NEED FOR A SPEC BUILDING DISCUSSED BY PORT AUTHORITY BOARD

SCOTT CITY - The marketing committee of the Southeast Missouri Regional Port Authority's board of commissioners was given the nod Monday to investigate the possibilities of constructing a spec building at the port.

Mysie Keene, chairman of the marketing committee, said her group had determined that 25,000 square feet would be the ideal size for such a building. Until a tenant could be found to take over the building, Keene suggested it could be used as a storage facility for products coming or going through the public dock.

"We have no kind of spec building or warehouse for storage now to offer," said Keene, pointing out that there are 3,000 tons of salt piled on the ground now at the dock.

The board also discussed the need to upgrade security for tenants because of the increased activity due to construction and moving tonnage through the dock. Lanny Koch, of Girardeau Stevedores, the dock operator, and Russ Mothershead, of Midwest Agri-Chemico, who are two of the port's tenants, both have reported problems with theft recently.

Commissioners deferred action and disagreed over what their role should be in providing security. However, the board agreed the issue needs to be studied.

On the discussion about the spec building, several commissioners said they saw nothing wrong with researching the idea of a building, but were skeptical.

"Where's the money?" asked Fred Surman of Chaffee.

Keene explained that there could be an Economic Development Administration grant available to fund part of the project and that it might also be possible that someone could be found to construct the building as an investment.

She said the committee would pursue the matter further if the board concurred on the need.

"There is no need to get facts and figures together until we see what this board thinks about it," observed Keene.

"I see no harm with at least checking into it," said Hence Winchester of Sikeston.

Port Executive Director Allan Maki said it might be feasible for the port authority to construct its own building. He noted that sometimes industries are anxious to move into an area, but are delayed getting started because of the need to have a facility constructed.

Commissioner Jim Limbaugh of Cape Girardeau suggested it might be possible to have a consortium of banks in Cape Girardeau and Scott counties go together and provide a letter of credit that would enable the port authority to construct a facility.

"If it's a worthwhile proposal, I'll take it to the banks to see what they are willing to do," said Limbaugh.

Maki called the security problem to the board's attention and suggested it might be necessary to hire a security guard or install some kind of security system.

But Board Chairman Morty Potashnick of Sikeston, and Winchester, disagreed, saying the port was under no obligation to provide security. "We can't afford it anyway," declared Winchester.

"When we have a lot of tenants we might need that, but not now," added Potashnick.

Keene contended the port had the same kind of obligation to provide security that a city does with a police force.

But Winchester stressed, "If security is a problem for these folks, let them come to us. Allan (Maki) is covered up right now and I don't think he needs to be fooling with security."

Maki reported to the board that for the month of October, 4,581 tons were moved through the port, for a year total of 38,399. The current figure for 1991 is far above the 1989 record year for tonnage of 25,899.

Maki also advised the commissioners that the annual maintenance dredging of the slackwater harbor by the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers had been completed.