Monroe, Bibb officials say new sign serves as clarification in border dispute

MACON, Georgia (41NBC/WMGT) – Monroe County Commission Chair Mike Bilderback says he wasn’t trying to ruffle any feathers, and neither are officials from Bibb County, after a sign marking the Monroe-Bibb County line caused some confusion for residents. 

Officials say there was a need for some clarification. 

It doesn’t take too long traveling down New Forsyth Road to see the sign. 

It marks where Monroe County begins, and if you look below it, you’ll see another sign that says “contested.”

It’s arguably the first visual reference that’s been made in the age old Macon-Bibb County border dispute.

“Bibb, Monroe County line is still being disputed up at the state level. They’re looking for clear guidance as to where that line actually exists. The Monroe County line went up inside of the contested county area,” Chris Floore with the Macon-Bibb County government said. 

He says Bibb put up the “contested” sign up for some clarification. 

“They actually told the mayor that the sign had gone up. So we went out and put the contested sign out just so that people can recognize that we are going through that process of determining where the line is,” Floore said. 

Bilderback says posting the original sign wasn’t a jab at Bibb County. A resident wanted an idea of where the counties met, so officials put a sign there about a month ago. 

“It’s not an issue for me for them to put it up, I understand why,” Bilderback said. 

The sign sits roughly a few feet from where a surveyor marked the county line.

Bilderback says the border dispute is only a hurdle for both counties. He’s looking to continue to maintain the relationship he’s built with Bibb County.

“We have a relationship that encompasses more than just the county line. You know we have law enforcement, fire service. I mean we’ve got joint grants,” Bilderback said. 

He says at the end of the day, it’s another chapter to the long book of feet and inches that separate two neighboring counties. 

Millions of tax dollars are up grabs in this dispute. 

The border case is back in the hands of a Fulton County Superior Court judge.

No word yet on when the judge will listen to the case.