Rome meeting summaries, agendas, and minutes

Rome City Commission adopts 26.25 mills, approves $37.5M in water contracts

At its Aug. 10 regular meeting, the Rome City Commission adopted the 2026 tax mill rate of 26.25 mills, approved a $3,469,465.35 water extension contract to TJL Construction, and approved $19,759,819 for a ceramic membrane system and $14,286,127 for a reverse osmosis system. The commission also approved a resolution supporting a revolving loan application for 233 Broad Street, placed four land-use requests on first reading, and proclaimed August 2026 as Black Business Month.

City Commission

The commission adopted the 2026 tax mill rate resolution, keeping the total at 26.25 mills with adjustments among its components. The vote was 7-1, with Commissioner Cochran voting no. The water extension contract to TJL Construction was approved unanimously. The two equipment purchases — the ceramic membrane system and reverse osmosis system — were also approved unanimously. The resolution supporting Zelanak Estates' revolving loan application for 233 Broad Street passed unanimously. The commission amended the July 27, 2026 minutes to include a verbatim Q&A transcript (6-2) and approved the Aug. 3 special called meeting minutes unanimously. Four rezoning and special-use permit requests were placed on first reading, with a public hearing scheduled for Aug. 24.

Public Works / Traffic / Transit Committee

On Aug. 12, the committee denied a request to close 5th Avenue for an Octoberfest event, citing hospital access concerns. It approved closures for the First Friday Concert (200 block of Broad Street, Sept. 4, 2–11 p.m.) and Fiddlin Fest (Broad Street from 1st to 5th Avenue, Oct. 3, 6 a.m.–5 p.m.). The committee recommended a $974,000 bid from S.H. Creel Contracting for the Jackson Hill Trail Phase 1 project to the City Commission.

Alcohol Control Commission

On Aug. 17, the commission approved a beer and wine package license for Latino Food Mart at 702 Shorter Avenue, with applicant Mit Jatinkumar Patel, unanimously. It tabled a beer and wine pouring license for A-Side Lounge at 260 N 5th Avenue after a motion failed 1-2, with discussion focusing on the applicant's recent DUI arrest.

Historic Preservation Commission

On Aug. 19, the commission approved a Certificate of Appropriateness (COA 847-26) for 226 B Broad Street in the Between the Rivers Historic District. The vote was 6-0 with no public comments. The commission also approved its agenda and July minutes by common consent.

Other meetings

The Downtown Development Authority met Aug. 13; its agenda included a facade grant review for 206 Broad Street, financials, and updates on the GDA Conference and Fiddlin' Fest, but minutes are not yet published. The Board of Adjustments met Aug. 20; its agenda included 11 variance requests, including one to reduce the buffer between a convenience gas station and a daycare from 600 feet to 10 feet at 2022 Redmond Circle, and another to reduce a buffer between a gas station and a church from 600 to 235 feet at 1301 Shorter Avenue. Minutes are not yet published.

Coming up

• **City Commission** – Aug. 24, 6:30 p.m.: Public hearings on four land-use requests (two special-use permits for multi-family housing, two rezoning requests) and a resolution for South Broad Street Bridge repair funding. Also on the agenda: a Justice Assistance Grant resolution and recycling shortfall invoices.
• **General Administration Committee** – Aug. 25, 11 a.m.: Review of charitable solicitation ordinance request, proposed ethics ordinance amendment, Cherokee Memorial matter, golf update, and Roland Hayes discussion.
• **Finance Committee** – Aug. 26: Review of July 2026 financial statements and budget discussion.
• **Planning Commission** – Sept. 3: Review of five rezoning and special-use permit requests, including a request for a special-use permit for backyard chickens at 4865 Rockmart Hwy. and a rezoning for 7050 Cave Spring Road SW.

Rome to take over Tennis Center management; tax increase hearings set for August

The City of Rome will assume direct management of the Rome Tennis Center after the General Administration Committee voted unanimously to let the current management contract with Cliff Drysdale Management expire on November 1, 2026. The decision shifts day-to-day operations of the facility from the outside firm to the city.

Tennis Center management change approved

The General Administration Committee approved the motion unanimously on July 21, 2026, according to official minutes. The action allows the contract with Cliff Drysdale Management to lapse on its November 1, 2026 end date, at which point the city takes over.

Two liquor licenses approved; two deferred

The Alcohol Control Commission, meeting July 20, 2026, approved two new licenses by unanimous vote:

• A beer and wine package license for 7 Hill Food Mart.
• A wine and liquor pouring license for First Watch.

The commission tabled a beer package license for Latino Food Mart pending more information and took no action on a beer and wine package license for Juice Mart LLC due to lack of attendance. June 15, 2026 meeting minutes were also approved unanimously.

Tax increase public hearings scheduled

The City Commission's July 27, 2026 agenda lists public hearings on the 2026 tax increase for August 3 at 6:30 p.m. and August 10 at 10:00 a.m. The agenda also includes a 2025 audit presentation by Mauldin & Jenkins, CPA; a landbank transfer on Hardy Avenue; and certificates of appreciation to Floyd County Health Board and Historic Preservation Commission members. Minutes from this meeting have not yet been published, so items beyond the scheduled hearings are not confirmed as decided.

Boards and committees in brief

Several bodies met or posted agendas with no final minutes available:

• **Tree Board (July 21):** Agenda listed tree removal on E 4th Avenue, tree concerns on E 4th Avenue and Blacks Bluff Road, a membership recommendation for Terry Paige, a TRAQ Certification Class at the Rome-Floyd ECO Center, and planning for a March 2027 Tree Giveaway.
• **Finance Committee (July 21):** Agenda included approving July 10, 2026 minutes, reviewing June 2026 financial statements, and a 2026 tax millage discussion.
• **Community Redevelopment Committee (July 22):** Agenda included approval of May 27, 2026 minutes, a Land Bank Authority property transfer discussion, and an introduction to the North Rome Plan project by Jeremy Gray of Mosaic Community Planning.
• **Rome-Floyd Solid Waste Commission (July 28):** Agenda listed election of officers, a Phase 9 update on Carroll, and operations and financial reports for the Recycling Center and Walker Mountain Landfill. No substantive decisions were listed.

Coming up

• **Aug. 3, City Commission:** Public Hearing #1 of 3 on the 2026 tax millage rate and proposed tax increase.
• **Aug. 4, Joint Services Committee:** Updates on Parks & Recreation and the Historic Courthouse.
• **Aug. 4, Land Bank Authority:** Set listing price for 314 Wilson Ave; approval of next build sites; financial and audit review.
• **Aug. 5, Redevelopment Agency:** Consideration of a TAD application for Match Point Way submitted by RNG Investments, LLC.
• **Aug. 6, General Administration Committee:** "Roland Hayes Discussion" with no further details provided.
• **Aug. 6, Water & Sewer Committee:** June 2026 financial report; Enterprise Corner Water project update; Reverse Osmosis Plant 60% completion update.
• **Aug. 6, Planning Commission:** Proposed ULDC ordinance amendment on data centers, plus special use permit and rezoning requests on Martha Berry Highway, Highway 411, S. Avery Road, and Innovation Way.

Rome government roundup: Historic Preservation approves Cleveland Ave project; Finance Committee weighs tax millage scenarios

The Rome Historic Preservation Commission approved a Certificate of Appropriateness for a property at 507 Cleveland Ave in the College Heights Historic District, voting 4-0 with no opposition recorded. The July 15 vote was the only formal decision among recent city meetings, most of which were informational or agenda-only sessions with minutes still unpublished.

Historic Preservation Commission

On July 15, the commission approved its agenda and the minutes from its March 2026 meeting by common consent. It then voted 4-0 to approve Certificate of Appropriateness COA 846-26 for 507 Cleveland Ave. No opposition was recorded.

Finance Committee

The Finance Committee met July 10 to review four preliminary 2026 tax millage rate scenarios and their impact on City M&O, City Capital, and School M&O rates. The committee noted a 1.4% growth in the preliminary tax digest and discussed Tax Allocation Districts, including the dissolution of TAD2 and early payoff of TAD4. No formal action or vote was taken. Further discussion is scheduled for the July 21 meeting.

Public Works, Traffic, and Transit Committee

The committee's July 8 agenda included a Floyd County Sheriff's Office presentation on DUI reports, a Georgia Department of Transportation presentation on transportation matters, and discussion of traffic concerns on Cedar Avenue. Monthly departmental reports from Public Works were also listed. The agenda was largely informational with no voting items. Minutes have not yet been published.

City Commission

The City Commission's July 13 agenda included an ordinance to close portions of streets and alleys on East 19th and 20th streets, and a proposed amendment to the Downtown Public Consumption Ordinance. Minutes have not yet been published, so outcomes are not yet confirmed.

Board of Adjustments

The Rome Board of Adjustments met July 16 to review six variance requests. The largest sought to reduce the required buffer between a proposed convenience gas station at 127 East 12th Street and another gas station from 1,000 feet to 61 feet, and the buffer between that station and nearby single-family dwellings from 300 feet to 88 feet. Other requests included a sign setback reduction at 2 Sweetwater Lane, road frontage and lot width reductions at 1 Lucille Ave, rear setback reductions at 306 Coker Drive, and a right-of-way setback reduction from 20 feet to 0 feet near a proposed roundabout at 0 E 13th St. Minutes have not yet been published.

Coming up

• **July 20 — Alcohol Control Commission:** Will review four license requests, including beer and wine package licenses for 7 Hill Food Mart (1024 N. Broad St.) and Juice Mart LLC (1439 N Broad St.), a wine and liquor pouring license for First Watch (413 Turner McCall Blvd.), and a beer package license for Latino Food Mart (702 Shorter Ave.).
• **July 21 — Finance Committee:** Will review June 2026 financial statements, approve July 10 minutes, and continue the 2026 tax millage discussion.
• **July 21 — General Administration Committee:** Will discuss the city's Tennis Center, presented by Lisa Smith, at 3:30 PM in the Sam King Room. No actions or contracts are listed.
• **July 21 — Tree Board:** Will discuss tree removals on E 4th Avenue, tree concerns on E 4th Avenue and Blacks Bluff Road, a membership recommendation for Terry Paige, a TRAQ Certification Class at the Rome-Floyd ECO Center, and planning for the March 2027 Tree Giveaway.