Wieland Urges Port Development in Jefferson County

Missouri State Representative Paul Wieland (R–Imperial), joined by 13 representatives, including Rep. John McCaherty, R-High Ridge, wrote a letter asking House leadership to continue efforts to develop a port in Jefferson County.

The Missouri House originally passed a one million dollar appropriation for capital improvements, said a news release from Wieland's office. But the Missouri Senate did not get HB2019 prior to the Constitutional deadline.

Wieland's letter says Jefferson County's economy will suffer if it lost a major employer such as Doe Run, a smelting company in Herculaneum.

If a new port were approved, funded and developed, it could support Doe Run's work to build a new lead production facility, the news release said.

This would save hundreds of jobs in Jefferson County, Wieland said in the news release. “The proposed development of ports in Jefferson County has the potential to not only save jobs, but to create thousands more. With up to a billion dollars of private investment at stake, now is the time to act. With a projected build out of up to twenty years and thousands of jobs, this project has the potential to develop what could be the largest inland port in the country.”

It is estimated that for each dollar the state invests in the project, the state will recieve three dollars in revenue, Wieland said.

Legislators who signed the letter included:

Rep. Paul Wieland R102 –Imperial

Rep. John McCaherty R90 --High Ridge

Rep. Ron Casey D103 --Crystal City

Rep. Tim Meadows D101 --Imperial

Rep. Joe Fallert D104 --Ste. Genevieve

Rep. Paul Curtman R105 --Pacific

Rep. Ben Harris D110 --Hillsboro

Rep. Paul Fitzwater R152 --Potosi

Rep. Linda Black D107 --Bonne Terre

Rep. Marsha Haefner R100 --St. Louis

Rep. Scott Dieckhaus R109 --Washington

Rep. Dave Schatz R111 --Sullivan

Rep. Mike Leara R95 --St. Louis

Rep. Dave Hinson R98 --St. Clair