The Coweta

County Commission is standing firm in its dues-paying

dispute with the Chattahooche-Flint Regional Development

Center.

For months,

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.

During last

week's commission meeting, the commissioners took issue

with recent statements in a LaGrange newspaper about

Coweta County's concern about the non-payment.

The

LaGrange city manager apparently said that Commissioner

Vernon "Mutt" Hunter should stop worrying about

LaGrange's business and focus on running Coweta County.

"That's

exactly what Mr. Hunter is doing. I'm watching over

Coweta's business. If you want to dance, you have to pay

the fiddler," Hunter said in response.

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.

Commissioner

Jim McGuffey said he expects the matter to come to a

resolution at the Chatt-Flint board meeting in August and

will deliver a report back to the board after the

meeting.

<!--

-----------