Jacksonville Port Authority CEO Paul Anderson, recognizing the JPA’s 10th year as an independent agency and its top status in several trade areas, said Monday the port needs to use new methods for growth.
One of those methods is the use of Florida Department of Economic Opportunity grants.
The port is facilitating a state grant of $1 million for one of its top tenants, TraPac.
TraPac applied to the department for funds to assist with dredging expenses, but it cannot receive the funds because they can be distributed only to a state government.
That’s where the JPA comes in.
“We are kind of a conduit here. We are facilitating them getting this million dollars,” said Michael Poole, port chief financial officer.
The grant would provide the funds to assist TraPac in dredging 250,000 cubic feet of material at berths 16 and 17 at the TraPac Container Terminal at Dames Point.
“What we are asking your authorization to do is to enter into this grant agreement, and then enter into a sub-grant agreement between Jaxport and TraPac, which would spell out everybody’s rights and responsibilities,” Poole said.
Poole identified two areas that needed to be addressed before the port could approve the agreements: procurement and maintenance.
Normally, any project costing more than $500,000 would be sent out for bids, but TraPac has had discussions with the State about “piggybacking” on one of the port’s current dredging projects.
“The state has said they are okay with TraPac piggybacking on a project that we already bid out. They’ve said that to us over the phone, we just need it in writing to protect us when it gets audited,” said Poole.
The state also is requiring that the port’s board provide a resolution that states it will maintain the project.
“In consultation with Office of General Counsel staff, we believe the state has misconstrued this statute. It’s really more written, on the maintenance provision, for roads,” said Poole.
Poole stated that the matter would be brought back before the board when the issues are resolved.
Another unresolved issue is the Mile Point project, which would correct tidal conditions in the port’s shipping lanes that limit the amount of time ships can dock at Jacksonville terminals.
“It is the most frustrating project I have ever worked on in my entire career,” said Anderson.
Anderson and local, state and federal representatives have been working to speed up the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers process to begin work to correct a problem that the port expects to generate more jobs for Jacksonville.
Though Anderson shows noticeable frustration when talking about Mile Point, recent support has him hopeful that the process will pick up.
U.S. Sen. Bill Nelson has discussed the Mile Point project with U.S. Sen. Barbara Boxer, who is chairwoman of the Senate Committee on Environment and Public works.
Boxer suggested how the port and the Corps of Engineers could continue to work on the project while it moves through the approval process.
“Having them have an understanding with the Corps has given us a much greater level of confidence going forward,” said Anderson.
The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers draft feasibility study on Mile Point is scheduled to be submitted to Corps headquarters this month and a chief’s report is expected in March.
The chief’s report is considered a critical step in gaining Congressional authorization for the project.
At the Monday board meeting, Anderson cited the port’s achievements, including becoming the No. 1 container port in Florida, the No. 1 cargo port for Puerto Rico and the No. 2 port for handling automobiles.
He presented a resolution recognizing the 10th anniversary of the port authority becoming a separate independent authority.
As part of consolidation of City government in 1968, the port authority was charged with managing the City’s aviation interests, Jacksonville International Airport, Craig Airport and Herlong Airport.
The sea and air ports were separated in 2001. “We’ve continued to grow through the last decade even through one of the worst economic periods in a generation,” said Anderson.
“Because of the foundation that had been laid here by past leadership, we were able to grow through those periods of economic downturn,” he said.
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