Local boards embrace ‘spirit of cooperation’
Rome, Cave Spring and Floyd County officials are fostering a climate of togetherness in moving forward on 2017 projects.
Rome and Floyd County elected officials are heralding a “spirit of cooperation” between the two boards for 2017, while reaching out to Cave Spring’s City Council.
A new overture is aimed at expanding the local network of trails, but employee healthcare, fire services, a dog park and revitalization of abandoned properties also could be on the table this year.
“We’ve already seen some of that ‘spirit of cooperation,’” said County Manager Jamie McCord — echoing the phrase used just minutes before by City Manager Sammy Rich during a joint meeting of the three elected boards last week.
McCord said he got help from Rome Human Resources Director Rita Odom on a few complicated issues that arose while the county’s personnel director slot was vacant. Darryl Bowie, the former HR director for Rockdale County, was hired this month.
The Floyd County Commission also is in talks with the Rome City Commission about the city’s employee health clinic. County commissioners are expected to discuss on Tuesday the possibility of adding the benefit for their own workers.
Starting out the year, Rome Mayor Jamie Doss said the city has created a new Committee on Trails with a longrange goal of forging a link to the Silver Comet Trail in Cedartown. He invited both Floyd County and Cave Spring to appoint representatives to the group.
“Our trail system is very important, and not just to the city. It’s much bigger than that,” Doss said. “We want to focus on connectivity, expansion, sustainability.”
Cave Spring City Councilman Mike Ragland noted that his city is already working to extend its trail south toward Cedartown.
“If you could get (a trail) to Georgia Highlands College … you’d be six miles closer to Cave Spring,” he said.
Rich also noted that the shared fire services agreement has expired and the two boards will be working to renew the contract detailing operations and funding of the Rome-Floyd County Fire Department.
“We’re also going to take another look at the Land Bank Authority,” he said. “I have a feeling this will be the year to get it going again.”
The authority was established as a way to assemble usable parcels from abandoned and condemned lots in the city and county, then put them up for redevelopment and, hopefully, get them back on the tax rolls. It’s been essentially dormant since 2014, when efforts
to craft an intergovernmental agreement died.
A push to set up a dog park also could see movement this year. The 2013 special purpose, local option sales tax package has about $25,000 set aside for the park.
It was initially supposed to be a county project but foot-dragging by the board prompted city officials to ask for the money and project responsibility. However, city commissioners also stalled on how to ensure the park is maintained with no ongoing funding available.
Rich said the boards have indicated a desire to work together on a resolution.
Both Floyd County and Cave Spring have new elected officials. County Commissioners Wright Bagby Jr. and Allison Watters and City Council members Nellie McCain and Charles Jackson all took office in January.