By Annabeth Miiler,
ShowMe Times Editor

The word to describe the project was “persistence”.

And after nearly 10 years of hard persistence, the ribbon cutting marking the completion of the paving of the roadway from Highway 60 to the Union Pacific Railroad depot northwest east of Dexter was held west of town.

Three county roads – County Roads 531, 570 and 527 – were the central focus of the project for a paved roadway leading from U.S. 60 to the railroad facility. It took at least 10 years, federal elected officials three state senators, local agencies and a lot of persistence to see the project completed.

“It’s been a lengthy process and we appreciate all you guys have done,” said David Grimes, Division 42 Chairman of the Brotherhood of Locomotive Engineers and Trainmen.

Grimes spoke to a group of government leaders and industrial development representatives on the parking lot of the River of Life Church prior to the ribbon cutting celebration.

“The first time I drove this road I thought ‘you got to be kidding me’,” Grimes.

It was at this time Grimes and other union personnel began working through former state senator Jerry Howard and then former state senator Bill Foster on the proposed project.

Then State Senator Rob Mayer enters the picture, along with U.S. Rep Jo Ann Emerson and U.S. Senator Kit Bond, and funding is secured to finance the road project.

Through Bond and Emerson, more than $340,000 was earmarked in federal stimulus funding for the project. Union Pacific committed up to $90,000 in funds to be used as the 20 percent local match for the project. The Union Pacific funds and remaining funds from the federal money have been set aside to be used for maintenance of the roads.

Grimes also thanked Steve and Connie Dukes with the Bootheel Regional Planning and Economic Development Agency, Executive Director Julian Steiner,Stoddard County Industrial Development Corporation, and the Stoddard County Commissioners – Presiding Commissioner Greg Mathis and Commissioners Carol Jarrell and Frank Sifford.

Photo Above: The ribbon cutting celebration was held this week to the completion of the project t pave county roads from Highway 60 to the Union Pacific offices northeast of Dexter. The completed project cost $304,924.50. The project improved County Roads 531, 570 and 527 – creating a pave route from Highway 60 to the Union Pacific facility. On hand for the celebration were Stoddard County Industrial Development Authority Secretary Janet Coleman, County Commissioner Frank Sifford, Brotherhood of Locomotive Engineers and Trainmen (BLET) Legislative Board Chairman Brian Kelley, BLET Division 42 Chairman David Grimes, State Sen. Rob Mayer of Dexter, Union Pacific Director of Public Affairs Benjamin Jones, BLET Division 42 President Brian Wheeler, State Rep. Billy Pat Wright, County Commissioner Carol Jarrell, IDA Board Member Sue Tippen and Presiding Stoddard County Commissioner Greg Mathis. Photo Below: State Senator Rob Mayer of Dexter (right was recognized by Brian Kelly, Legislative Board Chair of the Brotherhood of Locomotive Engineers and Trainmen. (SMT Photos by Annabeth Miller)