Martin Marietta and Port Manatee in $42 million deal

PALMETTO – Two votes at Thursday's Port Authority meeting paved the way for an expansion that is promised to bring jobs and revenue to Port Manatee.

By ending the land lease agreement with Eastern Cement and approving a new lease with Martin Marietta, the members enabled a 30-year, $42 million contract with Martin Marietta Materials to happen.

Port Executive director David McDonald said actions taken some time back made it possible.

”Without the Port Authority's wisdom in funding the construction of Berth 5 nearly eight years ago, the opportunity may well have been lost,“ he said. ”Revenues could exceed $50 million is predicted volumes are realized.“

The company plans to build a 20-acre aggregate terminal at the port, linking Berth 5 to the new facility with a 4,900-foot high-speed conveyor system that is designed to move about 4,000 tons of aggregate rock per hour.

Construction is set to begin in early 2010, with operations to start within seven months.

”It's been a pleasure working with the staff,“ said Al Gentry of Martin Marietta. ”I'm very excited about being here, and look forward to being active participants in the future success of Port Manatee and the surrounding community.“

After Chairman Ron Getman greeted Gentry with ”Welcome to Port Manatee,“ there was a round of applause from the many people who came to the meeting.

”It is truly a win-win-win situation between Eastern Cement, Martin Marietta and the Port Authority,“ McDonald said. ”They're building a state-of-the-art facility for not only moving crushed granite but aggregate for Eastern and others. They bring in excess of a million to a million and a half tons a year on average.“

There will be ”significant“ jobs for truck drivers, he said, and the aggregate will help with road building projects in the state.

Martin Marietta may extend the 30-year agreement with two five-year options.