KCS helps Bartlett Grain inaugurate Illinois facility, installs Smith as AVP

On Aug. 2, Kansas City Southern helped Bartlett Grain Co. mark the opening of its new $25 million grain facility in South Jacksonville, Ill.

In preparation for the facility, which launched operations in early July, KCS upgraded nearby track to accommodate heavier traffic. The facility includes a loop track and 145-foot-tall concrete silos with capacity for about 2.2 million bushels of grain. The rail-shuttle terminal can quickly move up to 100 rail cars of grain at a time, railroad officials said in an item posted on the "KCS News" web page.

The facility adds another strategic origination point to Bartlett Grain's six existing KCS shuttle loaders that will enhance the supply chain to Mexico, they said.

Meanwhile, KCS also announced it appointed Kelly Smith assistant vice president of damage prevention and freight claims. He will be responsible for leading the Class I's loss prevention and freight claims efforts in the U.S. and Mexico, and report to Vice President of Administration Gene Goode.

Smith has 24 years of transportation industry experience and most recently served Hulcher Services Inc. as VP of national accounts. He previously held several operations, management, business development and marketing posts with UPS, DHL Express, Recovery Management Corp. and Harte-Hanks Logistics.

"[Smith's] extensive transportation leadership experience will enhance our freight loss prevention efforts and continue to ensure we provide appropriate on-site resources for our external and internal customers with respect to all cargo loss and damage issues," said Goode.