REGION TAKES SERIOUS LOOK AT PORT AUTHORITY

The Southeast Missouri Regional Port Authority was an idea three decades in the making. On April 28, 1990, amid rainy festivities, the port officially began operation.

But the concept started in the 1970s with a group of businessmen who envisioned a way to better utilize the Mississippi River.

In September 1973, then Gov. Christopher Bond appointed a task force to look at developing a port authority. Members of the group included C.W. "Woody" Rushing of Cape Girardeau, president of Missouri Dry Dock, and Charles B. Southern Jr., of Caruthersville, vice president and general counsel for Southern Towing Co.

But, before the port could be developed, state laws needed to be in place. In April 1973, Sen. Albert M. Spradling Jr., of Cape Girardeau offered an amendment to a House bill authorizing the creation of a state port authority. This allowed any Missouri city along the Mississippi to operate a port authority. The legislation was approved.

In September, Cape Girardeau and Scott County Commissioners signed an application for a joint port authority. It was approved by the state.

Much of the next four years was spent conducting feasibility studies in cooperation with the Corps of Engineers.

In 1979, the port authority signed a long-term lease with West Lake Quarry and Materials for a 178-acre site along the river near Gray's Point.

"I can foresee a time when this entire area between Scott City and Cape Girardeau is filled with industry," said Melvin Glueck, then Scott County Associate Commissioner.

In 1981, the Corps of Engineers announced that it would re-initiate a study of the port authority. The study, which was first requested in 1975 was ceased in 1978 because the Corps arrived at a cost-to-benefit ratio of less than one to one.

On Dec. 14, 1981, two barges from Germany carrying 750 tons of iron sulfate are unloaded, marking the first inbound freight at the port.

The 1980s was one of financial growth and worries for the port. The port ended up receiving a series of federal grants for improvements.

However, after struggling to generate local funds to match federal grants, port commissioners meet with county commissioners and requested a quarter-cent, four-year sales tax be placed on the ballot.

On March 5, 1984, the sales tax won 71 percent approval in Cape Girardeau County and 76 percent approval in Scott County.

That sales tax from Cape Girardeau and Scott counties generated $7.3 million from 1986 to 1990.

By matching grants, the port was able to leverage the $7.3 million into $17 million, which in turn, was used to attract more business and industry to the area.

Within the past year, three industrial projects have started up at the port that have a combined investment of around $19 million -- Consolidated Grain and Barge, $4 million; Missouri Fibre Corp., $13 million; and Riverport Terminals, $2 million.

When combined with the port's existing projects -- Girardeau Stevedores, Midwest AgriChemical and First Missouri Terminals -- the amount of private investment in the port exceeds $21 million.

"The $7.3 million public investment has produced $21 million in private investment," said Dan Overbey, executive director of the port.

In 1998, for the first time since the port began operations, private investment in the port has exceeded public investment.

"That was the game plan all along," said Overbey.