County officials want more

information before they decide to pony up $24,000 in dues to the Metropolitan

North Georgia Water Planning District.

Earlier this year, the county

sent half of their $48,000 dues to the regional water planning agency,

but Tuesday the County Commission appeared far more reluctant ins sending

the money to Atlanta.

"I'm not going to

vote to pay $24,000 when everything else is being cut," said Commissioner

Vernon "Mutt" Hunter.

According to its Web site,

The Metropolitan North Georgia Water Planning District Act of Senate Bill

130 was signed into law by Governor Barnes April 5, 2001.� The Act created

a planning entity dedicated to developing comprehensive regional and watershed-specific

plans to be implemented by local governments in the district. These plans

will protect water quality and public water supplies in and downstream

of the region, protect recreational values of the waters in and downstream

of the region, and minimize potential adverse impacts of development on

waters in and downstream of the region.

But like many on the board,

Commissioner Larry DeMoss wondered what the benefits were to the county.

"Do we get a bang for

the dollar?" he said.

Commissioner Robert Wood, who

served on the district's board for two years, said the organization

was a worthwhile effort in trying to protect the region's water.

But Hunter pointed out the

political climate has changed.

"We had to do it back

then, but Gov. Barnes is not around anymore," he said.

Wood, along with county administrator

Theron Gay, pledged to get more information and bring it