City Commission - Regular Meeting

you wait. We had to go into executive session downstairs and it took a little longer than normal. Uh this is the Monday uh November 24th, 2025 meeting of the Rome City Commission. We start every meeting off with an invocation and a pledge. Tonight, Commissioner Elena Beaman is going to do that for us. And I'm going to call on her now. And if you will stand please

I want to say anytime that we're in the presence of a prayer then that means God is here. And in James 4 chapter 4 2-3 states that you have not because you ask not and you ask not then you do not receive. And as we go into the time of Thanksgiving, Thanksgiving, and thanks for just so many different things, I want you to think of someone right now who's going to be struggling this Thanksgiving season. Somebody who needs the power of prayer and someone who needs to believe that God can change anything. I never believe in asking for anything unless I thank God for everything. So, would you go into prayer with me? Dear gracious heavenly father, as you enter this room, we feel your presence. Lord, I ask now, how much longer, how much longer can we see people suffering? How much longer do we see people homeless? How much longer do we see people who need your help? Lord, let everybody who has a helping hand, show somebody kindness, show somebody love, show somebody something that they didn't think was possible. Make it possible. Lord, I ask that you bless everyone who can hear my voice. Lord, I ask you to enter every household, every streets, every highway, byway, and Lord, do something extra special because we know you did not create people to fear or to or to worry. Lord, I ask that you got give us guidance to be able to make the difference that you want us to make. It is not our will, it's your will. Lord, these things that I ask that you bless every voice who can hear me, every ear

that can hear my voice and your voice. Bless us. carry us and lead us in Jesus name we pray. Amen. Amen. I pledge algiance to the flag of the United States of America and to the republic for it stands one nation indivisible with liberty andice for all. Thank you, Commissioner Beman. Mr. Clerk, if you will call the role. Sir, Mayor [clears throat] McDaniel here. Commissioner Bojo here. Brock here. Cochran here.

Bean here. Dolls here. Here. Collins here. Thank you. You received the minutes of our November the 11th, 2025 meeting and we will approve those by common consent. We have no proclamations. We have two registered guests. Uh the first is Melissa Keefe. Melissa, if you will come to the podium and give us your name and address, and you'll have three minutes, please.

Thank you. My name is Melissa Keefe and my address is 17 Csham Lane in Rome. The Rome Floyd Development Authority and most of our city commissioners are in favor of the data center being planned near the Somerville Park neighborhood. They hope it will provide tax Rome with tax revenue. I understand our need for revenue, but I object to putting the data center near some of Somerville Park or any other neighborhood in Rome. In Mansfield and Fagetville, Georgia, data center construction caused dust clouds that deposited sediment in nearby residents water. In some cases, the sediment ruined water heaters, dishwashers, and washing machines. Noise and light from the construction was a 247 problem for the people living near it. If you allow the Batty Park data center to go in, you will be subjecting residents of Somerville Park to this. After construction, noise and light pollution from data centers are a constant fact of life for people living near them. A resident living near the M meta data center in Mansfield, Georgia, said he doesn't need nightlights to walk through his home at night. During our candidate forum, Jill Fiser suggested the community should be involved in landscaping to diminish light pollution from the data center. This is a good idea, but moving the data center away from the Somerville neighborhood would be a better solution. Amazon created a twob block green space buffer around its data center in Lowden County, Virginia. But Kay Richards, who lives near it, says the light from it shines like a spotlight into her kitchen at night. She says its noise is a constant electric hum that she can almost feel behind her eyes. Do you want the Somerville Park residents to live with constant noise and light pollution? Would any of you want to live with it? Finally, there is the problem of data center energy requirements. Diesel-powered backup generators cause air pollution that the

American Cancer Society links to heart disease and lung cancer. Energy hungry data centers also threaten consumers power rates because they raise the wholesale cost of energy and require power grid upgrades. Customers in Lowden County, Virginia are now paying 267% more for power than they were before dentist centers arrived in their community. Fortunately for Georgians, the public service commission approved a new role rule in January 2025 that allows Georgia Power to change charge new data centers using more than 100 megawws in a way that protects regular customers from cost shifting. The megawatt usage of the Rome Atlas data center hasn't been made public yet, but I ask the commission to bear the 100 megawatt rule in mind as they work with Atlas to move their data center to an unpopulated location. Thank you. [applause]

Kelly Limes Taylor. Kelly, if you will give us your name and address, please. And you'll have three minutes.

Um, my name is Kelly Limes Taylor and I'm 214 North Elm Street Northwest. Okay. Um, I just wanted to say hello And you've heard I'm going to talk about data centers too, but you've heard a lot from me, so I'm going to be quick. First, I just want to say quickly that our we say no to the Atlas development data center at Batty Complex Change.org petition is now up to 751 verified signatures. But if we lower that down to people within a 30 minute um distance of Rome, we have 650 signatures, which is still quite a bit. And our Facebook group is at 226 members. I'm um just here to say, you know, maybe for the last time, my first time talking was early September 8th, shortly after we heard about the the data center deal for the first time, most of us. Um this time that I'm speaking to you is the second time, and it's going to be my last time as a local resident. I'm actually moving back south to Atlanta in a few weeks. And I say that I've always really appreciated um just this body because you all are a little bit more accessible um as a government um compared to the big city and I I appreciate that. Um on the when it comes to the list of all of the detracting ideas when it comes to a data center, something that we haven't talked about a lot is really the erosion of um the relationship between our elected bodies and um and the community. I was at the Park View meeting and of course I've been involved since then. At the Park View meeting, what I did notice was that um many of you were were um kind of getting our eye or I was way in the back but I was there. Um and so a lot of community members were very angry and they were sharing their anger with you and most of you were not the ones that made the decision or you didn't know a lot about the decision. But you know who was not there answering questions and you know who was not there receiving the eyeire? That was Atlas

Development LLC. And that's how it's going to be. We already had one election cycle. We're going to have another election cycle. And you all stand as kind of the firewall. They're allowing you to be the firewall between themselves and the community. That is not going to change after the um that's not going to change in this process at all. you are the ones that we are going to address um with our anger. Even though you're not the ones making the decision, you are going to be held responsible for it. Um I'll say this, when any friend kind of pulls you into a fight and doesn't really tell you what the fight's about and then isn't around when it's time for a fight, those aren't your friends. Okay? Um and so that's kind of the last thing I want to say. I love this community. I've loved living here. I appreciate this body and I appreciate all the people I've been working with. Some of them are in this room. Um I don't know. I just hope you all kind of push back against the data center. Slow it down at least um until we get something that works better for for our community, however it goes. Okay. Thank you very much. [applause] We have one resolution and it's regarding convenience store and gas station moratorum extension and I'm going to call on our city clerk uh Joe Smith to discuss that.

Yes, Mr. Mayor. Uh you all may remember back in June of this year you adopted a moratorum regarding convenience stores and gas stations. uh and that mortorium is set to expire in early January. I think your reason for doing the moratorum was to give the planning commission and the city and county commissioners time to consider new regulations for convenience stores and gas stations. And I believe that's being done and I think the uh the staff recommendation is going to the planning commission in uh at their December meeting and then whatever comes out of the planning commission will come to the city and county commissions for consideration. But what's before you tonight is a resolution to extend that moratorum to April 1st since uh the work is not going to be done by early January. I think you all feel you need more time. So if you approve the resolution tonight, the moratorum will be extended until April 1st and we discussed this tonight in caucus. I'll entertain a motion.

So move and I'll need a second. Second. I have a motion in a second. Any discussion? Mr. Cler, call roll. Yes, sir. Mr. Bojo, yes. Brock, yes. Cochran, yes. Bean, yes. Daws, yes. Quick, yes. Collins, yes.

Thank you. On a mission, Commissioner Wayne Robinson's not with us. Uh his daughter is on fall break and they're in Florida on uh enjoying some time together. Their entire family. We have one item on first reading. Commissioner Quick is an ordinance to close a portion of East 4th Street and we place that on first reading tonight. Okay. And one item on second reading.

It is an ordinance to close a portion of North Broad Street Extension. This would primarily create a culde-sac scenario. And this is on second reading tonight and it comes forward for a motion for approval.

That comes as a motion. Yes. Second. Second. Have a motion and a second. Any discussion? Call the roll. Sir. Commissioner Bojo. Yes. Brock. Yes. Cochran. Yes. Bean. Yes. Dolls. Yes. Quick. Yes. Collins. Yes. Motion carries. Um, nothing continued on first reading. We have a number of public hearings tonight.

Yes. Good evening. Thank you everyone. The first item we have for you this evening is file 825-1 hyphen 04 for the property at zero Wilkerson Road Floyd County Tax Parcel H13P 033. The property is zon suburban residential as shown on your screen. [snorts] Uh there is no proposed change in zoning. Uh the applicant also owns the adjacent parity to the west. Uh they are looking to build a couple houses, one on each property. Uh the request is to annex into the city for access to the city school system as well as uh city trash pickup. This does come with staff recommendation of approval and unanimous approval from the planning commission. We have a couple pictures here. As I said, it's currently a vacant lot. Looking further out, Wilkerson back in the opposite direction to the east and directly across the street. Thank you.

Thank you. I now open the public hearing. Is anyone here to speak in favor of this uh proposal? If you will go to the microphone and give us your name and address, you'll have 10 minutes, up to 10 minutes.

Good evening. My name is Norma Sandaval and um I am the one that purchased these properties and um my um the only thing is uh that um my plan is just to build a home for me and um my kids. I have opened my home to take care of uh individuals with disabilities and I currently own a two-story home and it's gotten very tough for them to be climbing up and down the stairs. So, it's just a one-story home and I just um want to change this property and and build a nice home for them. So, thank you.

You anyone else to speak in favor? Is anyone here to speak in opposition? I will now close the public hearing and I'll entertain a motion. I'll make a motion we approve this reszoning request and go with the planning commission recommendation. I'll second that motion. Have a motion and a second. Any discussion? Mr. Clark, call the role. Commissioner Bojo, yes. Brock, yes. Cochran, yes. Bean, yes. Dolls, yes. Quick, yes. Collins, yes.

Thank you. Motion carries.

All right. Our next item for you this evening is a special use permit request SUP 25- 11- 12 for the property at 1509 North Broad Street and 0 North Broad Street, Floyd County Tax Parcels J13J158 and J13J157. They're both currently zone community commercial. Uh you can see them in red on your screen. Uh they are 100% occupied by building. Uh this is the old Army Navy store up on North Broad. U as you can see there is an open rightway behind it. Gentleman has purchased this and is looking to redevelop it. Uh he has an idea to include some residential as well as the uh retail space. This is the application itself. We'll get to a site plan here in a second. This is some pictures submitted by the applicant of what it currently looks like. This is the unopened rideway behind it. Here we go. This is as it currently sits. Zoom out a little bit. The site plan here shows three town houses in addition to three retail spaces with parking in the rear as is already done. This will require uh closing the public rideway behind it. The applicant also owns this lot down here to the rear. Staff recommended approval with some conditions that any and all commercial operations maintain a storefront with pedestrian entrance or exit onto North Broad Street. That any dwelling units front onto the closest road if at street level. Uh thus not being applicable of any residential units located above

commercial uses and that any points of vehicular ingress and ingress be located on the local roads instead of the North Broad Street as it currently is. Uh we discussed these with the applicant. They were okay with it. This did come with unanimous approval from the planning commission as well. Here are some pictures of the property as it currently sits. Have the Dollar General next door. Multiple older retail establishments across. This is the alleyway as it currently looks looking back into the neighborhood. directly across the street.

Thank you. Thank you. I will now open the public hearing. Is anyone here to speak in favor of this request? Is anyone here to speak in opposition of the request? I now close the public hearing and I'll entertain a motion. I make a motion we approve the request with conditions with conditions. Have a motion. Is there a second? Second. Have a motion and second. Any discussion?

Just a couple question. Bryce, could you go back to the picture of the behind those buildings? Yes, sir. Absolutely. you referring to the uh unopen rideway here? Yes, please. There you go. What's the plans for that? You said they're going to create parking, right? Yes. Their site plan would require that this be closed and it would also require that the people on the other side agree to forego theirs. Uh, I believe the applicant is looking to compensate them for allowing their side to to forego their side.

When you say their side, you mean in the fence? No, no, no. The fence is their rear property line. Normally, when we close public rideway, the people on either side get half of it. I guess what I'm trying to figure out the parking is going to be uh ashalt, concrete, etc. I would assume concrete or asphalt. You assume? Yes sir. I have a conceptual site plan that doesn't doesn't [clears throat] delineate it. The site plan also showed a row of trees between the parking and the neighbors.

He would have to meet some of those conditions before he could. That's just want to make sure. Yes. Thank you. If the applicant was here, I would commend that applicant for trying to improve that property. It's pretty rough looking building. Mr. Manager, is that property in the north area? Is it still in a redevelopment area? That is my impression. Commissioner

playing in a redevelopment area. What's the advantages of some of the advantages he can take advantage of as far as getting this property up? And are you thinking about in terms of a tax incentive or we'd have to look at it and study it and I've not I've not been approached, but I'd be happy to look at it if they've got some interest. Bryce, has this been approved by the board of adjustments in terms of asking for variance on setbacks? It has not not yet. Okay. And good question. My my understanding is it it looks like they'll they'll definitely require multiple. You're correct. Thank you.

As far as if it were to need to be reszone again for any reason, what what is that process or limitations? Is there any kind of time limitation? I mean, of of a potential reasonzoning. I mean, if it were denied tonight, no, if it if it were to pass tonight and you know, you've got all the issues with the with the board of adjustments and potentially reasonable. So, there is no delay period unless it's denied. Okay. Just make sure

how many parking spaces could um they have in the back? Uh, forgive me, I don't remember off the top of my head. There I know there's two per dwelling unit and the rest is uh dedicated to retail. There about 23 23 23. Yeah. [clears throat] Bryce, just one other quick question. Yes, sir. If we resigning this with a special use permit is just for that in the event that he can't get his setbacks etc. It reverse back.

So the special use permit stays with the property. You're not obligated to use the special use permit. It could simply if he determines it's infeasible, it would just stay some sort of commercial retail or office. Special permit only goes away if he ress the property to something else. Any other discussion? Mr. Clark, call the roll. Sir, Commissioner Bojo, yes. Brock, yes. Cochran, yes. Bean, yes. Dolls, yes. Quick, yes. Collins, yes.

Motion carries.

Our next item for you this evening is a resoning request file Z25-08-02 for the property at 111, 113, 115, 117, and zero Jervvis Street. These properties are currently a mix of community commercial and lowdensity traditional residential. The applicant has requested that they be resoneed to multif family residential for a town home development. All told, this is about 3/4 of an acre in size. Uh you see the properties outlined on your screen. The elementary school is just over here to your left just off screen. Uh these have frontage on East Main Street and Jervis Street. Uh there is a bit of a topographical difference between the two. Uh you have a couple of other multif family buildings right here and I believe one of these is too if I'm not mistaken. Uh there used to be a multif family three unit apartment building right here that burned down not long ago. This is a zoning map of the area. [cough] The application itself The applicant provided a rough site plan. This one is uh not entirely feasible. You're fixing to see it shows garages facing east main. Uh we do not allow for that many driveways along a major road. It interferes with the flow of traffic on that road. Um the driveways or garages would have to be on the rear. Based on the acreage, you could potentially have up to 10 units. We did discuss this with the applicant. He was agreeable.

has already cleared. The property was previously covered in kudzu. This is as it currently looks. As I told you in caucus, once the kudzu was removed, it was identified that there has been some illegal dumping on the site in the past that I'm assuming the kudzu had grown up over. This is looking in from the Jervis side. [clears throat] There are other homes along Jervis. This is looking up the hill. You can see East Main Street up here. This is looking in from the East Main Street side. You have nice sidewalks and also mature crepe myrtles. And across the street, you're looking into a grassy or green hillside. This would be potentially your look out the front door. You can see the foundation of a previous structure that used to be there. Staff recommended approval with a couple conditions. Uh those conditions being that any all any and all front on the existing roads with walkways that connect to the existing sidewalk on East Main Street or Jervis where no sidewalks exist. uh garages if provided or other parking will be located on the back side of the buildings as is consistent with the existing development. Uh planning commission approved with those conditions unanimously. Thank you. I'll now open the public hearing. Uh is anyone here to speak in favor of this request? Is anyone here to speak in opposition? I'll now close the public hearing and I'll entertain a motion.

I'll make a motion we approve with conditions as stated. Okay, I have a motion. Second. Need a second. I have a motion and second. [clears throat] Any discussion? I mentioned it downstairs, but now looking at the property, that is the old location of the Gemini Club. And I like this new proposal.

Any other discussion? Did he give you a price on these? the price that he makes. Did he give you a price on this? I do not have that. The applicant is here if you'd like to ask. Oh, is he? Where? Yes. You mind going to the podium?

My name is Ismile Amir 301 Green View Court, Cedar Town. So, the price that going to start $2.99. How much? $2.99. Thank you. Any other questions or discussion? Mr. Clark, call the role. Sir, Commissioner Bojo, yes. Brock, yes. Cochran, yes. Bean, yes. Yes. Quick, yes. Collins, yes. [cough and clears throat]

Motion carries.

Next item for you this evening is file Z25 hyphen 11 hyphen 02 for the property at 141 Rogers Drive. Currently zoned light industrial. The request is to go to suburban residential county tax parcel H12Z 655. Uh it's just over two and a quarter or 3/4 acres in size. Already has a single family home on it. This is one of the few properties in the city without access to public sewer. It is on septic. This is looking in from the road. There is a I believe a construction company next door if I'm not mistaken. multiple duplexes along the road as well as storage units. This did come with a staff recommendation of approval and unanimous approval from the planning commission. Thank you.

Thank you, Brush. I now open the public hearing. Is anyone here to speak in favor of this proposal? Is anyone here to speak in opposition? I now close the public hearing and I will entertain a motion. Make a motion that we approve this request. I have a motion. I need a second. Second. Have a motion and second. Is there any discussion? [clears throat] Hearing none. Mr. Clark, call the role. Commissioner Bojo. Yes. Brock, yes. Cochran,

yes. Bean, yes. Dolls, yes. Quick, yes. Collins, yes. Motion carries.

All right. And these next two cases go together, so I'm only going to explain it once. Uh, this is Z25 11-05 for the property at 11 West Wesland Drive. It's currently zone community commercial. The request is to go to suburban residential. Uh, there is no proposed change in use of the property. It's already developed as a site built home. This is Floyd County tax parcel H13X 321. Um, you know that we've been working for years trying to get this street fixed. So, you had a previously had a row of homes that were all zoned community commercial. This was done before this part over here got reszoned. The next property we're going to look at is right over here. One of our neighbors, uh, Mr. Janowski here. He was able to go door to door and get these neighbors to sign the applications which we appreciate. This is looking in from the road up around the curve directly across the street and the other direction. This came with the staff recommendation of approval and unanimous approval from the planning commission.

I now open the public hearing. Is anyone here to speak in favor of this proposal? My name is Frank Jangovsky. I live at four Western uh place. Uh I'm here for my neighbors who couldn't make it and we would thank you in advance for correcting this historic misar uh misoning of these properties.

Anyone here to speak in opposition? I'll [clears throat] now close the public hearing and we'll entertain a motion. It's my pleasure to make a motion that we approve this and commend this gentleman right here for being [clears throat] an outstanding citizen to his neighbors, his community. He has worked so hard to bring it to this point. Sounded like a strong motion. [laughter]

I need a strong second. I second it. [snorts] Strong second. I have a strong motion. Strong second. Any discussion? I got a question. Okay. It has nothing probably to do with this, but that was all community commercial. Those houses have been up there for 55, 60 years or more. Long time. I wonder what the intend the original intent for that property was. Okay. No telling. I would just say it's not uncommon for that just to be an oversight. Okay. Could have been stroke of a pen. Do what?

I'm sorry. Mr. Clark, call the roll. Commissioner Bojo, yes. [clears throat] Brock, yes. Cochran, yes. Bean, yes. Dolls, yes. Quick, yes. Collins, yes. And our last item for you this evening, Z25. 11 hyphen 11 for five Westland Drive. This is the other property outlined in red. Once again, planning department appreciates Mr. Jimowski looks like from the road and the other properties along the road came with the staff recommendation of approval and unanimous approval from the land commission.

I now open the public hearing. Is anyone here to speak in favor of this uh proposal? Anyone here to speak in opposition? I now close public hearing. I'll entertain a motion. Make a motion we approve this resoning as well. Second. I second it. Have a motion and a second. Any discussion? Mr. Clark, call the roll. Mr. Bojo, yes. Brock, yes. Cochran, yes. Bean, yes. Dolls, yes. Quick, yes. Collins, yes. Motion carries. Thank you, sir.

Yes, sir. Uh, that concludes all of our U public hearings for the night. If you came for that, just for that, you're welcome to leave. Um, we have pretty much a short agenda from here on out. Uh, Mr. Cler, do you have anything? No report, Mr. Mayor. Mr. Manager.

Thank you, Mr. Mayor. Couple of items. First um announcements for the holiday that the city of Rome administrative offices will be closed for the Thanksgiving holidays, Thursday, November 27 and Friday, November 28th. Most importantly, those interested in the garbage route. The Thursday garbage will be collected on Wednesday the 26th. Monday, Tuesday, and Friday routes will be business as usual. And then the Walker Mountain landfill will be closed on Thursday the 27th and reopen Friday, November 28th. And Mr. Mayor, um, as I discussed earlier tonight in caucus, I did want to take a moment to, uh, update you all and the community u after some questions have been raised about where are we on the city's reverse osmosis water treatment facility. And so I will uh I'll try to be brief and succinct, but just as a recap for our audience, uh going back to around 2016, um we had received word about some new uh forever chemicals and about some new potential that we were going to have to change how we um deal with drinking water. And so fortunately for Rome, we're blessed with two rivers. And so we were able to ultimately switch our primary drinking source from the US um over to the Edeto. And then more importantly, we changed our treatment process by incorporating what is called use of GAC filters for granular activated carbon. So this gak as it's called um is what we are currently treating water on and it's what we've been doing since we made the switch. And so our water does meet the standards as required for drinking water. Uh fortunately in the meantime we were able to enter into some litigation and were very successful thanks to Andy Davis and his associates um in the process to help us pay for a new treatment facility. And so while what we do currently using the GA meets

and allows us to operate and meet the requirements, it's never going to be a scalable solution. And so what we need as a community is something to take us to the next 50 years. So therein lies the the process for us. So fast forward um in March of 2023, this body approved us entering into a construction manager at risk uh contract with Archer Western. Inside Engineering has been our design firm of record. So there's been a lot a lot of design work that has gone on. And then in fact um y'all I don't have to tell this group. you know, we we wrestled. We struggled with where we're going to locate this facility someplace. Uh ultimately settling on Riverside Parkway. Part of the process during that was allowing us to evaluate different technologies. Um where we are as of last week is we have received our design drawings at 30%. Uh we've got an exceptional team working on this facility, but y'all the reality is it's going to take a lot of time. It's going to it's going to take a good bit of engineering. It's it's not really a simple process. It sounds simple, but the reality is not. Um, during all of this time that I've mentioned, we have been very fortunate to have conducted some exceptional pilot testing. And so, the pilot studies has really allowed us to figure out what is it that's going to work in our community and what's going to work best. And so, water is water, you would think, but our recipe might be a little different here for Rome. And so, that's allowed us to get to where we are. And so again, we're at about 30%. Um we're on the design process. Um we will likely, as shared earlier, we'll probably be placing some large orders of equipment maybe as early as February of 26. And so that could be north of $20 million. Um we originally thought we'd be doing some of those orders this year and that has not panned out. Not that that's a bad thing because I think the design process has been a good one for

us. Um, in the meantime, there's been um some concerns raised about the finances, the finan the financial situation. And so, the good news, um, again, you heard me mention litigation. So, just to recap, um, the settlement funds. So, in 2023, the city reve,234 234250. So that's 154 $234,250 224 $7 million 2025 another $7 million that brought the total up to 168,234,250. So from 2023 up until Halloween of this year, that's October 31st, the interest portion acred is $17,750,7168. So over $17 million has been accumulated into this fund uh since the the settlements were received. to be received. We have an additional we um we do anticipate an additional $7 million in 26, another seven million in 2027, and then $2 million in 2028. No telling what the interest will be going forward. Um hopefully we will continue obviously to accumulate, but in the meantime, we will start spending down the funds as we start constructing. So the the amount of principal will go down. So, um but nonetheless, um where we left off last time we were um actively discussing the budget for the project is you all instructed us to work towards keeping this project under $200 million. So, that's kind of the that's been our marching orders of where we're headed. We don't have pricing yet, so that's a continuous thing and it's a

continuous evolution uh through the process. Um the good news is that we have um a good bit of money in the bank that is thankfully going to pay for the line share of this reverse osmosis system. And so that is by far the good news. Uh the money is safe and sound. The money is accounted for and the money is again um collecting interest. And so it's a good problem for us to be sitting in as a city that has a need to construct a very expensive reverse osmosis system. And so again, uh the process will continue to move. I envision based on our current time frame that by the fourth quarter of 26, we should be moving uh dirt out on the Riverside uh Parkway property in earnest. And so that's as we kind of see the the cards. Again, y'all, it's a it's an ambitious project. The goal is to be open by October of 2029. And so, um, I know there's been a lot of chatter in the community, but, um, again, we work in a glass house at the city manager's office and city hall. We're happy to take questions and calls and if anything's on your mind, um, reach out, come see us, sit down. We'll get the budgets out and show you the books. So, happy discuss and happy to try to answer any questions.

Thank you, Sammy. I I bragged on John Boyd a little bit when I came in tonight who chairs [clears throat] our who's the director of our water and sewer program and does a great job his staff and our mayor pro Tim also chairs our water and sewer committee and I've been involved in that in the past and we have a really good team on water and sewer um that That entire operation operates out of the money that they bring in. We don't take money out of the general fund to operate water and sewer. And it's it's a very efficient operation. We've got to have this plant built by the end of de of 2029. And uh the city of Calhoun just voted to do the same thing. They're going to build a reverse osmosis plant. We're way ahead of the game. And I think they're involved in litigation with the upstream polluters just like we were. And uh we we did pretty well. Uh under my time, the joint services committee will meet on Tuesday, December the 2nd at 9:00 a.m. in the Sam King room. We've had a couple of good ribbon cutings in the community over the past several days. The clock tower, uh we had a lot of money spent on it. I think is $1.8 million. Um the clock tower is kind of the icon symbol of Rome and Floyd County and it was a very I never had been to the top of it but I went up there and amazing views and we had a really good turnout for that. And then Benny Jones Park, we had a good turnout uh for the ribbon cutting at Benny Jones Park and the

Benny Jones children came and uh they made some really nice comments and that was a joint effort. But the um employees of the city of Rome and our staff members did a fantastic job and they were very deliberate and focused in continuing to work on grants to get that funded. And if you get a chance to go by and see it, it's just not for that community. It's the city of park. So if you get a chance, go by and look at that. We went into private session tonight to discuss a a potential litigation uh matter. U Commissioner Doss made the motion to go into executive session seconded by Commissioner Bojo. U no actions were taken when we came out of executive exe executive session. Commissioner Quick made the motion to come out and it was seconded by Commissioner Bojo. And that's all I have. Uh, Commissioner Bojo.

Thank you, Mr. Mayor. Uh, finance committee, we will be announcing the, uh, dates very quickly for the, uh, budget hearings. We have not got those set just yet. Uh, water and sewer committee will meet on Thursday, December 4th, 9:00 in the Sam King room. And, uh, one more thing I'd like to add, we had fire overview uh, meeting last week. Commissioner Brock and I were there and thing I want to point out was we received one of our refurbished fire trucks back from being overhauled and redone in Alabama. Over in Alabama is where it's done. And um the total cost to refer this truck was in the neighborhood of $300,000. To replace that truck would have been a million dollars. So, the fire department did their work. They got they found somebody could refurb it and save the city $700,000 and they're to be commended for that. This is the third one.

That's my impression.

I think it's the third one. We've got one more to go and it won't be until probably do you remember when they said later in the summer, next summer or fall. And it and it doesn't have anything to do with us. Has to do with that factory down there. Um is just backed up. But, uh, the truck that was refurbred was a 2006 model. They drove it over here and parked beside City Hall and you'd have thought it brand new inside and out. It was clean as a whistle. And also, if you want to look at the truck sitting across the street at the downtown fire station, it's engine number one. It it it's really really something to look at. It It's a good looking piece of machinery. And like I said, $700,000 savings. That's all I have. Thank you, Commissioner Brock.

At our uh public safety committee meeting last week, we discussed uh an amendment to the budget to approve for new police radios that uh were in the budget for next year and have the opportunity to uh do something uh this year. So, we need an amendment to the budget. Sammy, would you like to Sure. Just details.

Yeah. Briefly described. So, as you mentioned, these are for Rome Police Department, and in lie of waiting on next year's budget, if we take advantage of the offer now on these Harris radios, um, in essence, we're going to get a better quality radio for lesser price. So, what what we have before us tonight, two quotes. The first you see, $527,18916, and those are XL200. Those are their portable radios. And the other quote is in the amount of $388,745.19 and that's for XL85m. Those are the mobile or the incar radios. And just as a reminder, um these funds come from the splast 2023 funds. We've been operating on the Harris radio system that goes all the way back to 2013 um when the community decided to move to a 800 megahertz system. So, we've been on that system for a while and the radios are now time to be replaced. And so, this is a great value for us and we come out $284,000 to the good by taking advantage of this offer in front of you tonight.

And it's upgraded radios from the correct initial. That's correct. Upgraded better radio. So, does that come as a motion from the committee or do I need to make the motion? Make the motion. I make the motion that we approve that budget amendment. Second. Second. Mr. Clark, call the roll. Mr. Bojo, yes. Brock, yes. Cochran, yes. Bean, yes. Dolls, yes. Quick, yes. Collins, yes. Thank you. Do you have anything else, Commissioner Brock? That's it. Commissioner Cochran, no report, Mr. Mayor.

Commissioner Beman. Yes.

I want to highlight some of the um up under keep floor beautiful. I wanted to share that uh education continues to be our largest largest area of focus with a strong engagement through the school programs and ecoenter speaks for itself because of all the walk-ins just in visitors had 12,415 visitors as of today and that speaks a lot of volume on the impact that it has on there. But I also wanted to share that how working together works up under key would keep Ron Floyd beautiful. How it is important that when people come through our city that they see how clean and how much we care about it. Well, there was u one of our graveyards that was going untreated and neglected and it was out of our jurisdiction and um this gentleman was he was an elderly man and it's right by his property and he was so passionate about it. So, I reached out to our assistant city manager and she um worked with Keat Ron Floyd Beautiful and now the Boy Scouts are going to work with Hannah to help keep that property up and that made him very happy. So, working together works. And then I also wanted to share how impactful our public library is right now. Uh, I want I don't know if everybody knows that Sarah High Tower Regional Library has a tenant agreement for nonprofit groups and the tenant shall pay no rent to occupy the premises for the use during the term of their agreement in recognition of the public benefits the tenant provides to the uh L Sarah High Tower Regional Library. So, any nonprofit organization that would like to rent uh one of the rooms at no fee. And then I want to share that some of the when it's how the library is being impactful is that the Sarah Sarah high tower library offered three benchmark reading challenges this quarter and they celebrated the library card signups for the month and the community uh read and

challenged had 119 participants but total they read 2,78 books. They had a hollow read challenge which was offered in October and it consisted of a mix of Halloween and Hispanic Heritage Munch activities. They had 133 registrations for the reading challenge and in 2025 they had a book bingo challenge started in January the 1st and will and will continue throughout the year but as of August the 1st they had uh the system had 966 participants that have read over 5,000 books. Wow. So, all library works. And that concludes my report. That's a great report. Thank you,

Commissioner Doss. Thank you, Mayor. Uh, under committee on committees, I've asked uh Joe Smith to handle our first reading.

Thank you, Commissioner Dawson. Yes, the committee on committees has met and have some recommendations for nomination tonight. Uh, first, Alcohol Control Commission, Mr. Chris Kerry, Mr. Chris Kerry, Downtown Development Authority, four individuals, Janica Cooper, Keith Bochamp, Eric Tant, and David Cluntz. Uh, finally, Rome Floyd Planning Commission. Effective January 1st, uh, the recommendation is to appoint Mr. Randy Quick, who'll be coming off the city commission to begin serving as a citizen appointee to the planning commission. Uh those are all nominations. A vote on all these all six of these individuals will be scheduled for our next meeting on December 8th. Uh lastly, mayor, uh for the last 32 years, I've celebrated Thanksgiving as a Rome city commissioner, and I am so thankful for the opportunity to have such a very small part in this special city and to serve and work with so many people that love this city and want to see it reach its potential. Thank you. Before Commissioner Quick gives his report, [clears throat] tonight is a very special night for Commissioner Jamie Dolls and Commissioner Mark Cochran. It's their birthday. [applause]

So, are you saying this is our birthday party? [laughter] and and to torture these two poor souls [laughter] by making them sit in here, it's horrible. No, I wouldn't want to be anywhere else. Mayor, thank you.

Yeah. Um, they're about both of them and they're different, but their heart cares for the city of Rome and they're here for the right reason. and we need a whole lot of people that care for the city of Rome and I appreciate what each of you do and what you mean to the city. Seriously, Commissioner Quick,

I don't have a report, but I was sitting here taking a sip of this bottled water and reading how it was purified. Reverse osmosis. This is our future. This is what every citizen in Rome will have. And thank you so very, very much to everyone that was part of that process. And we look forward to a great future for many generations to come. That's all I have. Commissioner Collins

just wanted to take the opportunity to wish all the citizens out there a happy Thanksgiving this coming up Thursday and also to tell you it was a great success in cutting the ribbon over there being a part of cutting the ribbon over there. Vandy Jones Park was a great turnout of some beautiful park. I was when I first walked on to this plate out there had a citizen asked me what do you think? Yes, you have to give me a while to get this smile off my face. It was very nice. Really was. So, and also to say to you, I may not get this opportunity. Never know these days and time what things might hold, but it's been quite an honor also, Commissioner Doss, to serve with you for more than 30 years on this year commission. We got through some really good times. You did a whole lot of traveling. Brought back. You did a whole lot. Brought back a whole lot back to this here city of Rome. And everybody could tell where you all lived it. And 30 years. I know me and you both never thought we'd still be sitting here. And I know that my time is way shorter than it has been for sitting on this commission, but I want to take time out to tell you. And of course, my promp sitting here beside me, Randy Quick served as my pro temp when uh I was mayor of this city. He did an admiral job. Absolutely you did. And it's greatly appreciated to have u people that would dedicate their life to something so long.

I know me and you babysitt it for each other a lot of times on those trips. Those type things you don't forget, but you definitely really appreciate. Thank you. I appreciate you. I really do appreciate you. Thank you. Absolutely.

Commissioner Robinson's not here. I'm going to make his report. The Alcohol Control Commission will meet on Wednesday, December 17th at 5:00 p.m. in the commission chambers. Um, I want to wish everybody a happy Thanksgiving, safe, healthy, and happy. Be careful. My little grandson Arbor is going to wake up. He goes to bed tonight as an 11year-old. He was going to wake up in the morning as 12y old. That'll be the highlight of my day. We're journ. Thank you for getting older. All right. Thank you, John. Good times. Forward.