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July 7, 2009

Murray to follow Whitfield lead on regional commission

Charles Oliver

Murray County sole commissioner David Ridley says the county will join the new Northwest Georgia Regional Commission.

“I made it official (Tuesday),” he said. “I sent a letter to (the commission), and I sent a letter to the governor’s office.

The Northwest Georgia Regional Commission is expected to be the lead body for land use, environmental, transportation and historic preservation planning in the region. The North Georgia Regional Development Center (NGRDC), headquartered in Dalton, has been providing similar services for Whitfield, Murray, Fannin, Gilmer and Pickens counties.

NGRDC members had initially opposed state efforts to merge them with the 10-county Coosa Valley RDC into the Northwest commission. Whitfield County Board of Commissioners chairman Mike Babb said last week board members were leaning towards remaining with the NGRDC, but that changed after commission members found the NGRDC planned to challenge the state law requiring the merger.

“Whitfield County is not going to have any part to do with using taxpayers’ money to sue other taxpayers’ money,” Babb said at the time. “It’s time to go ahead and follow the new state law from the Legislature and join the new commission which basically came into effect July 1. It’s time to get off the fence and decide which way you’re going to go.”

Ridley said he was waiting to see what Whitfield County would do. Local funding for the NGRDC is based on population, and Whitfield County has a little over 40 percent of the population of the NGRDC service area.

“With Dalton and Whitfield County being their biggest supporters, it will be difficult for them to operate,” he said. Dalton officials have also said the city will be a part of the regional commission.

NGRDC executive director Barry Tarter did not immediately return a telephone message Tuesday.

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