RIDGELAND -- The Jasper County Council wants to settle its ongoing Supreme Court battle with the S.C. State Ports Authority, and at least one State Ports board member is ready to sign on.

On Thursday, the County Council unanimously approved a proposed settlement agreement with the Ports Authority and authorized a late Thursday delivery to the state agency's attorneys.

In January, Jasper County reached a $450 million development agreement with SSA Marine, a Seattle-based private port builder, to build a cargo container terminal on the Savannah River. However, the county was slapped with a state Supreme Court lawsuit from the Ports Authority challenging the county's standing to operate the facility.

"We're offering them another shot at working with us," Councilwoman Gladys Jones said Thursday.

Tom Davis, the State Ports Authority board's newest member and a Beaufort native, wants the board to entertain a settlement option. The board's chairman, Harry Butler, disagrees.

County officials would not discuss the details of the proposed settlement. But Davis, a former chief of staff to Gov. Mark Sanford, said a settlement should include a state, Jasper County and SSA Marine partnership.

"I'm in favor of at least exploring the possibility of a compromise with Jasper County and SSA, but would insist on ownership of the port site by (the State Ports Authority)," he said.

Davis said South Carolina must condemn the 1,863 acres of Georgia-owned land needed for the port and own the facilities, while the county would receive "substantial less revenue participation" than the state.

Davis' position might be the polar opposite of the Ports Authority chairman's.

"For (a compromise) to have any interest to us, it would have to be significantly different than anything we've seen and benefit all the people of South Carolina," Butler said Thursday. "I don't think we've given these other companies a chance to state how they want to handle it."

The authority sent requests for interest to almost three dozen private ocean carriers and stevedoring companies in March, courting private partnership money for expansions in Charleston and a state-run Jasper County terminal.

Days after the requests were mailed, state Sen. Clementa Pinckney, D-Ridgeland, proposed a settlement. The compromise included a county-built port being turned over to the state in 30 years. The Ports Authority immediately rejected the plan.

Pinckney could not be reached for comment Thursday.

Butler contends that SSA Marine's involvement in the Jasper County plan hampers any possible state participation.

"We can't let any state group entertain an agreement with the private sector without entering into a competitive bidding process," he said.

When the process started almost six years ago, SSA was the only private company willing to work with the county. In March, consultant Municipal Advisors of Boston determined Jasper County would not receive a better deal from competitive bidding in the current market.

In January, the State Ports Authority voted unanimously to pursue the Jasper County site via the Supreme Court and to start its own condemnation process for the Georgia-owned land. The county beat the state to the punch, submitting its condemnation notice to Georgia hours before the authority filed the Supreme Court suit.

On Monday, the State Ports Authority discussed Jasper County behind closed doors after meeting with 16 private companies interested in the project, but no votes were taken, according to Butler. SSA Marine was one of the companies that met with the authority.

"Our board's position has not changed," Butler said.

Butler said Davis advocated exploring possible settlement options with the county in Monday's executive session.

The board is working with eight members, awaiting a ninth and final member that Sanford has yet to appoint. Butler said the ninth member will not affect the board's dynamics on the issue, although many expect the new member to be sympathetic to Davis' position.

Sanford's office wouldn't say when the seat will be filled, but Butler is not concerned about who will be appointed.

"Davis is in the minority significantly," he said.

Davis initially declined comment, citing the nature of executive-session meetings, but he said his personal opinion was "that a compromise with Jasper County should at least be explored."

Jasper County officials are hoping Davis' position and their compromise are at least considered by the state agency.

"We're still working to explore any and every option to find a common ground," County Council Chairman George Hood said. "We want a marine terminal for South Carolina as much as Jasper County."

The County Council will meet at 7 p.m. Monday in Ridgeland.

The State Ports Authority will meet at 1 p.m. Tuesday in Greenwood at the Fuji Photo Film building. The agency also meets Thursday with 10 shipping companies interested in participation in possible Charleston expansions and the Jasper County project.