New Paducah Port Director Looks To Future
New Paducah-McCracken County Riverport Authority Executive Director Jim Garrett has lots of familiarity with both the river industry and the community.
Garrett, 59, spent most of his years in the industry with C He grew up in West Virginia and at first worked in AEP’s underground coal mining division, but he transferred to Metropolis, Ill., in 1991 to work in administration for AEP-owned Cook Coal Terminal, eventually taking over as plant manager.
Subsequent promotions with AEP took him to Chesterfield, Mo., and Columbus, Ohio, in roles overseeing engineering, construction, logistics, fuel transportation and mining. Of his 30 years with AEP, 22 of them were involved with river and port operations, he said.
Garrett retired from AEP at the young age of 52 and moved back to Paducah with his family, but he wasn’t ready to quit working just yet. He went to work for Merrill Marine Services in 2020 and has most recently served as the owner and president.
His first day as the port’s executive director was December 2.
Garrett said when he read the advertisement in The Waterways Journal seeking an executive director at the port to replace Tim Cahill, who is retiring at the end of the year but will continue to serve in a consultant role as needed, he realized the position fit his background and skills well. His years in the terminal business were also among his most enjoyable, he said.
Plus, Garrett said, the job offered something more.
“This job, to me, is a public job where you can add value back to the community by making sure the businesses are supported by a port,” he said.
Garrett said supporting his adopted hometown is important to him. He is already very involved in the community, both as a member and Sunday school teacher at Heartland Worship Center. He is also providing radio coverage for McCracken County High School football and basketball games. Additionally, as he is an avid runner and weightlifter, he has spent time as a strength coach for the high school football team.
Garrett is also a familiar face at area car shows. He built his 1972 Chevrolet Monte Carlo from the frame up and also has a rare 2013 Camaro ZL1 and a 2019 Mustang GT.
Port Priorities
Garrett said his priorities for the port include maintaining its customer base and expanding opportunities, including the use of the port’s breakbulk crane.
“Tim has done a good job of growing the facility over the past four years, so I think first and foremost I want to make sure that we maintain the current customer base and what opportunities there are to grow that current customer base, particularly at the bulk facility,” he said.
He said he hopes to meet with current customers soon.
“I want them to feel comfortable that the services that they have been provided for the past four years are going to continue and at the same level of service they have come to expect,” Garrett said.
Through his years at AEP and Cook Coal Terminal and his time in the community, he said he knows many of the local people involved in the maritime industry, their businesses and their markets, but he wants to get a better understanding of how the port can continue to support their needs into the future.
Additionally, he said, recent infrastructure upgrades at the port may create business opportunities with new customers.
Project Development
Garrett said he is excited about development of the Riverport West project. The Kentucky legislature included a $3.5 million allocation for environmental work and design to the 90 percent level for the port in April.
The facility will be built at Ohio River Mile 944, nine river miles west of the existing port at Tennessee River Mile 1.3 to 2.0, on a greenfield site that includes rail and road access. Through its industrial development authority, the Greater Paducah Economic Development Corporation owns or has optioned about 800 acres of property, expandable to 1,000 acres, at the site.
Garrett said having the opportunity to take a lead role in developing the project from start to finish appealed to him. He has already begun attending meetings focused on developing Riverport West’s access roads.
Additionally, Garrett will have a key role in overseeing the implementation of a multifaceted, $3.32 million Port Infrastructure Development Grant that is revitalizing the port’s bulk yard at its current facility.
Construction projects taking place soon at that location include radial stackers being renewed, a new 25,000-square-foot concrete storage pad and a covered area for trucks to load in inclement weather. The port also received state funding this year to evaluate and rehabilitate nine mooring cells serving the port’s general cargo and bulk cargo docks.
