By JOHN THOMPSON
jthompson@TheCitizenNews.com

A mistake on a map could cause south Fulton annexation organizers to start from scratch.

One of the annexation's organizers, Bill Creel, told the Coweta County Commission this week that the group had inadvertently put 230 acres on the map of the property that would be annexed into Coweta County.

But he learned this week that the owner of the property wants his parcel to remain in Fulton County. Creel informed Fulton County officials and is waiting on a decision to see if the proposal has to go back to the Fulton County Grand Jury and Fulton County Commission.

Nearly 400 residents in south Fulton want 17,000 acres annexed into Coweta County.

The commissioners were supposed to make a decision on their petition by the middle of the month, but now that timeframe is up in the air.

“This is going to give us more time, which may be a Godsend to both of us,” said Commission Chairman Vernon “Mutt” Hunter.

The Commission received a preliminary report on cost estimates to absorb the new residents and land.

An initial figure of adding $55 million to Coweta County's tax digest has dropped to $36 million, since much of the land in question is receiving an agricultural tax break, Hunter said.

Hunter said the residents should find a way to make it a cost-neutral proposition for Coweta County.

The other commissioners agreed with Hunter and said they needed more time to study the proposal. County administrator Theron Gay said he would provide the commissioners with a detailed cost analysis, based on the lower tax digest.

Creel pledged to get the commissioners an answer on a new timeframe and said Coweta should only annex the property if it was beneficial to the county.