Jasper County News

Today SC Ports Authority reported 2015 fiscal year-end operating earnings of $30.4 million and revenues of $196.8 million, significant increases over the previous year's financial performance. From July through June, SCPA more than doubled its previous fiscal year's operating earnings of $14.3 million, while operating revenues increased 20 percent over FY2014 revenues of $32.6 million. Total operating expenses for the 2015 fiscal year totaled $166.3 million. "The strong financial…

Moffatt & Nichol has begun Program Management services on the initial development stages of planning for the Jasper Ocean Terminal proposed to be located on the Savannah River. The project is a cooperative development between the states of Georgia and South Carolina. Program Management services started in January 2009, with initial efforts focused on a two-year schedule of completing the preliminary terminal planning, preparing for the overall permitting process for the development and completion of documents to support design and construction of the terminal elements. Early progress has been made with the completion of economic analyses efforts related to container forecasts…

Members of the bi-state board leading the development of a deepwater port in Jasper County unanimously elected William L. Bethea Jr. of Hilton Head, South Carolina, to chair the Jasper Ocean Terminal Joint Project Office (JPO) on Feb. The chairman serves a one-year term and alternates between the two states. James S. Balloun of Georgia served as JPO chairman in 2008 and was elected vice chairman at the meeting. Bethea served for 12 years on the South Carolina State Ports Authority (SCSPA) Board, four of those years as chairman, and has served on the South Carolina Coordinating Council for Economic Development. “This project is vitally important to the economic future of our region and the state of South Carolina,” said Bethea.

The Supreme Court of South Carolina ruled that the eminent domain power of the South Carolina State Ports Authority (SCSPA) is superior to that of Jasper County. In the instant case, the SCSPA and the County had competing plans for development of a marine terminal to be located on the Savannah River. The court held that, while both had the power and authority to develop and operate ports or terminals, the power of the state agency to take by eminent domain a particular piece of real property trumped that of the county agency. South Carolina State Ports Authority v. Jasper County, No. 26132 Source: HK Law