DALTON, Ga. — Nearly two months after the mayor gave them a notice of eviction from City Hall, the Downtown Dalton Development Authority’s employees began moving out Wednesday.

They packed boxes and equipment and began the shuttle to a new office in the downtown district.

“I hope it’s our last move, before a permanent home,” said a tired DDDA Executive Director Sarah Harrison, as she packed boxes Wednesday. She said the new location will probably be home for the next couple of years.

The move sprang from a contentious relationship between the DDDA and city’s outspoken new mayor, David Pennington.

The mayor evicted the DDDA from its rent-free City Hall offices on April Fool’s Day after the Authority refused to abolish the extra tax it levies on downtown district properties.

He gave the authority a June 1 deadline to vacate.

“I’m sure you will be able to find suitable space in our central business district,” the mayor wrote to the DDDA.

The Dalton Area Convention and Visitors Bureau was initially slated to move into the DDDA’s office.

But, just last week, the CVB announced it wouldn’t be relocating to City Hall.

Mr. Pennington said he then offered to give the DDDA a few months’ reprieve from their June 1 eviction date — but the DDDA had already found a new downtown office.

Ms. Harrison had also spent $7,000 on new office equipment and furniture for the Pentz Street location. DDDA Chairman Brian Peters — also the mayor’s business partner — acknowledged that Mr. Pennington’s offer was “a little bit eleventh hour.”

For her part, Ms. Harrison is trying to move forward.

“Now we’re excited about being ... among our downtown folks.”