Download This Version in Microsoft Word format
STATING THE DESIRE OF THE MEMBERS OF THE SOUTH CAROLINA GENERAL ASSEMBLY TO PLACE IN ABEYANCE THE PROVISIONS OF ACT 313 OF 2004 REQUIRING THE STATE PORTS AUTHORITY TO SELL THE MARINE TERMINAL OPERATIONS PROPERTY AT PORT ROYAL AND FURTHER REQUEST THAT THE STATE BUDGET AND CONTROL BOARD, IN CONSULTATION WITH THE STATE PORTS AUTHORITY, REEVALUATE THE PROPERTY AT PORT ROYAL TO DETERMINE THE BEST USE OF THE PROPERTY FOR THE BENEFIT OF THE STATE.
Whereas, rich in history, the Town of Port Royal dates back to 1562 when it was explored by Frenchman Jean Ribault and named for the adjacent Port Royal Sound; and
Whereas, Port Royal also was the site of the Naval Battle of Port Royal during the Civil War and was one of the sites of the Port Royal Experiment; and
Whereas, the Town of Port Royal is proud to include the Camp Sexton Site, Fort Frederick Heritage Preserve, Hasell Point Site, Little Barnwell Island, F.W. Scheper Store, and Union Church on the National Register of Historic Places; and
Whereas, Port Royal has served as the home of the Marine Corps Recruit Depot at Parris Island since 1915; and
Whereas, the members of the General Assembly are stewards of the public trust and all resources of the State, the use of which must be in furtherance of the public good; and
Whereas, public waterfront property provides an especially valuable asset to the State and its residents and any use of which must be stringently evaluated; and
Whereas, by Act 313 of 2004, the General Assembly directed the State Ports Authority to sell the property that was previously operated as the marine terminal at Port Royal and further provided that the terms of any such sale must not extend beyond December 31, 2006. As of this time, this property has not been sold, and no bidder has met the requirements of the sale; and
Whereas, like the town itself, the Port Royal property is steeped in tradition and is an exceptionally valuable asset that will be forever removed from the public domain if it is sold, it is incumbent upon the State to reconsider the directive to sell this property and to further assess the possibility of retaining this property for the benefit of the State. Now, therefore,
Be it resolved by the House of Representatives, the Senate concurring:
That the members of the South Carolina General Assembly, by this resolution, desire to place in abeyance the provisions of Act 313 of 2004 requiring the State Ports Authority to sell the marine terminal operations property at Port Royal and further requesting that the State Budget and Control Board, in consultation with the State Ports Authority, reevaluate the property at Port Royal to determine the best use of the property for the benefit of the State.
Be it further resolved that a copy of this resolution be sent to the State Ports Authority and the State Budget and Control Board.
This web page was last updated on March 12, 2014 at 10:53 AM