Grain processing facility to open in New Madrid County

Executive Committee Chairperson Jan McElwrath, left, with the Bootheel Regional Planning and Economic Development Commission presents a plaque of appreciation to Joe Lane. Lane is a community developer who is retiring after 28 years with the commission. Lane has written or helped develop 90 grant applications in a six county area over his career. Photo by Mike McCoy [Click to enlarge]

Julian Steiner, owner of Strategic Resource Management, LLC., told the Bootheel Regional Planning and Economic Develop-ment Commission (BRPC) that he was involved in attracting Archer Daniels Midland Company to New Madrid County, which is investing $8 1/2 to $9 million for a grain processing facility. He was the guest speaker at the BRPC regular meeting held Thursday afternoon.

The meeting also provided guests and members a chance to say good bye to Joe Lane. Lane is retiring from the commission after 28 years. Lane worked in the commission office in Dexter.

Steiner, the guest speaker, said he recently retired from an economic development position that worked through the University of Missouri at Rolla. After retirement, he decided to go into consulting. He has been working with the New Madrid County Mayors' Association.

"Economic development is my first love," he told the crowd.

Steiner went on to say New Madrid County had been successful in attracting one new industry and was working with a second to bring jobs to that county. The first industry will be located in the industrial park in New Madrid County. Archer Daniels Midland (ADM) is one of the world's largest processors of soybeans, corn, wheat and cocoa.

According to Steiner, a second industry is looking at locating in the New Madrid area. This one would be investing around $12 million and would provide 30 to 40 jobs. He said it was too soon to announce anything to the media. He said they would not be locating in the industrial park, but in the New Madrid County area.

Mayor Roger Wheeler of Kennett asked Steiner what had been the biggest factor in attracting these industries.

Steiner answered, "The river." He noted that water transportation was very important to both industries.

Steiner then turned his attention to a project he was working on involving the Environmental Protection Agency. It deals with surface water quality. He said the purpose of the project was provide scientific data to see if restored wetlands would improve water quality. He said the project was in Stoddard County. He went on to explain that it involved both restoration and creation of wetlands in an attempt to improve the quality of surface water in the Bootheel.

Specifically, the project involved land around Cypress Ditch and the St. Francis River in the Otter Slough area. He said the project encompassed a 97,000 acre watershed.

He also singled out Davis Minton, a farmer in that area, who has set aside land for the federal Agricultural Wetland Mitigation Bank. It is the only one of its kind in the country. Minton has set aside farm land there to be returned to natural wetlands. The land was converted to farm land four decades ago. Steiner said Minton participated in the EPA testing program.

Steiner praised Minton for his participation and called him "quite a conservationist."

He said reclamation of wetlands began in that area in 2005. He explained that regular testing had been performed since that time to determine if the "created and restored wetlands will have a positive impact on the surface water supply."

BRPC Executive Director Steve Duke commented on the chemicals that are used on the land and wanted to know if the project was showing any positive results for filtering out those chemicals. Dukes asked Steiner, "How many cycles do you have to go through to begin to see improvement?"

Steiner said the project was due to end in November or December of this year. He said tests are performed monthly and the results sent to the EPA. He said when the project was completed, the EPA would release the results. He said prior to this project, there had been very little ground water testing in the rural areas of the Bootheel.

Lane was introduced and applauded for his years with the BRPC as a community developer. He began with the commission on Mach 1, 1980. He graduated from Lincoln University with a BS degree in business administration. A native of Wilson City, he came back to the Bootheel after college to help alleviate substandard conditions in communities. He has worked on grants for water, sewer and street projects as well as some housing rehabilitation. He also helped write grants for nutrition centers in East Prairie and Malden. He has been involved in the implementation or helping write grants for 90 different applicants. BRPC serves six counties and 65 incorporated communities. He was awarded plaques of appreciation by both the BRPC and the Missouri Department of Economic Development.

Prior to the guest speaker, Duke told those present that Senator Kit Bond was working on 424 funding for a county road project in Stoddard County. If funded, the project would involve four county roads in the railroad transfer station area. The cost of that project is $360,440. He said another proposal would include $1 million for work on the Highway 84 and Interstate 55 area of Pemiscot County.

Commission Chairperson Jan McElwrath said she was going to tell a little about Kennett's accomplishments. McElwrath is the executive director of the Kennett Chamber of Commerce.

She said the City of Kennett is a finalist in television channel 8's Community of the Year award program, the only community in Southeast Missouri to be selected for such an honor. She also said the Regional Transportation summit was to be held at the Kennett Chamber of Commerce office on July 29.

The meeting adjourned with refreshments being served in honor of Lane's retirement.