Story originally printed in the Winona Daily News or online at www.winonadailynews.com

Published - Friday, May 09, 2008

Port Authority to seek dock proposals

By Mark Sommerhauser / Winona Daily News

Winona’s Port Authority will accept proposals from private companies to build and operate a new dock on the city’s commercial harbor after a unanimous vote Thursday.

A new dock would significantly improve Winona’s ability to handle incoming river freight, Port Authority officials have said.

The proposed facility would replace the Port Authority’s existing dock, which needs major repairs and lacks adequate storage space, said Port Authority director Judy Bodway. The current dock is leased and operated by CD Corp., a Winona-based freight company that handles incoming shipments of coal, salt and fertilizer.

The Port Authority owns a 3.7-acre parcel on the harbor that would be the site of the new dock, which will cost about $2 million to build, said authority director Judy Bodway.

Proposals will be accepted until June 10.

The Port Authority’s Riverfront Committee will review the proposals in July then recommend one to the authority for final approval, Bodway said.

The authority would prefer the company making the proposal also build the dock, but it’s willing to build the structure and bill the lessee for the construction cost.

If the new dock is built, Bodway said the current dock would be converted into storage space for another riverfront business.

Contact Mark Sommerhauser at (507) 453-3514 or msommerhauser@winonadailynews.com