Monday, Apr. 10, 2023–8:10 a.m.

-David Crowder, WRGA News-

Discussions regarding extending sewer service to the Chulio Hills neighborhood dominated much of the discussion during a shortened Rome City Commission caucus session Monday.

Commissioners agreed that the best course of action would be to submit an application for the sewer extension to the citizen’s advisory committee for consideration for inclusion in the upcoming special purpose, local option sales tax.

“If, in fact, it does pass the SPLOST committee and is recommended to go to the citizens, the city and county would have to do their parts,” Rome City Commissioner Bill Collins said. “Both government entities would do their due diligence to make certain Chulio Hills got their sewer project.”

However, residents of Chulio Hills who spoke during Monday’s commission meeting don’t want to wait for a SPLOST, saying sewer service was promised decades ago.

Rev. Kevin Brown, pastor at Bryant Chapel Baptist Church called the SPLOST proposal an empty promise.

“I pray that you will reconsider what was proposed tonight and make something happen for these outstanding people in this community,” he said. “We are all Rome citizens and no one needs to be left out. Everyone needs to receive the best that the city has to offer because that’s what we try to give the City of Rome in return.”

The estimated cost of the project is around $3.2 million dollars.

It was submitted by a citizen for SPLOST consideration, but the application was later withdrawn.

The commission seemed to be in agreement that the application should now be submitted on behalf of the water and sewer department.

You can see a preliminary list of possible projects from the City of Rome that could go to the citizen’s committee for consideration below.