Semo Port prepares for Blunt visit

Many construction updates are in the works at the Southeast Missouri Regional Port Authority, but in the short term, the organization is planning for U.S. Sen. Roy Blunt's visit Wednesday.

Blunt, a Republican, will tour the port at 11:30 a.m. and also plans to answer questions from members of the public, said Dan Overby, the port's executive director.

Blunt is participating in a series of open press events across Missouri to discuss what his office characterizes as executive overreach by President Barack Obama. Blunt's events are in support of a vote to authorize U.S. House Speaker John Boehner to move forward with a lawsuit against the president.

Meanwhile, Overby mentioned at a Monday meeting that the harbor next to the port is being repaired because it began to slide into the Mississippi River over time. When the river was low in 2013, a trench was dug and filled with rock to stop the harbor from sliding.

Overby said construction has slowed because of flooding, but he's hoping some general cleanup will be completed, along with putting more rock closer to the bank.

The port also is planning to add another piece of track to the Semo Port Railroad. Overby said the grant-supported track is going to be between 1,600 to 1,800 feet long. The port authority was awarded $424,000, but the funds are on hold by Gov. Jay Nixon, so a construction date has not been set.

A smaller project taking place is treating the port's sewage lagoons, which could cost $20,000.

The final topic discussed Monday was the annual dredging of the harbor. Overby said dredging every year is necessary to dislodge silt and other sediments so barges can approach safely. If the harbor is not dredged annually, approximately 10 feet of silt can build up.

For the past three years, the port has been responsible for dredging the harbor at a cost of about $350,000, but this year a government grant will cover it. The entire dredging process takes about four days and will happen in early September.

The next SEMO Port authority meeting will be Sept. 8 at the port authority office in Scott City.

smaue@semissourian.com

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pertinent address:

10 Bill Bess Drive, Scott City, Mo.