KZTV

Posted: Mar 9, 2010 6:26 PM
Updated: Mar 10, 2010 2:20 PM

INGLESIDE, Texas - On May 1st the Port of Corpus Christi assumes control of Naval Station Ingleside.  Among the proposals under consideration by Port commissioners for what to do with the base is one from a company called Apex and its subsidiary SwiftShips.  

     They build boats and ships for the United States and other countries and that's what they'd do     at Ingleside.  In fact they've just been awarded a $220 million dollar contract to rebuild the Iraqi Navy.  

     On Tuesday they told commissioners they like the Base and the local available skilled labor.  And has begun negotiations with the Port.  But those negotiations are at a standstill.  "But candidly, this is a great facility, but there are others in the United States. And we will begin our process of looking at other facilities if there's no consensus in the community because naturally we want to go someplace where we're welcomed," said Mustafa Tameez who represented Apex at the commissioners Tuesday meeting.

     Jeffery Perin is a retired Navy captain who now represents SwiftShips.  He told commissioners his company would make a commitment to Ingleside and bring in an estimated one thousand jobs in their first year.  "I know that our laborers make avery healthy living for the Southern United States. And our craftsmen make top pay, competitive with all other industries," he said.

     But Dewayne Lollar an Ingleside realtor worries that the new jobs created by Apex would actually take away existing jobs.  Kiewit and Gulf Marine already provide many of the same type jobs Apex would.  "Anything that brings more jobs to the area is a good thing as long as it brings more jobs and puts more people to work instead of taking people away from jobs they already have."

     U.S. Congressman Solomon Ortiz has toured the Base with Apex officials.  He's in favor of any project that will bring more jobs to South Texas and would fight for federal funding for it.  He's also spoken to Governor Rick Perry and Senator Kay Bailey Hutchinson about Apex.  

     There were some heated exchanges between commissioners over this and other proposals presented.  Some want to negotiate with Apex quickly.  Some, like Commissioner Richard Borchard, do not.  "The idea here is to let them compete, ok ? Let them compete and we will get the best proposal. And when you do that you bring forth something good for the community."