(Lawrenceville, Ga., Oct. 9, 2009) - Two former Gwinnett County officials who retired last month have contracted to work with the County on a temporary basis. The two will work on an hourly, as-needed basis, as requested by the County Administrator, to assist on two specific projects.

Chuck Huckleberry, who as Deputy Director of Financial Services was leading the County's efforts to revise its solid waste plan, will continue to manage a study and complete a revised solid waste ordinance and management plan. He will earn $62.54 per hour with the total contract not to exceed $50,000.

Lisa Johnsa, former Assistant County Administrator, will continue as the County's "point person" on service delivery agreements between the County and its 15 municipalities. She will make $78.65 per hour, also with a $50,000 maximum.

"We lost a lot of valuable experience and expertise when we offered retirement incentives last summer," said County Administrator Glenn Stephens. "Resolving these two issues are top priorities for us and we need to keep them both moving forward."

The County's new solid waste plan was halted by courtroom litigation just weeks before it would have taken effect last January. In April, officials hired consulting firm A. W. Beck, Inc., to help study the issues and design a new plan.

State law requires all cities and counties in Georgia to have agreements that spell out the services each local government will provide and how residents will pay for them. In Gwinnett, negotiations for a renewed plan began in 2006 but no agreement was reached before the previous pact expired in February. The parties have worked with a mediator but have not yet reached an agreement. There are 15 cities in Gwinnett, each with different service needs such as police and fire protection and water and sewer service.