Mid-America Port Commission

Ralph Martin, Executive Director of the Lewis County Port Authority, Canton MO, has announced the addition of a transloading facility, which is just going out for bid and will provide both transloading and storage facilities. The port authority has also purchased a spud barge and deck barge to provide a transloading platform that can be moved to various locations within the district. The port district received a $1 million grant from MoDOT to assist with the funding.

The nineteen public port districts in Illinois have formed the Illinois Ports Association and are working with the Illinois Dept. of Transportation to develop a marine transportation component as part of the Illinois Freight Plan. Marine transportation on the inland waterways was recently moved into the Illinois Dept. of Transportation and more emphasis is being placed on the importance of rivers to the transportation system. Representatives from the association will be involved in the upcoming IL Transportation Planning Conference. Founding members and officers include William Stahlman, America’s Central Port, president; Clayton Harris III, Illinois International Port, vice president; Edward Weilbacher, Kaskaskia Port, secretary and Charles Bell, Mid-America Ports, treasurer.

IOWA – County presiding commissioners from the six southeast Iowa counties in the Mid-America Port Commission district have appointed two new commissioners. Each state is represented by two commissioners appointed by the county presiding commissioners and one commissioner appointed by the governor. Recently appointed were:

David George is currently a financial advisor with Edward Jones in Mt. Pleasant, Iowa.  Prior to that he was a banker for 16 years.  He was the Economic Development Director for the Southeast Iowa Regional Planning Commission for 2 years.   David holds a undergraduate degree in Mathematics from Monmouth College, in Monmouth, Illinois and a Master of Business Administration from St. Ambrose University in Davenport, IA.  He is also a graduate of the Graduate School of Banking at the University of Wisconsin-Madison and hold an Executive Leadership Certificate from the University of Wisconsin at Madison.  He owns and manages investment properties in the Henry County area. 

He is the current President of the Southeast Iowa Regional Housing Authority, the current President of the Mount Pleasant Area Rec Center, past President and current member of the Mount Pleasant Kiwanis Club, He has also been on the Mount Pleasant Utility Board of Trustees for the last 11 years. He served on the Monmouth College Alumni Board for 1 term. 

David was born and raised in Burlington. He and his wife, Stephanie, have been in Mt. Pleasant, Iowa for the last 15 years.  They have 3 boys: Tayten 8, Tanner 6 and Ty 4. The family enjoys sports of all kinds, fishing and hunting

Joseph A Steil is Vice President / Relationship Manager at MIB (Midwest Independent Bank) in Keokuk, Iowa. He is an experienced Community Bank and Holding Company Executive with demonstrated success in leadership. Strong professional with an ABA Graduate School in Banking Degree from the University of Wisconsin-Madison. Experienced in the financial and insurance industries, economic development arena, and engaged leadership with civic/non-profit boards. Joe has been involved in leadership with multiple economic development initiatives in various cities and states throughout his career. He continues to be very active in the tristate area serving in a wide variety of organizations that emphasize bettering the geographic area.

Daniel Wiedemeier of Burlington, Iowa is the gubernatorial appointee.

MISSOURI – County presiding commissioners from the nine northeast Missouri counties in the Mid-America Port Commission district have reappointed two commissioners. Each state is represented by two commissioners appointed by the county presiding commissioners and one commissioner appointed by the governor. Recently reappointed were Douglas Aeilts, General Manager of Northeast Missouri Electric Power Cooperative and Norris Hinton a farmer from Lewis County, Misssouri. Mr. Aeilts is a past Chairman of the MAPC and is currently serving as the Vice Chairman. Mr. Hinton is beginning a second term on the board.

Kelly Waymon, Jefferson County, MO was recently appointed to the MAPC board by Governor Michael L. Parson. He is Sr Vice President-Preconstruction Services-mechanical contractor serving over15 states. He has over 37 years’ experience industrial construction including, but not limited to dust collection, thermal oxidizers, combustion system installations, NESHAP compliance installations, fabrication and erection of Industrial process and material handling systems for agricultural, mining (above and below ground) and manufacturing. Managed various terminal system installations for both barge and rail. Waste treatment system fabrication and installations.

Kelly is a former small business owner and farmer. Certified in Mine Safety and Health Administration and OSHA. Licensed pipefitter, sheet metal worker and universal refrigerant work. He is a graduate o Ranken Technical college in 1980.

His community service includes: Past President High Ridge Rotary, Paul Harris Fellow, Past treasurer, Northwest Jefferson County Chamber of Commerce, Jefferson County Council, 2010-2014, Past board member Associated Builders and Contractors, Heart of America Chapter, Past Board Member University of Missouri-Jefferson County Extension Council, Cofounder-Highway 30 foundation, Board member-Jefferson County Bicentennial committee