May 9, 2022–9:23 p.m.

STAFF REPORTS

The Rome City Commission has approved a rezoning request for the former Northwest Georgia Regional Hospital property.

The issue was tabled during the commission’s April 25 meeting.

The Rome-Floyd County Development Authority is seeking the zoning change to heavy industrial for the 132-acre site to use the property for economic development.

Residents of the nearby Summerville Park neighborhood spoke and cited concerns about traffic, noise, and other issues they feel Heavy Industrial zoning could bring.

Commissioner Bill Collins, himself a resident of Summerville Park, made the motion to approve with conditions.

They include having the entrance to the property off of Redmond Road; a 100-foot buffer will be in place along Division Street running north, and signs stating no large trucks on Charlton Street.

Mark Cochran was the only commissioner to vote no.

The Rome City Commission has also approved a resolution setting the qualifying fee for candidates seeking a seat on the Rome Board of Education later this year.

The board appointed Toni Blanchard to the seat following the resignation of John Uldrick in March, but an election to permanently fill the seat will be in November.

The fee was set at 3% of the school board member’s annual salary.

Candidate qualifying will be from August 15 through August 19.

Also Monday, commissioners approved an ordinance amendment that would require those working as security at pouring establishments and package stores to obtain an alcohol sales permit.

A background investigation is required to obtain this sales permit, and convicted felons are prohibited from receiving the permit under most circumstances.

There has been a recent incident of two individuals working as security guards, and these individuals were found to be not only convicted felons but in possession of firearms as convicted felons.

The requirement would not apply to POST-certified police officers.