UPDATE: Cities, County OK SDS Deal

Gwinnett and its cities — including Norcross — approved a Service Delivery Strategy agreement Tuesday, ending a years-long dispute between the two sides.

A joint city-county ceremony was held Tuesday night at the Historic Courthouse in Lawrenceville to sign the deal, after the county Board of Commissioners and the cities had met earlier in the day to approve it.

"A county the size of Gwinnett ... if that group of folks puts their mind to it and is pulling in the same direction, I don't think there's anybody that can lick us." Board Chairperson Charlotte Nash said at the ceremony. (See attached video.)

The Norcross City Council voted 4-0 in favor of the deal earlier in the evening.

"We had a tremendous group working for us, and everybody rolled up their sleeves when they needed to work," Norcross Mayor Bucky Johnson said after the vote. "We've had good legal representation, good staff support, good collegial work among all the cities to bring us to this point." 

Terms of the settlement strongly favor the cities, and are in the $20 million range. For instance, some terms call for Gwinnett to make a $5.1 million, one-time payment to the cities (excluding Lilburn) and $1.5 million yearly through 2018 to the cities (also excluding Lilburn).

Lilburn would get $413,000 one time, and $120,000 yearly for seven years.

Nash said the 2012 tax rates will not be affected by the settlement. "We think it's good for everyone," Nash said.

Other terms will be reported here soon. Also, the entire settlement still has to be approved by Judge David Barrett of Blairsville. Payments would begin in May, if the judge and cities approve.

Several other cities, including Norcross, also called special council meetings for Tuesday evening.

Also, a joint city-county ceremony is planned for Tuesday at 8:30 p.m. at the Historic Courthouse in Lawrenceville.

The SDS matter dates to 2009, when the county sued cities in the Gwinnett Municipal Association (GwMA). At issue is whether the cities should pay the county for services they do not use, such as police.

A notable fallout from the dispute is that police agencies in several Gwinnett cities and the Gwinnett Police haven't been able to use radar or laser to track speeders.