PORT AUTHORITY PROVIDES HIDDEN HAVEN FOR INDUSTRY

Tucked within a bend of the Mississippi River along the Cape Girardeau-Scott county line is one of the region's best-kept secrets: The Southeast Missouri Regional Port Authority.

The port authority is a county-level government agency created in 1975 to allow better use of the Mississippi River.

The port authority is governed by a nine-member board appointed by commissioners in Cape Girardeau and Scott counties. Each commission appoints four members to four-year terms, with the ninth member alternated between counties every two years.

The port leases space to six businesses on a portion of its 500-acre site and provides access to highways and interstates, two railroad systems, air and pipeline systems in addition to its slackwater harbor leading to the river.

Most area residents are unfamiliar with the port because they have no reason to be there, but for industrial groups needing access to the various transportation systems in close proximity to the port, it's exactly where they want to be.

"We try to bring new businesses in, but even here in Cape many people don't know where we are or what we do," said marketing director Margaret Yates. "I find I have to explain what the port authority is a lot."

Dan Overbey, port authority executive director, said after an initial struggle and some lean years, the port is finally coming into its own. Most of the income comes in the form of lease agreements with participating companies and switching charges received whenever the SEMO Port Railroad, an eight-mile stretch of railroad purchased in 1990, is used to access Burlington Northern Santa Fe or Union Pacific railroad companies.

"We're to the point that today the port has $17.5 million in assets," Overbey said. "We're self-sufficient. For several years here the board would meet and try to figure out what they wanted us to do. Now, basically we act like a land developer and prepare the land that's then ready for someone to lease."

Access to the port authority has improved greatly since the state extended Nash Road to the site. Previously, the only road access was a winding back road with numerous blind spots that led to Scott City.

"It was so bad in some places that they put up bubble mirrors so the truck drivers would see each other," Overbey said. "The road improvements have been a big help."

The businesses at the port authority are varied. A general dock has been run for many years by Girardeau Stevedores and Contractors Inc. The company loads and unloads merchandise for the surrounding grain and food product bagging operation, fertilizer plant, several grain elevators and one of only two chip mills in the state.

And there's room for more. Overbey said only about 120 acres have been developed, although plans are under way to develop an additional region adjacent to the harbor. The procedure is costly because each project requires additional dirt so the area can be developed well above anticipated flood stages.

"It costs about $60,000 per acre to put dirt in because everything has to be built above the 500-year flood level," he said. "We came just short of a 100-year flood during the floods of '93 and '95. We were within inches in a couple of places."

The port is not ideal for every business. Companies that have limited shipping requirements by barge probably would be better served in the nearby industrial park rather than within the port authority, Overbey said.

"Because we are limited on land, we want to focus on companies that really need to be close to the harbor and have a heavy amount of traffic," he said. "Each place has its own advantages."

One personal advantage noted by Overbey is "a nice mix of industry and wildlife." Throughout the year he will see deer, turkey, foxes and bobcats, among other animals in the region. And despite the commitment to development, some portions of the port authority have been reserved for conservation.

"Some of the land we have will never be developed because it's environmentally sensitive," said Overbey. "We have a conservation easement for spring cavefish a Missouri endangered species that are on a neighbor's land, but very close. It's the only location west of the Mississippi River, so we've gone to considerable lengths to protect them."

Overbey foresees a bright future for the port authority. It's "kind of tucked away" from surrounding cities, but its site has everything an industry looks for in transportation resources, he said.

"It's rare to find a port authority that has access to so many kinds of transportation, and especially with our harbor and access to two major rail systems," said Overbey. "We're here and we're in business, and things look good."