Milton County proposal could get House vote

By Jim Tharpe

The Atlanta Journal-Constitution

A controversial proposal to carve a new Milton County out of north Fulton County cleared a legislative hurdle Thursday, but it could be headed for a head-on collision in its first appearance before a full legislative chamber.

The legislation, known as HR 21, passed the State Planning and Community Affairs Committee on a split vote, clearing the way for its consideration by the House Rules Committee and the full House of Representatives, possibly in the next week or so.

The measure, however, would need 120 votes to pass the House -- the two-thirds majority required for any constitutional amendment. And even the bill’s most ardent supporters know that is a steep political hill to climb in the partisan chamber.

House Speaker Pro Tem Jan Jones (R-Milton) guided the measure through committee passage, arguing that the Fulton County Board of Commissioners is unresponsive to the needs of north Fulton residents and wasteful with their tax dollars.

Jones, the proposal’s key sponsor, said the cities of Alpharetta, Johns Creek, Milton, Mountain Park, Roswell and Sandy Springs should be permitted to form their own county if voters first approve the idea in November.

“There’s a lack or proper governance in [Fulton County],” said state Rep. Wendell Willard (R- Sandy Springs). “And that’s the fuel that drives this engine.”

Milton and Campbell counties were merged with Fulton in the Great Depression as a cost-cutting measure. Jones’ bill would permit voters to re-create historically merged counties.

Democratic opponents blasted the proposal, saying it would be bad for the city of Atlanta, the state and the region. Rep. Joe Heckstall (D-East Point) argued the proposal has racial underpinnings -- south Fulton is majority black; north Fulton is majority white.

Jones’ proposal also ran into opposition from one member of her own party. Republican Majority Whip Ed Lindsey (R-Atlanta) said he opposes the part of the plan that would let only residents of the proposed county vote on its creation during a second vote.  Most of Lindsey’s district is in Buckhead, which would not be part of the new county.

“She’s fighting very hard to reform a county she believes is out of control,” Lindsey said. “I’m fighting very hard to reform a county that I believe is out of control. I just want to make sure my constituents are at the table and have a say in those reforms.”

Fulton County Commission Chairman John Eaves on Thursday called the 1932 merger of Fulton with Milton a “marriage” that Milton County proponents are trying to tear apart.

“This divorce would have a disastrous impact on all parties involved,” Eaves said. “It’s a lose-lose situation.”

But Roswell Mayor Jere Wood said during the committee hearing that divorce is sometimes necessary. In this case, he said, it might cause some short-term pain, but the long-term benefits would be worth it.

“The divorce is because it’s not working out,” said Wood, a major backer for a re-created Milton County. “I see irreconcilable differences.”

State Rep. Roger Bruce (D-Atlanta) said that instead of creating a new county lawmakers should come together to reform the Fulton commission.

Bruce, who is chairman of the Fulton County Legislative Delegation, also criticized a major study on the proposed county by the University of Georgia and Georgia State University. The study, he said, only looked at the feasibility of re-creating Milton County and neglected to study the impact the new county would have on Atlanta and the remnants of Fulton County.