PORT LOOKS TO TRIPLE ITS TONNAGE

SCOTT CITY - Despite very limited activity this summer because of Mississippi River flooding, the Southeast Missouri Regional Port Authority is on target to triple its annual tonnage over 1992.

Last year, net tonnage at the SEMO Port was 74,128, and through nine months of 1993, 171,016 net tons have passed through the port. During the month of September, net tonnage was 22,614.

"Our tonnage has picked up considerably, even though we had very little in June and July," said Mysie Keene of Jackson, chairman of the port's board of commissioners. "We are very pleased with our level of activity."

At the board's monthly meeting Monday, commissioners also accepted a grant from Southwestern Bell Telephone, which is providing a matching funds economic development grant that was awarded to the port.

The money will be used to complete an application for a foreign trade zone designation through the U.S. Department of Commerce.

The port authority's matching funds will include $3,500 in cash and $3,500 of administrative expenses.

Dan Overbey, executive director of the port, announced that bids that had been received for paving the dock were referred to the Economic Development Administration. The EDA will pay a portion of the costs from a grant awarded to the port authority last year for infrastructure improvements.

Girardeau Stevedores had the low bid for the paving project of $198,200; the engineer's estimate was $210,000.

Overbey also indicated that planning was proceeding for the extension of Nash Road into the port authority. Work will begin next spring and should be finished in 1995.