PORT RAIL CONTRACT TO BE LET

SCOTT CITY - A contract for construction of the first phase of a rail spur into the Southeast Missouri Regional Port Authority likely will be let in a week to 10 days, Port Executive Director Allan Maki said Monday.

Bids were opened for the project Feb. 8, but a contract has not been awarded because of efforts to purchase final right of way and secure necessary permits from the Missouri Department of Natural Resources. At Monday's port commission meeting, commissioners received good news about progress toward eliminating the remaining obstacles.

Maki said final approval of an agreement for right-of-way acquisition with Lone Star Cement will come within a few days.

The commissioners also received a report from Dr. Gary Walters, principal investigator for Triad Research Services, who completed a cultural survey along the site of the rail spur. He told the board everything DNR needed to give final approval to the project had been completed.

"The port believes it is now in possession of all permits necessary to proceed with the project," said Maki. "The port is gratified by the speed and diligence with which DNR has cooperated with us in this project, which involves port capital funds and also a Federal Railway Administration grant of $300,000.

In another matter related to the rail spur, the board voted to pay Union Electric $52,000 for casing a six-inch natural gas pipeline to run under the railroad and to relocate overhead utilities around the rail site.

"We took a couple of giant leaps on the rail today," said Maki, pointing out that the port has until June 8 to award a contract for the first phase of construction or it will have to rebid the project.

C.W.R. Construction Co., of Little Rock, had the lowest of 12 bids submitted.

"We look forward to commencement of construction on the rail spur and believe this will open an exciting new chapter of possibilities for the port authority," said Maki.

In other business, the board voted not to pay membership dues to any of the Chambers of Commerce in Cape and Scott counties, but instead request honorary memberships.

"The way we can help the chambers is to do what we can to get the port going," said Commissioner Charles Blattner. "We're in the same business as they are essentially."

Board Chairman Morty Potashnick agreed with Blattner and suggested seeking the honorary memberships. "We scratch their back as much as they scratch ours," said Potashnick.

In his monthly tonnage report, Maki told the board that total tonnage for the year was 11,962.54, which represents a 127.5 percent increase over the same period a year ago.

First National Bank of Sikeston was chosen by the board as the depository for the port authority's capital fund. The fund presently has $1,936,000 in it and the rate offered by First National was 6.26 percent.

Bids were also received from Mercantile and Boatmen's Banks of Cape Girardeau and First Financial Bank of Sikeston.

The board also hired Earley, Janssen, Begley and Co. to provide audit and accounting services for the next year.

A resolution was passed honoring Commissioner John Brannock of Sikeston, who passed away two weeks ago. Brannock was serving his second term on the board. In a resolution presented by Commissioner Fred Surman of Chaffee, the board said "the port will miss his efforts and in particular his expertise related to utility questions."

Blattner, who is resigning his position on the board after serving 10 years, including three years as chairman, was presented a plaque in recognition of his service.

The Scott and Cape Girardeau county commissions will fill the vacancies.