Forsyth: No deal with state

Adjustments to an intergovernmental agreement to share facilities with the state recently failed to pass with the county.

The Forsyth County Commissioners voted against the proposed joint use of facilities with the Georgia Department of Driver Services (DDS) with a 2-3 vote during a work session. Commissioners Brian Tam and Linda Ledbetter voted for the motion.

The DDS, which operates drivers' licensing for the state, had asked the county to build its new offices at county costs, with repayment coming through lease payments.

But commissioners balked at the proposed agreement in October when DDS wanted the option to pull out of the lease for the drivers' license examination building if the state did not fund their budget. County attorney Ken Jarrard said the proposed contract had been adjusted to allow Forsyth to terminate the contract, but not the state.

"We could allow an accruing balance if they were unable to pay the lease," he said of the proposed 20 year lease for the monthly cost of $12,500. "They would pay the utilities."

Jarrard said DDS was "very anxious to move forward."

Commissioner Jim Harrell said he would rather know for certain if the state would be able to pay the lease before a deal is struck.

"Having tipped their hand that they might not have the money to pay us and seeing how the state's budget is in trouble," he said, "I don't see spending the money at this time until we have a peek at the state's budget. This is not the time for the county to go on the hook for something if it's not entirely necessary. It's just bad timing to me."

But Commissioner Brian Tam said they should approve the deal.

"I think we ought to move forward with this," he said.

Commission Chairman Charles Laughinghouse said it was time to make a decision.

"Either we go ahead with this or we turn them down and say build somewhere else," he said. "It's been close to four years."

If the deal with DDS ultimately falls through, Laughinghouse said the county would have a building to use for other uses.

Interim County Manager Doug Derrer suggested in October that the design and bid should be put on hold until an agreement is negotiated.
- www.northfulton.com

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