Byron wants to keep appeal options open in dispute with Warner Robins

BYRON -- City Council is keeping appeal options open following a November court ruling about rights to land in dispute by Byron and Warner Robins.

Mayor Larry Collins said he expects differences will be worked out between officials of both cities and that it's prudent to keep appeal avenues open.

Collins said the dispute involves about 14 acres off the Ga. 247 Connector west of Interstate 75. A convenience store is located there.

Water and sewer services were provided to the parcel by Byron, he said, and it was brought into the city at the owner's request. He said officials do not annex property into the city except by owner request.

Warner Robins also lays claim to the land.

In October, Peach County Superior Court issued a decision strongly favoring Warner Robins' position about the land but also said that another decision in November gave the two parties more "wiggle room" to work things out themselves, Collins said.

He said Byron is eager to come to an agreement with Warner Robins and reach what he called a "win-win" situation for both cities.

Collins specifically alluded to the situation and any impact it might have on the current arrangement of Byron paying Warner Robins to receive and treat its sewage.

Collins said officials from both cities will meet to discuss the matter.

At its meeting Monday, the Byron City Council voted to help provide electricity and water to certain spots in Byron's cemetery and to aid Byron's Village Green Garden Club in placing a Blue Star Marker at the graveyard.

The garden club, which cares for the cemetery, received approval for electricity to be run to a flagpole to provide lights and a for a water line that will run to a flower bed the garden club maintains.

Blue Star Markers honor all men and women who serve in U.S. military. The garden club is working to have a marker placed in the cemetery by April.

Also Monday, the council voted to renew contracts and agreements with Byron's historical society, convention and visitors bureau and Better Hometown board.

However, the council voted to make its agreement with the Better Hometown group a month-to-month one since the city plans to review its arrangement with the group early in the coming year, Councilman Michael Chidester said.

Contact writer Michael W. Pannell at mwpannell@gmail.com.

This story was originally published December 15, 2015 at 10:27 PM with the headline "Byron wants to keep appeal options open in dispute with Warner Robins ."