City Commission

ROME CITY COMMISSION SPECIAL CALLED MEETING Wednesday, September 22, 2021 The Rome City Commission met at 5:30 p.m. this date in the Sam King Room of City Hall, 601 Broad Street. Mayor McDaniel presided with Mayor Pro Tem Stevenson and Commissioners Bojo, Cochran, Davis, Doss, Quick, Askew, and Collins present. Mayor Pro Tem Stevenson opened the meeting with prayer and led in the salute to the flag. The purpose of today’s meeting was to discuss the possibility of placing a General Obligation Bond Referendum on the November 2nd City Election Ballot. The proceeds from this Bond would be used for city-wide paving. Mayor McDaniel reviewed this matter stating that the City of Rome Public Works Committee had recommended that this topic be forwarded to the City Commission for action and approval. This topic was also reviewed recently by the City of Rome Finance Committee. While the Finance Committee discussed this important financial matter, no official action was taken. Commissioner Cochran moved for the City of Rome to place a referendum on the November 2nd City of Rome Election Ballot. This referendum would allow the public to decide if the City of Rome should issue General Obligation Bonds in the amount of $25,000,000 to be paid back over a ten-year period. The purpose of these Bonds will be to pave as many of Rome’s 235 miles of streets as possible and to fund the Quick Response Team that city staff has recommended for creation. This Quick Response Team would be intended to patch potholes and various utility cuts as quickly as possible. Commissioner Davis seconded the motion. There was lengthy discussion concerning this proposal with all nine City Commissioners making comments. Commissioner Collins began the discussion stating that it was his understanding that these Bonds could be issued with potentially no increase in the City of Rome’s Tax Millage Rate. Commissioner Cochran had made a proposal at the Public Works Committee regarding possible scenarios for Bond repayment without a millage rate increase. City Manager Rich reported there is potential 2 – 2.5 increase in the millage rate that could be needed to make this Bond payment. The future is unknown, and this question cannot be answered with certainty at this time. Mr. Rich also pointed out that it appears likely that the City of Rome will lose one of its largest taxpayers and largest business license customers if Redmond Regional Medical Center becomes tax exempt under new ownership, effective for 2022. This one taxpayer loss will result in over $350,000 in reduced city taxes and over $550,000 in reduced city school taxes. Commissioner Cochran commented on Rome’s millage rate comparing it to other Georgia cities and also comparing our millage rate to the County Maintenance & Operation taxes that are paid by city residents. City residents are being “doubled taxed” for roads. Commissioner Cochran continued to explain that he feels that it is more economical for the City to pave all of the city roads at this time since the cost of borrowing money is likely lower than the price of inflation if that work is deferred. Commissioner Davis stated, that with more federal money likely to be sent to state and local governments, there will be increased demand for paving services that will likely increase the cost of contracting this function. Commissioner Collins expressed his opinion 1 that this Bond matter should not have been sent to the Finance Committee after the Public Works Committee had recommended approval. Mayor McDaniel reminded everyone that this Bond proposal is a very large financial matter which has been suggested at a time that would require a significant rush in order to take action in time for inclusion with the November 2nd Election. McDaniel also stated that the concept of paving all of Rome’s streets has not been discussed at any of the recent Rome City Commission goal setting sessions. Commissioner Cochran stated that Rome’s Fund Balance is very large and that having too much Fund Balance is fiscally irresponsible, similar to having a Fund Balance that is too small. The discussion continued with Commissioner Collins expressing his opposition to a millage rate increase. Mayor McDaniel stated that City Staff has not asked for this type of paving plan or these type of funds for paving. Commissioner Cochran continued to provide data for this referendum proposal. Commissioner Askew questioned one of Commissioner Cochran’s points regarding the City of Rome’s millage rate as it compares to other similar sized, or larger cities in the State of Georgia. Commissioner Askew also stated that paving is not his number one priority. He feels that attention to our youths is a more pressing matter. Commissioner Quick stated that our Bond Counsel Bill Campbell has suggested that we consider a Transportation SPLOST as a way to generate paving funds. Commissioner Collins asked Commissioner Cochran to withdraw his motion. Commissioner Stevenson suggested that we move forward with this matter and let the process work. There was no withdrawal of the motion. Commissioner Doss stated that a split vote by the City Commission would not send a positive message to the general public concerning a referendum. He also suggested that the Rome City Commission act more as a group and less often as nine individuals. Commissioner Davis pointed out that our current paving plan is not successful, and that at our current rate, it will take decades for our streets to be repaved. Commissioner Bojo concurred that we need a better paving plan than we have had the past few years in order to get more of our streets resurfaced. Commissioner Doss reminded everyone that the majority of the complaints that he receives are not regarding city streets, but rather State of Georgia routes that pass through our town. These state routes would not be repaved by Rome even if this Bond Referendum proposal moves forward and is approved. With the discussion concluded, Commissioner Cochran’s motion to place the Bond Referendum on the November 2nd City Election Ballot failed by the following vote: YES: Cochran, Davis, Collins NO: Stevenson, Bojo, Doss, Quick, Askew, and Mayor McDaniel City Manager Rich presented a handout titled “City of Rome Paving Plan Concept for 2022”. In this concept, Mr. Rich is proposing to dedicate up to $4M towards paving city streets from our 2017 SPLOST allocation and City Capital Funds. Floyd County is obligated to pave 12 miles of city streets each year under the House Bill 489 Agreement. The anticipated costs for the City of Rome is approximately $100,000 per mile. The City of Rome can bid out paving services to a private contractor for additional mileage assuming a cost of approximately $150,000 per mile. Our LMIG Allocation of $550,000 would be enough to pave approximately 3.33 miles. This 2 proposal would total 33.9 miles of freshly paved city streets. Mr. Rich also stated in his concept that, by the end of 2021, we will update our comprehensive road rating schedule to help plan for the most immediate street needs for future street capital funding. To increase our response rate to utility cuts and better control our quality of utility repairs, we will deploy an Asphalt Rapid Response Team to focus on roadway repairs. The goal will be to develop a new crew of five: crew foreman and four equipment operators by the end of 2021 so we can be prepared to hit the ground running in 2022. Adjourn With there being no further business, Mayor McDaniel adjourned the meeting at 6:55 p.m. Joseph F. Smith City Clerk 3