TONNAGE AT PORT AHEAD OF LAST YEAR

SCOTT CITY -- The waterways division of the Missouri Highway and Transportation Deptartment has allocated $41,000 toward operating expenses for the Southeast Missouri Regional Port Authority in fiscal year 1993.

The port's board of commissioners had requested $50,000 from the state for the new fiscal year starting July 1. Last year, due to cuts and withholdings in the state budget, the port received $36,000 from the waterways division.

"We are the only port that had an increase in state funding this year," said Executive Director Allan Maki. "Some ports actually received a cut this year."

He said 15 ports in Missouri applied for the $288,000 available in operating grants. Maki said grant requests were for more than $600,000.

Maki said cuts were made to some ports whose focus was not directed at economic development along the river.

In April, the port authority set a tonnage record by moving 12,698 tons of products through the port. For the year to date, tonnage has totaled 30,857, which, Maki said, puts the port on target to shatter its annual tonnage record set last year. In 1991, a record 49,000 tons moved through the port.

Maki said increased tonnage is an indication of heavy activity at the port and that tonnage should continue to increase dramatically over the next few years.

The port commissioners are awaiting word on a $1.2 million Economic Development Administration grant that was submitted to the federal government. The grant would be matched with $800,000 in local money. Maki said he was optimistic that the grant would be approved later this month. The final grant application was submitted on April 29.

The port is seeking funding for railroad, dock, and utility improvements. In the application, Maki says the improvements could lead to several new industries and at least 200 new jobs.

At the board's monthly meeting this week, Maki reported that the first phase of construction on an 8,800-foot railroad spur into the port is 85 percent complete and should be finished around the first of August.

He said that 70,000 cubic yards of dirt and 20,000 additional cubic yards of rock remain to be hauled.

CWR Construction of Little Rock, Ark., is doing the work on the rail spur.

The commissioners also set Aug. 28 as the date to open bids on the second phase of the rail spur, which will include laying of rail.

The engineering firm of Bowen and Lawson will have a set of bid specifications for the board to review at its July meeting. If all goes well, Maki said the second phase should be under way before the end of the year.