County, city to hash out SDS in court

After months of little to no progress between the City of Clayton and the Rabun County Board of Commissioners, a determination was made at Tuesday night’s council meeting to work further details regarding the Service Delivery Strategy agreement out in front of an attorney.

The issues of local service delivery strategy, local revenue collection and distribution, and intergovernmental coordination are crucial to municipalities. Without an SDS verified by the Georgia Department of Community Affairs to comply with applicable requirements, a local government or respective authorities are ineligible to receive any state permits or financial assistance. In addition, any local projects that are not consistent with the strategy will not receive any state permits or financial assistance.

Clayton city officials told WRBN/WGHC News that any further progress towards SDS will be made in front of Lamar W. Sizemore, Jr., an “of counsel” attorney at Clark & Smith Law Firm, LLC where he devotes his time to serving as a mediator amongst other areas of practice.

The City of Clayton and the county both were in agreeance to proceed with a mediator as a go-between for all future work-sessions and hearings regarding SDS.