GHCC hears about situation in Flowery Branch

GAINESVILLE - Flowery Branch acting Mayor Larry Pritchett and Hall County Commission Chairman Gary Gibbs tried to assure local business leaders Thursday that it's "business as usual" in Flowery Branch - and the county is not trying to take over the town.

They appeared before the board of directors of the Greater Hall Chamber of Commerce.

Mayor Pritchett said Flowery Branch is "not missing a beat" - that the "police are policing" and the "water is running" despite the recent resignations of four city officials and two police officers.

Gibbs said "nothing could be further from the truth" in referring to rumors that the county is trying to take over the South Hall town in the wake of recent events.

Those rumors have apparently been fueled, in part, by the fact that the county's public safety director, Doug Derrer, is the acting City Manager in Flowery Branch. City officials say they requested help from the county under an existing agreement when City Manager Dennis Bergin resigned last week.

Gibbs described the county as an "enabler" in the situtation.

http://accesswdun.com/article/2004/1/165320