Fort Oglethorpe and Catoosa County, ordered into mediation to settle their dispute over fire service in the county, are no closer to resolving their standoff.

Catoosa officials have chosen two potential mediators from a list presented in court May 21, but Fort Oglethorpe is awaiting a written order from the court to begin the mediator selection process.

Catoosa County Manager Mike Helton said he and County Attorney Skip Patty selected two individuals from a list of mediators available through the Coosa Valley Regional Development Center .

“We’ve chosen two names and will submit those within a day or two to Fort Oglethorpe,” Mr. Helton said.

“We will then await the names of city candidates for consideration,” he said. “The Coosa Valley list had about 15 mediators, but that list wasn’t all inclusive.”

Fort Oglethorpe City Attorney Ron Goulart, who is acting city manager, said he is waiting for an order signed by Superior Court Judge Ralph Hill before moving forward.

Mr. Goulart filed suit on behalf of Fort Oglethorpe and Post Volunteer Fire and Rescue claiming a fire service delivery strategy adopted by Catoosa County was a breach of contract, caused safety issues and duplicated services.

Catoosa had proposed for its county fire department to provide fire protection in all areas of the county outside the Fort Oglethorpe city limits, effective May 15.

Ringgold was to be covered in return for giving its annual insurance premium tax revenue of about $130,000 directly to the county.

Catoosa was to end the monthly payments of $18,000 to Post Volunteer and $14,000 to Fort Oglethorpe for fire service they gave in areas of unincorporated Catoosa.

Judge Hill on May 14 issued an injunction stopping the county, and after a hearing on May 21 he ordered the city and county into mediation, with 60 days from May 15 to reach an agreement.

He ordered the county to continue its payments of nearly $8,000 a week as laid out in the old contract.

Judge Hill placed initial responsibility for selecting a mediator on Mr. Goulart and Mr. Patty, but said he will make the selection if the attorneys can’t agree.

He also said he will extend the 60-day deadline for an agreement, if requested.

It is an expensive wait county officials likely do not want to extend.

But, Mr. Goulart said only when he receives the judge’s signed order will he contact William Steiner, executive director of Coosa Valley Regional Development Center and the Georgia Municipal Association to suggest potential mediators with experience in fire delivery service and strategy.

If a mediator ultimately concludes the city and county cannot agree, both governments could lose all state assistance, such as grants and low-interest loans.