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Counties take up Caterpillar agreement
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ATHENS, Ga. (AP) - The Athens-Clarke County Commission has approved a more detailed agreement with Oconee County that outlines how the two governments will cooperate on a new plant being developed for construction equipment maker Caterpillar.

The Athens Banner-Herald reports (http://bit.ly/JNaBnR) that the agreement calls for Athens-Clarke County to lay water and sewer lines and build two roads on the nearly 900-acre site on the Clarke-Oconee county line. It also lays out plans for emergencies, and says both counties' firefighters and law enforcement agencies would respond.

The Athens-Clarke County commission approved the agreement Tuesday. Oconee County's commission is scheduled to approve it next week.

Within five years, Illinois-based Caterpillar expects to employ 800 people at the $200 million facility, where mini-excavators and small tractors will be made.