The Columbus-Lowndes County Port Authority’s board of directors has named Will Sanders the port’s new director.
Board president Roger Bell announced Friday that the former vice president of Sanders Oil Company was chosen unanimously to replace John Hardy, who retired in June.
Bell said Sanders’ administrative and business management experience was why he was selected after a lengthy selection process.
“I am confident Will is the best person for the job and we look forward to continuing the successful growth and development the port has experienced in the past several years,” Bell said.
On Saturday, Sanders told The Dispatch he is honored to have been chosen.
“My family and I are excited about this opportunity and I look forward to serving Lowndes County,” he said.
The port has six major facilities that bring about $1 million in taxes to the city of Columbus and Lowndes County, along with $350,000 to the port authority each year.
The port director handles accounting and works with the Golden Triangle Development LINK to communicated with potential prospects interested in locating at the port. It is made up of about 265 acres along the Tennessee-Tombigbee Waterway, 120 of which are currently occupied. Bell told The Dispatch in July that a priority of the board and the new director going forward would be to explore options for acquiring new property.
Sanders Oil Company was sold to Midstates Petroleum Company last September. The transaction involved 14 gas stations, six consignment stores and numerous commercial accounts the company operated out of Columbus. Sanders began working for Midstates as the company’s director of Mississippi operations upon the transaction.
Nathan Gregory covers city and county government for The Dispatch.
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Quality, in-depth journalism is essential to a healthy community. The Dispatch brings you the most complete reporting and insightful commentary in the Golden Triangle, but we need your help to continue our efforts. In the past week, our reporters have posted 46 articles to cdispatch.com. Please consider subscribing to our website for only $2.30 per week to help support local journalism and our community.
