Special grand jury begins probe of Gwinnett park land purchases

By Patrick Fox

The Atlanta Journal-Constitution

The special grand jury impaneled to investigate Gwinnett County park land purchases began proceedings Friday.

The hearings are closed to the public, but those appearing at the courtroom Friday included Jock Connell, former county administrator who retired in December after more than 20 years with the county; Phil Hoskins, who oversees the parks department as director of community service; and Steve North, director of support services, the department that supervises land acquisitions.

Also called to appear Friday was Chuck Warbington, executive director of Gwinnett Village Community Improvement District. Warbington serves as the District 3 representative on the county planning commission.

District Attorney Danny Porter called the special grand jury after a series of investigations by The Atlanta Journal-Constitution that highlighted four occasions in which the county government bought land for parks. The AJC investigations questioned political connections of the developers and county commissioners, the purchase prices and appraisals.

The special grand jury can subpoena witnesses, obtain documents and hire experts for its investigation.

When the probe is concluded, the panel is expected to issue a report disclosing its findings and a decision on whether indictments are warranted. Gwinnett's Superior Court judges then would vote on any further action they want the panel to take on the matter.

The last time a special grand jury was impaneled in Gwinnett County was in 1989 when then-District Attorney Tom Lawler sought to investigate potential price-fixing on milk contracts to local schools. Earlier that year a special grand jury was impaneled to probe a lavish trip four commissioners and 24 others took to New York at the county's expense.