Willacy County Navigation District cuts ties with company that planned to move commercial cargo through Port Mansfield

RAYMONDVILLE, Texas (ValleyCentral) — The Willacy County Navigation District nixed a controversial plan to move commercial cargo through Port Mansfield on Wednesday.

During a meeting on Wednesday morning, the navigation district board terminated a contract with North American Standards, a company that wanted to ship commercial cargo through the sleepy fishing town.

“It didn’t make a lot of sense bringing the big container barges in. We don’t really have the infrastructure for it. And there was a lot of controversy over it,” said board Chairman Eric Kennedy. “So I think this is a good thing for Port Mansfield.”

A pelican rests on a wooden post in Port Mansfield on Aug. 14, 2024.

In December 2023, the navigation district agreed to lease about 3.4 acres to North American Standards for 50 years.

North American Standards agreed to pay $1,400 per month in rent and, when the company started moving cargo, a percentage of the company’s “Projected Monthly Minimum,” according to a copy of the contract released under the Texas Public Information Act.

The company also promised to pay a minimum of $3 million for “improvements to Port Maritime Facilities,” including work on the seawall near the cargo loading area.

North American Standards, though, never paid.

In November 2024, the navigation district board asked North American Standards to make the payment by Dec. 31.

North American Standards didn’t meet the deadline, said Port Director Ron Mills.

The navigation district board terminated the contract after just 6 minutes of discussion on Wednesday morning.

More than 20 people from Port Mansfield, who showed up to watch the board meeting, cheered and clapped.

“I never lost faith,” said Miller Bassler, 73, who started fishing in Port Mansfield during the 1990s.

Bassler and other people who opposed the plan created an organization, the Concerned Citizens of Port Mansfield, to push back.

They spoke up during public comment, started publishing a newspaper and backed candidates for the navigation district board.

In November, voters ousted the board chairman, Chad Kinney, and replaced him with Kennedy, a candidate backed by the Concerned Citizens.

“We had our ducks in a row and fought so hard to ask the right questions and try to hear the right answers,” Bassler said. “And give the board time to evaluate, analyze and see: Does this make sense? Or does it not?”

People from across the country visit Port Mansfield for world-class fishing, Bassler said. Residents feared commercial cargo would destroy the quiet harbor and drive away fishermen.

“It’s a pristine fishery. It’s one of a kind in the United States. And there’s a lot of commerce that comes with that as well,” Bassler said. “So I think we’re headed in the right direction. We’re going to keep fighting if we have to. But I think the board has shown a new resolve.”

North American Standards couldn’t immediately be reached for comment Wednesday.