It appears

the Coweta County Board of Commissioners is inching

toward a solution with the Chattahoochee-Flint Regional

Development Center over the issue of unpaid dues.

For months,

the commissioners have disputed paying more than $41,000

to the development agency for a variety of reasons.

First, the

commission disputed the way the agency counted population

and established a per-person fee to the agency.

But now,

the commission is angry over the city of LaGrange not

paying its dues for the last four years. The city has

agreed to pay this year's dues, but still owes the agency

nearly $100,000 in back fees.

Commissioner

Jim McGuffey, who represents the county on the

Chatt-Flint board, said Coweta County's refusal to pay

their dues spurred the agency to put increased pressure

on LaGrange officials.

Now that

LaGrange has paid, the county should go ahead and bite

the bullet and pay its assessment, McGuffey said.

McGuffey

read a letter from former Attorney General Mike Bowers

that makes it clear that counties should pay their share

to their regional development centers.

"Isn't

it just as illegal for Coweta County to withhold

payments?" said McGuffey.

But

Commissioner Vernon "Mutt" Hunter remains

opposed to paying the funds until the county receives a

clearer signal from LaGrange officials.

"We

told the Chatt-Flint director we would pay our dues when

he collected from LaGrange. They can at least tell how

they're going to pay it. Even the IRS gives you a plan to

pay," he said.

McGuffey

said that LaGrange is showing that it is willing to pay

and said he would bring back the issue at the

commission's July 6 meeting for a vote by the board.

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