Rome city commission meeting. Uh we
begin every meeting with an invitation
pledge to the flag and u I've got the
honors of doing that tonight. So if
you'll please stand.
Gracious father, we come tonight, Lord,
thanking you and and just praising you
for all the many blessings that you've
given us. You've given us uh our lives,
our families, and uh just the people
that mean a lot to us. But Lord, right
now you've given us the city of Rome and
um as we go make decisions tonight. Um
let it be in your best interest, not
ours. Let uh let us whatever we do, let
it bring glory and honor to you. And
God, I just ask that uh you'll watch
over us. You'll uh take care of us. And
uh Father, that uh
you will be uh first and foremost in
every one of our thoughts. Lord, we love
you. We thank you. We praise you for all
the wonderful things you've done in our
lives. In Jesus name I pray. Amen.
>> Amen.
>> I aliance to the flag of the United
States of America and to the republic
for it stands one nation under God
indivisible with liberty and justice for
all.
Mr. Clerk, will you call the role, sir?
>> Sir, Mayor Bojo,
>> I'm here.
>> Commissioner Robinson
>> here.
>> Brock here. Cochran
>> here.
>> Bean
>> here.
>> Fisher
>> here.
>> Hixon
>> here.
>> McDaniel
>> here.
>> Uh, would you let the record show that
uh, Commissioner Collins has been
excused from tonight's meeting?
We'll look at the approval of the
minutes. Let's go back to the July 27th,
2026 meeting. Did everyone get a copy of
those minutes?
Everybody um good with them?
All right. August 10th, 2026. That was a
call meeting.
Any changes need to be made,
corrections?
Then our uh evening meeting on August
the 10th.
Everybody good?
Then uh all three of these meetings we
the uh minutes stand approved as they
are written. We have no proclamations.
We have got uh no special rec
recognition tonight. Uh public comments,
there are none resolutions.
Um we've got one about the South Broad
Street Bridge repair. We heard about
this in caucus. Um Mr. Manager, you want
to take the 30 seconds?
>> Certainly. Thank you, mayor. And
briefly, we're talking about the South
Broadidge, the Charles Graves Bridge,
and what we have here. Um due to the
repairs that need to be made, we've tried to cover all bases. We've
asked Georgia DOT for funding to help us
with a replacement of the bridge. We've
applied for funds through the
Appalachian Regional Commission, and
we've also, as before tonight, we have
an application for the Georgia
Transportation Infrastructure Bank. So,
this is a two-part. One part would be a
$1 million grant and the other would be
a $1 million loan. And so, by by us
approving the resolution tonight, it
simply gets us in a place that should we
choose to go after these funds, we'll be
able to do that. But tonight is
certainly not a commitment or not us
taking on a loan at this time. It's just
um covering the bases should we need to
do so at a later time.
>> And if I remember correctly, the loan is
a very low interest loan. That is
correct.
[clears throat and cough]
>> Thank you, sir. Uh, we have nothing on
first reading, nothing on second
reading.
>> We do need we do need approval for that,
mayor. Sorry,
>> we do we do need a vote for that. Yes,
sir. Sorry.
>> Okay. Um, and we All right. I'll open
this for the panel to discuss. Anybody
got any questions or comments?
Does this automatically mean that we
approve the loan or does the loan come
back to us for separate approval?
>> No, we would we would come back to the
body before there's a lot of decisions
to be made and so this is just us trying
to get all of the bases covered so that
once we find out is there going to be
other funding sources available but
>> yeah we will definitely bring back final
decisions.
>> All right, I do need a motion to a
motion to adopt this.
>> So move second. All right,
we got a motion in in the second. Um, is
there any more discussion?
» All right, Mr. Cler, call.
>> Commissioner Robinson,
>> yes.
>> Brock,
>> yes.
>> Cochran,
>> yes.
>> Beman,
>> yes.
>> Fisher,
>> yes.
>> Hixon,
>> yes.
>> McDaniel,
>> yes.
>> Sorry, I thought when that came from
the IRC that they would
>> do all that. Anyway, we have nothing on
first reading, nothing on second
reading, nothing continued on first
reading, but we do have some items on uh
public hearing.
>> Good evening, Mr. Mayor.
>> Good evening.
Our first item for you this evening is
special use permit request 26-08-02.
The request is for multif family
residential being zoned community
commercial for the properties at 10
highway 411 and zero highway 411 Rome
Georgia 30161 Floyd County tax parcels
J15W441
and J15W440. [snorts]
Uh the two properties are right here on
your screen. It is the former Winthrop
and then this wooded partial parking lot
here to the side of it. Uh this is the
former, as I said, the former Winthre
nursing home. Uh it has been closed for
some time after it had a fire.
We have approved a couple other special
use permits of this nature in the area.
Um most notably the former Holiday in
Skytop. Um one of the things staff
looked at and and reviewing this is how
would this fit into the new code? Will
the CC zoning district is going away? it
will no longer exist and uh the current
special use permit is only valid in the
or the requested special use permit is
only valid in CC. Therefore, anyone that
has one in that district, it will become
null. Uh therefore, staff had concerns
about potentially giving them a special
use permit uh only for it to potentially
become void in six months from now. Um
the request is for quote unquote micro
apartments, though there is a mix of
others size apartments as well.
uh staff has been looking and
researching, you know, the best
practices for micro apartments. They
tend to do best when you have a
university nearby as they work great for
uh student housing or in your most
urbanized downtown districts where a lot
of times you price out your young
professionals. Uh this would fit neither
of those categories. These are pictures
looking in from the highway.
The staff did recommend denial without
prejudice. The applicants have multiple
uh ideas for things they want to do with
this property and we didn't want to
potentially uh keep them from applying
for something else at a future date. Uh
some of their ideas are pretty
interesting.
So therefore the staff recommendation is
deny without prejudice. This is one of
the other ones that was previously
approved. It's I believe it's currently
sitting vacant under renovation.
Uh that is the other one that was
approved. Those are up uh the dead end
street across Chateau. And that is a
image of the uh former holiday in
skytop. Planning commission chose to
deny without prejudice by unanimous
vote. Thank you, sir.
>> All right, I will open the public
hearing. Is there anyone here to speak
in favor of this? Okay, just a minute.
Is there anyone here to speak in
opposition?
All right, sir. If you'll step to the
microphone, give us your name, your
address, and you have up to 10 minutes.
>> Sure. Thank you. Uh thank you, sir. Uh
my name is Jared Wilbanks. My address is
1735 Rose Hedge Drive. That is a
Kennesal address. Uh so I'm here
representing the uh current owners of
this property and uh as uh Bryce
mentioned, we are looking for a special
use permit to allow multif family
housing. As a little bit of history, the
previous owner of this property operated
as independent living and leased the
rooms as multif family. After the fire
that was mentioned, the uh the city
became involved to help with the
restoration, understanding what we need
for power restoration and other items to that degree. And we had a letter uh
previously from the city that we
believed covered the use of the property
as a multif family uh property. It turns
out that that uh letter did not state
exactly what was required and and the
intent uh behind it after doing a little
bit of digging was different. So, we are
here before you today asking for that
special use so that we can begin using
that property again as it was
previously. Um the new owners of the
property have elected to hold it down
until we get the zoning sorted out
rather than try and start the business
back up. Um listening to the planning
commission's main concerns around the
change of the uh uldc and the um
exclusion of micro units. Uh it was
mentioned that the current property has
a majority of micro units roughly 64%
but there is a mix of twos and threes
included. Uh, and the main uh, intent
tonight that I would be looking for is
an understanding or perhaps a discussion
of what you all might want as far as
zoning stipulations go that would allow
us to get to an approval on the special
use permit. The owner is willing to move
away from the micro units. We can
combine units. We can increase square
footage and we can get away from that micro unit uh, uh, limit that's
going to be set in the new code. Um, I
believe the CC community commercial uh,
zoning district is going away. So, I
hear there's some concerns about
granting the special use. It's my
understanding that if granted, it would
become legal non-conforming, so we could
still continue to use it. Uh, I would
also offer that if that zoning district
goes away, regardless of the use that we
move forward with, we might still have
to think about coming back and and
revisiting this because the zoning
district would change. So, I don't want
that to be an unnecessary burden to the
special use. Um, but with that, the uh
the property has changed hands since the
fire incident. The new owners are also
in control of 21 and 23 Chateau Drive.
the pictures that we saw, I can confirm
that 21 Chateau Drive has a new roof.
The top floor is currently getting new
floor, new paint, new fixtures, uh as
far as FFN goes, new furniture and
appliances. Uh 23 Chateau Drive had some
uh facelifts as well, and we currently
only have three or four units there.
They're unleashed. So, that property is
becoming full. And after we get done
with the the work and the cleanup at 21
Chatau Drive, there'll be a lease up
effort there. So, the new owners are
definitely committed to investing the
capital back into these properties to
make them successful so that they are
something that will be beneficial to the
city. Um, so at a high level, that's kind of what we're here asking
for. So, I really would like to
entertain what you all might like to see
as far as stipulations to the special
use permit that would perhaps allow us a
uh a vote in favor.
>> Thank you, sir.
Anyone else?
All right, I will close the public
hearing and ask does anyone up here on
the panel have any questions or
concerns?
>> I got a question. Um, if if it were to
be approved, then that would open it up
to be used.
You don't have a specific purpose for it
yet. Is that correct?
>> So, the the current zoning is community
commercial and we are looking for a
special use permit to allow multif
family housing which would allow us to
do leases. Uh we would also like to
retain the commercial use. We're
currently working through what a fast
casual or food service restaurant might
look like. There is a kitchen space
there. It's been completely
decommissioned. That was part of one of
the requirements that the city had. We
either had to take the old kitchen and
get it fully up to operating standards
or decommission it. Because of the
questioned future use of the building
and not wanting to go through the
effort, we went ahead and decommissioned
it so the city didn't have to inspect
it. The health department didn't have to
get involved and worry about it. Um but
yes, we would like to look at a a mixed
development that could also include some
type of food service. Uh we're
entertaining some some third parties
that could come into a pad site for us
there.
>> So wouldn't it be better to have the use
before we go for a zoning
before we go for a [clears throat]
special use permit and know what the use
is?
>> Uh so the we're still in discussions
with the potential pad site and until
those progress further, we can't say for
sure if that's going to be something
that we're going to end up being able to
do. Um, but because of the nature of the
building as it sits, the special use for
multif family is going to be the primary
use. Falling back on the commercial
zoning, that would also allow the pad
site to kind of best use the property as
it in its entirety.
>> When the fire happened, that was a it
was used as a retirement type home. Is
that right?
>> So, it was previously an assisted
living. When it was sold in 2023, it
went away from assisted living and
became an independent living that was
leased as multif family. So folks who
lived independently um and then you know
had an annual lease much like an
apartment those age restricted
apartments if you will.
>> Thank you.
» So I do I have a question for you. So
help me. The micro apartments are they
simply you say you have some already on.
>> So the the building was originally built
as a hotel and then it was converted to
an assisted living facility and the top
floor was independent living. So, a lot
of the I'll call them bays, what were
the former hotel rooms were combined.
So, you had a a two-bedroom, a
onebedroom, and then a two-bedroom unit,
but it was a combination of the existing
bays that were the hotel rooms. So, we
currently have a mix of studios, which
would fall under the micro
classification. One bedrooms, which
would be above, and two bedrooms, which
would be above. And what I would be
proposing is uh to move be able to move
forward with the special use. We would
move away from the micro apartments for
anything that would fall into the
special use so that we that way we don't
kind of fall into that concern that the planning commission had.
>> So would it be all inclusive like say
for instance the water the total
electric all the bills would be included
in the lease?
>> Yes, that is correct. the uh the units
are not submetered and that much follows
the model at 21 and 23 Chateau Drive
where power, water, cable and internet
are included in the rent. So it does
certainly help uh folks who have to to
work work with a little bit of a tighter
budget or on a fixed income because they
have a very consistent monthly payment
that takes care of a lot of things. Uh
really they just have groceries and
other amenity or ancillary items to pay
after that. We find that's very
beneficial.
>> So how many units do you you propose if
you were able to do this? So there is
currently 87 units, 56 of which are
studios, 29 are onebedrooms, and two are
twobedrooms.
And I would have to rework my numbers
here to give you an exact number, but we
would be willing to move away from the
micro units altogether. So it would
effectively be combining all of the
micro units for anything that would be
uh leased as multif family.
So they would all go to uh to one
bedrooms. And if there was demand for
two bedrooms, it's it's easy enough to add those on.
» What does a micro unit consist?
>> So, a micro unit would effectively be a
studio apartment. So, kind of a
one-bedroom apartment where you have a a
bed and sitting area with a small table,
a kitchenet, and then a separate
bathroom.
>> What kind of rent we looking at in these
units? Uh right now the micro unit size
units are going for just under $1,000 a
month. You do not double that value when
you go to a two or threebedroom. It
would likely be 12 to $1,300 a month for
a for a onebedroom.
>> Anyone to my right?
» I got a question.
[clears throat] We've heard u badly
needed and desperately needed used as
terms for hotels. Did y'all consider a
hotel?
>> The hotel use is something that falls
under the current zoning. Uh and we
would have to go work with the county,
get the tourist accommodation uh permit
and and work through that getting to a
hotel. because of the the unit mix that
is there and because of the background
and expertise of the current owners,
they are in favor of multif family,
their multif family, their condos and
their their restaurants. Um hotel motel
use is something that is certainly uh on
the table and we would consider
considering the zoning is already
commercial. Um the first use and ideal
use for the owners would be for the
special use and go multif family
>> and y'all have taken two hotels and made
them. So, I worked under contract for
the previous owner of several of these
properties. Uh, he is no longer the
owner of those properties and he and I
are no longer working together. I do,
however, have the perhaps the history of
it and that's why the current owner
asked me to to stay on. I'm also
somewhat local to the area. Um, I
converted the one at 23 Chateau Drive
and I'm pretty proud of the the way it
came out. I think it looks really nice.
I invite you all to come by and take a
look at any points.
>> I was by there today. That's the one
that's occupied. Is that right?
>> That's correct.
>> And 21 is one that's unoccupied.
>> I'm sorry. 21 is the one that's
unoccupied.
>> 21 is unoccupied. It needed uh a fair
amount of recapitalization. There was a
decent amount of uh deferred maintenance
and such that caught up with the
building. So once it changed hands, new
owners realizes the recapitalization
needed elected to shut it down and make
it right so that way you can just lease
up as it needs to.
>> And between those two, how many units
was that?
>> Uh 23 Chateau Drive is 64. 21 Chateau
Drive is 75. And were y'all aware of the
desperate need for hotels in this area
when you converted them?
>> Uh, at the time that was not part and
parcel to what my task was. I was mainly
working on the construction renovation
side. So I was not yet in the area. I
moved back from Louisiana to work on
these projects. Um, so I I was not
involved with that decision. Um, I have
since heard that hotels are uh something
that are in in demand and needed. Um,
the concern specifically with the
Winthrop in [cough] a hotel is the
decision whether or not you'd go flagged
or unfl flagged and then what it would
take to get a flag and then the PIP
program that would need to go back into
it uh which would represent significant
investment. The current owners are
prepared and willing to make a
significant investment into this
property but again their their their
main knowledge base is not in the hotel
industry. They're they're more multif
family and condos. They just don't know
that business as well. [snorts]
That was a very nice property when it
was originally the hotel that Ramata in.
It was a very nice property then.
[clears throat]
>> Anything else?
I do have a concern because uh even with
the micro apartments that that are being
established in the area, you have a lot
of um people that are moving into those
apartments right now giving the areas a
bad name because you don't have on-site
management and a lot of um things are
taking place in those in those
reconstructed areas. So, how would if if
this was approved, how would you
maintain the upkeep and making sure that
it's not turned into the opposite of
what you proposed it to be?
>> So, I I I can't speak to the skytop
property. I can only speak to the other
three and hopefully including Winthre.
Uh the new owners of 2123 Chatau Drive
and and Winthre uh just changed
management companies. So, we've got a
brand new management company in place.
uh to your concerns about the types of
folks who would potentially be living
there. It includes background checks,
credit checks and and you know thorough
due diligence to uh to understand the
tenants that are moving in before
they're granted a lease. Um with that
concern, I would say with a hotel motel
use, you don't have a background check
and really you just need a credit card
and ID to check in. So you've got less
control over who is staying with you in
a hotel motel case than you do with a
multif family case because the
management company's going to run the
background checks and the credit checks
and have a better idea of the tenants
and the folks who are living there.
>> So the skytop offered amenities like a
pool playground area that area what
amenities would be offered.
>> So at Winthrop there is not currently a
pool and there would be no plans to add
a pool but there is a lot of square
footage there already. Uh there's a
chapel, there's an existing dining area,
there's a kitchen, like I said, that can
be reestablished. Um pure amenities.
There's there's already laundry. There
was formerly a salon there. We've got a
lot of space that we would clean up. We
would really look to bring in third
parties who are experts in those areas.
And uh because of the commercial zone
and currently be able to attract other
businesses to come in and provide
additional amenities. But the base
amenities would be common meeting spaces
would be the chapel. Um, and then again,
highspeed internet and and cable would
also be included in the rents.
» Would any of those commercial spaces be
allowed to have coin operated amusement
machines?
>> That is not something that has been
considered at this point. And if it's
the the desire of this group here to
exclude those, we'd be happy to have a
stipulation against.
>> Thank you.
>> All right. If [clears throat] there's no
more questions or whatever, uh, Mr.
clerk. Will you call the role?
>> Have a motion.
>> I don't have a motion. All that talk. I
need a motion.
» Okay. We have no motion to approve.
>> May I ask some questions of Bryce,
please, before somebody throws out a
motion?
>> Sir,
>> in the new ULDC,
>> remind me of our concerns about micro
apartments.
We have seen so many requests from some
of our more older, typically blighted
hotels that we put restrictions on where
those can potentially be. What we've
seen when people call and request that,
they'll typically be willing to throw up
some paint but not really make any
upgrades to the building. Uh so the the
response we've seen thus far has been
remarkably underwhelming. As a matter of
fact, we've had several people ask, can
I put another floor on this one-story
hotel and add 20 more units? Um,
I mean, it's essentially buildings that
have probably
lived their useful life based on
deferred maintenance in many cases. Um,
I would say that it it seems that when
there's not a desire to bring the
property back to the level to get a
reputable flag,
you look for another option.
>> That's fair. That seems fair.
If if I could, Bryce, the discussion at
planning commission
uh with it being a 100 vote,
[clears throat] what
if if you could share with us what was
the primary negative thinking of the
planning commission?
>> Uh mostly that it's uh it's almost
giving someone false hope. If you give
them a special use permit and it's
worthless in six months, it seems
underhanded.
» So this is
It was denied without prejudice.
>> It was. Yes, sir.
>> I've spoken with the owners. They have a
couple other ideas that I'd like for
them to be able to pursue. Therefore, I
don't want a 12-month waiting period
before they can come back.
>> In your opinion, what what would work?
» I mean, well, the denial for him to come
back, you know, with um another design
or uh more paperwork. So, in saying
that, I've spoken with the owners and
they've shared some of their ideas which
I've agreed to keep quiet. Uh, but they
have a couple other ideas that might
also either require a resoning or a
special use permit and I'd like them to
have that opportunity to pursue.
» I'll make a motion to deny
>> and I second it.
>> Got a motion to deny.
>> Is this
>> just to clarify with a second? I'm
sorry.
>> Without prejudice.
>> Okay.
I'd like to hear the other options
at some point.
>> So, we have a motion in a second to deny
without prejudice. Um, Mr. C, call the
role.
>> Yes, sir. Commissioner Robinson.
>> Uh, yes. Deny.
>> Yes. Just deny. Brock.
>> Yes.
>> Cochran.
>> Yes.
>> Bam.
>> Yes.
>> Fisher.
>> Yes.
>> Hixon.
>> Yes.
>> McDaniel.
>> Yes. See,
our next case for you this evening.
>> Just a minute, sir. If you'll just go
back and bring us another plan.
>> Our next item for you this evening is
SUP 26-08-03
with its request for special use permit
for rooming and boarding house. Uh, the
property is high density traditional
residential. You guys recently resoned
it from Light Industrial. The property
is 304 East 19th Street, Rome, Georgia
30161, Floyd County Tax Parcel, J15X114.
You see the property outline on your
screen. Uh it has actually been a
rooming and boarding house for quite
some time. It's our understanding that
the property has since changed
ownership. As a matter of fact, the
purpose listed on the application was to
be able to sell it. Uh no one attended
planning commission to speak in favor of
it. Uh we have heard from multiple
neighbors that there were issues
associated with vicious animals fighting
uh other 911 calls. Uh that actually
came up at the reszoning request when
that went for the planning commission.
This map was before it was reszoned.
We'd already made it.
Uh typically with a rooming or boarding
house, you have either some sort of
caretaker who lives on site, either the
property owner or some sort of on-site
property management. That has not been
the case here that we are aware of.
Uh the house could use some work uh per
the building inspection and code
enforcement folks
have the application itself.
Some information where code enforcement
visited.
This is the house itself. The entire
roughly the entire front yard has been
paved to give it some parking.
It's directly across the street
and the front of the house. This does
come with a staff recommendation of
denial and unanimous vote of denial from
the planning commission.
All right, I'll open the public hearing.
Is there anyone here to speak in favor?
Is there anyone here to speak against?
[clears throat] All right. Being none, I
will close the public hearing. And I've
got the first question.
Is the house occupied right now?
>> To my knowledge, it is.
>> Okay.
Do they have a license to do this?
>> No.
>> For several cars in the driveway today.
>> Um, you mentioned the sale. This application was looks
like 6926 and the property transfer
72826. So, it has sold,
» but it's still being used as a boarding
house
>> as far as I know.
>> Okay.
[cough]
>> Does the zoning application run with the
owner or with the land?
>> So, technically, you have to own the
property to submit the application, but
it's not unheard of for property to sell
during the resoning process.
[snorts]
Is that something code enforcement can
close
or the ability to close?
>> I'm not going to speak for them.
>> You're not code enforcement. I'm not.
I'm sorry.
>> Yes.
>> I make a motion to deny.
>> A motion to deny.
>> Second.
>> A motion in a second. Any other
discussion? [clears throat] Mr. Clerk,
call the roll.
>> Commissioner Robinson.
>> Uh, yes. Brock,
>> yes.
>> Cochran,
>> yes.
>> Bean,
>> yes.
>> Fisher,
>> yes.
>> Hixon,
>> yes.
>> Daniel,
>> yes.
>> Mr. Manager, I'm going to ask you to
deal with code enforcement in the
morning.
>> Absolutely.
>> Our third item for you this evening is
Z26-08-01.
The request is to resone from Heavy
Industrial to Office Institutional for
the property at One Innovation Way,
Rome, Georgia 30161. It's shown on your
map here. Uh this was previously the
test kitchen for the mill there. Uh the
property is virtually worthless as heavy
industrial. Uh the setbacks are actually
bigger than the property are. Uh
however, there is a very nice building
on the property. Uh the applicant is
proposing to convert that to office
space.
This is what it looks like from the
street. This is in the Between the
Rivers historic district.
Let me You say it is in the historic
district?
>> It is. Yes, sir.
» And this comes with a staff
recommendation of approval. Thank you.
>> All right. I'll open the public hearing.
Is there anyone here to speak in favor?
Okay. Is there anyone here to speak in
opposition?
All right. Sir, if you'll go to the
podium, if you'll give us your name and
your address, you will have up to 10
minutes when you start speaking.
>> Jason Free, 704 Grand View Road, Blue
Ridge, Georgia. Uh, this is He's already
said everything. It's heavy industrial
downzoning on a dead end street. No
residential properties around it. No one
here speaking opposition. I won't waste
your time. I'll save my time for
rebuttal or questions if you have.
>> Question. What's that gun be used for?
real estate office.
>> I I would assume, but yeah,
>> let me close the public hearing and then
you can ask your question.
>> Oh, I'm sorry. Out of order.
>> All right, I'll close the public hearing
being there's no one to speak against
it. And if anyone's got any questions,
I'm going to recuse myself from voting.
There are two tolls rent two tolls
template right agents involved in it.
Thank you.
» If there's no other questions, Mr.
Clerk, would you please call the role?
>> Well, I need a motion.
>> Make a motion to approve.
>> Can I recuse myself as well?
My office is next door to their office.
So, I just want to make sure.
No,
>> no.
Okay. Okay.
>> Thank you.
» I'm good.
>> Okay.
>> Motion.
>> I need a motion. Cochran. Motion.
>> Seconded it.
>> All right. Would you call the role? Yes,
sir.
>> Commissioner Robinson.
>> Yes.
>> Brock. Yes.
>> Cochran.
>> Yes.
>> Bean.
>> Yes.
>> Fisher.
>> Yes.
>> Hixon.
>> Yes.
» Thank you.
Mr. Free.
» And our last item for you this evening
is Z26-08-04.
Further request is to resone from office
institutional to neighborhood office
commercial [clears throat]
for the property at 7 711 West 2nd
Street Rome Georgia 30161 Floyd County
tax parcel J13 Y067
you see the property outline on your
screen we're just up the block here you
have the days in you have Aldi and you
have the Hampton in over here
gentleman's been living in the house
it's my understanding he was seeking a
permit to get put a deck on the back of
it that's when it was discovered that
it's currently zoned O and I.
If you notice across the street here, we
have reszoneed multiple houses so that
they could transition back and forth
from residential or office or light
retail. Uh this has become a popular
area during COVID. You had quite a few
people who uh decided to take their
office and move home for social
distancing purposes. Uh so you're seeing
more and more of these go back to
residential.
There's looking in from the road
back down towards the library and the
fire station
further up the hill towards the days in
you can kind of see on your left
directly across the street that used to
be a psychologist psychiatrist office
some sort of shrink and looking down the
driveway. This comes with staff
recommendation of approval and unanimous
approval from the plan.
>> All right, I will open the public
hearing. Is there anyone here that wants
to speak in favor? Anyone to opposed?
All right, sir. If you will go to the
podium, give us your name, your address,
and you will have up to 10 minutes.
>> Um Claude Corbin. My address is 7-Eleven
West Second Street. Actually, I've owned
this house probably 30 years and always
rented it out. As far as I know, it's
always been res residential. Um, I never
knew it wasn't um until I went to check
on getting a permit. Um, I live in the
house. I don't see any reason why it
wouldn't be residential. And every house
around it, I see you smiling at me
[laughter]
and and actually the house across the
street that it was res even when the
lady lived there, she was a shrink, she
lived there, too. So, it was
residential, but now they [snorts] just
rented it out. It's completely resial.
All right.
And since there's no one to speak in
opposition,
I will close this part of the uh public
hearing and I will need a motion.
>> So move.
>> Second.
>> A motion and a second. Any discussion?
» Mr. Clerk, if you will call the role.
>> Sir. Commissioner Robinson.
>> Yes.
>> Rock.
>> Yes.
>> Cochran.
>> Yes.
>> Bean.
>> Yes. Fisher,
>> yes.
>> Hixon,
>> yes.
>> McDaniel,
>> yes.
>> Thank you, sir.
>> Thank you.
>> Um, the next thing on our agenda is E is
the Justice Assistant Grant resolution
or the JAG res. Uh, Samuel, I'm going to
turn that to you.
>> Thank you, Mr. Mayor. What we have
before you tonight is a simple
resolution and what we are seeking is
$26,59
through the grant and those would be
used to purchase 50 jersey type barriers
and these are the lightweight barriers
that you fill with water and you would
use those to keep vehicular traffic
separated from pedestrians. For example,
if we were closing downtown uh for a
fiddling fest or some type of block
party, these are the um ways that those
would get deployed. And um so great for
public safety and again that amount is
26509. And so Mr. Mayor, we would need
to open and conduct a public hearing and
then we would need a motion to move
forward.
>> All right, I will uh Is there anyone
here to speak in favor?
» Yeah,
>> we got one.
Anybody in opposition? All
right, I'll open the public hearing.
Sir, if you'll step to the podium and
tell us your name and address. Uh oh,
your
>> driver's license number and everything
else.
>> Ron police department.
>> I'm the major over field operations
currently.
>> You're good.
>> Okay. Um
this is a grant that we put in for every
year and we've been blessed to receive
it and we use it for different things.
Currently, like uh the city manager
said, we want to use it to purchase the
Jersey type barriers. Those are the
polyethylene. They're like orange in
color. I'm sure you've seen them, like
Sammy said, for block parties, uh,
parades, that kind of thing. And we have
a current inventory of those, but
they've gotten some age on them, and
just from being tossed around and
utilized, um, they've gotten it where
they don't hold water anymore. So, this
grant um, would help us purchase new
barricades. As you all well know, one of
the big concerns with public events
where a lot of people are gathered
nowadays is crowd safety. um I hearken
back to a couple years ago that event
that happened in New Orleans and then
we've had a couple other things where
vehicles have been involved and if we're
having a block party or something like
that and we don't fortify the area the
best we can and we're open oursel up to
some trouble when we don't want that. So
um these barricades um also are used by
the street department as well for
different things um when we're not using
them. But uh it's the uh jersey type
barricades. It's the plugs that go in
them to hold the water, the tools to
tighten them and that kind of thing. And
um Chris Jenkins at Public Works is nice
enough to house us house these for us
and help us transport them. And uh Chad
over at Public Works as well.
[snorts]
>> Thank you.
Since there's no one to speak in
opposition, I will close the public
hearing and I need a motion to approve.
>> So moved. Second.
>> Got a motion to second. Any discussion?
Mr. Cler, call the roll, please.
>> Commissioner Robinson,
>> yes.
>> Brock,
>> yes.
>> Cochran,
>> yes.
>> Bamman,
>> yes.
>> Fisher,
>> yes.
>> Hixon,
>> yes.
>> Daniel,
>> yes.
>> Uh, Mr. Clerk, do you have anything?
>> No report. Mr. Mayor,
>> Mr. Manager.
>> Thank you, Mr. Mayor. I would like to
announce that the city of Rome
administrative offices will be closed on
Monday, September 7th in observance of
the Labor Day holiday. For those
interested, the Monday garbage, yard
waste, and recycling services are all
going to be pushed to Tuesday and then
Tuesday's route will be pushed to
Wednesday. No changes for Thursday,
Friday. Our Walker Mountain Landfill
will be closed on Labor Day. And Mr.
Mayor, I would like to take a point just
to to brag a little bit on our
community. Most people know last week we
had the Georgia Downtown Association uh
show up in Rome and brought a pretty
large turnout for a conference and it
was a a great event and really proud of
the community. A lot of thanks to a lot
of folks that worked hard to make that a
success. The forum looked amazing as
always and we were able to to take some
tours and to show off some of the things
downtown that really makes Rome unique
and so received a lot of positive
feedback and I hope there was some
positive economic impact go along with
that but just wanted to brag on the
staff that made that um possible. So
thank you. That concludes my report.
>> Right. Under my time water and sewer
committee will meet Thursday, September
3rd, 9:00 in the Sam King room.
Commissioner Robinson. Mayor, the only
thing I have is the finance committee
will meet Wednesday, August 26 at 10:30
in the Sam King room. Anyone's invited?
Oh, I have
>> Mr. Brock.
>> Uh, yes. September, first Friday will be
held Friday, September 4th, in the 200
block of Brawl Street. There's been a
little confusion. Some stuff has been
saying Town Green, but that has been
moved to the 200 block of Brawl Street
uh for guardians of the jukebox plan.
So, always draw a big crowd. Downtown
Development Authority will meet
Thursday, September 10th at 8:30 in the
Miller building. And I would also uh
reiterate everything that Sammy just
said about the uh GDA conference. All
the feedback that I heard was was uh
really good. People enjoyed being here.
Uh and just want to really give Jell and
the staff at the forum a shout out. Uh
they were kind of the hub for everything
going on. And uh it's it's nice that the city uh is in control of that
facility. And uh when those doors are
opening and closing, typically people
are downtown spending money. So and uh
good money, bad money, and neutral
money. That's good money when it comes
from outside the community. So we
appreciate that. That's all I have.
>> Thank you, Commissioner Cochran.
>> Thank you, Mr. Mayor. Tourism Commission
will meet Wednesday, August 26th at
11:45 at the Civic Center. And that
concludes my report. Thank you.
>> Thank you, uh, Commissioner Bman.
>> Um, thank you, Mr. Mayor. I just have an
acknowledgement. You talk about how
great our city is and how we have so
many visitors. We also had a VIP here
for this uh past uh Friday and Saturday.
Mayor Elect Kesha Lance Bottoms and her
team visited Rome and we got nothing but
great things about our city, how nice,
clean, and warming everybody was. So, I
just want to give acknowledgement that
there's no place like Rome for
everybody. Thank you. That concludes my
report.
>> Commissioner Fischer,
>> uh, public works, traffic, transit,
trails committee will meet Wednesday,
September 9th at 10:00 a.m. in the Sam
King room. And I do have a couple things
to present. The first is the Jackson
Hill Trail Connection Project. They
received four bids and the
recommendation from the committee was
for SH Creole contracting in the amount
of $974,93
to um
complete or connect the Jackson Hill
Trail. It will go under the bridge under
Riverside
and they'll start soon and hopefully be
done by the end of the year. This is
phase one. This is covered with splast
funds.
Um and then they'll start getting bids
for phase two.
» Are there any questions?
Make a motion to approve.
>> I second.
>> We got a motion in a second. Any other
discussion?
>> I have some questions. Just out of
curiosity, why aren't both phases being
completed at the same time?
>> Why are why are both phases not being
completed at the same time?
Go ahead.
>> I'm sorry I couldn't hear you.
>> Why are both Why are they doing the two
phases at different times?
>> You did talk about that, but I I was
going to let Sammy answer.
>> Sure. No, I I I don't think there's a
wasn't a huge reason to to delay other
than there was some initial idea of
being able to cross closer um I guess
closer up to tournament call. And so
they're going to study that a little bit
more. And um but phase two ultimately is thinking about contemplating a box
culbert that'll come under Dogwood to
keep you separated from the traffic. And
so it'll you may recall if you're headed
down Dogwood toward public works on the
right we've got a gravel parking lot.
>> And so I think the idea is to
incorporate that as a bit of a trail
head. And so there probably a little
design to go in to to figure out what
that's going to look like. But if we can
get the main event done before this um
rainy season gets here with that major
phase, then we'll have connected the
two. And so we'll just um that'll be a
major major addition to our trail
network. And so I don't I don't envision
there's going to be a tough delay or a
long delay for phase two, but we'll try
to push that. But we we'd made a
deliberate effort. I guess if we go back
to last maybe it's last year's public
works committee. Uh we were asked to try
to push this as a splash project just to
get some some progress and get it
rolling. So I'm excited that we've
gotten this part of the phase. And you
said there's a bridge associated with
this.
>> It goes under the bridge.
>> Yeah.
>> The bridge on Yeah.
>> And that's that's part of the
engineering for going underdog. The main
thing is avoid the the traffic coming
in.
>> Right. So what we're talking about is
running this adjacent Burwell Creek. And
so when you're on Riverside Parkway, you
go by the Chick-fil-A container store,
there's that lower parking lot. Burwell
Creek is that um that's the creek we're
talking about. out. And so if you're in
Richberry Park and you're adjacent that
parking lot, you will be able to go
adjacent Burwell the existing Riverside
Parkway bridge. There's a ledge under
there. So the trail will go under and
then we'll hug Riverside back around Tur
call around the duck pond. And so a lot
of folks that grew up here have got such
great stories about being around the
duck pond. So this will open some of it
could be a good chance for us to get
that area cleaned up and back into shape
and for people to go over there. It's
got great memories. So, it's going to be
exciting, I think, for the community.
>> Are we bringing the ducks back?
>> I I have a feeling we're going to have
ducks.
>> No fun.
>> Okay, we got a motion in a second. Any
other discussion? Mr. Clerk, call the
role, please.
>> Commissioner [clears throat] Robinson,
>> yes.
>> Brock,
>> yes.
>> Cochran,
>> yes.
>> Bean,
>> yes.
>> Fisher,
>> yes.
>> McDaniel,
>> yes.
>> I do have uh something else to bring
forward. I have two invoices for the
recycling deficit for the second
quarter. That's April through June. One
is an invoice for the city of Rome and
one is an invoice for the solid waste
commission and they have the same amount
of $15,716.87
is less than the last quarter. That was
good.
>> Said it is less than the last quarter.
>> Yeah, it is much less than last time.
Um, I'll need a motion.
>> So, move.
>> We got a motion in a second. Any
discussion?
>> Question. Why was it less? I'm glad it
is.
>> Nobody gave a
>> They accumulate certain things until
they have enough for someone to haul it
away. And so, in that, they probably
were able to haul out aluminum cans or
>> plastic one or two. They wait until they
have a full load.
>> Okay.
>> Before they sell it.
>> All right. Thank you.
>> All that burn.
>> All right. We got a motion in a second.
>> If there's no discussion, Mr. Clerk,
>> sir. Commissioner Robinson.
>> Yes.
>> Brock,
>> yes.
>> Cochran,
>> yes.
>> Bean,
>> yes.
>> Fisher,
>> yes.
>> Hixon,
>> yes.
>> Daniel,
>> yes.
» M. Uh, Commissioner Fischer, will you
talk? Tell us again the date, time for
the next meeting that everyone's invited
to
>> for um
>> Well, you're invited to all the
meetings, but this one,
>> the um solid waste commission will meet
September 29th, that's a Tuesday, at
8:30 in the morning at the recycling
center. It's a little bit different than
our quarterly meetings which we will
still have in October, but this is just
to tour the facility and meet and it's
including the city and county
commissioners. It's open to the public.
>> All right. Thank you.
>> That's right,
>> Commissioner Hixon.
Uh the only uh comment I have is the
Rome Floyd County Planning Commission
will meet Thursday, September the 3rd at
2:30 here in the commission chambers.
That's it. Mr. Mayor,
>> Commissioner Collins is not here, but he
did not have any meeting announcements.
So, Commissioner McDaniel.
>> Uh thank you. The general administration
committee will meet on Tuesday, August
25th at 11 a.m. in the Carnegie training
room.
Health Board will meet on Thursday,
September the 10th at 12 PM at the Floyd
County Health Department. That's all I
have.
>> Uh we have one person would like to
speak on public make public comment on a
non-aggenda items is Sammy Williams here
with us. Sir, if you will
>> step to the podium to give us your name
and address
>> and you will have three minutes.
Sammy Williams603
Crane Street Southwest Rome, Georgia
30161.
Uh we got a little results on the crime
we had in the area
here lately, but it's going to get worse
before we get better.
We've got these all night parties going
on and they are dangerous for the
citizens and the police officers.
You know, these parties, they got armed
guards. And if you talk to some of the
officers that ride by and look,
they would tell you they've seen it. So,
we got to keep the parts for the kids.
Can't let them have the parts.
You know, every time I see something
that's boiling, you know, I call in.
But people don't realize how many
dangerous people we got in Floyd County.
These people is undetective. They come
out with hoods on, mask on at night to
these parties. You you don't know who
you going up against.
And you know, a lot of areas they throw
beer cans in the yard. That's where
people aim where the beer cans. So, we
need to start cleaning these yards up.
And uh I want to keep everybody safe and
I want to be safe. For the last three or
four years, they've had a hit on me.
You know, just because I dial 911,
but 911 is leaking.
They know who's calling, they know your
location, and that's why you don't get
people to call in. And that's got to be
fixed.
Thank you.
>> Thank you, sir.
I think that pretty much [clears throat]
uh covers the agenda
um for today. So uh we stand adjourned.