Judge Denies Bibb’s Request for Intervention, Monroe County Wins Latest Battle in Line Dispute

ATLANTA, Georgia (41NBC/WMGT) — Bibb County will not be allowed to speak in court on the latest ruling that gave a big win to Monroe County in an ongoing battle over the county line. That ruling gives the secretary of state’s office two weeks to reverse a decision that has major implications for people who live in the disputed territory.

Fulton County Superior Court Judge ruled from the bench on January 9th, and she made it official in writing on January 23rd.

Her ruling comes down to 14 days. In that time, the north-east tip of the Monroe-Bibb County line will be moved down about 1200 feet,shifting thousands of tax-payer dollars into Monroe County, and Bibb county can’t do anything to stop it.

This ruling orders Kemp to reverse his 2011 decision. That’s when he ruled in favor of Bibb County, and did not consider what was supposed to be the official survey to decide the counties’ boundaries.

Monroe County filed several appeals since then. In this latest one it took the Secretary of State to court on January 9th arguing that survey was based on historic record.

On January 10th, just one day after Lee ruled in favor of Monroe County, Bibb County’s attorney filed an emergency motion to step-in, since he wasn’t informed of this latest appeal.

Judge Lee denied that request.

In the ruling, Lee wrote, “The SOS is specifically charged with determining the county boundary line. He failed to do so here… the record evidence and the law compel the SOS to accept and record the Survey.”

Kemp has less than two weeks to challenge that decision. The Secretary of State’s office is expected Judge Lee’s denial. He believes Bibb County should have a say in this decision.