DANFORTH HOSTS GATHERING ON ROLE OF PORT AUTHORITIES

SCOTT CITY - U.S. Sen. John Danforth will hold a meeting this week to learn more about the role of port authorities in Southeast Missouri.

Entitled, "Missouri's Ports In the '90s," the session will be held at noon Thursday at the Sikeston Inn. Allan Maki, executive director of the Southeast Missouri Regional Port Authority, will chair the meeting.

Maki told commissioners of the SEMO Port Authority Monday that the meeting had been called at Danforth's request because he wanted to learn more about the needs of port authorities.

"This will not be an opportunity to present a wish list, but rather a chance to look at what port authorities are going to need overall to promote economic development and intermodal transportation," said Maki. "This is more of an overview of what port authorities are trying to do."

Besides Maki and Danforth, also participating in the discussion will be John Hynes, director of waterways for the Missouri Highway and Transportation Department; Mike Clayton, executive director of the Pemiscot County Port Authority; Bill Pinnell, executive director of the New Madrid County Port Authority; Hugh Klasing, executive director of the Mississippi County Port Authority; and Walt Wildman, director of the Regional Commerce and Growth Association.

Besides economic development and intermodal transportation, the discussion also will focus on the mission of ports, their role in international trade, and infrastructure and capital needs of the ports in the area.

On Dec. 17, the SEMO Port Authority will hold a luncheon for state legislators in the area to discuss specific needs for the port.

Maki said he anticipates a number of state legislators will attend as well as Senate Appropriations Chairman Roger Wilson, D-Columbia; John Oliver of Cape Girardeau, a member of the Missouri Highway and Transportation Commission; and Hynes.

Maki said it will be a very tight year financially for the state, but he cited the importance of keeping legislators informed on the port's progress and its potential.

In his monthly tonnage report to the commissioners, Maki said the port would likely reach its 1991 goal of passing 50,000 tons through the dock. In November about 9,000 tons passed through the dock, the most for any month of 1991.

Overall for the year, the port has moved 47,438 tons, a 77 percent increase over the amount moved during 1990.

Construction of a one-million-gallon storage tank by First Missouri Terminals Corp. at the port should be finished in about a week, Maki reported. He said the company anticipates unloading some liquid fertilizer into the tank before the end of the year.

In other business Monday, the board unanimously re-elected its present slate of officers for 1992.

Without discussion, the board elected Morty Potashnick of Sikeston, chairman; Peter Kinder of Cape Girardeau, vice chairman; Fred Surman of Chaffee, secretary; and Mysie Keene of Jackson, treasurer.