The State Ports Authority owes honest, open dialogue to Jasper County leaders struggling to bring a lucrative port to one of the state's poorest counties.

The ports authority board agreed Tuesday to consider a compromise offered by Jasper County to end the legal battle between the county and state over which one would control the proposed port. The compromise targets quicker development of the port by using money already offered by private port builder SSA Marine.

It would be better if the small county and the large ports authority could avoid fighting each other. After all, the state of Georgia owns the land on the Savannah River where the port would be built. Leaders on this side of the Savannah River face too many challenges to be slugging it out among themselves. The county and state need to build mutual trust.

Simply accepting the compromise proposal for further study by legal counsel may not do the trick, especially when the ports authority board at the same time enacted a de facto gag order on the topic. "All future communication or interaction will be by the chairman, attorneys, or other individuals duly authorized by the chairman," the board's motion reads.

That meant SPA board member Tom Davis of Beaufort, who urged the board to entertain the compromise, was unable to answer questions after the meeting. That's too bad because the public deserves to know what everyone is thinking. And open dialogue can build trust and teamwork. It can facilitate compromise.

Some Jasper County leaders were glad to see the compromise was not dismissed outright. But state Sen. Clementa Pinckney, D-Ridgeland, is right to remind everyone that things can be buried in committees and studied to death while time is of the essence. County Council Chairman George Hood said the county wants to work with the ports authority. Vice Chairman Gladys Jones laments that a check for $450 million can't be cashed in South Carolina because of politics.

Years ago, Jasper County leaders begged the state to develop the port site, but the plea was ignored. It's easy to see why they would be leery today of the state's motives and sense of urgency. The SPA has been clear that it believes it, not a county, is charged with port development, and that working with private parties requires an open bidding process. But Jasper County leaders should not quit asking questions and forcing action on the issue. The ports authority cannot tell them to be quiet and go away. There is no room in this saga for de facto gag orders. There is plenty of room for a more united effort from South Carolina.