Service dispute creates uncommon alliance

By Patrick Fox

The Atlanta Journal-Constitution

You haven't seen Mike Beaudreau go out of his way lately to support a stand by Charles Bannister, but the two county commissioners are lock-step on the service delivery feud with Gwinnett's 15 cities.

"I'm in complete agreement with the chairman," Beaudreau said Friday. "The cities are trying to rush us into an agreement by suing the state and threatening to punish all residents."

Both Beaudreau and Bannister locked horns all last year over budget issues, and some exchanges were less than cordial.

On Thursday, officials with the cities held a press conference to label the county as obstructionist.

The service delivery agreement, required by state law, is designed to guard against duplication of services between the county and its cities.  The penalty for not having an agreement is the loss of state grants and permits. The cities have acted to get the penalty imposed immediately in accordance with a judge's order.

Beaudreais, who serves with Bannister on the mediation team, said the cities are cutting off their nose to spite their face. He agreed with Bannister's statements earlier this week that the penalties will hurt all residents of the county, and he accused the cities of taking a narrow focus on the issue.