Thursday, Jan. 15, Judge James G. Tunison, Jr. appointed a mediator in response to the City of Bainbridge’s November 2014 petition for mandatory mediation of service delivery strategy.

Will Sanders, a partner at Alexander & Vann, LLP in Thomasville was appointed as mediator.

“The mediator was appointed by the judge on Thursday,” said City Manager Chris Hobby at Tuesday’s City Council meeting. “Mr. Will Sanders was appointed as the mediator. He has 30 days to schedule the first session, so we are awaiting that session to be scheduled. That’s really all there is to report. We haven’t heard anything yet from Mr. Sanders, but I feel that will be coming shortly.”

According to O.C.G.A §36-70–25.1(d)(1)(B), “Mediation shall commence within 30 days of the appointment of a mediator. The mandatory mediation process shall be completed within 60 days following the appointment of the mediator. A majority of the members of the governing body of the county and each affected municipality shall attend the initial mediation. Following the initial meeting, the mediation shall proceed in the manner established at the initial meeting. If there is no agreement on how the mediation should proceed, a majority of the members of the governing body of the county and each affected municipality shall be required to attend each mediation session unless another process is agreed upon.”

Decatur County Chairman Dennis Brinson said news that a mediator had been selected means the case is moving forward.

“The quicker we can get this resolved, the better it will be for the citizens of Decatur County,” Brinson said.