Officials want to take over the joint port project on the Savannah River

Jasper County has been trying for more than two decades to put a terminal on the river across from Savannah. Its efforts were opposed in court by both states — which share the river and operate competing ports in Savannah and Charleston — before their governors agreed in 2007 to take on Jasper County’s port dream as a joint project between the neighbouring states.

The board overseeing the partnership, made up mostly of port leaders from each state, has bought land for the shipping terminal and spent millions of dollars on feasibility studies but progress has been slow, and local officials say they’re fed up.

Members of the Jasper County Council left the board’s June meeting angry at what they considered another pointless delay. In July, the council voted to deliver an ultimatum. If the joint port board doesn’t agree to start seeking construction permits for the project at its next meeting September 17, 2013 then Jasper County will demand control of the port project and the 1,500 acres of land purchased for it.