The latest

skirmish in the Coweta County Commission's ongoing philosophy debate over

economic development transpired during Tuesday morning's commission meeting.

Earlier this

year, the Coweta County Commission had given the Coweta County Development

Authority $250,000 to act as the county's economic development engine.

On Tuesday,

the County Commission debated where the authority should locate its office.

The county had sent a document to the Development Authority, stating its

wish that the agency would not operate out of any local government office

or civic organization unless it was agreed by both the county and economic

development agency.

"If this

group is going to be autonomous, I don't think we need to tell them where

they can locate," said Commission Chairman Leigh Schlumper.

Commissioner

Larry DeMoss agreed with the chairman, but Commissioners Robert Wood and

Vernon "Mutt" Hunter disagreed.

"I'm not

going to let somebody locate in the Taj Mahal. That's not good fiduciary

responsibility," said Wood.

Hunter countered

with the argument that the county was not telling the group where to locate.

Rather, he said, it would have to be a joint decision on both parties

to locate in a government office.

Schlumper also

had a problem with Development Authority Chairman Mike Barber talking

to Wood about the issue.

"Why didn't

he call all of us?" She said.

Wood said he

initiated the conversation with Barber and Schlumper could have done the

same thing.

The commission

voted 3-2 to keep the clause requiring a joint agreement between the two

entities if he authority located a in a government or quasi-government

agency.

Wood, Hunter

and Commissioner Greg Tarbutton supported the measure while DeMoss and

Schlumper voted against it.