Gainesville officials said Tuesday that they were surprised by a push from smaller cities in Hall County to unite against the influence of Gainesville and county government. “My biggest concern is we were not given any forewarning about it,” Gainesville City Councilman Sam Couvillon said. A memorandum of agreement among the smaller cities of Flowery Branch, Oakwood, Braselton, Buford, Clermont, Gillsville and Lula states that “sticking together” would be advantageous for these governments to check the power of Gainesville and Hall County.