[0:00] Rome city commission meeting. Uh we

[0:03] begin every meeting with an invitation

[0:05] pledge to the flag and u I've got the

[0:08] honors of doing that tonight. So if

[0:10] you'll please stand.

[0:15] Gracious father, we come tonight, Lord,

[0:17] thanking you and and just praising you

[0:19] for all the many blessings that you've

[0:21] given us. You've given us uh our lives,

[0:23] our families, and uh just the people

[0:26] that mean a lot to us. But Lord, right

[0:29] now you've given us the city of Rome and

[0:31] um as we go make decisions tonight. Um

[0:36] let it be in your best interest, not

[0:38] ours. Let uh let us whatever we do, let

[0:41] it bring glory and honor to you. And

[0:43] God, I just ask that uh you'll watch

[0:45] over us. You'll uh take care of us. And

[0:49] uh Father, that uh

[0:52] you will be uh first and foremost in

[0:54] every one of our thoughts. Lord, we love

[0:56] you. We thank you. We praise you for all

[0:59] the wonderful things you've done in our

[1:01] lives. In Jesus name I pray. Amen.

[1:04] >> Amen.

[1:06] >> I aliance to the flag of the United

[1:09] States of America and to the republic

[1:12] for it stands one nation under God

[1:16] indivisible with liberty and justice for

[1:19] all.

[1:32] Mr. Clerk, will you call the role, sir?

[1:33] >> Sir, Mayor Bojo,

[1:35] >> I'm here.

[1:36] >> Commissioner Robinson

[1:37] >> here.

[1:37] >> Brock here. Cochran

[1:39] >> here.

[1:40] >> Bean

[1:40] >> here.

[1:41] >> Fisher

[1:42] >> here.

[1:42] >> Hixon

[1:43] >> here.

[1:43] >> McDaniel

[1:44] >> here.

[1:45] >> Uh, would you let the record show that

[1:47] uh, Commissioner Collins has been

[1:49] excused from tonight's meeting?

[1:53] We'll look at the approval of the

[1:56] minutes. Let's go back to the July 27th,

[2:00] 2026 meeting. Did everyone get a copy of

[2:03] those minutes?

[2:06] Everybody um good with them?

[2:10] All right. August 10th, 2026. That was a

[2:13] call meeting.

[2:16] Any changes need to be made,

[2:18] corrections?

[2:20] Then our uh evening meeting on August

[2:22] the 10th.

[2:24] Everybody good?

[2:27] Then uh all three of these meetings we

[2:29] the uh minutes stand approved as they

[2:32] are written. We have no proclamations.

[2:35] We have got uh no special rec

[2:37] recognition tonight. Uh public comments,

[2:40] there are none resolutions.

[2:43] Um we've got one about the South Broad

[2:45] Street Bridge repair. We heard about

[2:48] this in caucus. Um Mr. Manager, you want

[2:51] to take the 30 seconds?

[2:52] >> Certainly. Thank you, mayor. And

[2:53] briefly, we're talking about the South

[2:55] Broadidge, the Charles Graves Bridge,

[2:57] and what we have here. Um due to the

[3:00] repairs that need to be made, we've tried to cover all bases. We've

[3:03] asked Georgia DOT for funding to help us

[3:06] with a replacement of the bridge. We've

[3:08] applied for funds through the

[3:09] Appalachian Regional Commission, and

[3:10] we've also, as before tonight, we have

[3:13] an application for the Georgia

[3:14] Transportation Infrastructure Bank. So,

[3:17] this is a two-part. One part would be a

[3:19] $1 million grant and the other would be

[3:22] a $1 million loan. And so, by by us

[3:25] approving the resolution tonight, it

[3:27] simply gets us in a place that should we

[3:29] choose to go after these funds, we'll be

[3:31] able to do that. But tonight is

[3:33] certainly not a commitment or not us

[3:35] taking on a loan at this time. It's just

[3:38] um covering the bases should we need to

[3:40] do so at a later time.

[3:42] >> And if I remember correctly, the loan is

[3:44] a very low interest loan. That is

[3:46] correct.

[3:48] [clears throat and cough]

[3:48] >> Thank you, sir. Uh, we have nothing on

[3:51] first reading, nothing on second

[3:52] reading.

[3:53] >> We do need we do need approval for that,

[3:54] mayor. Sorry,

[3:58] >> we do we do need a vote for that. Yes,

[3:59] sir. Sorry.

[4:00] >> Okay. Um, and we All right. I'll open

[4:04] this for the panel to discuss. Anybody

[4:07] got any questions or comments?

[4:10] Does this automatically mean that we

[4:12] approve the loan or does the loan come

[4:14] back to us for separate approval?

[4:16] >> No, we would we would come back to the

[4:18] body before there's a lot of decisions

[4:20] to be made and so this is just us trying

[4:21] to get all of the bases covered so that

[4:23] once we find out is there going to be

[4:26] other funding sources available but

[4:28] >> yeah we will definitely bring back final

[4:30] decisions.

[4:31] >> All right, I do need a motion to a

[4:34] motion to adopt this.

[4:36] >> So move second. All right,

[4:40] we got a motion in in the second. Um, is

[4:44] there any more discussion?

[4:48] » All right, Mr. Cler, call.

[4:49] >> Commissioner Robinson,

[4:50] >> yes.

[4:51] >> Brock,

[4:52] >> yes.

[4:52] >> Cochran,

[4:53] >> yes.

[4:54] >> Beman,

[4:54] >> yes.

[4:55] >> Fisher,

[4:55] >> yes.

[4:56] >> Hixon,

[4:57] >> yes.

[4:57] >> McDaniel,

[4:58] >> yes.

[4:59] >> Sorry, I thought when that came from

[5:02] the IRC that they would

[5:05] >> do all that. Anyway, we have nothing on

[5:07] first reading, nothing on second

[5:08] reading, nothing continued on first

[5:10] reading, but we do have some items on uh

[5:13] public hearing.

[5:16] >> Good evening, Mr. Mayor.

[5:18] >> Good evening.

[5:21] Our first item for you this evening is

[5:22] special use permit request 26-08-02.

[5:26] The request is for multif family

[5:28] residential being zoned community

[5:30] commercial for the properties at 10

[5:31] highway 411 and zero highway 411 Rome

[5:35] Georgia 30161 Floyd County tax parcels

[5:37] J15W441

[5:39] and J15W440. [snorts]

[5:42] Uh the two properties are right here on

[5:44] your screen. It is the former Winthrop

[5:47] and then this wooded partial parking lot

[5:49] here to the side of it. Uh this is the

[5:52] former, as I said, the former Winthre

[5:54] nursing home. Uh it has been closed for

[5:55] some time after it had a fire.

[5:59] We have approved a couple other special

[6:01] use permits of this nature in the area.

[6:03] Um most notably the former Holiday in

[6:06] Skytop. Um one of the things staff

[6:09] looked at and and reviewing this is how

[6:12] would this fit into the new code? Will

[6:14] the CC zoning district is going away? it

[6:16] will no longer exist and uh the current

[6:19] special use permit is only valid in the

[6:21] or the requested special use permit is

[6:23] only valid in CC. Therefore, anyone that

[6:26] has one in that district, it will become

[6:27] null. Uh therefore, staff had concerns

[6:30] about potentially giving them a special

[6:31] use permit uh only for it to potentially

[6:33] become void in six months from now. Um

[6:38] the request is for quote unquote micro

[6:41] apartments, though there is a mix of

[6:42] others size apartments as well.

[6:46] uh staff has been looking and

[6:47] researching, you know, the best

[6:49] practices for micro apartments. They

[6:50] tend to do best when you have a

[6:53] university nearby as they work great for

[6:55] uh student housing or in your most

[6:57] urbanized downtown districts where a lot

[6:59] of times you price out your young

[7:00] professionals. Uh this would fit neither

[7:03] of those categories. These are pictures

[7:06] looking in from the highway.

[7:12] The staff did recommend denial without

[7:13] prejudice. The applicants have multiple

[7:15] uh ideas for things they want to do with

[7:17] this property and we didn't want to

[7:18] potentially uh keep them from applying

[7:21] for something else at a future date. Uh

[7:23] some of their ideas are pretty

[7:24] interesting.

[7:26] So therefore the staff recommendation is

[7:28] deny without prejudice. This is one of

[7:29] the other ones that was previously

[7:30] approved. It's I believe it's currently

[7:32] sitting vacant under renovation.

[7:34] Uh that is the other one that was

[7:37] approved. Those are up uh the dead end

[7:40] street across Chateau. And that is a

[7:43] image of the uh former holiday in

[7:45] skytop. Planning commission chose to

[7:47] deny without prejudice by unanimous

[7:49] vote. Thank you, sir.

[7:52] >> All right, I will open the public

[7:53] hearing. Is there anyone here to speak

[7:55] in favor of this? Okay, just a minute.

[7:58] Is there anyone here to speak in

[8:00] opposition?

[8:03] All right, sir. If you'll step to the

[8:04] microphone, give us your name, your

[8:06] address, and you have up to 10 minutes.

[8:09] >> Sure. Thank you. Uh thank you, sir. Uh

[8:11] my name is Jared Wilbanks. My address is

[8:13] 1735 Rose Hedge Drive. That is a

[8:15] Kennesal address. Uh so I'm here

[8:17] representing the uh current owners of

[8:20] this property and uh as uh Bryce

[8:22] mentioned, we are looking for a special

[8:23] use permit to allow multif family

[8:25] housing. As a little bit of history, the

[8:28] previous owner of this property operated

[8:30] as independent living and leased the

[8:32] rooms as multif family. After the fire

[8:34] that was mentioned, the uh the city

[8:36] became involved to help with the

[8:37] restoration, understanding what we need

[8:39] for power restoration and other items to that degree. And we had a letter uh

[8:43] previously from the city that we

[8:45] believed covered the use of the property

[8:47] as a multif family uh property. It turns

[8:49] out that that uh letter did not state

[8:51] exactly what was required and and the

[8:53] intent uh behind it after doing a little

[8:54] bit of digging was different. So, we are

[8:56] here before you today asking for that

[8:58] special use so that we can begin using

[8:59] that property again as it was

[9:01] previously. Um the new owners of the

[9:03] property have elected to hold it down

[9:05] until we get the zoning sorted out

[9:06] rather than try and start the business

[9:07] back up. Um listening to the planning

[9:11] commission's main concerns around the

[9:13] change of the uh uldc and the um

[9:17] exclusion of micro units. Uh it was

[9:20] mentioned that the current property has

[9:22] a majority of micro units roughly 64%

[9:24] but there is a mix of twos and threes

[9:26] included. Uh, and the main uh, intent

[9:29] tonight that I would be looking for is

[9:30] an understanding or perhaps a discussion

[9:32] of what you all might want as far as

[9:34] zoning stipulations go that would allow

[9:36] us to get to an approval on the special

[9:38] use permit. The owner is willing to move

[9:40] away from the micro units. We can

[9:41] combine units. We can increase square

[9:42] footage and we can get away from that micro unit uh, uh, limit that's

[9:46] going to be set in the new code. Um, I

[9:49] believe the CC community commercial uh,

[9:51] zoning district is going away. So, I

[9:52] hear there's some concerns about

[9:53] granting the special use. It's my

[9:55] understanding that if granted, it would

[9:57] become legal non-conforming, so we could

[9:59] still continue to use it. Uh, I would

[10:01] also offer that if that zoning district

[10:02] goes away, regardless of the use that we

[10:04] move forward with, we might still have

[10:06] to think about coming back and and

[10:08] revisiting this because the zoning

[10:09] district would change. So, I don't want

[10:10] that to be an unnecessary burden to the

[10:13] special use. Um, but with that, the uh

[10:15] the property has changed hands since the

[10:17] fire incident. The new owners are also

[10:19] in control of 21 and 23 Chateau Drive.

[10:22] the pictures that we saw, I can confirm

[10:24] that 21 Chateau Drive has a new roof.

[10:26] The top floor is currently getting new

[10:28] floor, new paint, new fixtures, uh as

[10:30] far as FFN goes, new furniture and

[10:32] appliances. Uh 23 Chateau Drive had some

[10:35] uh facelifts as well, and we currently

[10:37] only have three or four units there.

[10:39] They're unleashed. So, that property is

[10:40] becoming full. And after we get done

[10:42] with the the work and the cleanup at 21

[10:44] Chatau Drive, there'll be a lease up

[10:45] effort there. So, the new owners are

[10:47] definitely committed to investing the

[10:49] capital back into these properties to

[10:51] make them successful so that they are

[10:53] something that will be beneficial to the

[10:54] city. Um, so at a high level, that's kind of what we're here asking

[10:57] for. So, I really would like to

[10:59] entertain what you all might like to see

[11:00] as far as stipulations to the special

[11:02] use permit that would perhaps allow us a

[11:04] uh a vote in favor.

[11:07] >> Thank you, sir.

[11:10] Anyone else?

[11:12] All right, I will close the public

[11:13] hearing and ask does anyone up here on

[11:17] the panel have any questions or

[11:20] concerns?

[11:21] >> I got a question. Um, if if it were to

[11:24] be approved, then that would open it up

[11:26] to be used.

[11:29] You don't have a specific purpose for it

[11:32] yet. Is that correct?

[11:33] >> So, the the current zoning is community

[11:35] commercial and we are looking for a

[11:37] special use permit to allow multif

[11:38] family housing which would allow us to

[11:39] do leases. Uh we would also like to

[11:42] retain the commercial use. We're

[11:43] currently working through what a fast

[11:46] casual or food service restaurant might

[11:47] look like. There is a kitchen space

[11:49] there. It's been completely

[11:50] decommissioned. That was part of one of

[11:52] the requirements that the city had. We

[11:54] either had to take the old kitchen and

[11:55] get it fully up to operating standards

[11:58] or decommission it. Because of the

[11:59] questioned future use of the building

[12:01] and not wanting to go through the

[12:03] effort, we went ahead and decommissioned

[12:04] it so the city didn't have to inspect

[12:05] it. The health department didn't have to

[12:06] get involved and worry about it. Um but

[12:08] yes, we would like to look at a a mixed

[12:10] development that could also include some

[12:12] type of food service. Uh we're

[12:14] entertaining some some third parties

[12:16] that could come into a pad site for us

[12:17] there.

[12:18] >> So wouldn't it be better to have the use

[12:21] before we go for a zoning

[12:23] before we go for a [clears throat]

[12:25] special use permit and know what the use

[12:27] is?

[12:28] >> Uh so the we're still in discussions

[12:31] with the potential pad site and until

[12:32] those progress further, we can't say for

[12:34] sure if that's going to be something

[12:36] that we're going to end up being able to

[12:37] do. Um, but because of the nature of the

[12:40] building as it sits, the special use for

[12:42] multif family is going to be the primary

[12:43] use. Falling back on the commercial

[12:45] zoning, that would also allow the pad

[12:46] site to kind of best use the property as

[12:48] it in its entirety.

[12:50] >> When the fire happened, that was a it

[12:52] was used as a retirement type home. Is

[12:54] that right?

[12:54] >> So, it was previously an assisted

[12:56] living. When it was sold in 2023, it

[12:59] went away from assisted living and

[13:00] became an independent living that was

[13:02] leased as multif family. So folks who

[13:04] lived independently um and then you know

[13:06] had an annual lease much like an

[13:07] apartment those age restricted

[13:08] apartments if you will.

[13:09] >> Thank you.

[13:13] » So I do I have a question for you. So

[13:15] help me. The micro apartments are they

[13:17] simply you say you have some already on.

[13:20] >> So the the building was originally built

[13:22] as a hotel and then it was converted to

[13:24] an assisted living facility and the top

[13:27] floor was independent living. So, a lot

[13:29] of the I'll call them bays, what were

[13:31] the former hotel rooms were combined.

[13:33] So, you had a a two-bedroom, a

[13:35] onebedroom, and then a two-bedroom unit,

[13:36] but it was a combination of the existing

[13:39] bays that were the hotel rooms. So, we

[13:41] currently have a mix of studios, which

[13:43] would fall under the micro

[13:44] classification. One bedrooms, which

[13:45] would be above, and two bedrooms, which

[13:47] would be above. And what I would be

[13:48] proposing is uh to move be able to move

[13:50] forward with the special use. We would

[13:52] move away from the micro apartments for

[13:54] anything that would fall into the

[13:55] special use so that we that way we don't

[13:57] kind of fall into that concern that the planning commission had.

[14:00] >> So would it be all inclusive like say

[14:02] for instance the water the total

[14:04] electric all the bills would be included

[14:06] in the lease?

[14:07] >> Yes, that is correct. the uh the units

[14:10] are not submetered and that much follows

[14:12] the model at 21 and 23 Chateau Drive

[14:14] where power, water, cable and internet

[14:16] are included in the rent. So it does

[14:18] certainly help uh folks who have to to

[14:20] work work with a little bit of a tighter

[14:22] budget or on a fixed income because they

[14:23] have a very consistent monthly payment

[14:25] that takes care of a lot of things. Uh

[14:27] really they just have groceries and

[14:28] other amenity or ancillary items to pay

[14:30] after that. We find that's very

[14:31] beneficial.

[14:32] >> So how many units do you you propose if

[14:34] you were able to do this? So there is

[14:36] currently 87 units, 56 of which are

[14:40] studios, 29 are onebedrooms, and two are

[14:44] twobedrooms.

[14:46] And I would have to rework my numbers

[14:49] here to give you an exact number, but we

[14:51] would be willing to move away from the

[14:53] micro units altogether. So it would

[14:55] effectively be combining all of the

[14:56] micro units for anything that would be

[14:58] uh leased as multif family.

[15:01] So they would all go to uh to one

[15:03] bedrooms. And if there was demand for

[15:04] two bedrooms, it's it's easy enough to add those on.

[15:11] » What does a micro unit consist?

[15:13] >> So, a micro unit would effectively be a

[15:15] studio apartment. So, kind of a

[15:17] one-bedroom apartment where you have a a

[15:19] bed and sitting area with a small table,

[15:22] a kitchenet, and then a separate

[15:23] bathroom.

[15:26] >> What kind of rent we looking at in these

[15:27] units? Uh right now the micro unit size

[15:32] units are going for just under $1,000 a

[15:35] month. You do not double that value when

[15:37] you go to a two or threebedroom. It

[15:39] would likely be 12 to $1,300 a month for

[15:41] a for a onebedroom.

[15:44] >> Anyone to my right?

[15:49] » I got a question.

[15:51] [clears throat] We've heard u badly

[15:54] needed and desperately needed used as

[15:57] terms for hotels. Did y'all consider a

[15:59] hotel?

[16:00] >> The hotel use is something that falls

[16:03] under the current zoning. Uh and we

[16:06] would have to go work with the county,

[16:07] get the tourist accommodation uh permit

[16:10] and and work through that getting to a

[16:12] hotel. because of the the unit mix that

[16:14] is there and because of the background

[16:16] and expertise of the current owners,

[16:18] they are in favor of multif family,

[16:20] their multif family, their condos and

[16:21] their their restaurants. Um hotel motel

[16:24] use is something that is certainly uh on

[16:26] the table and we would consider

[16:27] considering the zoning is already

[16:28] commercial. Um the first use and ideal

[16:31] use for the owners would be for the

[16:32] special use and go multif family

[16:35] >> and y'all have taken two hotels and made

[16:38] them. So, I worked under contract for

[16:42] the previous owner of several of these

[16:44] properties. Uh, he is no longer the

[16:46] owner of those properties and he and I

[16:48] are no longer working together. I do,

[16:49] however, have the perhaps the history of

[16:51] it and that's why the current owner

[16:52] asked me to to stay on. I'm also

[16:53] somewhat local to the area. Um, I

[16:56] converted the one at 23 Chateau Drive

[16:58] and I'm pretty proud of the the way it

[16:59] came out. I think it looks really nice.

[17:00] I invite you all to come by and take a

[17:02] look at any points.

[17:03] >> I was by there today. That's the one

[17:04] that's occupied. Is that right?

[17:05] >> That's correct.

[17:06] >> And 21 is one that's unoccupied.

[17:08] >> I'm sorry. 21 is the one that's

[17:09] unoccupied.

[17:10] >> 21 is unoccupied. It needed uh a fair

[17:13] amount of recapitalization. There was a

[17:15] decent amount of uh deferred maintenance

[17:17] and such that caught up with the

[17:19] building. So once it changed hands, new

[17:20] owners realizes the recapitalization

[17:22] needed elected to shut it down and make

[17:24] it right so that way you can just lease

[17:25] up as it needs to.

[17:27] >> And between those two, how many units

[17:28] was that?

[17:29] >> Uh 23 Chateau Drive is 64. 21 Chateau

[17:32] Drive is 75. And were y'all aware of the

[17:35] desperate need for hotels in this area

[17:37] when you converted them?

[17:39] >> Uh, at the time that was not part and

[17:43] parcel to what my task was. I was mainly

[17:46] working on the construction renovation

[17:47] side. So I was not yet in the area. I

[17:49] moved back from Louisiana to work on

[17:51] these projects. Um, so I I was not

[17:52] involved with that decision. Um, I have

[17:54] since heard that hotels are uh something

[17:58] that are in in demand and needed. Um,

[18:01] the concern specifically with the

[18:03] Winthrop in [cough] a hotel is the

[18:05] decision whether or not you'd go flagged

[18:06] or unfl flagged and then what it would

[18:07] take to get a flag and then the PIP

[18:10] program that would need to go back into

[18:11] it uh which would represent significant

[18:13] investment. The current owners are

[18:15] prepared and willing to make a

[18:17] significant investment into this

[18:18] property but again their their their

[18:21] main knowledge base is not in the hotel

[18:23] industry. They're they're more multif

[18:24] family and condos. They just don't know

[18:26] that business as well. [snorts]

[18:28] That was a very nice property when it

[18:30] was originally the hotel that Ramata in.

[18:33] It was a very nice property then.

[18:38] [clears throat]

[18:38] >> Anything else?

[18:39] I do have a concern because uh even with

[18:42] the micro apartments that that are being

[18:45] established in the area, you have a lot

[18:47] of um people that are moving into those

[18:51] apartments right now giving the areas a

[18:53] bad name because you don't have on-site

[18:55] management and a lot of um things are

[18:59] taking place in those in those

[19:02] reconstructed areas. So, how would if if

[19:05] this was approved, how would you

[19:07] maintain the upkeep and making sure that

[19:10] it's not turned into the opposite of

[19:11] what you proposed it to be?

[19:13] >> So, I I I can't speak to the skytop

[19:16] property. I can only speak to the other

[19:17] three and hopefully including Winthre.

[19:20] Uh the new owners of 2123 Chatau Drive

[19:24] and and Winthre uh just changed

[19:26] management companies. So, we've got a

[19:27] brand new management company in place.

[19:29] uh to your concerns about the types of

[19:31] folks who would potentially be living

[19:32] there. It includes background checks,

[19:34] credit checks and and you know thorough

[19:36] due diligence to uh to understand the

[19:38] tenants that are moving in before

[19:39] they're granted a lease. Um with that

[19:42] concern, I would say with a hotel motel

[19:44] use, you don't have a background check

[19:46] and really you just need a credit card

[19:47] and ID to check in. So you've got less

[19:49] control over who is staying with you in

[19:51] a hotel motel case than you do with a

[19:53] multif family case because the

[19:55] management company's going to run the

[19:56] background checks and the credit checks

[19:57] and have a better idea of the tenants

[19:58] and the folks who are living there.

[20:00] >> So the skytop offered amenities like a

[20:03] pool playground area that area what

[20:05] amenities would be offered.

[20:07] >> So at Winthrop there is not currently a

[20:09] pool and there would be no plans to add

[20:10] a pool but there is a lot of square

[20:12] footage there already. Uh there's a

[20:14] chapel, there's an existing dining area,

[20:16] there's a kitchen, like I said, that can

[20:18] be reestablished. Um pure amenities.

[20:21] There's there's already laundry. There

[20:23] was formerly a salon there. We've got a

[20:25] lot of space that we would clean up. We

[20:27] would really look to bring in third

[20:28] parties who are experts in those areas.

[20:31] And uh because of the commercial zone

[20:32] and currently be able to attract other

[20:34] businesses to come in and provide

[20:36] additional amenities. But the base

[20:37] amenities would be common meeting spaces

[20:39] would be the chapel. Um, and then again,

[20:41] highspeed internet and and cable would

[20:43] also be included in the rents.

[20:47] » Would any of those commercial spaces be

[20:49] allowed to have coin operated amusement

[20:51] machines?

[20:52] >> That is not something that has been

[20:54] considered at this point. And if it's

[20:56] the the desire of this group here to

[20:58] exclude those, we'd be happy to have a

[21:00] stipulation against.

[21:02] >> Thank you.

[21:05] >> All right. If [clears throat] there's no

[21:06] more questions or whatever, uh, Mr.

[21:09] clerk. Will you call the role?

[21:12] >> Have a motion.

[21:13] >> I don't have a motion. All that talk. I

[21:16] need a motion.

[21:23] » Okay. We have no motion to approve.

[21:26] >> May I ask some questions of Bryce,

[21:27] please, before somebody throws out a

[21:29] motion?

[21:29] >> Sir,

[21:31] >> in the new ULDC,

[21:33] >> remind me of our concerns about micro

[21:35] apartments.

[21:37] We have seen so many requests from some

[21:39] of our more older, typically blighted

[21:43] hotels that we put restrictions on where

[21:44] those can potentially be. What we've

[21:47] seen when people call and request that,

[21:49] they'll typically be willing to throw up

[21:51] some paint but not really make any

[21:53] upgrades to the building. Uh so the the

[21:56] response we've seen thus far has been

[21:57] remarkably underwhelming. As a matter of

[21:59] fact, we've had several people ask, can

[22:00] I put another floor on this one-story

[22:02] hotel and add 20 more units? Um,

[22:07] I mean, it's essentially buildings that

[22:08] have probably

[22:11] lived their useful life based on

[22:12] deferred maintenance in many cases. Um,

[22:16] I would say that it it seems that when

[22:19] there's not a desire to bring the

[22:22] property back to the level to get a

[22:25] reputable flag,

[22:27] you look for another option.

[22:30] >> That's fair. That seems fair.

[22:33] If if I could, Bryce, the discussion at

[22:36] planning commission

[22:38] uh with it being a 100 vote,

[22:41] [clears throat] what

[22:43] if if you could share with us what was

[22:44] the primary negative thinking of the

[22:47] planning commission?

[22:49] >> Uh mostly that it's uh it's almost

[22:51] giving someone false hope. If you give

[22:52] them a special use permit and it's

[22:54] worthless in six months, it seems

[22:56] underhanded.

[23:01] » So this is

[23:03] It was denied without prejudice.

[23:04] >> It was. Yes, sir.

[23:06] >> I've spoken with the owners. They have a

[23:07] couple other ideas that I'd like for

[23:09] them to be able to pursue. Therefore, I

[23:10] don't want a 12-month waiting period

[23:12] before they can come back.

[23:14] >> In your opinion, what what would work?

[23:20] » I mean, well, the denial for him to come

[23:24] back, you know, with um another design

[23:28] or uh more paperwork. So, in saying

[23:31] that, I've spoken with the owners and

[23:33] they've shared some of their ideas which

[23:34] I've agreed to keep quiet. Uh, but they

[23:37] have a couple other ideas that might

[23:38] also either require a resoning or a

[23:40] special use permit and I'd like them to

[23:41] have that opportunity to pursue.

[23:45] » I'll make a motion to deny

[23:47] >> and I second it.

[23:49] >> Got a motion to deny.

[23:51] >> Is this

[23:52] >> just to clarify with a second? I'm

[23:54] sorry.

[23:55] >> Without prejudice.

[23:58] >> Okay.

[24:01] I'd like to hear the other options

[24:04] at some point.

[24:06] >> So, we have a motion in a second to deny

[24:09] without prejudice. Um, Mr. C, call the

[24:12] role.

[24:13] >> Yes, sir. Commissioner Robinson.

[24:16] >> Uh, yes. Deny.

[24:18] >> Yes. Just deny. Brock.

[24:19] >> Yes.

[24:20] >> Cochran.

[24:21] >> Yes.

[24:22] >> Bam.

[24:23] >> Yes.

[24:23] >> Fisher.

[24:24] >> Yes.

[24:25] >> Hixon.

[24:26] >> Yes.

[24:28] >> McDaniel.

[24:28] >> Yes. See,

[24:34] our next case for you this evening.

[24:35] >> Just a minute, sir. If you'll just go

[24:37] back and bring us another plan.

[24:40] >> Our next item for you this evening is

[24:42] SUP 26-08-03

[24:44] with its request for special use permit

[24:46] for rooming and boarding house. Uh, the

[24:48] property is high density traditional

[24:50] residential. You guys recently resoned

[24:51] it from Light Industrial. The property

[24:53] is 304 East 19th Street, Rome, Georgia

[24:55] 30161, Floyd County Tax Parcel, J15X114.

[25:00] You see the property outline on your

[25:01] screen. Uh it has actually been a

[25:04] rooming and boarding house for quite

[25:05] some time. It's our understanding that

[25:07] the property has since changed

[25:08] ownership. As a matter of fact, the

[25:10] purpose listed on the application was to

[25:12] be able to sell it. Uh no one attended

[25:15] planning commission to speak in favor of

[25:17] it. Uh we have heard from multiple

[25:18] neighbors that there were issues

[25:20] associated with vicious animals fighting

[25:22] uh other 911 calls. Uh that actually

[25:25] came up at the reszoning request when

[25:27] that went for the planning commission.

[25:28] This map was before it was reszoned.

[25:30] We'd already made it.

[25:33] Uh typically with a rooming or boarding

[25:34] house, you have either some sort of

[25:37] caretaker who lives on site, either the

[25:39] property owner or some sort of on-site

[25:40] property management. That has not been

[25:42] the case here that we are aware of.

[25:44] Uh the house could use some work uh per

[25:47] the building inspection and code

[25:49] enforcement folks

[25:53] have the application itself.

[26:01] Some information where code enforcement

[26:03] visited.

[26:06] This is the house itself. The entire

[26:08] roughly the entire front yard has been

[26:09] paved to give it some parking.

[26:14] It's directly across the street

[26:22] and the front of the house. This does

[26:23] come with a staff recommendation of

[26:25] denial and unanimous vote of denial from

[26:27] the planning commission.

[26:30] All right, I'll open the public hearing.

[26:32] Is there anyone here to speak in favor?

[26:36] Is there anyone here to speak against?

[26:41] [clears throat] All right. Being none, I

[26:43] will close the public hearing. And I've

[26:44] got the first question.

[26:47] Is the house occupied right now?

[26:48] >> To my knowledge, it is.

[26:51] >> Okay.

[26:52] Do they have a license to do this?

[26:54] >> No.

[26:57] >> For several cars in the driveway today.

[27:00] >> Um, you mentioned the sale. This application was looks

[27:06] like 6926 and the property transfer

[27:09] 72826. So, it has sold,

[27:16] » but it's still being used as a boarding

[27:18] house

[27:19] >> as far as I know.

[27:20] >> Okay.

[27:22] [cough]

[27:23] >> Does the zoning application run with the

[27:25] owner or with the land?

[27:27] >> So, technically, you have to own the

[27:29] property to submit the application, but

[27:31] it's not unheard of for property to sell

[27:33] during the resoning process.

[27:35] [snorts]

[27:39] Is that something code enforcement can

[27:42] close

[27:45] or the ability to close?

[27:48] >> I'm not going to speak for them.

[27:50] >> You're not code enforcement. I'm not.

[27:51] I'm sorry.

[27:51] >> Yes.

[27:54] >> I make a motion to deny.

[27:57] >> A motion to deny.

[28:00] >> Second.

[28:01] >> A motion in a second. Any other

[28:03] discussion? [clears throat] Mr. Clerk,

[28:05] call the roll.

[28:06] >> Commissioner Robinson.

[28:07] >> Uh, yes. Brock,

[28:09] >> yes.

[28:10] >> Cochran,

[28:11] >> yes.

[28:11] >> Bean,

[28:12] >> yes.

[28:13] >> Fisher,

[28:13] >> yes.

[28:14] >> Hixon,

[28:15] >> yes.

[28:16] >> Daniel,

[28:16] >> yes.

[28:19] >> Mr. Manager, I'm going to ask you to

[28:20] deal with code enforcement in the

[28:22] morning.

[28:22] >> Absolutely.

[28:24] >> Our third item for you this evening is

[28:26] Z26-08-01.

[28:28] The request is to resone from Heavy

[28:29] Industrial to Office Institutional for

[28:31] the property at One Innovation Way,

[28:32] Rome, Georgia 30161. It's shown on your

[28:35] map here. Uh this was previously the

[28:37] test kitchen for the mill there. Uh the

[28:40] property is virtually worthless as heavy

[28:42] industrial. Uh the setbacks are actually

[28:44] bigger than the property are. Uh

[28:46] however, there is a very nice building

[28:47] on the property. Uh the applicant is

[28:50] proposing to convert that to office

[28:52] space.

[29:00] This is what it looks like from the

[29:01] street. This is in the Between the

[29:02] Rivers historic district.

[29:06] Let me You say it is in the historic

[29:08] district?

[29:09] >> It is. Yes, sir.

[29:13] » And this comes with a staff

[29:14] recommendation of approval. Thank you.

[29:19] >> All right. I'll open the public hearing.

[29:20] Is there anyone here to speak in favor?

[29:25] Okay. Is there anyone here to speak in

[29:27] opposition?

[29:28] All right. Sir, if you'll go to the

[29:30] podium, if you'll give us your name and

[29:31] your address, you will have up to 10

[29:33] minutes when you start speaking.

[29:36] >> Jason Free, 704 Grand View Road, Blue

[29:38] Ridge, Georgia. Uh, this is He's already

[29:42] said everything. It's heavy industrial

[29:43] downzoning on a dead end street. No

[29:46] residential properties around it. No one

[29:48] here speaking opposition. I won't waste

[29:50] your time. I'll save my time for

[29:51] rebuttal or questions if you have.

[29:56] >> Question. What's that gun be used for?

[29:57] real estate office.

[30:00] >> I I would assume, but yeah,

[30:03] >> let me close the public hearing and then

[30:04] you can ask your question.

[30:05] >> Oh, I'm sorry. Out of order.

[30:08] >> All right, I'll close the public hearing

[30:09] being there's no one to speak against

[30:11] it. And if anyone's got any questions,

[30:19] I'm going to recuse myself from voting.

[30:21] There are two tolls rent two tolls

[30:24] template right agents involved in it.

[30:27] Thank you.

[30:32] » If there's no other questions, Mr.

[30:33] Clerk, would you please call the role?

[30:35] >> Well, I need a motion.

[30:37] >> Make a motion to approve.

[30:39] >> Can I recuse myself as well?

[30:42] My office is next door to their office.

[30:45] So, I just want to make sure.

[30:55] No,

[30:57] >> no.

[31:00] Okay. Okay.

[31:03] >> Thank you.

[31:09] » I'm good.

[31:10] >> Okay.

[31:10] >> Motion.

[31:12] >> I need a motion. Cochran. Motion.

[31:16] >> Seconded it.

[31:18] >> All right. Would you call the role? Yes,

[31:19] sir.

[31:21] >> Commissioner Robinson.

[31:22] >> Yes.

[31:23] >> Brock. Yes.

[31:24] >> Cochran.

[31:25] >> Yes.

[31:25] >> Bean.

[31:26] >> Yes.

[31:27] >> Fisher.

[31:27] >> Yes.

[31:28] >> Hixon.

[31:29] >> Yes.

[31:32] » Thank you.

[31:33] Mr. Free.

[31:36] » And our last item for you this evening

[31:38] is Z26-08-04.

[31:40] Further request is to resone from office

[31:42] institutional to neighborhood office

[31:44] commercial [clears throat]

[31:44] for the property at 7 711 West 2nd

[31:48] Street Rome Georgia 30161 Floyd County

[31:51] tax parcel J13 Y067

[31:54] you see the property outline on your

[31:56] screen we're just up the block here you

[31:58] have the days in you have Aldi and you

[32:02] have the Hampton in over here

[32:04] gentleman's been living in the house

[32:05] it's my understanding he was seeking a

[32:07] permit to get put a deck on the back of

[32:09] it that's when it was discovered that

[32:10] it's currently zoned O and I.

[32:13] If you notice across the street here, we

[32:15] have reszoneed multiple houses so that

[32:17] they could transition back and forth

[32:18] from residential or office or light

[32:21] retail. Uh this has become a popular

[32:23] area during COVID. You had quite a few

[32:25] people who uh decided to take their

[32:28] office and move home for social

[32:30] distancing purposes. Uh so you're seeing

[32:32] more and more of these go back to

[32:34] residential.

[32:45] There's looking in from the road

[32:48] back down towards the library and the

[32:50] fire station

[32:52] further up the hill towards the days in

[32:54] you can kind of see on your left

[32:57] directly across the street that used to

[32:59] be a psychologist psychiatrist office

[33:01] some sort of shrink and looking down the

[33:04] driveway. This comes with staff

[33:05] recommendation of approval and unanimous

[33:08] approval from the plan.

[33:10] >> All right, I will open the public

[33:12] hearing. Is there anyone here that wants

[33:14] to speak in favor? Anyone to opposed?

[33:18] All right, sir. If you will go to the

[33:21] podium, give us your name, your address,

[33:24] and you will have up to 10 minutes.

[33:26] >> Um Claude Corbin. My address is 7-Eleven

[33:29] West Second Street. Actually, I've owned

[33:30] this house probably 30 years and always

[33:33] rented it out. As far as I know, it's

[33:36] always been res residential. Um, I never

[33:39] knew it wasn't um until I went to check

[33:42] on getting a permit. Um, I live in the

[33:44] house. I don't see any reason why it

[33:47] wouldn't be residential. And every house

[33:49] around it, I see you smiling at me

[33:51] [laughter]

[33:52] and and actually the house across the

[33:54] street that it was res even when the

[33:56] lady lived there, she was a shrink, she

[33:57] lived there, too. So, it was

[33:58] residential, but now they [snorts] just

[34:00] rented it out. It's completely resial.

[34:04] All right.

[34:06] And since there's no one to speak in

[34:10] opposition,

[34:12] I will close this part of the uh public

[34:14] hearing and I will need a motion.

[34:16] >> So move.

[34:17] >> Second.

[34:18] >> A motion and a second. Any discussion?

[34:24] » Mr. Clerk, if you will call the role.

[34:26] >> Sir. Commissioner Robinson.

[34:27] >> Yes.

[34:28] >> Rock.

[34:29] >> Yes.

[34:29] >> Cochran.

[34:30] >> Yes.

[34:31] >> Bean.

[34:31] >> Yes. Fisher,

[34:32] >> yes.

[34:33] >> Hixon,

[34:34] >> yes.

[34:34] >> McDaniel,

[34:35] >> yes.

[34:37] >> Thank you, sir.

[34:37] >> Thank you.

[34:40] >> Um, the next thing on our agenda is E is

[34:43] the Justice Assistant Grant resolution

[34:46] or the JAG res. Uh, Samuel, I'm going to

[34:48] turn that to you.

[34:49] >> Thank you, Mr. Mayor. What we have

[34:50] before you tonight is a simple

[34:52] resolution and what we are seeking is

[34:55] $26,59

[34:57] through the grant and those would be

[34:59] used to purchase 50 jersey type barriers

[35:03] and these are the lightweight barriers

[35:04] that you fill with water and you would

[35:06] use those to keep vehicular traffic

[35:09] separated from pedestrians. For example,

[35:11] if we were closing downtown uh for a

[35:14] fiddling fest or some type of block

[35:16] party, these are the um ways that those

[35:18] would get deployed. And um so great for

[35:20] public safety and again that amount is

[35:23] 26509. And so Mr. Mayor, we would need

[35:25] to open and conduct a public hearing and

[35:28] then we would need a motion to move

[35:29] forward.

[35:30] >> All right, I will uh Is there anyone

[35:32] here to speak in favor?

[35:36] » Yeah,

[35:37] >> we got one.

[35:38] Anybody in opposition? All

[35:41] right, I'll open the public hearing.

[35:42] Sir, if you'll step to the podium and

[35:45] tell us your name and address. Uh oh,

[35:47] your

[35:48] >> driver's license number and everything

[35:50] else.

[35:51] >> Ron police department.

[35:53] >> I'm the major over field operations

[35:54] currently.

[35:56] >> You're good.

[35:57] >> Okay. Um

[36:00] this is a grant that we put in for every

[36:02] year and we've been blessed to receive

[36:03] it and we use it for different things.

[36:06] Currently, like uh the city manager

[36:08] said, we want to use it to purchase the

[36:11] Jersey type barriers. Those are the

[36:13] polyethylene. They're like orange in

[36:15] color. I'm sure you've seen them, like

[36:17] Sammy said, for block parties, uh,

[36:20] parades, that kind of thing. And we have

[36:24] a current inventory of those, but

[36:26] they've gotten some age on them, and

[36:27] just from being tossed around and

[36:29] utilized, um, they've gotten it where

[36:31] they don't hold water anymore. So, this

[36:33] grant um, would help us purchase new

[36:37] barricades. As you all well know, one of

[36:39] the big concerns with public events

[36:41] where a lot of people are gathered

[36:42] nowadays is crowd safety. um I hearken

[36:46] back to a couple years ago that event

[36:47] that happened in New Orleans and then

[36:49] we've had a couple other things where

[36:51] vehicles have been involved and if we're

[36:53] having a block party or something like

[36:55] that and we don't fortify the area the

[36:56] best we can and we're open oursel up to

[37:00] some trouble when we don't want that. So

[37:03] um these barricades um also are used by

[37:05] the street department as well for

[37:07] different things um when we're not using

[37:09] them. But uh it's the uh jersey type

[37:12] barricades. It's the plugs that go in

[37:14] them to hold the water, the tools to

[37:16] tighten them and that kind of thing. And

[37:18] um Chris Jenkins at Public Works is nice

[37:21] enough to house us house these for us

[37:23] and help us transport them. And uh Chad

[37:26] over at Public Works as well.

[37:30] [snorts]

[37:30] >> Thank you.

[37:32] Since there's no one to speak in

[37:34] opposition, I will close the public

[37:36] hearing and I need a motion to approve.

[37:38] >> So moved. Second.

[37:40] >> Got a motion to second. Any discussion?

[37:44] Mr. Cler, call the roll, please.

[37:47] >> Commissioner Robinson,

[37:48] >> yes.

[37:48] >> Brock,

[37:49] >> yes.

[37:50] >> Cochran,

[37:50] >> yes.

[37:51] >> Bamman,

[37:51] >> yes.

[37:52] >> Fisher,

[37:53] >> yes.

[37:53] >> Hixon,

[37:54] >> yes.

[37:55] >> Daniel,

[37:55] >> yes.

[37:58] >> Uh, Mr. Clerk, do you have anything?

[38:00] >> No report. Mr. Mayor,

[38:02] >> Mr. Manager.

[38:03] >> Thank you, Mr. Mayor. I would like to

[38:05] announce that the city of Rome

[38:06] administrative offices will be closed on

[38:08] Monday, September 7th in observance of

[38:10] the Labor Day holiday. For those

[38:12] interested, the Monday garbage, yard

[38:15] waste, and recycling services are all

[38:17] going to be pushed to Tuesday and then

[38:20] Tuesday's route will be pushed to

[38:22] Wednesday. No changes for Thursday,

[38:24] Friday. Our Walker Mountain Landfill

[38:27] will be closed on Labor Day. And Mr.

[38:29] Mayor, I would like to take a point just

[38:31] to to brag a little bit on our

[38:32] community. Most people know last week we

[38:34] had the Georgia Downtown Association uh

[38:37] show up in Rome and brought a pretty

[38:39] large turnout for a conference and it

[38:42] was a a great event and really proud of

[38:44] the community. A lot of thanks to a lot

[38:47] of folks that worked hard to make that a

[38:49] success. The forum looked amazing as

[38:51] always and we were able to to take some

[38:54] tours and to show off some of the things

[38:55] downtown that really makes Rome unique

[38:57] and so received a lot of positive

[39:00] feedback and I hope there was some

[39:01] positive economic impact go along with

[39:03] that but just wanted to brag on the

[39:04] staff that made that um possible. So

[39:06] thank you. That concludes my report.

[39:08] >> Right. Under my time water and sewer

[39:10] committee will meet Thursday, September

[39:12] 3rd, 9:00 in the Sam King room.

[39:15] Commissioner Robinson. Mayor, the only

[39:16] thing I have is the finance committee

[39:18] will meet Wednesday, August 26 at 10:30

[39:21] in the Sam King room. Anyone's invited?

[39:24] Oh, I have

[39:26] >> Mr. Brock.

[39:27] >> Uh, yes. September, first Friday will be

[39:30] held Friday, September 4th, in the 200

[39:34] block of Brawl Street. There's been a

[39:35] little confusion. Some stuff has been

[39:38] saying Town Green, but that has been

[39:39] moved to the 200 block of Brawl Street

[39:42] uh for guardians of the jukebox plan.

[39:44] So, always draw a big crowd. Downtown

[39:47] Development Authority will meet

[39:48] Thursday, September 10th at 8:30 in the

[39:50] Miller building. And I would also uh

[39:54] reiterate everything that Sammy just

[39:56] said about the uh GDA conference. All

[39:58] the feedback that I heard was was uh

[40:01] really good. People enjoyed being here.

[40:03] Uh and just want to really give Jell and

[40:06] the staff at the forum a shout out. Uh

[40:09] they were kind of the hub for everything

[40:11] going on. And uh it's it's nice that the city uh is in control of that

[40:19] facility. And uh when those doors are

[40:22] opening and closing, typically people

[40:24] are downtown spending money. So and uh

[40:27] good money, bad money, and neutral

[40:29] money. That's good money when it comes

[40:30] from outside the community. So we

[40:32] appreciate that. That's all I have.

[40:35] >> Thank you, Commissioner Cochran.

[40:36] >> Thank you, Mr. Mayor. Tourism Commission

[40:38] will meet Wednesday, August 26th at

[40:41] 11:45 at the Civic Center. And that

[40:43] concludes my report. Thank you.

[40:44] >> Thank you, uh, Commissioner Bman.

[40:46] >> Um, thank you, Mr. Mayor. I just have an

[40:48] acknowledgement. You talk about how

[40:50] great our city is and how we have so

[40:51] many visitors. We also had a VIP here

[40:54] for this uh past uh Friday and Saturday.

[40:57] Mayor Elect Kesha Lance Bottoms and her

[40:59] team visited Rome and we got nothing but

[41:02] great things about our city, how nice,

[41:04] clean, and warming everybody was. So, I

[41:06] just want to give acknowledgement that

[41:08] there's no place like Rome for

[41:09] everybody. Thank you. That concludes my

[41:12] report.

[41:12] >> Commissioner Fischer,

[41:15] >> uh, public works, traffic, transit,

[41:17] trails committee will meet Wednesday,

[41:19] September 9th at 10:00 a.m. in the Sam

[41:21] King room. And I do have a couple things

[41:24] to present. The first is the Jackson

[41:27] Hill Trail Connection Project. They

[41:30] received four bids and the

[41:33] recommendation from the committee was

[41:35] for SH Creole contracting in the amount

[41:39] of $974,93

[41:43] to um

[41:46] complete or connect the Jackson Hill

[41:49] Trail. It will go under the bridge under

[41:51] Riverside

[41:53] and they'll start soon and hopefully be

[41:56] done by the end of the year. This is

[41:58] phase one. This is covered with splast

[42:01] funds.

[42:02] Um and then they'll start getting bids

[42:05] for phase two.

[42:09] » Are there any questions?

[42:11] Make a motion to approve.

[42:13] >> I second.

[42:15] >> We got a motion in a second. Any other

[42:16] discussion?

[42:17] >> I have some questions. Just out of

[42:19] curiosity, why aren't both phases being

[42:21] completed at the same time?

[42:23] >> Why are why are both phases not being

[42:25] completed at the same time?

[42:29] Go ahead.

[42:30] >> I'm sorry I couldn't hear you.

[42:32] >> Why are both Why are they doing the two

[42:34] phases at different times?

[42:35] >> You did talk about that, but I I was

[42:38] going to let Sammy answer.

[42:39] >> Sure. No, I I I don't think there's a

[42:41] wasn't a huge reason to to delay other

[42:44] than there was some initial idea of

[42:47] being able to cross closer um I guess

[42:50] closer up to tournament call. And so

[42:52] they're going to study that a little bit

[42:54] more. And um but phase two ultimately is thinking about contemplating a box

[42:58] culbert that'll come under Dogwood to

[43:00] keep you separated from the traffic. And

[43:02] so it'll you may recall if you're headed

[43:04] down Dogwood toward public works on the

[43:05] right we've got a gravel parking lot.

[43:07] >> And so I think the idea is to

[43:09] incorporate that as a bit of a trail

[43:10] head. And so there probably a little

[43:12] design to go in to to figure out what

[43:14] that's going to look like. But if we can

[43:15] get the main event done before this um

[43:18] rainy season gets here with that major

[43:20] phase, then we'll have connected the

[43:22] two. And so we'll just um that'll be a

[43:24] major major addition to our trail

[43:26] network. And so I don't I don't envision

[43:29] there's going to be a tough delay or a

[43:31] long delay for phase two, but we'll try

[43:33] to push that. But we we'd made a

[43:35] deliberate effort. I guess if we go back

[43:37] to last maybe it's last year's public

[43:39] works committee. Uh we were asked to try

[43:41] to push this as a splash project just to

[43:43] get some some progress and get it

[43:44] rolling. So I'm excited that we've

[43:46] gotten this part of the phase. And you

[43:49] said there's a bridge associated with

[43:50] this.

[43:52] >> It goes under the bridge.

[43:53] >> Yeah.

[43:54] >> The bridge on Yeah.

[43:55] >> And that's that's part of the

[43:57] engineering for going underdog. The main

[44:00] thing is avoid the the traffic coming

[44:02] in.

[44:03] >> Right. So what we're talking about is

[44:04] running this adjacent Burwell Creek. And

[44:07] so when you're on Riverside Parkway, you

[44:09] go by the Chick-fil-A container store,

[44:10] there's that lower parking lot. Burwell

[44:13] Creek is that um that's the creek we're

[44:15] talking about. out. And so if you're in

[44:16] Richberry Park and you're adjacent that

[44:18] parking lot, you will be able to go

[44:21] adjacent Burwell the existing Riverside

[44:23] Parkway bridge. There's a ledge under

[44:25] there. So the trail will go under and

[44:28] then we'll hug Riverside back around Tur

[44:30] call around the duck pond. And so a lot

[44:33] of folks that grew up here have got such

[44:35] great stories about being around the

[44:36] duck pond. So this will open some of it

[44:38] could be a good chance for us to get

[44:39] that area cleaned up and back into shape

[44:41] and for people to go over there. It's

[44:42] got great memories. So, it's going to be

[44:44] exciting, I think, for the community.

[44:45] >> Are we bringing the ducks back?

[44:47] >> I I have a feeling we're going to have

[44:48] ducks.

[44:50] >> No fun.

[44:52] >> Okay, we got a motion in a second. Any

[44:54] other discussion? Mr. Clerk, call the

[44:57] role, please.

[44:58] >> Commissioner [clears throat] Robinson,

[44:59] >> yes.

[45:00] >> Brock,

[45:00] >> yes.

[45:01] >> Cochran,

[45:02] >> yes.

[45:02] >> Bean,

[45:03] >> yes.

[45:03] >> Fisher,

[45:04] >> yes.

[45:06] >> McDaniel,

[45:07] >> yes.

[45:08] >> I do have uh something else to bring

[45:10] forward. I have two invoices for the

[45:13] recycling deficit for the second

[45:15] quarter. That's April through June. One

[45:17] is an invoice for the city of Rome and

[45:20] one is an invoice for the solid waste

[45:22] commission and they have the same amount

[45:24] of $15,716.87

[45:32] is less than the last quarter. That was

[45:35] good.

[45:36] >> Said it is less than the last quarter.

[45:37] >> Yeah, it is much less than last time.

[45:41] Um, I'll need a motion.

[45:43] >> So, move.

[45:45] >> We got a motion in a second. Any

[45:47] discussion?

[45:49] >> Question. Why was it less? I'm glad it

[45:51] is.

[45:54] >> Nobody gave a

[45:55] >> They accumulate certain things until

[45:57] they have enough for someone to haul it

[46:00] away. And so, in that, they probably

[46:02] were able to haul out aluminum cans or

[46:08] >> plastic one or two. They wait until they

[46:10] have a full load.

[46:11] >> Okay.

[46:12] >> Before they sell it.

[46:13] >> All right. Thank you.

[46:15] >> All that burn.

[46:15] >> All right. We got a motion in a second.

[46:17] >> If there's no discussion, Mr. Clerk,

[46:21] >> sir. Commissioner Robinson.

[46:23] >> Yes.

[46:24] >> Brock,

[46:24] >> yes.

[46:25] >> Cochran,

[46:26] >> yes.

[46:26] >> Bean,

[46:27] >> yes.

[46:27] >> Fisher,

[46:28] >> yes.

[46:29] >> Hixon,

[46:30] >> yes.

[46:30] >> Daniel,

[46:31] >> yes.

[46:36] » M. Uh, Commissioner Fischer, will you

[46:38] talk? Tell us again the date, time for

[46:40] the next meeting that everyone's invited

[46:43] to

[46:43] >> for um

[46:44] >> Well, you're invited to all the

[46:45] meetings, but this one,

[46:47] >> the um solid waste commission will meet

[46:51] September 29th, that's a Tuesday, at

[46:54] 8:30 in the morning at the recycling

[46:56] center. It's a little bit different than

[46:57] our quarterly meetings which we will

[46:59] still have in October, but this is just

[47:02] to tour the facility and meet and it's

[47:06] including the city and county

[47:08] commissioners. It's open to the public.

[47:10] >> All right. Thank you.

[47:11] >> That's right,

[47:13] >> Commissioner Hixon.

[47:15] Uh the only uh comment I have is the

[47:18] Rome Floyd County Planning Commission

[47:20] will meet Thursday, September the 3rd at

[47:23] 2:30 here in the commission chambers.

[47:26] That's it. Mr. Mayor,

[47:28] >> Commissioner Collins is not here, but he

[47:29] did not have any meeting announcements.

[47:33] So, Commissioner McDaniel.

[47:35] >> Uh thank you. The general administration

[47:37] committee will meet on Tuesday, August

[47:40] 25th at 11 a.m. in the Carnegie training

[47:42] room.

[47:44] Health Board will meet on Thursday,

[47:48] September the 10th at 12 PM at the Floyd

[47:52] County Health Department. That's all I

[47:54] have.

[47:55] >> Uh we have one person would like to

[47:57] speak on public make public comment on a

[48:00] non-aggenda items is Sammy Williams here

[48:03] with us. Sir, if you will

[48:05] >> step to the podium to give us your name

[48:07] and address

[48:09] >> and you will have three minutes.

[48:13] Sammy Williams603

[48:16] Crane Street Southwest Rome, Georgia

[48:19] 30161.

[48:21] Uh we got a little results on the crime

[48:24] we had in the area

[48:27] here lately, but it's going to get worse

[48:30] before we get better.

[48:32] We've got these all night parties going

[48:34] on and they are dangerous for the

[48:38] citizens and the police officers.

[48:42] You know, these parties, they got armed

[48:44] guards. And if you talk to some of the

[48:47] officers that ride by and look,

[48:50] they would tell you they've seen it. So,

[48:53] we got to keep the parts for the kids.

[48:57] Can't let them have the parts.

[48:59] You know, every time I see something

[49:02] that's boiling, you know, I call in.

[49:07] But people don't realize how many

[49:11] dangerous people we got in Floyd County.

[49:14] These people is undetective. They come

[49:17] out with hoods on, mask on at night to

[49:20] these parties. You you don't know who

[49:23] you going up against.

[49:27] And you know, a lot of areas they throw

[49:28] beer cans in the yard. That's where

[49:31] people aim where the beer cans. So, we

[49:33] need to start cleaning these yards up.

[49:39] And uh I want to keep everybody safe and

[49:42] I want to be safe. For the last three or

[49:44] four years, they've had a hit on me.

[49:48] You know, just because I dial 911,

[49:52] but 911 is leaking.

[49:55] They know who's calling, they know your

[49:57] location, and that's why you don't get

[49:59] people to call in. And that's got to be

[50:02] fixed.

[50:04] Thank you.

[50:05] >> Thank you, sir.

[50:11] I think that pretty much [clears throat]

[50:13] uh covers the agenda

[50:16] um for today. So uh we stand adjourned.

City of Rome, GA Commission Meeting: 08/24/2026

Agenda

Transcript