City Commission

ROME CITY COMMISSION Monday, September 22, 2025 The Rome City Commission met at 6:30 p.m. on this date in the City Commission Chambers of City Hall, 601 Broad Street. Mayor McDaniel presided with Mayor Pro Tem Bojo and Commissioners Brock, Cochran, Beeman, Doss, Quick, Collins, and Robinson present. Commissioner Robinson opened the meeting with prayer and led in the salute to the flag. Commissioner Robinson also made comments regarding the death of longtime city volunteer Ms. Ann Culpepper. Minutes – September 8, 2025 The minutes of September 8,2025 meeting, as submitted in writing by the Secretary, were approved by unanimous consent. National Physician Assistant Week Commissioner Cochran presented a proclamation recognizing the week of October 6 – 12, 2025, as National Physician Assistant Week in the City of Rome. This proclamation was presented to five representatives of this profession. Ms. Gallaway, the program coordinator for the Berry College Physician Assistant Program briefly addressed the Commission. Ms. Gallaway noted there are an excess of 7000 physician assistants in the state of Georgia. TAD Resolution – Broad Street, LLC North 5th Avenue City Manager Rich introduced a request from Mr. Ira Levy representing Broad Street, LLC and their request for a tax incremental financing for a project at 258 North 5th Avenue. Mr. Rich explained that the Rome Redevelopment Agency has unanimously recommended approval of this self-sustaining tax incremental financing request. This project is located within tax allocation district number one. Broad Street, LLC is requesting $500,000 in TIF financing. Specifically, the request is for $50,000 per year over a ten-year period. Tax allocation district number one sunsets in 2035. Commissioner Collins moved to approve this TAD Resolution, TAD Development Agreement, and TAD 1 Note. Commissioner Robinson seconded the motion and it was approved by the following vote: Yes: Bojo, Beeman, Doss, Quick, Collins, and Robinson No: Brock and Cochran North Broad Street Extension- Street Closing Resolution Commissioner Quick introduced a resolution which would initiate the process to close part of North Broad Street Extension and deed this area to the adjoining property owners. These owners are St. Simons Trading Company Incorporated, Kartik Patel, and Burwell Creek Apartment, LLC. Commissioner Robinson moved to adopt this resolution. Commissioner Quick seconded and the vote was unanimously in favor. Chuck Sennett III Memorial Amphitheater – Public Consumption of Alcohol Commissioner Doss presented an ordinance which would amend City of Rome Code Section 14-3 to add the recently completed Chuck Sennett III Memorial Amphitheater to the list of publicly owned properties inside the City of Rome in which alcohol can be consumed. There was general discussion regarding this ordinance amendment. It was explained that there are approximately 20 publicly owned properties inside the city of Rome in which alcohol can be consumed under certain circumstances. This amphitheater is owned by Floyd County and was recently completed 1 and is located between the River Walkway near the Floyd County Library and the bank of the Oostanaula River. The Floyd County Commission has requested this ordinance amendment and specified that alcohol could be consumed when the amphitheater has been duly rented, the function during which alcohol consumption occurs has been duly registered by a copy of the application from the Greater Rome Convention and Visitors Bureau is provided to the City Clerk’s office, and the use of glass containers is prohibited. There was also discussion regarding alcohol consumption and when a pouring license is needed and when a pouring license may not be needed. This discussion also included suggestions that the downtown public consumption area be amended to include additional downtown areas, including area around this amphitheater. Commissioner Doss moved to adopt the ordinance amendment as presented. Commissioner Quick seconded and it was approved by the following vote: Yes: Brock, Cochran, Doss, Quick, Collins, and Robinson No: Bojo Abstain: Beeman (member of the Floyd County Library Board) Z25-09-01- Rezone 108 Calhoun Avenue Commissioner Quick presented rezoning file Z25-09-01, the request to rezone property located at 108 Calhoun Avenue and identified by Floyd County map number J13P-004 from community commercial to high-density traditional residential. Samantha Bishop with the Rome Floyd Planning Commission reviewed this file displaying maps and photographs of the subject and surrounding properties. The Planning Commission and staff have recommended approval of this rezoning request. Mayor McDaniel called a public hearing to order concerning the request. Speaking in favor of the request was Mr. Johnathon Itzep, owner of the property. Mr. Itzep stated that he is rehabilitating this house and did not realize it was not zoned residential. He would like it to be rezoned residential so the zoning would match the use. There was no one else to speak regarding this request and the public hearing was closed. Commissioner Quick moved to approve the request to rezone 108 Calhoun Avenue from community commercial to high-density traditional residential. Commissioner Robinson seconded and the vote was unanimously in favor. Executive Session Mayor McDaniel announced that an executive session was held prior to the beginning of tonight’s meeting on the motion of Commissioner Collins, second of Commissioner Doss, and a unanimous vote. Commissioner Collins motion to enter executive session occurred at 6:18 p.m. One litigation matter was discussed. No votes were taken. Commissioner Robinson moved to exit the executive session at 6:30 p.m. Commissioner Quick seconded and the vote was unanimously in favor. Rome Floyd County Development Authority The Rome Floyd County Development Authority meeting has been rescheduled to Tuesday, September 23, at 9:00 a.m. at 800 Broad Street. GMA District 1 Meeting Mayor McDaniel announced that the Georgia Municipal Association will hold its District 1 Fall Meeting on Tuesday, September 23, at 11:00 a.m. at the Forum River Center. 2 Commissioner Quick stated that the Georgia Municipal Association had specifically requested that this meeting be held at the Forum River Center. Joint Services Committee Mayor McDaniel announced that the Joint Services Committee will meet on Tuesday, October 21 at 10:30 a.m. in the Sam King Room. Community Redevelopment Committee Commissioner Bojo announced that the Community Redevelopment Committee meeting scheduled for September 24 has been canceled. Finance Committee Commissioner Bojo announced that the Finance Committee meeting scheduled for September 24 has been canceled and will be rescheduled for another date. Water and Sewer Committee Commissioner Bojo announced that the Water and Sewer Committee will meet on Thursday, October 2, at 9:00 a.m. in the Sam King Room. Burwell Creek Sewer Replacement Commissioner Bojo moved to authorize the City of Rome to contract with KM Davis Contracting, in the amount of $7,900,000 for the replacement of the Burwell Creek sewer line. Commissioner Robinson seconded the motion and the vote was unanimously in favor. Public Safety Committee Commissioner Brock announced that the Public Safety Committee meeting will take place on Tuesday, September 23 at 2:00 p.m. in the Sam King Room. Tourism Committee Commissioner Brock announced that the Tourism Committee will meet on Wednesday, September 24, at 11:45 a.m. at the Chamber of Commerce office. City Clock Renovation Commissioner Cochran thanked everyone involved with the City Clock renovation. This project is near completion. The scaffolding was recently removed, and the clock looks outstanding. Secretary Smith reminded the commission this was a 2023 special purpose local option sales tax project and Landmark Preservation was the contractor. Keep Rome/Floyd Beautiful Commission Commissioner Beeman announced that the Keep Rome/Floyd Beautiful Commission will meet on Thursday, September 25 at 4:00 p.m. at the ECO Center. Committee on Committee Nominations Commissioner Doss reported that the Committee on Committees has met and that Ms. Meredith Norris and Ms. Angie Crea O’Neal were nominated to serve as City appointees on the ULDC Board of Adjustments. The Committee on Committees has also recommended that Mr. Sam Moss be reappointed to serve an additional term on the Historic Preservation Commission. 3 A vote on these nominations will take place on Monday, October 13 City Commission meeting. Recycling Center Deficit Commission Quick announced that the City of Rome has the invoices for the Recycling Center deficit for the second quarter of 2025. These invoices reflect that the City of Rome owes $36,530.45 toward this deficit and that the Rome-Floyd Solid Waste Commission also owes $36,530.46. The Floyd County government has an invoice for the same amount. Commissioner Quick moved to authorize the payment of the City of Rome share and the Solid Waste Commission share. Commissioner Collins seconded the motion. Commissioner Robinson stated that the City of Rome should review the operation of the Recycling Center including the City of Rome curbside recycling service. These quarterly deficits are a concern to most Commissioners and there is a desire to operate the center in a more efficient manner. Commissioner Cochran stated that the City of Rome just authorized a $500,000 tax incremental financing request and that the Solid Waste Commission has an approximate $9,000,000 rainy day fund. The motion to approve the Recycling Center deficits was unanimously in favor. Public Works/Traffic/Transit/Trails Committee Commissioner Quick announced that the Public Works/Traffic/Transit/Trails Committee will meet on Wednesday, October 8 at 10:00 a.m. in the Sam King Room. Rome/Floyd County Planning Commission Commissioner Quick announced that the Rome/Floyd County Planning Commission will meet on Thursday, October 2 at 2:30 p.m. in the City Commission Chambers. Data Centers – Northwest Georgia Regional Commission Commissioner Collins announced that the Northwest Georgia Regional Commission met recently and there was much discussion regarding the proposed data centers in our community. Commissioner Collins said that on Thursday, October 2 at 5:30 p.m., there will be a data center informational meeting held at Parkridge Baptist Church located in Summerville Park on Charleton Road at Tolbert Park. This public informational meeting will be an opportunity to provide information and answer questions about the proposed data center for the former Northwest Regional Hospital Site. City Manager Rich stated that he is in the process of organizing a Rome City Commission field trip to Douglasville to gather information regarding data centers in their community. This field trip is scheduled for Tuesday, September 30, leaving City Hall at 8:00 a.m. Downtown Development Authority Commissioner Robinson announced that the Downtown Development Authority will meet on Thursday, October 9, at 8:30 a.m. in the Milner Building. Commissioner Robinson also announced that a Downtown Development Authority retreat was held last week with the purpose of discussing the future direction of the Downtown Development Authority. GMA Training It was noted that some City Commissioners recently attended Georgia Municipal Association training in Lagrange, Georgia. 4 Homeless Report Mayor McDaniel announced that discussions concerning the efforts to improve the homeless situation in the city of Rome were reviewed in caucus. Mayor McDaniel is cautiously optimistic that small progress is being made regarding this issue. Adjourned With no further business, Mayor McDaniel adjourned the meeting at 7:20 p.m. Joseph F. Smith City Clerk 5