Proponents of recreating Milton County and Fulton County backers went head-to-head at a meeting of the Fulton County Taxpayers Foundation last week.

At issue was whether Fulton County services had failed north Fulton and whether north Fulton officials were justified in seeking separation by recreating Milton County. The reinstated county would include Roswell, Alpharetta, Milton, Johns Creek and Sandy Springs.

District 1 At Large Fulton County Commissioner and Chairman John Eaves was on the defensive, and would not give any ground to Milton County proponents, including north Fulton Mayors and vocal advocate District 3 Fulton County Commissioner Lynne Riley.

“Fulton County is fiscally sound but to create a new government costs money and resources,” said Eaves. “The creation of Milton County, in my opinion, is a lose-lose proposition.”

Eaves said the harmful impacts on Fulton County as a result of recreating Milton County would be extensive. Fulton County, which is now highest in population in the state, would drop to fourth, and there would be a negative impact on Fulton’s business community and the separation would create a public relations nightmare for the county.

Roswell Mayor Jere Wood was the first of the Milton County proponents to speak, and likened the separation of the counties to a necessary divorce.

“The county has drifted apart. One party is not getting love, respect and representation. Residents of north Fulton need this marriage to end. It may be costly but it has to be done,” said Wood.

The Roswell mayor said he had no pity for Fulton County. North Fulton is completely municipalized and provides its own services. To cope, Fulton should cut overhead and become more efficient.

Receiving the warmest applause from the audience of about 50, Johns Creek Mayor Mike Bodker insisted that north Fulton receives no representation from the Fulton County government, other than Ms. Riley.

Sandy Springs Mayor Eva Galambos expressed the need for Fulton to become more efficient so that it could cope without north Fulton tax dollars. She pointed to the county sheriff, who is elected rather than a professional expert, as an example of the county’s inefficiency. She also said the separation of the counties, and the recreation of Campbell County in South Fulton, is inevitable.

“About 30 years ago I prognosticated there would be a city Sandy Springs and nobody believed me, but it’s come to pass,” said Ms. Galambos. “I daresay, if you move in the direction of Milton and Campbell County, you have set up the perfect situation for moving two bloated jurisdictions — Atlanta and Fulton County, and that’s got to be the long-run solution to help the taxpayers in this area.”