Day 1: Bibb-Monroe Co. Border War Hearing

The long-running dispute over the border between Monroe and Bibb Counties went before a judge in Atlanta for the beginning of a three day hearing. More than a million dollars in tax revenue is at stake, and Bass Pro Shop is literally right in the middle of this border war.

The dispute stems back to the 1800s, when a doctor petitioned legislators to move his property from Monroe County to Bibb. In 2009, land surveyor, Terry Scarborough, was hired by then Governor Sonny Perdue to evaluate the county lines. According to Scarborough, Monroe County’s line should be moved farther South.  Bibb County Commissioners did not accept the recommendation because they claim it is flawed.

The big argument is whether Scarborough surveyed the land correctly. Scarborough used an old ferry landing on the Ocmulgee River to mark the spot of the alleged correct county line. Bibb County Attorney, Virgil Adams, claims Scarborough did not use the correct ferry landing, but according to Monroe County the old law Scarborough used to define the county line never says specifically which ferry landing to use.

In the first day of the hearing, which took place at the State Administrative Hearings Office, Bibb County called 3 witnesses: 2 land surveyors and a county engineer.

Monroe county Attorneys are expected to call their witnesses Tuesday, including an archeologist. Special Assistant Administrative Law Judge John Sherill is expected to make a recommendation based on the facts on Wednesday and present them to Secretary of state Brian Kemp.