Jasper, which reached an exclusive $450 million development agreement with a private developer in January, has been met with a legal challenge from the Ports Authority, which is fighting Jasper's ability to own and operate a port in the state Supreme Court.
The Ports Authority has also started looking for its own private port development firm for the 1,863-acre Savannah River site owned by the Georgia Department of Transportation.
Last week, state Sen. Clementa Pinckney, D-Ridgeland, announced a plan to circumvent a court battle. Under the compromise, the Ports Authority would drop its lawsuit; Jasper would condemn the Georgia-owned land and Jasper's private development partner, SSA Marine, would build and manage the marine terminal for the first 32 years.
After 32 years the port would be turned over to the state.
"It's very important the legislature knows we're working to get a port in Jasper County," Councilwoman Gladys Jones said after the five-member County Council unanimously backed the compromise that would see Jasper collect $4 million a year as landlord of the port.
The Ports Authority would collect $2 per cargo container moved at the port, estimated to bring in $2 million a year for the state.
Ports Authority officials immediately rejected Pinckney's compromise last week.
"There's been no change since Wednesday," Byron Miller, spokesman for the Ports Authority said Monday.
Some in the county are calling for the council to turn its back on the Ports Authority and reject the compromise.
"I, for one, would not support (the compromise) at all," Glen Storck, a Ridgeland resident told the County Council during a public hearing on the issue Monday. "The state Ports Authority wants to jump on the bandwagon and reap the Jasper County rewards. I don't want them to dictate to us what we do on our back step."
Pinckney said the council's approval was a positive step.
"This is a very good thing," he said. "Now I just hope the Ports Authority does the same thing."
The State Ports Authority's board of directors is scheduled to meet at 10 a.m. today at 176 Concord St. in Charleston.