PORT TONNAGE DIPS IN MAY, INCREASE EXPECTED

Net tonnage received at the Southeast Missouri Regional Port Authority was down considerably in May, but port officials said the decline is due to seasonal factors.

Tonnage is expected to increase again this summer, they say.

Other business handled during the port authority's regular monthly meeting Monday included a change in the time of the commissioners' meetings; updates on the Nash Road extension project; and the effort to establish a foreign trade zone at the port.

Board Chairman Mysie S. Keene said the May net tonage figure was 22,902 tons, a decline of nearly 25,000 net tons from April's figure of 47,640.

Executive Director Dan Overbey said the drop was due to seasonal factors. He said, "We came off the end of the spring fertilizer season, and the amount of petroleum coke coming in to the port is down because of a lack of demand for electricity at the Sikeston Municipal Power Plant. We're waiting for everybody to turn on their air conditioners."

The coke is burned by the power plant to generate steam for the generating electricity.

Through May 31, net tonnage received at the port this year now totals 162,263 tons. Last year's total net tonnage was 259,338 tons.

In his director's report, Overbey said the final environmental assessment report for the Nash Road extension was sent to Jefferson City by the Southeast Missouri Regional Planning and Economic Development Commission. The commission assists the port authority on the port road project.

Overbey said test drilling by the Missouri Highway and Transportation Department on port authority property near the new railroad cut indicates there may be sufficient supplies of rock available to provide the fill needed for the extension of Nash Road into the port.

Overbey said checks of $10,000 were received from Scott and Cape Girardeau counties. The money will be used to help offset the port authority's matching share ($80,000) for paving the public dock facility.

Overbey said 1,100 of the required 2,500 annual potential shipments needed to qualify the port as a foreign trade zone have been located. He said, "The port authority will hold three informational meetings around the region to see if any additional potential FTZ shipments can be directed through the port.

"At this time, it's not really optimistic that we will have the required number of shipments to qualify for a FTZ, but it's not over 'til it's over, and we will continue our efforts."

Overbey reported the Missouri Department of Natural Resources has approved construction plans for the port's number two dredge basin.

Overbey also briefed the commissioners on plans by the Missouri Highway and Transportation Department to convert all of its highway signage to the metric system by 1996. This would include the Nash Road extension to the port site.

Overbey said, "Right now, it's just an informational item, but keep it in mind. In another year or two, we'll have to start looking at this in terms of meters and kilometers." To which Keene quipped, "You'll have to teach a bunch of us old dogs new tricks. I measure things in inches, feet and miles."

The commissioners approved a change in the starting time of their monthly meeting. The meetings will now begin at 1 p.m., instead of 2 p.m.