Jasper County Council members voted unanimously Monday afternoon to back a compromise agreement with the S.C. Ports Authority as put forth in a Capitol news conference last week by Sen. Clementa Pinckney and other members of the Senate and House.

But the ports authority is already on record as rejecting the compromise - making known its refusal even as Pinckney was releasing the text of the proposal in Columbia last week.

"This is to let the (state) Legislature know we are willing to work with the ports authority," said council member Gladys Jones shortly after the vote was taken.

Member Thomas McClary made the motion to approve, seconded by Fred Tuten.

"We owe a lot of thanks to Senator Pinckney and Senator (David) Thomas" for preparing the compromise agreement, McClary said.

Thomas is a Republican from Greenville. Pinckney is a Democrat from Ridgeland.

Under questioning by Pinckney before a Senate subcommittee Thursday in Columbia, SPA Executive Director Bernard Groseclose agreed to let the senator know by Wednesday when his board could come to the table for discussion.

He said he released the statement shooting down the proposed compromise only because the SPA had had no part in preparing it.

Under the proposal, Jasper County would receive the $4 million a year promised it by its private business partner, SSA Marine, while the promised $2 per container load would go to the SPA.

Ownership of the port would be retained by Jasper County for 32 years and then be transferred to the state.

The SPA would agree, if necessary, to do battle with the state of Georgia over ownership of the site which Georgia now owns on the South Carolina side of the Savannah River, and with the federal government over permits and dealing with the Corps of Engineers.

"It was an excellent decision with the most chance of having a port the earliest possible," said Marvin Jones, attorney for Jasper County.

The council decision came after three speakers had addressed the members in open session, each detailing why the county should not agree to the compromise plan.

"I do not see the wisdom," said Joe Schilling, a member of the Jasper County Ports Authority and a veteran of the marine business.