City Commission - Regular Meeting

you excuse my voice. It's uh all because of the pollen that everybody's been sucking down for the last few days and it's only going to get worse. But bear with me a little bit and I promise I won't talk a whole lot. We're glad to have you here and as always um for our March 23rd meeting and we begin every meeting with an invitation and a pledge to a flag and I'm going ask you to stand if you will if you can. And I'm going to ask Commissioner Jill Fisher if she will do the honors.

Please bow your heads. Father God, I just um don't even know how to pray tonight. Our community has suffered such a great loss today. The burning of our um courthouse is just stunning. And we're reminded of how important um and fragile life is. And we thank you for our leadership. We thank you for our firefighters and our first responders. And we just thank you for all that you've done for our community. Please um bring us healing and peace as we move forward with many, many decisions, I'm sure, ahead. And we pray for your presence and wisdom in our meeting tonight. Thank you, Lord, for these opportunities to serve. In Jesus Christ's name we pray. Amen.

Amen. I pledge alce to the flag of the United States of America and to the republic for its one nation under God, indivisible with liberty and justice for all.

Mr. Clerk, will you please call the role? Yes, sir. Mayor Bojo here. Commissioner Robinson here. Brock here. Cochran here. Bean here. Fisher here. Hixon here. Collins here. McDaniel here.

Everyone got a copy of the minutes from our March 9th meeting. And if no one has uh any additions or subtractions or whatever about those, we will uh approve them as written. Um, as as uh Commissioner Fiser stated, we lost a huge piece of Rome today and um I'm sure everybody saw it and I'm going to ask our city manager Sammy Rich. He talked to some folks just like in the last few minutes just bring us all up to date on on what transpired.

So thank thank you mayor and commissioner Fischer. Thank you for that prayer. So, if you have not seen, it was a huge, huge loss for downtown Rome today with the historic Floyd County Courthouse. And I will not get into any of the the [snorts] causes of that fire. [cough] But suffice [clears throat] to say, it was something that we've not seen on Broad Street in a very, very long time. And just first to say, thank thank God that there was no loss of life that occurred out of that fire because if you were anywhere near it, it was it was very horrific. And I just I would be remiss not to first say we have an exceptional Rome Floyd Fire Department.

Um just to to be there and to see those guys up in the the ladder working complete blackout conditions. It was really a really quite amazing feat to see that. Um and they were supported. They were supported by their brothers and sisters in blue because not only was Rome Rome city police, county police, EMA, both um are EMS providers, you had Georgia State Patrol. So it was quite quite a turnout for our community. And so while we mourn this this tragic loss of this grand historic structure, again, thank God that there was no loss of life and and no injury to speak of. So now I think everybody's attention is going to turn to what's next. And of course, you know, we we reach out to our our friends and neighbors over at Floyd County and and we'll be reaching out to see how we can support them. Obviously, they will be looking to continue operations. There's going to be a lot of discussion about that facility, about the the tower portion that that is left in place. And in fact, there's probably still some flare ups over there. I know we still have fire crews in place with some smoldering going. Um, one thing that we will need to do is we will need to take some immediate action to continue to close some roads around the facility. And so looking at Fifth Avenue, probably at Bale Street, Tribune in front of law enforcement, um, and then broad at Fifth Avenue, and then Tribune at 4th. And so, uh, just for the immediate time, we will work to have those areas closed off until we can continue until the county has a chance to get in and really assess the situation with the structure and figuring out what happens next. And so, again, just want to say from my office and I know you guys are equally proud. Uh, when it really matters, those guys showed up and just thankful that we've got a first rate public safety team. And so, that concludes my comments, Mr. Mayor.

Thank you, Mr. Manager. Uh we've got a couple certificates of appointment to uh give out tonight and u may uh Commissioner McDaniel. Joe, did you want to say something? Start with Okay. Commissioner McDaniel uh will handle that. If I call your name or when I call your name, if you will come forward, Melinda Brown,

how you doing?

I'm doing great. Good to have you here. Uh, be it known that Melinda Brown has been appointed to serve as a member of the land bank authority for the term of March 9th, uh, 2026 to December 31, 2029. This appointment is made because of your good dedication to the cause of good government, your contributions to your community, and your willingness to serve your fellow man. And we appreciate your service very much. [applause] Colette Hollingsworth, is Colette here? Okay. Well, we'll give this to her and we thank her for her service. All right. We have no uh public comments on agenda items, no resolutions, nothing on first reading, second reading, or continue first reading. Uh but we do have a public hearing and um this is a request for coin operated amusement machine waiver at the stop and go at 400A Calhoun Avenue. This was um brought up in a meeting um I guess our last meeting and it was tabled until this meeting. And Mr. Attorney, do you want to or Joe?

Well, let me just say this. Uh as you noted, we did have plans tonight for this waiver hearing. Uh we received word on Friday that the attorney representing the applicant to stop and go 400A Calhoun Avenue has a conflict and is out of town and has requested that we postpone any action until our first meeting in April. City attorney and I consulted and agreed that was the city should honor that request. So, tonight we have some some citizens here representing one of the nearby properties that that wish to speak. And I attempted to explain before the meeting that uh you all have the right to speak tonight. Uh or you can wait and speak at our next meeting or both. But the important point to remember is under our public hearing guidelines that we're going to follow for this waiver request, each side is allotted 10 minutes. So, if you speak tonight, that time will be counted against your 10 minutes and whatever time is used tonight of course cannot be used again at the next meeting if I'm making myself clear on that. So, uh y'all's choice. Uh if you want to speak tonight, use 10 minutes, five minutes, or or anywhere in between, you certainly have the right to do so or you can wait until our first meeting in April and make your comments at that time.

And Mr. Mayor I might add just so the process is understood uh in the hearing the petitioner would go first so that you would hear the comments of the petitioner and then those that were in opposition would go second and then the petitioner would have an opportunity to rebut at the end. So if you save your comments now you'll at least uh at the next meeting hear what the petitioner has to say so that you can respond to that. Yes ma'am. in opposition. Okay, we'll get to that. All right. I moved to table this year.

Well, it's already table. We don't have to table it again. We haven't taken it off the table yet. So, are y'all in agreement to come back in two weeks? Does anyone want to speak tonight? Either if you're for it or against it. Okay. Then what we'll do, we'll leave it tabled until our next meeting in two weeks. I don't know the date of that. You I guess that will be April 13th, Monday night, April 13th. Same place, same time.

Okay. You have any more questions? Normally, we don't allow questions like this, but under this circumstance, if you got you can't speak for or against it. All right, then we will see you on April 13th. Okay. You have any questions in the meantime, please contact me in the city clerk's office and I'll be glad to get whatever information we can. All right. Okay. Now, I'm going to give you one other option. Would y'all like to leave? [laughter] Would you like to stay and watch this meeting? But that's all to you. Tough decision. Thank you for coming out tonight.

Well, have a great evening. You too, Dr. Brown.

All right, we'll move along. Um, Mr. Clerk, have you got anything? No report, Mr. Mayor. Mr. Manager. Thank you, Mr. Mayor. The City of Rome administrative offices will be closed in observance of Good Friday on Friday, April 3rd. And for those interested in garbage and recycling, um Friday's route will be serviced on Thursday. There will be no yard cart service on Thursday and we will also close the Walker Mountain landfill on Friday and it will resume operation on Saturday. That concludes my report. Mr. Attorney,

no report, Mr. Mayor. Under my time, water and sewer committee scheduled for Thursday, April 2nd has been cancelled and joint services uh committee scheduled for Tuesday, April 7th has also been cancelled. Uh Commissioner Robinson.

Yeah, Mr. Mayor. Thank you. I've got two things that I'd like to uh discuss coming out of the finance committee. one is uh we've uh drawn up a letter of support uh coming from the full commission for ESP to um ask for congressional funds to help them u with their facility that they're wanting to build. So we we are just uh acting in support of this. It's not coming from the city of any money or anything. It's just support that they uh uh asked for the congressional support. Could I add Mayor Bojo? Could I add a few words? Yes, please do. Yes.

I just want to say that ESP stands for extra special people and they do programming for people with disabilities. um it's a very giving um service that they provide for people who don't normally have these opportunities and they're creating a great space for them out on Kingston Highway. And so getting a grant like this through Senator Off was a big opportunity. And once again, I want to reiterate, none of this money comes from the city. This was straight federal money. That's correct. That that they're asking for. That's correct. All right. I got I got one more thing if you don't mind. Well, we got a vote on this one first. Oh, okay. Yes. I'm sorry.

All right. Um, any comments from the panel up here? Mr. Cler, call the roll. I'm I'm assuming I'm sorry. I'm sorry. We got to have a motion. I'm assuming that's a motion uh in favor of a letter to go to Senator Hosoff in support of ESP. Okay. And then Jill's got the second. Yes. All right. Now, Mr. Clerk, sir, Commissioner Robinson. Yes. [laughter] Brock. Yes. Cochran. Yes. Bean. Yes. Fisher. Yes. Hixon. Yes. Collins. Yes. McDaniel. Yes. All right. Um, Mr.

Yeah. I've got one more thing coming out of finance committee. And I hate that Tonyy's not here. Tony Reinhardt, our CFO. I should have brought this up in caucus, but Well, no. She She had something she needed to go. Okay. Well, she told me she was sorry she was going to miss it.

Okay. Well, it it's it's to pat the her and her team on the back of they received a certificate of achievement for [clears throat] excellence in financial reporting that is uh from the government finance u officers association and if you don't mind I'm just going to read just a brief thing of what it said this is coming from their office up in Chicago says government finance officers association of the United States and Canada has awarded the certificate of achievement for excellence in financial reporting reporting to the city of Rome for its annual uh comprehensive financial report for the fiscal year ended in December 31 of 24. The report has been judged by the impartial panel to meet the high standards of the program which includes demonstrating a constructive spirit of full disclosure to cl to clearly communicate its financial story and motivate potential users and user groups to read the report. Please. The certificate of achievement is the highest form of recognition in the area of governmental accounting and financial reporting and is attainment represents a significant accomplishment by government and its management. So Tony Reinhardt and team uh congratulations and welld deserved for all the work that they do to uh keep our finances in order for the city. So

thank you. [applause] Anything else? Not for me. That's uh I think that's all I have. Okay, that's all I have, Mr. Mayor. All right, Commissioner Brock.

Uh yes, the Downtown Development Authority will meet Thursday, April 9th at 8:30 in the Milner building. And I'm not sure if Commissioner Fischer was going to mention this, but uh Parks and Wreck, I I got out yesterday and went around all of our parks. We do a very good job with our our parks and they were very well used this weekend. And I would just like to mention that the pump track is almost complete. Um they're putting the final touches on it. Uh ribbon cutting will be April 1st at 4:00. So hope we have some good attendance. We're having a heck of a time keeping people off that thing. We've done everything we could. was signed some barricades, but kids are loving it. So, April 1st at 4 o'clock. That concludes my report.

Thank you, Commissioner Cochran. Uh let's see. Tourism Committee will meet Wednesday, March 25th at 11:45 at the Civic Center. Uh one other or two other points of discussion, Mr. Mayor. Uh the first is it it might be a good time to actually look at sprinkling this building. I mean, in all honesty, you know, it brings it into focus. Actually, we've already had that conversation.

Okay, great. Um, and the other is, uh, first of all, I apologize for not being here last meeting. Uh, but I I just wanted to touch briefly on the reordering of allowing the public to speak at the beginning and at the end. Um, I was I understand the reason for it. I understand the reason for the efficiencies. Uh, In theory, I understand the reason for the efficiencies gained from doing this. However, the hierarchy under which we work, the citizens are at the top. And I find it difficult to swallow that we are forcing them to go last. If we are a government of the people, by the people, and for the people, then it does not seem like we are very much for the people if we are putting them last on the agenda. So, that concludes my comments. Thank you,

Commissioner Bman. Thank you. Thank you, Mayor. I'd like to highlight also Keep Ron Floyd Beautiful. Uh they we received a letter from from well Ben Wickleman received a he was the director of Rome Floyd Ecoenter re received this letter and if you don't mind I'd like to share it with you. Sure.

Mr. Wkelman. The Keep Rome Floyd Beautiful Foundation would like to thank Floyd County for its commitment to keep Rome Floyd Beautiful along with our state and national partners, the Georgia Department of Community Affairs and the Georgia Environmental Protection Division and keep and keep America beautiful. We recognize the exemplary exemplary work of keep Ron Floyd beautiful and it continues to build and support the vibrant communities throughout its efforts in litter protection, recycling, waste reduction and beautifification in Georgia. Keep Ron Floyd Beautiful is one of of approximately 70 local programs that strive to establish a clean, green, and healthy future for all our residents. Its local efforts are highly visible and make tangible difference to the entire state, including contributions from keep Ron Floyd beautiful. This is notable and I can't help but to stress how we see the beautifification and I couldn't leave out Hannah and Ben. What a wonderful job that they're doing without and give them their accolades. I'd also like to say that Keep Rome Floyd Beautiful has a 50-year celebration coming up on April the 10th from 2 to 4 and they're asking everybody to please RSVP by April the 1st. I'd also like to say that our uh public safety and our um fire department, our police department had their boots on the ground. And I know that it hurts to see that historical building go down. And a lot of people have so many stories and long just long longevity in it. And to see that the guys come together and knowing that the fire department is fully staffed and the police department is working on it. I can't help but to say that I know that it's going to be tough and I know it's tough for us, but I thank y'all for all the compassion that you're showing and that we show that we come together and we care. I also like to say up under historic

preservation, we met last week and there were two certifications that was presented and I have to give that board and their accolades too because that's a hard job to volunteer for but they bring their best and perfection. And that concludes my report. Thank you. Um, who's next? Commissioner Fischer, was there something under public safety? What? Oh, sorry. Oh, yeah. Rodney, I'm sorry.

Thank you, Mr. Mayor, for letting me come in here at the last minute, but we do have a grant that I'm on a really tight schedule with. we were allotted $28,623 of federal funds from the uh Department of Justice and we have to apply for that grant or I will uh within the next few days and part of that is is briefing you guys on on what our intentions are with that grant and our intentions are to replace 50 of our water barricades to better secure our vents in the city of Rome. We have barricades now but most of them have holes in it and the water don't stay in. So, we want to make sure we protect our citizens from vehicle-based threats and we think that money will be well served there. That $28,623 will pay for all the barricades including getting them linexed on the bottom. And I think the difference was $173 would come out of the city pocket. Rest of it will be federal funds. So, I would ask that you approve to allow me to proceed through with this uh grant application to receive those funds. Thank you. All right. Thank you, measure. Um, I'll need a motion.

I move. All right. Second. I got a second down here. Any uh questions for Major Bis. All right. Nobody's wants to ask a question. Mr. Cler, if you'll call the role, sir. Commissioner Robinson, yes. Brock, yes. Cochran, yes. Bean, yes. Fiser, yes. Hixon, yes. Collins, yes. McDaniel, yes. Now, Commissioner Fisher,

um, we discussed several uh, road closings for different um, events. One of the ongoing conversations we had was around the closing of Tribune Street as they did the renovations on the old courthouse. And sadly, that's a different story today. You never know what the day brings. Um that makes me sad. But we did approve the road closures for the first Friday concerts and roadflow. Um an event on 6th Avenue um for an Easter event for Seven Hills and a road closure for June 19th celebration. And we did approve um a concept for the bridge railings over Turner McCall um focusing on just the railroad tracks where the fencing has to protect um from anything going over the bridge onto the railroad tracks. And after further um discussion during caucus we decided we'd like to get more information discussion with G dot. So that will be the next step is just hopefully having some uh more intensive discussions with G dot on what our options are for that kind of fencing. Um and my last thing is yes, Commissioner Brock, you did steal my thunder about the pump track. Um pretty excited for our community that that is opening. And then our meeting for public works, traffic, transit, trails committee on April 8th has been cancelled. Um, and then the Solid Waste Commission has a called meeting on Tuesday, March 31st at 8:30 in the San King Room.

And that's all I have. Thank you, ma'am. Uh, Commissioner Hixon. Yeah. The Rome Floyd uh County Planning Commission will meet on Thursday, April 2nd at 2:30 here in the commission's chambers. That concludes my report. Commissioner Collins development committee meeting will meet on March the 25th at 2 PM in the Sam King room. Mr. McDaniel.

Thank you, Mayor. Um, we have [clears throat] two uh appointments to come to the commission from committee on committees uh for the Rome Floyd Planning Commission. Briana High Totower from Ro for Rome Floyd Parks and Recreation, Mary Harden Thornon, and those come as a recommendation from uh committee on committees. I'll entertain a second second.

Any discussion? Can we share because there's so many people that ask out a concern with Mary Hart and Thornton in between why it is okay for her to serve as an elected official. Can you please share Mr. Attorney? Can you share that? So many people asking I had the uh county attorney as well as our office. We did research and uh for that position she doesn't have any um constitutional authority over parks and recreation and so it was a it was a position that she could be appointed to. There were other positions uh such as I use the example land bank authority was one that she would not be eligible to be appointed to because of her position.

Thank you. Thank you, Mr. Attorney. [clears throat] No other questions. Mr. Clerk, if you'll call the role to affirm. Commissioner Robinson, yes. Brock, yes. Cochran, yes. Bayon, yes. Fiser, yes. Hixon, yes. Collins, yes. McDaniel, yes. The health board met and I attended that, but there's no actions coming out of that. That's all I have. Mayor, [snorts]

thank you. Uh, now public comments on uh non agenda items. U we will start with Ron Swinford. Please state your name and address and you will have three minutes. Good evening everybody. Um Ron Swinford 11 Pop Street Rome Georgia. Going to read you off a few counties and cities you may be familiar with. Cobb Bulock Dicab Kawita Trroo Thomas Douglas Clayton Porsy Athens Clark Roswell Hampton Calhoun Lraange and even Little Caves. They all have one thing in common. They either have or have had a moratorium on data centers. Here are a few more. Maryland, Michigan, New Hampshire, New York, Oklahoma, South Carolina, South Dakota, Vermont, Virginia, Wisconsin, and Maine. They're all in the process of a statewide moratorium on data centers. Now, recently in the Atlanta Journal Constitution in January, there was a story about the tax money that was promised by data centers and how much is actually coming in from data centers doesn't match up. And that's mostly because of state tax breaks. Has nothing to do with the communities. It has to do with the tax breaks that these companies are getting at the state level. Talked to a commissioner, a couple of commissioners in Douglas County. the one that we were all told was the one that was the one to go look at. When they were telling us to do that, they were under a moratorum to not put any more. The um both commissioners said they were earning about 10 cents on the dollar of what they were told they were going to earn.

Now, the main reason to bring a data center in are these huge promises of tax money. If you're going to bring in 10 cents on the dollar, why bring them? The uh the main selling point is that and we haven't heard any other main selling points other than we want them for the tax money. If the tax money is not coming, they don't need to be coming. Thank you.

Thank you, Mr. Flford. Uh Christy Miller, I'm sorry. Good evening, Mr. Mayor, commissioners. Thank you very much. My name is Christy Miner from Somerville Park. Um, appreciate your comments. Commissioner Cochran, somebody might not be happy with who they let have the last word. [laughter] So, we're just gonna But I am here this evening for an important matter. I'm here to notify you of an egregious act of injustice that's occurring here in Floyd County and to invite you as residents and elected officials that swear an oath to the constitution to interpose standing acting standing against the constitutional court decision unconstitutional court decision that was that will render Sergeant Henry Benfield a 79year-old 100% disabled veteran his son and daughter-in-law caregivers his two adolescent grandchildren and his 77year-old brother diagnosed with an intellectual disability to imminent homelessness. The US and Georgia constitutions guarantee that no person shall be deprived of life, liberty, or property without due process of law. Furthermore, both constitutions state that the judiciary does not have power to render and enforce unconstitutional decisions. his legal guardian, Tori Benfield, and myself have created a petition whereby we have invited people of courage and moral conviction to join us in appealing to Sheriff Dave Robersonson to invoke the doctrine of the lesser maj magistrates and not obey the court order set to be carried out on March 31st, forcibly removing him and his family from his property. The lesser magistrate's doctrine declares that when the superior of higher civil authority makes unjust immoral laws or decrees, the lesser or lower ranking civil

authority has both a right and duty to refuse obedience to that superior authority. That's that comes from Pastor Matt Truella. He also has a website defy tyrants.com. As a constitutional officer, duly elected by the people to uphold the constitution and the supreme law enforcer for the county, Sheriff Dave Robersonson and the sheriff's deputies are tasked with carrying out the unlawful decree of violating Sergeant Benfield's right to property. Please let sher let the sheriff know that you will stand with him as he interposes and refuses to carry out this unlawful air order. The petition can be found at change.org org and is titled Justice for Sergeant Benfield, No Vet Left Behind. Or for those that are familiar with my Christy Miner for Georgia State House 13 Facebook page, you can find it there. Thank you very much.

Thank you, Miss Miner. [clears throat] Earlier, actually last week, uh [snorts] the manager and I took a trip to Washington DC to meet with some of our elected officials up there. you want to comment on some of that? Sure, happy to. Fill in the blanks, whatever. We'll take them, but go ahead. Sure.

So, yes, as the mayor said, we were able to travel to DC as part of our Rome Floyd Chambers legislative visit to our nation's capital. So, we had a a whirlwind uh event with lots and lots of meetings. And so we had a chance to uh to get in front of some of the members and some of our organizations that we do specific business with like DOT and then specifically the Appalachian Regional Commission. So chance for us to talk about infrastructure needs uh here in our community and um hope for some words of wisdom and some potential funding sources as those may or may not come down in the future. And so we're always looking to leverage our local dollars anytime we can stack um says funds or capital funds and and couple that with any grant dollars. And so I'm cautiously optimistic that we may see some opportunities there. Also had a chance to talk a little bit about microtransit uh with our DOT friends. They um they were very excited. They had some stories to offer about what they're seeing in other communities and how that's rolling out. So very successful trip.

I thought so too. I did learn a lot uh from just listening to people talk and one of the things that they always say is there's no money available. Well, hear them talk. There is money available and we just got to apply for it and go after it and find it and because there there is money available and if you it's a great trip if you like to talk about roads, bridges, and things of that nature. If you don't like to talk about that, it was not a good trip. But uh but anyway, um it it was just it was just a good time to to meet these guys and ladies and and uh see what they had on their mind and and they know a lot about Northwest Georgia. I want to tell you, they don't they may say that they don't or they don't understand, but they know a lot about what's going on around here. So anyway, it was it was a good trip. Any other anything else tonight from any pan? Uh

I got one quick thing if you don't mind. You know, just to remind people that we've got an election coming up April 7th and we're choosing a congressional representative for our area. That is a very important position. So, uh just remind people to go vote with your I tell you how important that position is. Nearly everywhere we went in Washington, they asked us about it. Mhm. So that's why I said they they keep up with it. Yeah. All right. Anybody else from commission? No, I did owe that. Go vote. [snorts] Sorry. I did owe that. Go vote. Go vote. That's right. All right. If that's all we got, we are journed.