Georgia County Government - November 2008 - (Page 18)

FLOYD COUNTY continued from page 17 counterpart, City Manager of 24 years, John Bennett. The Committee governs all combined service delivery programs. To make sure everything stays current, the county and city review existing joint services quarterly, to examine those currently provided and identify where further consolidation can be implemented, Poe offers. “The county and city also review prospective plans for Special Purpose Local Option Sales Tax (SPLOST) funds, and work together whenever possible on their usage, in the community’s best interest.” “We’ve got a great team, from the development side of things too,” Poe asserts. The County-City Joint Planning Commission has been instrumental in bringing to fruition major enhancements to the community in recent years, including State Mutual Stadium in Rome, built to accommodate home games of the Rome Braves, a Class A South Atlantic Minor League team subsidiary of the Atlanta Braves that gives local families the “great American pastime” – live baseball games. The facility was built by the county in 2003 with $16 million in SPLOST funding and is debt free, Poe notes. It ranks among the top 10 in terms of attendance in the South Atlantic League and offers local residents a good alternative to the “big Braves” in Atlanta. “The team pays the county to lease it yearly, which we put into a capital maintenance fund for the facility.” There’s currently half a million in the fund, Poe says, adding, “We’ll never go to the taxpayers to upgrade or maintain this facility.” Another major community addition has been The Forum, a multi-purpose The Forum is a major downtown convention center. convention center. A lack of adequate parking at this centrally located convention facility provided impetus for a new parking deck now going up, also a joint county-city project, and plans for developers to expand a hotel, Hawthorn Suites, on the Coosa River, proximal to The Forum. Officials envision, and are planning, a “Town Green” greenway development for Forum event participants to look out on, which Jennings believes will prompt further downtown economic development, such as higherend restaurants. Always on the lookout for more ways in which they can jointly improve the downtown district, the county and city together are now examining potentials for more cultural and arts venues. “We’re starting to look at developing a performing arts center, more intently,” Poe notes. “The Rome Symphony Orchestra is the oldest in the South, and we have a thriving arts community. We want to do more 4931 Riverside Drive 4931 Riverside Drive Macon, Georgia 31210 478-474-9092 to support the arts.” There are several famous local events that draw national tourists, such as the Rome International Film Festival the first week of September, which this year is screening more than 100 fi lms. Of course, the presence of a scenic downtown riverfront is a major advantage for the city and the county, Poe points out. “Working with the city of Rome, we’re continually developing the Riverfront. There are a lot of trails paved in the downtown area, creating a walkable town that invites the public to utilize alternative transportation, from walking and bicycles to the recreational roller blades and skates.” The county and city also operate a Joint Planning Commission governing Zoning and a Building Inspection Office, Poe advises. “We have a Unified Land Development Code, uniformly applicable for the county and the city, and was co-developed by both local governments. These ordinances apply throughout the Cave Springs community, too, where some 900 residents live. For this community, the county funds the mostly volunteer-staffed fire department at a level of about 55 percent. Countywide joint contracts for fire protection apply to Rome and Floyd County.” Proudly Supplying Quality Asphalt Products Proudly Supplying Quality Asphalt Products and Paveme t oluti and Pavement Solutions to Georgia t to Georgi Counties Since 1955 Visit www.reevescc.com for locations in your area. 18 GEORGIA 385057_Reeves.indd 1 COUNTY GOVERNMENT 6/23/08 8:52:28 AM Economic Diversity That the community is not directly situated on the nearest interstate highway – Interstate 75, as it heads into southeastern Tennessee – but is an 18-mile “jaunt” west of this important http://www.reevescc.com

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Georgia County Government - November 2008 Contents President's Message County Matters Floyd County Leaders Foster Government That's 'Designed With Citizens in Mind' Staff News: ACCG Interns Georgia's Grand Old Courthouses: Hall County Extension News: ACCG and Extension Partner to Create 'Fellows' Program Research Corner: Resources Available Through ACCG County Parade Index of Advertisers

Georgia County Government - November 2008

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