State Sen. Clementa Pinckney, D-Ridgeland, primed council members Monday for the meeting of the Senate's Ports Authority Subcommittee, telling them to bring supporters and give a solid presentation of the county's plans with private port developer SSA Marine.
"It's a chance for us to make our biggest sales pitch," he said. "If you have a good product, it will sell itself."
Action surrounding the terminal has moved quickly since the county filed a condemnation request in January for Georgia-owned land used for dredge spoil.
The Ports Authority followed with its own condemnation request and a lawsuit in front of the state Supreme Court calling into question the county's ability to develop a port. The Ports Authority is looking for its own private firm to help in developing the project.
Although opposed to the authority's plans, Pinckney said there may be room for compromise to get the terminal built.
"We don't want to be to the point where we can't talk," he told the council. "There are no losers with this if we do it right."
Tom Davis, a member of the Ports Authority's board, was expected to brief the council Monday on the state's plans for the terminal site, but had to cancel.
Jasper resident Wayne Thompson told the council he was tired of hearing opinions from state ports officials.
"Ask these other people to go home ... and let Jasper County prosper for once," he said.
The message to legislators Thursday will be the impact the terminal will have on the poor county, said County Council Chairman George Hood.
"We need this badly in order to provide services to our citizens," he said.
The county will provide transportation to residents interested in traveling to Columbia for the meeting. For more information, call Eveyln Lee at 726-7700.
In other business the council: