HARDEEVILLE -- Gov. Mark Sanford on Monday praised Jasper County's determination to build a port on the South Carolina side of the Savannah River but didn't back down from last week's statement that the county shouldn't go it alone.

Sanford met with Jasper officials before taking a tour of the new Coastal Carolina Medical Center in Hardeeville and appearing at the opening ceremonies of the MCI Heritage golf tournament on Hilton Head Island.

Last week, the governor said he was against the county acting unilaterally in developing a $450 million port, but added Monday that the county and the S.C. State Ports Authority could work together on the project.

"I think Jasper County's position can fit (in the Ports Authority's plan)," Sanford said after the hospital tour. "There could well be a partnership between the state, the county and private interest. A partnership is the absolute key to avoiding lengthy litigation."

Jasper officials have been working to bring a port to their side of the Savannah River for more than a decade and agreed in January to a $450 million development deal with private port builder SSA Marine. Monday marked Sanford's first official visit to Jasper since he was elected in 2002.

Jasper's plan with SSA Marine, "will cost the taxpayers nothing and give them everything," Jasper County Council Vice Chairwoman Gladys Jones told Sanford. "We have a check for $450 million, and it can't be cashed."

Sanford said he met with county administrator Andrew Fulghum, County Council Chairman George Hood and SSA Marine officials last week in Columbia, adding that he thinks the private developer "will be able to cash that check."

The governor told Jasper officials he's been pulled between criticism of micromanaging state boards and claims that he hasn't been involved enough.

"On one hand I have the General Assembly trying to tie up our boards, and on the other I have Jasper County saying, 'You need to flat out tell your board what to do,' " Sanford said. "I'm nudging State Ports Authority) at this point, rather than pushing."

Sanford emphasized that if the county acted alone, it would be mired in legal troubles.

"State law will make problems if you go the county route. (Jasper would) be tied up in the courts for years," he said.

Jasper's attempts to try to build a port already have been met by a flurry of litigation in South Carolina and Georgia courts.