REPORT

To: The Bibb County Board of Commissioners

From: Dorothy Toth Beasley, Mediator

Date: August 4, 2008

On October 16, 2007, the Commission approved a motion

“to pursue resolution of the Forest Hill Road Project by engaging in

mediation with representatives of Bibb County, persons who

physically reside on Forest Hill Road, representatives from the Department

of Transportation, representatives from Moreland Altobelli, and a representative

from the City of Macon. The mediation will take place as soon as a mediator

can be selected and a date established. It is the intent that the proposed

mediation will not otherwise delay or stop the process of acquiring

right of way along Forest Hill Road as is currently taking place nor delay the Project in any way.”

The above-named mediator was selected, a process to be followed was

set, and four persons plus an alternate were chosen to represent the residents: Dr. Lindsay Holliday, Daniel P. Fischer, Susan Hanberry Martin, Carol G. Lystlund and, as alternate, Alice Boyd. On the other side, the parties were represented by the County Engineer and Moreland Altobelli personnel. The spokesman for this group was Mr. D. Van Etheridge, Project Manager.

A hearing was set and held on February 28, 2008. It commenced with a public portion, as which any interested party was invited to speak and address concerns about design and construction of the project. The purpose of the session and of the mediation were explained. After all who wished to be heard were heard, the public portion was concluded and the actual mediation session commenced upon a signed agreement to mediate in good faith, with confidentiality paramount so that the discussions could be without reservation or interference. The positions of the parties were taken and exchanged. The Residents’ Representatives offered an alternative design by by Mr. Rick Chellman, a consultant engineer. Thereafter, over the course of the next several months until July, continuous efforts were made to reach a settlement. Sessions were conducted by the mediator by telephone with the Residents’ Representatives and separately with Mr. Etheridge as the spokesperson for the road team. Options were thoroughly discussed with each side and efforts made to compromise on various features of the project.

A point was reached when it was evident that a settlement could not be reached. The final position of the two sides in the dispute are set out in the attached statements. The County’s final offer was responded to by the Residents’ Representatives as set out in their statement of July 17. This prompted the County representatives to withdraw the final offer, and that is where the matter stands. An impasse had been reached, and the matter is returned to the Board of Commissioners.

Attachments:

Bibb County Representatives’ Response of July 7, 2008

Residents’ Representatives reply of July 17, 2008

Bibb County final reply of July 22, 2008.