Morgan City port bill OK’d by governor

Gov. Bobby Jindal signed House Bill 786, now Act 48, changing the way members of Morgan City’s Harbor and Terminal District are appointed.

The measure, authored by state Rep. Sam Jones (D-Franklin), was needed because the previous law gave civic groups – some of which no longer even exist – a voice in the process.

Act 48 allows Morgan City’s mayor and council, Berwick’s mayor and town council and the St. Mary parish president and council to appoint two members each. The governor has the authority to appoint the remaining three members of the commission.

A second provision in the bill limits commissioners to two 4-year terms.

Also, each governing body involved in the appointment process is required to provide an annual report to the state Legislature. Jones said the reports will include a summary of where members see the organization – “In essence, it should be their vision statement.”

In the past, civic groups that supplied nominees for the commission included the Lions Club of Berwick, the Chamber of Commerce – Morgan City and Berwick, the Berwick Junior Chamber of Commerce and Morgan City’s Rotary and Kiwanis clubs.

“I have always believed that the government closest to the people governs best,” Jones said. “There is no question that local folks know the area and the people.

“This bill retains some level of diversity by having four different appointing authorities,” he explained. “It diminishes the chance of unhealthy collusion while being representative of the area. Frankly, I would like to see us decentralize as much as we can of both our federal and state governments, and empower local governments more. This bill is a good step in that direction.”

Jones said that the port commission is possibly the largest economic development agency in the parish. “This bill brings its work more to the public forefront and it also helps establish a mechanism for the development of long and short term goals,” he said.

The bill was cosponsored by state Sen. Butch Gautreaux (D-Morgan City) and state Rep. Joe Harrison (R-Labadieville).