South Carolina officials continue a battle of words over who has jurisdiction to negotiate and build the port, but Georgia officials last week formed a committee to examine a plan of their own. The result is that Georgia remains steps ahead of the Palmetto State in the battle to cash in on a projected surge in cargo shipping.
Jasper County, the modern-day "little engine that could," has chugged and chugged along for a decade. The county's efforts were little known or ignored by the state until 18 months ago. Since then, South Carolina officials have been at odds with officials of one of the state's poorest counties. Jasper County's plan was crippled by a state Supreme Court decision in 2003 that said its deal with the private shipping company didn't show a compelling public interest. Jasper officials regrouped and reworked their proposal, only to be sued by the S.C. State Ports Authority. Everyone is now waiting on the Supreme Court's decision.
In the meantime, Jasper continues to gain supporters. Last week Rep. Joe Wilson, R-S.C., who represents a district that covers an area that stretches from Beaufort to Lexington and includes Jasper County, said, "I have witnessed firsthand the years of hard work and millions of dollars of investment that Jasper County has put toward this project." On Monday, Beaufort County Council also approved a resolution supporting Jasper County's port plans.
At that meeting, Jasper County Council Chairman George Hood said that with both sides considering compromises, he was hopeful for a resolution that everyone can agree on.
A compromise among South Carolina officials makes a lot more sense than a three-way cat fight among officials from Jasper County, the Ports Authority and the legislature. This newspaper has advocated a compromise for more than a year. It doesn't make sense for people who want the same thing to fight each other, when the battle with a competing state will be difficult enough.
It is time for this compromise to take place -- before Georgia steals the show. But make no mistake, Jasper County deserves a big seat at the table. As W.R. "Skeet" Von Harten, Beaufort County Council vice chairman, said Monday: "Jasper County birthed the idea and almost birthed the baby." Indeed, county officials did, and that is the reason they deserve a seat at the table.