The State Properties Commission is working with the Georgia Department of Agriculture "to identify the best site" for the new Georgia Poultry Laboratory Network headquarters, said Katy Pando, the commission's spokeswoman, on Tuesday.

"At this point, there hasn't been a decision on a site (or) to necessarily leave the Oakwood site," she said. "We're just trying to identify the very best location for the new facility."

Oakwood City Manager Stan Brown said Monday that he received an email around Christmas from a project manager saying that the planned $13.5 million building wouldn't be built on the site and that the state wanted a refund of sewer connection fees.

"I told them that as soon as I tally up how much we've already spent (on the sewer project), we'll have a conversation," Brown said, speaking after Monday night's City Council meeting.

The council didn't discuss the matter during the meeting, but Brown had noted in his written monthly report to the council that the city was awaiting access to property from Audubon Crest Apartments as part of the sewer project.

"We are still pursuing the easement. We've generated (Audubon's) process," Brown said. "Their attorneys have looked at it. There's going to be a bill coming to us, just for all the legal review ... to acquire the easement. It'll be over $10,000."

Brown said he doesn't know the poultry lab's new location.

Work was set to start in August on the new laboratory on the same site as the current building, which opened in the early 1960s.

The plan was to demolish part of the old building at 4457 Oakwood Road, with employees working out of the rest of the old building until new offices were completed. The new building was expected to be finished in the fall of 2012.

The current building, which is close to the recently opened four-lane Thurmon Tanner Parkway in Oakwood, has about 12,000 square feet.

The poultry network, which works with the commercial poultry industry to ensure healthy birds and celebrated its 75th anniversary last year, has offices in Carnesville, Dalton, Forsyth and Tifton.