Henry County commissioners voted January 22 to get behind a massive development project on Jodeco Road at I-75, committing millions of dollars in SPLOST money to help make it happen.

  They may never get the chance.

  Known for the past few years as Jodeco South, the project was referred to as Everly in discussions at the regular commission meeting, culminating with a vote by the board to enter into an agreement with the landowner to move the project forward. But there’s a roadblock to that plan: Stockbridge controls that site from a municipal standpoint and suggestions that the city might de-annex the property and step away from the project were strongly rejected by city officials.

  County attorney Patrick Jaugstetter told the board that the property owner has offered to donate six acres on the eastern edge of the property, right next to I-75, for construction of an arena/conference center. The county would be able to develop that project as it sees fit, and the land owner would also donate all necessary right-of-way to allow the Georgia Department of Transportation to build the necessary roads for the overall project, including the completion of the Western parallel connector that has been in the county’s plans for a decade.

  The county would have to commit $5 million in District 2 SPLOST transportation funds to help get the road work done. District 2 Commissioner Dee Clemmons made it clear before and during the vote that she was in total support of doing that.

  But the project cannot move forward at all in this way unless the land is de-annexed from Stockbridge. That process does not involve the county at all; it must be accomplished solely by the city and the land owner. Then the county must formally accept the de-annexation.

  “If the city doesn’t de-annex, none of this happens,” said Jaugstetter.

  Commissioner Johnny Wilson, who voted against the plan along with Chair June Wood, was the first to point out that the board had no discussions with Stockbridge officials prior to the meeting. That was reaffirmed in a statement by Stockbridge Mayor Anthony Ford.

  “It is unfortunate that Henry County did not reach out to the City of Stockbridge and have formal conversations regarding this matter,” said Ford. “The City of Stockbridge remains resolute in working in collaboration with Henry County and all of its cities to provide the highest level of service and quality of life to citizens. We remain steadfast in ensuring that the Jodeco (Everly) Project develops in the manner in which it was originally envisioned as a substantial mixed-use project which will provide regional retail, restaurant and entertainment options.”

  This project was a prior source of friction between the two entities a couple of years ago when the county sued Stockbrdige over improper annexation of one of the parcels. The city later corrected that, and the lawsuit was dropped.

  The Jodeco South project was also in limbo for about a year as Stockbridge officials fought back the campaign to create the new city of Eagle’s Landing. That was resolved when the Eagle’s Landing referendum failed at the polls in November.

  “The developers of this project have consistently indicated they want to remain in Stockbridge,” city officials asserted in a statement after the commission meting. “A few years ago, this property was litigated and the city prevailed. The Jodeco (Everly) project remains within the jurisdictional boundaries of Stockbridge.”

  Clemmons called the entire issue “nothing but a Facebook saga” and said the project needs an anchor since multiple potential retailers have dropped out. She said she has tried to stay in the loop because 3,000 residents living adjacent to the site are in unincorporated Henry County and in her district.

  She also noted that the Board of Commissioners was approached in 2016 about this project, before she and three other current commissioners came on board, and at the time the county wanted nothing to do with it. The conference center, which has been a point of discussion in ongoing SPLOST V board meetings, would not be allowed under Stockbridge zoning.

  It was asked if the county could follow through should the next SPLOST referendum fail. Jaugstetter replied that the county must have funding to keep up its end of the deal, regardless of where that money comes from.

  “The citizens of this county are tired of Jodeco being a ‘coming’ development. It’s time to make this happen,” said Clemmons. “It’s all in the hands of Stockbridge. I want to be a part of it. I have to answer to my constituents. But nothing happens if Stockbridge says no.”

  When the matter of Stockbridge not being involved in the discussion surfaced, Wood spoke up and said, “That’s exactly why I wanted to table this.” She had made a motion to table it, but that motion failed 2-4 with only Wilson voting with Wood.

  Wood pointed out that her fellow commissioners had not even talked about the project among themselves before this meeting. “Where is the feasibility study for the conference center,” she asked.   She made her motion to table so that there could be “decent conversations without being more divisive.” That plea fell on mostly deaf ears, as Clemmons’ motion to approve the resolution was supported by commissioners Gary Barham, Bruce Holmes and Vivian Thomas.