Chattooga County Commissioner Blake Elsberry said that he has hired outside legal representation in the ongoing dispute between the county government and Trycon manufacturing in Lyerly.

The commissioner sent a letter to Trycon asking for the return of over $47,000 after a question came up in the county’s annual audit.  Elsberry claims that there “could have been” county funds used on a sewer project at Trycon last year.  Trycon strongly disagrees with the commissioner saying that they paid for all of the work done on company-owned property and have hired legal representation to represent their position against the county.

This week, Commissioner Elbserry said that County Attorney Chris Corbin has recused himself from the matter since he represented the previous commissioner’s administration.

Elsberry has hired well-known Georgia attorney Lester Tate to represent the county in the disagreement.  Before going into law practice, Tate served as press secretary for former Democratic U.S. Congressman Buddy Darden.