Posted on June 9, 2016
Ste. Genevieve County Presiding Commissioner Garry Nelson said he has contacted a couple of companies to see if they would be interested in bidding on becoming the next stevedore for the Port of New Bourbon.
The New Bourbon Port Authority recently received a letter from Beelman River Terminals stating its intent to withdraw from the current tenant contract with the Port Authority.
Company president Sam Beelman submitted the letter to the Port Authority on May 25. The contract between Beelman and the Port Authority requires the company must give one year’s notice of their intent to terminate the contract, which will make it effective May 25, 2017.
The Port Authority board voted unanimously last month to accept the contract termination with Beelman.
Nelson said one company, Brennan Marine of La Crosse, Wisconsin, an inland port management company with several ports between Ste. Genevieve and La Crosse, expressed interest in renting harbor space.
Nelson added that Brennan has been working with Holcim (U.S.) Inc., in northern Ste. Genevieve County. Holcim representatives have told Nelson they are satisfied with Brennan’s work.
The company also has its own dredging equipment, which Nelson said could benefit the county and the port, since the harbor and the Marina de Gabouri both need dredging work done.
“There are riverboats that tour and stop along the river,” Nelson said. “The idea was to have them stop at the port, but it’s not ready. If the marina was dredged, they could stop there.”
Nelson also said he was disappointed that the Port Authority board didn’t appoint someone from Ste. Genevieve County to replace Tim Buchheit, a Perry County representative who opted not to be appointed to another term due to other commitments.
“They ignored our request,” he said. “I think it’s only right we have a person on the board. If they need a grader, backhoe or rock, etc., they can call Perry County.”
Perry County always has had four members to Ste. Genevieve’s three since a Perry County representative has always occupied the board-appointed at-large spot. The other positions are appointed by the county commissioners — three from each county.
Source: Ste. Gen. Herald
