UPDATE: Gwinnett BOC OKs SDS Deal; Cities Stand To Receive Millions

Updated 3:20 p.m., Feb. 7, 2012

The Gwinnett County Board Of Commissioners approved Tuesday a Service Delivery Strategy (SDS) deal with cities in the Gwinnett Municipal Association, doing their part to end a multi-year, multimillion-dollar dispute.

Showing the fluidity of the situation, the agenda item on the SDS matter was added by the BOC after its afternoon meeting began.

"This is still active litigation," noted BOC Chairman Charlotte Nash after the commissioners' approval.

However, terms of the settlement strongly favor the cities. For instance terms call for Gwinnett to make a $5.1 million, one-time payment to the cities (excluding Lilburn) and $1.5 million yearly through 2018 to the cities (excluding Lilburn).

Lilburn would get $413,000 one time, and $120,000 yearly for seven years.

Nash said the 2012 tax rates will not be affected by the settlement. "We think it's good for everyone," Nash said.

The entire settlement still has to be approved by Judge David Barrett of Blairsville. Payments would begin in May, if the judge and cities approve.

Several cities have called special council meetings for Tuesday evening regarding a possible settlement of the multi-year, multimillion-dollar dispute. Suwanee, Loganville, Snellville, Lilburn, Duluth and Norcross officials are expected to meet Tuesday on the matter.

Also, a joint city-county ceremony is planned for Tuesday at 8:30 p.m. at the Historic Courthouse in Lawrenceville.

The SDS matter dates to 2009, when the county sued cities in the Gwinnett Municipal Association (GwMA). At issue is whether the cities should pay the county for services they do not use, such as police.

The "police service district" is a . That ruling strongly favored the cities in the dispute, and ordered Gwinnett County officlals to set up a special district to administer such functions as police.

Negotiations clearly had been progressing. .

Also, notable fallout from the dispute is that police agencies in several Gwinnett cities and the Gwinnett Police can't use radar or laser to track speeders.