During Tuesday's meeting, commissioners agreed to hire an attorney to assist with mediation and the federal claims process against Tyndall AFB.

The county claims the base owes almost half-a-million dollars in unpaid water bills, stemming from a 2007 rate hike for wholesale water. Tyndall claims that increase did not take federal regulations into account and is not legal.

Panama City has also refused to pay the higher price, saying it violates their current contract agreement with the county.

Even though they've retained outside legal counsel, commissioners say they don't want to get involved in a long legal dispute.

Commissioner George Gainer says, "We need to stop the county suing the city, the city suing the county. Tyndall, they're our good neighbors. We love Tyndall, we always have. We don't need this. We need a good strong agreement that everybody signs."

The county's outside attorney says the county could take the claims against Tyndall before federal boards, or less formal methods. But, he cautions it's too early to tell which process will be used.