Jasper County puts growth in perspective

Jasper County civic and business leaders gathered Wednesday at the annual State of the County meeting to discuss the county's continued growth, a future port and the need to be prepared for an increasing

population.

The county continued to grow in 2008, but leaders want state and federal money for roads and schools and support for a proposed port on the South Carolina side of the Savannah River that officials said is crucial to the region's future.

Representatives from Ridgeland, Hardeeville, county government and the Jasper County Chamber of Commerce spoke at Palmetto Electric Cooperative's New River office at the chamber-sponsored

event.

Ridgeland Mayor Gary Hodges

The town grew from about two square miles to 45 in the past year -- largely because of three major annexations, Hodges said.

Because more development is coming, the town should prepare to deal with issues such as land use and zoning, tree policies and code enforcement, he said.

"With what's expected here growth-wise, we need to get those things online," Hodges said. "We're a small town that's about to, I guess, burst at the seams."

Among the town's most pressing priorities are improvements to Main Street, U.S. 17 and S.C. 336.

In the long term, the town will need to beef up its fire and police service and expand its sewer capacity, Hodges said.

Hardeeville Mayor Bronco Bostick

The city wants to create more jobs so fewer residents have to commute to surrounding communities, Bostick said.

He also wants to see more industrial warehouse space so Hardeeville can capitalize if officials succeed in building the port, a proposed joint project between Georgia and South Carolina.

County Council Chairman George Hood Despite the recession, Hood said, the county still issued permits for $58 million worth of construction projects in 2008, an increase of $16 million from 2006. The county's tax base and the average wage of its residents also grew, he said.

Chamber President

Martin Sauls

The chances of a port being built in the county have improved dramatically recently, Sauls said, especially with last week's resignation of longtime CEO of the South Carolina State Ports Authority, Bernard Groseclose Jr. Sauls said he hopes the region will lobby for a new leader who can speed up the project. He said he is optimistic supertankers will arrive by 2014 or

2015.

"It's a breath of fresh air for the prospects of the Jasper port," Sauls said. "I'm ready for that breath of fresh air to flow."