Bibb-Monroe border hearing delayed

A long-standing dispute over the location of the 12.5-mile Bibb-Monroe county border will simmer a bit longer.

Next week’s scheduled hearing on the border has been pushed back to Jan. 10 because of an attorney’s medical leave, said John Sherrill, the special assistant administrative law judge who had expected to begin hearing the case Monday.

The dispute has potentially strong impacts. Officials have said as much as $1.2 million in annual Bibb County property tax revenue could be shifted to Monroe County. The proposed line runs through the parking lot of the Bass Pro Shops sportsman store.

Sherrill said both counties were prepared for court until Monroe County’s lead counsel had unexpected medical complications. Sherrill said everyone is disappointed.

“We’ve been trying to get this done for a long time, and we’re right here on the cusp of that and this happens,” he said.

Bibb County Attorney Virgil Adams was surprised.

“We were ready to go on Monday, obviously, but due to this request and health condition, the judge continued it,” Adams said.

Because the case was ready for court, Sherrill said he doesn’t expect any additional filings or other legal action before January.

Sherrill said he expects to make a recommendation in February, which could result in a decision by the Georgia Secretary of State’s office by the end of March.

The Secretary of State’s office is responsible for determining the location of county borders.

The border dispute has been an issue for years. Bibb and Monroe commissioners tried to resolve the issue about five years ago, but ultimately the state ordered a survey.

They hired Terry Scarborough of Warner Robins, who ultimately found the western corner of the border, where it was expected.

But the eastern corner, a former ferry site on the Ocmulgee River, has become the major point of contention, and Scarborough’s survey shifted the long-established border hundreds of feet south.

Bibb County has accused Scarborough of thinking an old railroad bed was the road to the ferry site.

Scarborough’s survey also describes an island of Bibb County in Monroe, where older maps show a connected portion of Bibb County land.

That stems from a vague amendment created by the Georgia General Assembly in 1877, which moved Dr. Lee Holt’s land into Bibb County, even though the Holt land didn’t touch the line.

Surveyors and engineers have been trying for decades to create a definitive boundary, including one in 1941 by the Bibb County engineer.

Most of the county border was established in 1822 when Monroe County was created.

Scarborough, who had said he would be at Monday’s hearing, has also said the ongoing dispute was destroying his business.

Bibb County said it would pay him its share of the survey costs, about $173,000, after he gives a deposition detailing how he found the county line.

To contact writer Mike Stucka, call 744-4251.