Gwinnett issues new proposal in dispute with cities

By Patrick Fox

The Atlanta Journal-Constitution

Gwinnett County has issued a counter-proposal to its cities in the ongoing service delivery dispute which threatens to cost both sides millions in state grant money.

The county notified cities of the proposal Thursday, and representatives from the county's 15 municipalities were scheduled to discuss the documents in a conference call later this evening, according to Norcross Mayor Bucky Johnson, chairman of the Gwinnett Municipal Association. Johnson said a formal meeting has been scheduled for Wednesday to hash out the proposals and decide what action the cities should take.

Both sides have been unable to agree on the state mandated service agreement which lays out which county services should be provided to cities. If an agreement is not signed by the end of this month, both parties will become ineligible for state grants and permits until a pact is signed.

This latest proposal, Johnson said, carries individual service listings for each city. He said he could not release details of the proposal until all sides had a chance to review the offer.

County Commission Chairman Charles Bannister also declined comment.