Jared McNett
Wednesday, Randy Feenstra, the U.S. House representative for Iowa's Fourth Congressional District, released a letter pushing for the U.S. Coast Guard to keep up investment along the Missouri River in Western Iowa.
Feenstra, a two-term incumbent from Hull, called on U.S. Coast Guard Sector Commander Andrew Bender to reconsider a move the armed forces branch made to remove 36 aids to navigation on the Missouri River north of Blencoe. Aids to navigation can be lights, signals, buoys and day beacons that are "intended to assist a navigator to determine position or safe course," according to the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration.
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"Iowa farmers, businesses, and manufacturers rely on the Missouri River to ship their goods and serve their customers," Feenstra said. "However, the U.S. Coast Guard's decision to remove 36 ATONs on the Missouri River threatens our region's economic vitality and cuts off trade along this important waterways."
Feenstra then spotlighted a barge terminal project in Sioux City that could be impacted by the decision and emphasized "over $469 million is currently being invested from disaster funding and other legislation into the bank stabilization and navigation project on the Missouri River."
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Sioux City businessman Dave Bernstein, president of State Steel Supply Company, has plans to use city-owned land at 2500 Chautauqua Drive for the barge terminal, which would be used for incoming and outgoing shipments of new steel, aggregate, sand and gravel.
"We greatly appreciated Congressman Feenstra's outreach on this and it's an important issue as we try to bring barge traffic back to Sioux City," Bernstein said. "It would be a shame to let the aids go."
A number of individuals, municipalities, organizations and businesses joined Feenstra in the request to reconsidering including: Sioux City, South Sioux City, Sergeant Bluff, Iowa Cattlemen's Association, Iowa Corn Growers Association, Iowa Farm Bureau, Iowa Pork Producers Association, Iowa Soybean Association, Port of Blencoe, Siouxland Chamber of Commerce, State Steel Supply Company, Wells Enterprises and Woodbury County Board of Supervisors.
In mid-November, Woodbury County Supervisors Matthew Ung and Keith Radig requested an agenda item to "consider and approve a letter of support for maintaining navigational support on the Missouri River between Blencoe and Sioux City." The item noted "There is no direct financial impact to the county but a potential for negative impact to county businesses and industry with the loss of river navigation." The motion passed 5-0.
Jared McNett is an online editor and reporter for the Sioux City Journal. You can reach him at 712-293-4234 and follow him on Twitter @TwoHeadedBoy98.
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