Bridges Magazine, Fall 2023

Rome, Georgia

OUR WAY WITH WATER The Sucess of the Georgia Lottery

HISTORIC MYRTLE HILL

Your Vote DOES Count Fall 2023

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AS I SEE IT Thank you for picking up a copy of the fall issue of Bridges magazine!

We hope you enjoy reading a feature story about Rome's settlement of the lawsuit Rome brought against dozens of companies that have been pouring hazardous chemicals into the Oostanaula River for decades. The settlement will allow Rome to build a completely new, state-of-the-art water filtration plant off Riverside Parkway to assure Romans a safe, clean water supply for many years.

This issue of Bridges also features articles about the Nova River District project that will create a whole new walkable live, work, play community on West Third Street.

You will also find articles about the Rome Tennis Center at Berry College, Georgia Northwestern Technical College, and the upcoming Special Purpose Local Option Sales Tax package, which will meet various NEEDS for our community.

You will find profiles about Rome's own Gretchen Corbin, President and CEO of Georgia Lottery Corporation, City Clerk Joe Smith, and Rome Transit Director Courtnay Griffin.

If you've got suggestions for future articles, please don't hesitate to contact Editor Susan Beyer at susan@adigeorgia.com or our Public Information Officer Doug Walker, dwalker@romega.us.

Sincerely,

Sammy Rich Rome City Manager

601 Broad Street Rome, GA 30161 706.236.4400 romega.us

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CONTENTS 1

As I See It Sammy Rich

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From the Editor Susan Moore Beyer

4

Rome City Clerk Joe Smith

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Rome Transit Department Courtnay Griffin

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Georgia Lottery CEO Gretchen Kuglar

36 Myrtle Hill

42 Fall in Love with Local Fall Festivals

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48 State Senate Review Senator Chuck Hufstetler

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10 GNTC Adult Continuing Education 14 Winning the Water War 20 NOVA River District 22 Your Vote Does Make A Difference 28 The Heart of the Matter AdventHealth Cardiology 32 Rome's Tennis Center

On the cover - View of the Oostanuala River, the source of Rome's drinking water. The new Reverse Osmosis treatment plant site will be located off Riverside Parkway.

Bridges Rome magazine is created, written, and published by Advertising Dynamics, Inc. in collaboration with the City of Rome. Bridges Rome magazine reserves the right to edit all materials for clarity and/or space availability in determining the suitability of all materials submitted for publication. Reproduction of printed materials is prohibited without the prior consent of the publisher. ©Copyright 2023.

All rights reserved.

Contact Advertising Dynamics, Inc. for comments, information, and advertising inquiries.

706.290.0202 or goodideas@adigeorgia.com

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FROM THE

EDITOR Cooler weather and changing colors signal a good time to enjoy being outside again. Temperature-wise, it is a comfortable time to explore Rome and its interesting past.

You don’t have to exert the energy of Edmund Hillary to explore what’s around you, but just when you think there is nothing more to learn or discover, up jumps an attention-getter. You can often expect to say, ‘I didn’t know that’. Take Myrtle Hill, for example. Headstones and family histories support the stories you may have wondered about.

Getting started on your historic quest can begin right here by reading about the cemetery within this issue of Bridges. It will encourage you to meander through Myrtle Hill to find more. The architecture, the inscriptions, and the view are beautiful and well worth anyone’s time.

Before Rome renovated downtown Broad Street almost 40 years ago, it was to be known as one of the widest in the state. It still has plenty of width, with tall trees and enhanced sidewalks. But as you hurry down the blocks from 2nd to 6th Avenue, look down at the many names you find embedded in the brick and concrete along the way. Some you may know, some you won’t. But know that each name expresses an inveterate endorsement of Rome’s destiny.

Bridges is happy to introduce to you to places and people who inspire our community. We invite you to visit our website, BridgesMagazineRome.com, to explore previous issues as you continue your adventure.

All the best,

Susan Moore Beyer Managing Editor susan@adigeorgia.com

104 East Sixth Avenue Rome, GA 30161 706.290.0202

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LEADERSHIP

CITY OF ROME

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JOESmith Want to do business with the city of Rome? Or, do you want to do business within the city of Rome?

Your one-stop shop for getting started in Rome is the office of the City Clerk. Joe Smith has been the City Clerk for 33 years.

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A Rome native, Lindale actually Smith has his fingers on the pulse of virtually everything that happens within the city. As secretary to the City Commission, Smith keeps the records of every commission meeting.

Facilities division, which manages the rental of the City Auditorium, the Civic Center, and the Community Center (formerly known as the Senior Center).

City Commission records go back as far as 1876. “Branson (Gayler, his predecessor) and I had conversations about what happened to the city’s records from the time of its founding (1834) until then and no one knows.

Speculation was that they were perhaps inadvertently destroyed through the years, perhaps during a cleanout. Still, no one knows,” Smith said.

Smith loves working with the many different people who come into his office daily. “It’s a numbers job, but it’s also a people job, and the people are certainly more interesting,” Smith said. Collecting bills is one part of Smith’s job, which he admits he doesn’t relish.

Smith had just graduated from college at Shorter when he asked a friend, current Probate Judge Steve Burkhalter, who was over Human Resources in the city. He asked Burkhalter to let him know if there was ever a city job opening that Burkhalter felt Smith might be interested in.

Smith was working in a local grocery, the former Big Star one night when he got a call from Burkhalter, who said the assistant city clerk post had come open and felt like Joe might be a good fit.

There is one less position in his office thanks to the decision to turn over city tax collections to the county Tax Commission in 2000. Of course, his office still has to collect business license fees, which can sometimes be a chore.

Smith also serves as secretary to the Alcohol Control Commission, which supervises the licensing every establishment that sells beer, wine, distilled spirits, or liquor within the city.

Smith came to City Hall the next morning and met with Burkhalter and Clerk Branson Gayler for a job interview. “Branson and I kind of hit it off, and so I came back Monday to interview with John Bennett and Branson and ended up getting hired,” Smith explained. “I knew nothing about the city of Rome or local government in 1987, but I was certainly interested in learning. Branson and I really bonded. I could not have had a better person to teach me about local government than Branson and John Bennett.”

Another important aspect of Smith’s job is that he manages the municipal elections for the city, from qualifying the candidates for the City Commission and the Rome Board of Education.

The basic job hasn’t changed much over the years. The office of the City Clerk has picked up some duties through the years. These include Building Service workers, those who clean up city buildings, and the

The role of City Clerk has only been handled by seven people over the last century, and Smith said he has no plans to retire any time soon. He loves Rome, and he loves what he does.

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When Smith is not in the office, he enjoys anything to do with cars, motorcycles, or guns. He’s also pretty good on the golf course, which is good because oversight of the city’s Stonebridge Golf Course falls under his position.

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LEADERSHIP

ROME TRANSIT DEPARTMENT

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COURTNAY GRIFFIN The leadership of the Rome Transit Department has been marked by longevity over the years, a trait that Courtnay Williams Griffin hopes will continue.

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Griffin was appointed to the post in June, succeeding Kathy Shealy, who had been with RTD for almost 50 years, the last 21 years as director.

Griffin joined RTD as assistant director in 2021.

When she was elevated to the director’s post early in 2023, City Manager Sammy Rich said, “I think she’s going to do some excellent things as we look to reinvent ourselves as a transit agency.”

There aren’t many cities the size of Rome that operate a full-time bus service. The city took over bus service from Georgia Power decades ago. While it has never been a money-making endeavor, it is seen as an important service to the community.

Griffin started with the city in the Community Development office, where she spent six years. A large part of her job in that position involved writing grant applications, a position which certainly served her well when she transferred to the role of assistant director at RTD. “I did financial management, tracking grants - it was a good setup for communicating with federal agencies,” Griffin said. Federal government grants and annual appropriations from the city largely fund the Rome Transit Department.

Since Griffin has been with RTD, two of the most significant changes in the system have occurred. The first happened in 2019 when the city was ordered to stop its Tripper service. That was the name for how the city-run bus system provided transportation for school children.

Uncle Sam said the city could not provide that service anymore. Not long after that decision was rendered from Washington, the COVID pandemic kicked in, which cut ridership on the mainline and paratransit busses.

Part of the federal response to the COVID situation was increased funding, which allowed the city to operate the mainline fleet at no cost to riders. “We saw an 80% jump since COVID and about a 20% increase over our standard ridership,” Griffin said. How long the city can provide free service remains to be seen.

The next change occurred early in 2023 when the system brought on new Gillig buses along with a new logo and bright color scheme for the buses. “They are big, bright, and beautiful, and so we hope they stand out in the community so when you see them, you know it’s us, and you want to get on them,” Griffin said. The Gillig busses have more space, with different types of seating, which Griffin says makes them much more comfortable than the older fleet.

But that’s just the tip of the iceberg because, as City Manager Sammy Rich remarked, changes are in the works for RTD moving forward.

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“We’re looking forward to really beefing up our presence in the community,” Griffin said.”

That could come in any number of forms. She said the leadership, starting under Shealy, has looked at how they can improve service.

“We are looking at the routes, we are looking at how we provide services, what vehicles we use to provide services, so many cool things are coming,” Griffin said.

The number of bus routes has been trimmed significantly over the years, and one of the major objectives of Griffin is to trim the headway, the length of time it takes a bus to run its route. In fact, a proposal request is being written this summer and fall for a study examining the efficiencies of the existing six mainline routes.

There has been some talk about micro-transit, on-demand service, and other methods of meeting the transportation needs of Romans.

Griffin has been excited about exploring all the different options for both serving the needs of Rome residents and reducing the cost of providing those services.

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E D U CAT I O N

GEORGIA LOTTERY PRESIDENT AND CEO

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GRETCHEN CORBIN

Although you may have never won a prize from the Georgia Lottery, chances are some young student in your family has benefited or perhaps will.

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Since Governor Zell Miller bought the first lottery ticket on June 29, 1993, some 52,981 local students have attended Berry College, Georgia Highlands, and Georgia Northwestern Technical College on a HOPE Scholarship or HOPE Grant – totaling over $179 Million in lottery funds.

The scholarship program is packing our classrooms of higher learning.

Currently, the Georgia Lottery provides $1.516 billion to the state of Georgia each year for Georgia’s HOPE Scholarship Program and Georgia’s Pre-K Program. Since its beginning in 1993, the Georgia Lottery has returned more than $26.8 billion to the state of Georgia for education.

More than 2.1 million students have benefited from HOPE scholarships and grants, and more than 2 million 4-year-olds have attended lotteryfunded Pre-K. Rome resident Gretchen Corbin became president and CEO of the Georgia Lottery Corporation in 2018. Her business goal is to fulfill the corporation’s mission to maximize revenues for HOPE and Pre-K, ensuring that Georgia’s students continue to have access to these important educational programs.

Corbin’s leadership has had a direct impact on Georgia. Since becoming president and CEO of the Georgia Lottery, approximately 479,000 students have received HOPE scholarships and grants, more than 454,600 4-yearolds have attended Georgia’s Pre-K program, and over 460 Georgia Lottery players have become millionaires.

Before her role at the Georgia Lottery, Corbin was commissioner of the Technical College System of Georgia (TCSG). At TCSG, Corbin oversaw the state’s 22 technical colleges, 135,000 students, 46,000 economic development trainees, 15,000 employees, an $800 million budget, and a host of economic and workforce development programs, including Georgia Quick Start, the nation’s top-ranked workforce training program.

During Corbin’s tenure, TCSG grew dual enrollment of high school students taking TCSG college courses to 22,000. The TCSG graduation rate increased by 9 percent from 2015 to 2017. Additionally, Corbin partnered in developing the HOPE Career Grant to provide free tuition to students in 17 high-demand areas.

The agency saw numerous advances under Corbin’s leadership, including new options for GED completion and transcript acquisition, a tax credit program for employers who encourage GED completion, the opening of the Georgia BioScience Training Center and other new facilities, and a mobile app to facilitate college registration.

deputy commissioner of global commerce. Her work within Georgia and throughout the world brought nearly 69,000 jobs and over $13 billion in capital investment to Georgia.

Corbin is involved in many outstanding professional and civic organizations, including Leadership Rome and Leadership Georgia, where she has served as president and chairman. She is a member of the Georgia Tech Manufacturing Institute External Advisory Board, the University of Georgia’s Board of Visitors, the Rotary Club of Atlanta Board of Directors, and the Georgia Chamber of Commerce Board of Directors.

She is the lead director of the Mega Millions Consortium and recently served a two-year term as president of the North American Association of State and Provincial Lotteries (NASPL).

For the past ten years, Corbin has been cited as one of Georgia Trend magazine’s 100 Most Influential Georgians, one of the Atlanta Business Chronicle’s Top 20 Women Who Mean Business, and by James magazine’s Most Influential Georgians for the last six years.

“The most important thing about the Georgia Lottery,” she says, “is to remember that every ticket you buy is a winner for Georgia students and education. You can’t beat that.”

Corbin joined TCSG from the Georgia Department of Community Affairs (DCA), where she served as commissioner. At DCA, she oversaw 65 programs and was responsible for more than $71 million in investment in Georgia communities.

Before DCA, Corbin served 15 years at the Georgia Department of Economic Development (GDEcD), holding various roles, including

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THE FUTURE IS BRIGHT FOR GEORGIA NORTHWESTERN TECHNICAL COLLEGE GRADUATES

E D U CAT I O N

IN HIGH DEMAND CAREERS

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“High demand career fields represent the occupations in each of Georgia’s key industries that are in-demand, pay an above average entry-level wage and are considered strong options for pursuing a successful career in Georgia,” said Dr. Heidi Popham, Georgia Northwestern Technical College (GNTC) president. “These occupations are critical to these industries’ success and Georgia’s economic health.”

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These career fields are identified by the State of Georgia and reflect areas within the workforce where there are often more open positions than there are skilled workers to fill them, Dr. Popham explained.

GNTC focuses on Aviation Maintenance Technology, Commercial Truck Driving and Nursing among high demand career options.

Since the late 1990s, there have been more workers in Aviation over the age of 60 than under age 30, said Jon Byrd, executive director of Aviation at GNTC and Technical College System of Georgia (TCSG) state aviation advisor.

“The pandemic and employees taking early retirement escalated the shortage,” Byrd said. “As a result, companies employ two, sometimes three, new workers to replace the one employee that retired.”

Besides airlines, aviation maintenance facilities, corporate aviation departments, charter companies, first responders, flight schools, forestry departments, and utility inspection and repair departments need Aviation Maintenance Technicians, he said.

Wages for technicians vary greatly depending on the employer, facility location and volume of aircraft, he said. GNTC graduates typically earn $21 to $35 per hour as starting pay.

“While there is a lot of responsibility, the rewards can be great,” Byrd said. “The sense of accomplishment, achievement and overcoming challenges—all paired with flight benefits that many companies offer their employees—can make it a very satisfying career.”

Increased pay, good health insurance and benefits, the transition to automatic transmissions and new safety features—such as lane assist and proximity sensors—are making Commercial Truck Driving a more attractive career option, said Robert Browder, program director and instructor of Commercial Truck Driving at GNTC. Employers also understand that drivers want more time with their families.

“With the shortage of drivers, more local driving positions are available with area trucking companies and manufacturers,” Browder said.

The Technical College System of Georgia has identified dozens of high demand careers for Georgia. Of those, Georgia Northwestern Technical College offers programs in Automation Engineering Technology, including Engineering Technology Basics; Aviation Maintenance Technology; Basic POST (Peace Officer Standards and Training Council) Certification; Cybersecurity; Commercial Truck Driving; Manufacturing, including Industrial Systems Technology, Instrumentation and Controls, Precision Machining and Manufacturing, and Welding and Joining Technology; and Nursing and Practical Nursing, including programs to prepare for licensure as a Certified Nursing Assistant, Licensed Practical Nurse and Registered Nurse.

The American Trucking Associations forecasts that the trucking industry will need to hire 1.2 million drivers over the next decade to keep pace with economic growth and driver retirements.

“This is a good career that you can retire from. What other program can you complete in just eight to 10 weeks and then earn from $40,000 to $50,000 a year starting out?” Browder said. “Experienced drivers whose routes cover the Southeast or are Over The Road drivers can earn between $60,000 and $80,000 a year.”

“The retirement of the current bedside nursing workforce began before the pandemic; however, issues related to the pandemic accelerated the exodus of Nurses from the workforce,” said Michelle Spears-Sevy, program director and instructor for GNTC’s Associate of (Continued on page 13) bridgesmagazinerome.com

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"To meet the needs for these and other high demand careers, GNTC is expanding course offerings by adding more sections and evening courses at some campuses, utilizing career fairs and open houses to expose secondaryschool students to these career fields and working with industry partners to share information about apprenticeship programs and available funding."

Dr. Heidi Popham

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(Continued from page 11)

Science in Nursing program. The increasing age of the population with complex health issues is also a factor.

with industry partners to share information about apprenticeship programs and available funding, Dr. Popham said.

“According to the Bureau of Health Workforce, Georgia ranks sixth in the nationwide Nursing shortage,” Spears-Sevy said. Officials say the shortage is hitting rural areas the hardest.

“Programs at GNTC maintain contact with the private industry through advisory committees, which review course curricula, program equipment and facilities, and make recommendations to keep the programs up-to-date and in-line with industry standards,” Dr. Popham said. The committees also explain current business and industrial needs pertaining to job skills and job placement.

Nurses are needed in assisted living facilities, behavioral health facilities, doctors’ offices, home health providers, hospices, hospitals, schools and skilled nursing facilities, as well as in private duty nursing and travel nursing, she said.

Salary.com advises salaries for new graduates range between $31,260 to $37,571 for Certified Nursing Assistants, from $45,910 to $56,170 for Licensed Practical Nurses and from $59,612 to $75,967 for Registered Nurses, Spears-Sevy said.

“We utilize program advisory committees to ensure we have the appropriate equipment and are teaching the competencies and skills necessary to succeed in today’s workforce,” she said.

“This is one of the few professions where you know that you will impact someone's life every time you go to work,” she said.

GNTC students who wish to pursue one of Georgia’s high-demand careers may be eligible for a grant to pay 100% of tuition costs for select in-demand diploma and technical certificate programs. To be eligible for the HOPE Career Grant, students must first qualify for and be receiving the HOPE Grant. The two grants together will cover tuition.

To meet the needs for these and other high demand careers, GNTC is expanding course offerings by adding more sections and evening courses at some campuses, utilizing career fairs and open houses to expose secondary-school students to these career fields and working

Students must meet HOPE Career Grant eligibility requirements and pay the remaining costs of college fees, books and materials each semester.

For more information on the HOPE Career Grant, contact GNTC Monday through Friday, 7:45 a.m. to 4:15 p.m., at 866-983-4682.

High Demand Careers Begin Here!

GNTC.edu 866-983-4682 GNTC is accredited by the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges to award associate degrees.

A unit of the Technical College System of Georgia and an EOI.

NURSING

PUBLIC SERVICE

WINNING

THE WATER WAR

Rome is the Rome we all know today because of the two rivers that come together at the base of Myrtle Hill.

Native Americans found the abundant water and fertile river valley corridor a special place to call home. Thanks to the efforts of many dedicated public servants and a legal team that worked tirelessly for close to four years, it will become a cleaner, safer supply and hopefully stay that way for the foreseeable future.

Attorneys for the city reached settlements this summer with more than 30 defendants in a suit that was originally filed in 2019 to hold manufacturers of so-called “forever chemicals,” polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS), responsible for the cost of building a new raw water treatment plant in Rome, operating and maintaining that plant for years in the future, as well as dealing with the initial treatments of chemicals at the upstream sources of the pollution that has plagued Rome for decades.

The PFAS chemicals have been used to create stain-resistant carpeting manufactured at plants across the upper Coosa Valley. Those manufacturers and Dalton Utilities were the subject of the case filed in November 2019.

The settlements reached this summer mean that Rome can finish designing, constructing, and installing a closedcircuit reverse osmosis water treatment facility that will treat whatever is coming through the raw waters of the Oostanaula and Etowah Rivers. That figure is expected to be well north of $100 million.

Attorney Andy Davis, a partner with Brinson, Askew and Berry attorneys in Rome, said the facility will provide “great water for (Continued on page 16)

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(Continued from page 14)

the city of Rome.” Given the capabilities of the reverse osmosis system, the water may end up being better than the water those first Native Americans found hundreds of years ago.

Attorney Jeff Friedman with the Friedman, Dazzio and Zulanas firm in Birmingham explains that Rome is the focal point for drainage of the Upper Coosa Valley basin and has been impacted far more than most communities nationwide. The settlements are “going to benefit the citizens here, and the natural resources will eventually recover, we believe, because of some of the agreements that we’ve been able to reach.”

Rome has chosen acreage along Riverside Parkway, between the Department of Family and Children Services facility and the Rome Community Center, to build the new reverse osmosis treatment plant.

Archer Western has been chosen as the construction manager at the risk of the new water treatment plant.

“The name (reverse osmosis) may have more fanfare than what is actually taking place,” said Rome Water and Sewer Division Director Mike Hackett. “It’s filtering filtered water to the point where you’re almost removing everything.” He said the process of removing particulates from the water is so complete that minerals have to be added to the back end of the process. Conventional filtration has been done for decades via a gravity-based system. Reverse osmosis involves forcing raw water through a membrane with almost microscopic pores at extremely high pressure.

Operating a reverse osmosis system will be significantly higher than current costs. “Definitely higher power costs,” said Hackett.

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“Probably higher personnel and maintenance costs, but most of it will probably be related to power.” The settlement projects enough money to cover the increased costs associated with reverse osmosis.

Still, the revenue the settlement produces will not fund maintenance and operation in perpetuity.

One of the first major impacts of the settlement agreements is that current Rome water customers received a rollback of water rates added on bills beginning in March of 2022.

City commissioners voted to impose a 9% annual increase out of necessity if the city was unsuccessful in the litigation against the chemical manufacturers. The rate would go up 9% each year into 2025, followed by 3% annual increases for another six years. If you were paying $50 a month for water, that would have gone up to $54.50 last year, then increased to $59.40 this year, up to $64.74 next year, and so on.

The rollback of water rates takes the charges back to the same level imposed in December 2018. City Manager Sammy Rich has estimated that the rollback will save the average water customer between $10 and $15 a month.

How long the rollback and savings can continue is anyone’s guess because aside from simply rolling back rates, costs associated with treating raw water have gone up significantly over the last five years.

The bottom line for city officials is that the settlement should result in cleaner water and allow Rome to build a state-of-the-art water treatment plant that should last for many decades into the future.

It’s a big win-win for the community.

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MAIN OFFICE 1609 Martha Berry Blvd.

Rome, GA 30165 706-291-4321

HARDY ON BROAD 440 Broad St. Rome, GA 30161 706-291-4321

CEDARTOWN 407 Main St. Cedartown, GA 30125 470-945-2700

CARTERSVILLE 101 W. Main St. Cartersville, GA 30120 470-945-2900

HERITAGE

Sleep Concepts A Legacy and Vision for the Future

Whether it be a treasured heirloom or a cherished holiday tradition, we each have our own meaning for the word heritage. It is no different for the family of Terry Spears, who started in the mattress manufacturing business in the 1970s as his legacy is continued.

The family tradition in the mattress industry was established in the early 1900s when J.H. Sanford had his own company where he manufactured and sold mattresses. Sanford’s son, Claude worked at Lovell Mattress in Rome until he stepped out independently and opened Sanford Mattress in the 1940s. The company was a preferred provider for local colleges, boarding schools, and furniture stores. The legacy continued to the third generation, led by Sanford’s son-in-law, Terry Spears. In 1973, along with his brother, Spears Mattress was opened. The company quickly became the largest independent mattress manufacturer in the country. The successful business was then approached by a larger national company, which purchased the company in 2006 and later closed in 2014. After enjoying retirement for several years, in 2015, Spears decided to get back into the industry and opened Heritage Sleep Concepts.

Now recognized as one of the fastest growing manufacturers in the country,

the company is lead by the fourth and fifth generations. Jordan and Jamie Beck, who were trained by their grandfather continue the legacy into the future.

Located at 100 Capitoline Drive in Rome, Heritage Sleep Concepts manufactures mattresses that can be found throughout the southeast.

Each stage of manufacturing is overseen by one of their approximately 70 employees, who are committed to upholding Heritage Sleep’s longstanding commitment to quality. In the 120,000-square-foot facility, you find some of the newest and cutting-edge equipment and materials to ensure purchasers a quality product that will provide years of comfort and durability. Many bedding options include traditional innerspring, innovative pocketed coil systems, and luxurious foam.

While the company is proud to be found in multiple states, they are honored to provide exceptional quality products to the public at its showroom located at the plant. Multiple models are on display featuring their house brands Heritage Sleep Concepts, Ernest Hemingway, Eclipse, and Eastman House. The dedicated and highly trained staff guides customers in comparing mattresses of varying firmness and compositions. Purchases are backed up with warranties ranging from 10 to 20 years.

As the company continues its family legacy, it appreciates the trust of its vendors and especially the individual customers they serve.

With their support, Heritage Sleep Concepts looks forward to the next hundred years of business.

Left to Right: Barry Simpson, Robin Spears Simpson, Kristi Spears Beck, Frankie Beck, Jamie Spears, and Jordan Beck

For more information, Heritage Sleep Concepts may be reached at 706.584.7235 or visit heritagesleepconcepts.com.

NOVA

B U S I N E S S & I N D U S T RY

RIVER DISTRICT

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DEVELOPMENT

Rome has sought to grow its historic downtown business district for decades. Natural obstacles inhibited that growth until recently, when Rome initiated a concerted effort to develop the community on the west bank of the Oostanaula River.

A huge swath of land, including West Third Street and North Fifth Avenue, was included in the city’s first Tax Allocation District Redevelopment Area in 2005. Tax Allocation District financial packages allow developers to recoup a portion of their investment through what amounts to a tax rebate over a specific number of years.

Though the district was created in 2005, the first project to receive assistance was the Courtyard by Marriott in December 2018. River City Bank was the first major new project on West Third Street, replacing the old Rome Feed & Seed Building at the corner of Second Avenue and West Third Street.

Years later, the Courtyard by Marriott was completed. Now, perhaps the largest and most ambitious effort yet, a mixed-use residential and retail development is underway between the Marriott and the old buildings that line North Fifth Avenue.

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Architectural concept provided by NOVA

In 2019, a group out of Atlanta (originally called CRE IMPACT River Arts District LLC) was selected to develop the area. Their vision is beginning to come to life. Owner Jeff Warwick said that he had come to Rome to visit friends who were building a home here and fell in love with the town. “I like that it’s not right on the Interstate,” Warwick said. “The more I learned about the city’s vision for the River District, the more I thought maybe I could help, maybe I could do something different.”

He raised private equity funds, including an Opportunity Zone Fund.

Opportunity Zones are economic development tools that allow people to invest in a distressed zone and temporarily defer taxes on eligible gains by investing in a qualified Opportunity Fund.

In addition to the tax advantages of the Opportunity Zone designation, the group now known as NOVA is seeking $14 million in Tax Allocation District financial assistance through the year 2035. The TAD would allow the investors to recoup some of the property taxes based on the increased value of the property.

The developers have acquired 11 parcels totaling 6.4 acres. Several old commercial buildings in varying stages of disrepair were demolished, and three buildings that have been considered historic have been preserved. Site work for the project, a mixed-use retail and residential development called Nova River District, is well underway.

plans for the site have changed several times since Warwick’s group got the contract with the city. “We started this project and the ideas around it pre-COVID and pre-inflation,” Warwick said. “I think we’ve thrived through it in many ways because we’ve designed something better than when we started.” Nearly three-fourths of the apartments will be one-bedroom units.

The developers have also acquired parcels on the west side of West Third Street for redevelopment opportunities in the future. Vertical construction should begin during the fourth quarter of this year, with completion anticipated in 18-24 months.

“NOVA is in a prime location on the river downtown and will aim to transform the area into a place people want to both live and visit,” said Rome City Manager Sammy Rich. “The project will feature multifamily residences, a 2-acre park, as well as onsite retail opportunities”. The park will create another new amenity along the riverfront that could allow for access to bike rental space, art installations, and other programming to attract visitors.

Rich is also excited about the NOVA project because of the direct access afforded residents and visitors to the ECO Greenway, the city’s 16mile multi-purpose trail system that connects the River District to other community areas like Berry College and AdventHealth Stadium.

The most recent plan for the project includes 250 multifamily residences, 10,000 square feet of retail space, and a two-acre park in Phase 1, between West Third Street and the Oostanaula River levee. The

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"Always vote for principle, though you may vote alone, and you may cherish the sweetest reflection that your vote is never lost."

-John Quincy Adams

YOUR VOTE

Does Make A Difference The Importance of Voting

The privilege to vote is one of the most important rights we have as citizens of the United States. While national and state-wide elections always take the spotlight, the importance of local elections should not be underestimated.

By exercising your right to vote, you take part in shaping the future of the community. Not only do you help decide who represents the community, but also the policies that can directly affect you and your family.

You Help Decide Who Represents You Candidates share with the public concepts and how they envision the future of our community. You can make an informed decision by taking an active role in the process through research and attending candidate forums. This will benefit you and the community.

You Influence Policies Elected officials often use voter participation as a barometer of which issues are relevant to their constituents. By letting your voice be heard, community leaders will have your input to consider while making decisions on all aspects of the policies they enact.

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You Perform Your Civic Duty By voting, you honor those who fought and sacrificed for the privilege to vote. As you become more involved in the governing process, many feel a sense of ownership and empowerment.

For more information about voting in the upcoming election, visit Elections & Voter Registration | Floyd County Georgia (floydcountyga.gov).

In addition to the vote for the SPLOST, WARDS ONE and THREE are on the ballot.

Ward One: Jim Bojo (I) Harry Brock Mark Cochran (I) Charles Love Sundai Stevenson (I)

Ward Three: Bonny Askew (I) Bill Collins (I) Craig McDaniel (I) Wayne Robinson

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ON THE BALLOT

SPLOST

Rome and Floyd County voters will decide the fate of a new $110 million Special Purpose Local Option Sales package at the polls on November 7.

S P E C I A L P R OJ E C T S

"The project list we have this go-round is not a pie-in-the-sky wish list; these are needed projects," said Rome attorney Bob Berry, who chaired a Citizens Advisory Committee that developed the project list.

The largest items in the package are $22,481,289 for a new City of Rome police headquarters, $10.6 million for Floyd County paving and infrastructure, and $10 million for acquisition of land for economic development.

Berry explains that a SPLOST tax includes as much as 35-40% of money paid by people from out of town. The advisory committee, with appointees from Floyd County and the cities of Rome and Cave Spring, listened to proposals from private community residents and government officials for nearly two months before supporting the list of the projects that will go before voters. "Honestly, it went very smoothly," Berry said." There was good conversation about some projects, but nobody was pounding any fists on the table. They were a very collegial group and serious about the work."

The committee included Cleve Jackson, Mike Burnes, Wendy Davis, Evie McNiece, Nick McLemore, Sam Burrell Jr., Monica Sheppard, and Jake Hager. Corey Townsend, Brad Doyle, and Keara Leonard, with LaDonna Collins and Melvon Ingram serving as alternates. The alternates were allowed to participate throughout the entire process of vetting proposals. Berry believes the package does not include any albatross projects that might draw a lot of criticism and negative feedback.

Berry said a SPLOST is the best way to finance the projects.

Public Safety projects ticketed for $38,491,289: Rome-Floyd Fire Department

Capital Projects

$ 5,750,000

Floyd Police

Capital

$ 2,000,000

Rome Police

New Headquarters Facility

$22,481,289

Rome Police

Radios

$ 1,200,000

Floyd Police

Training Facility

$ 2,000,000

Floyd Police

Secure Parking/Evidence Facility

$ 270,000

Floyd County Jail

Improvements

$ 2,890,000

Floyd County Prison

Improvements

$ 1,900,000

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SPLOST

(Continued from page 24)

Public Works and Transportation projects are allocated $32.80 million: County Public Works Capital Projects Mango Road Improvements Park Ave and Dragon Drive Turn Lane County paving and infrastructure City paving and infrastructure Chulio Road Improvements Eden Valley Road Improvements Three Mile Road Improvements

$ 4,048,000 $ 2,500,000 $ 1,200,000 $10,600,000 $ 6,500,000 $ 6,000,000 $ 160,000 $ 1,800,000

Water and Sewer projects were allocated $13.5 million: Cave Spring Water Highway 411 Enterprise Corner 411 County Southeast

Line Replacement Water Expansion Sewer Expansion Water line Extension

$ 3,000,000 $ 3,400,000 $ 4,500,000 $ 2,600,000

Quality of Life projects are targeted to receive $11.46 million: Alto Park Etowah Park Garden Lakes Park Lock & Dam Park North Floyd Park Shag Williams Park (Shannon) Wolfe Park (Lindale) Jackson Hill to Ridge Ferry Park Boardwalk Eagle Park (North Rome) Oostanaula Paddle in Campground Ridge Ferry Park ramp replacement

$ 915,000 $ 3,650,000 $ 2,500,000 $ 235,000 $ 235,000 $ 235,000 $ 235,000 $ 2,000,000 $ 550,000 $ 850,000 $ 60,000

Technology and Infrastructure projects would net $3.73 million: Cave Spring Elementary Rome Clocktower Airport Recycling

Roof Repair Structural Repair New T-hangars Technology Improvements

$ 200,000 $ 800,000 $ 1,739,000 $ 1,000,000

The economic development effort has been earmarked $10 million.

(Continued on page 46)

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H E A LT H & W E L L N E S S 28

THE HEART

From left to right: Drs. Justin Tanner, Himanshu Patel, Michael Ware, Charles Jackson, Chris Merritt, Robert Styperek, Hunter Myers, and Kipp Slicker.

Of The Matter

Healthcare is personal and requires confidence and trust. AdventHealth Medical Group Cardiology, located at 7 John Maddox Drive, is here to serve its patients through proactive prevention, critical treatment, and recovery. Patients and their families will appreciate the whole-health approach to care, treating the body, mind, and spirit. bridgesmagazinerome.com

The physicians and their support staff provide comprehensive heart care for many of the most common and critical cardiovascular needs.

He specializes in coronary artery disease and valvular disease. Dr. Jackson earned his medical degree at the Medical College of Georgia in Augusta and completed his residency program in internal medicine at Emory University in Atlanta. He then completed fellowships in cardiology and interventional cardiology, also at Emory.

J. Christopher Merritt, MD, FACC, is a board-certified interventional cardiologist. Dr. Merritt is deeply committed to the care of all his patients and is driven by his compassion and desire to help his patients by providing interventional and structural heart services.

Dr. Merritt earned his medical degree at Emory University School of Medicine in Atlanta and completed his residency program in internal medicine at Vanderbilt University Medical Center in Nashville, Tennessee. He completed a fellowship in cardiology at the Cleveland Clinic Educational Foundation in Ohio and an interventional cardiology fellowship at Emory.

The physicians and their support staff provide comprehensive heart care for many of the most common and critical cardiovascular needs.

Treatment areas include arrhythmia and atrial fibrillation, emergency care, heart failure, and heart valve disease repair and replacement.

Featuring an elite group of cardiology and vascular specialists dedicated to providing the best care to help you live your best life.

Charles F. Jackson, III, MD, is a board-certified interventional cardiologist. He is deeply committed to caring for his patients and treating them with the care he would wish for his family. Having grown up in Northwest Georgia himself, Dr. Jackson feels called to use his training to care for and bless the same community that has always loved and cared for him.

G. Hunter Myers, MD, FACC, is a board-certified interventional cardiologist. For Dr. Myers, getting to "the heart" of the matter is his greatest passion. He chose to concentrate on cardiology because of his desire to alleviate patients' pain and sickness in the body's most important organ.

Dr. Myers has been in practice for over 30 years. He stays current on leading-edge medical advances to give his patients the best care possible, bringing the necessary knowledge and compassion to heal every patient in body, mind, and spirit.

Dr. Myers earned his medical degree at the University of Virginia School of Medicine in Charlottesville. He then completed a residency program in internal medicine, where he served as chief resident, followed by a fellowship in cardiovascular disease at the University of North Carolina Hospitals in Chapel Hill.

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(Continued from page 29)

Himanshu Patel, MD, is a board-certified cardiologist. Dr. Patel is deeply committed to patient care and is driven by his compassion and desire to help everyone. His motto is, "If you need our help, we will see you."

Dr. Patel earned his medical degree at LSU New Orleans School of Medicine and completed his residency program in internal medicine at Thomas Jefferson University in Philadelphia. He then completed a cardiology fellowship from Albert Einstein Medical Center in Philadelphia.

H E A LT H & W E L L N E S S

Kipp Slicker, DO, FACC, is a board-certified interventional cardiologist. Dr. Slicker is deeply committed to the care of all patients and loves seeing his patients reach their health goals.

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Dr. Slicker earned his medical degree at Oklahoma State University College of Osteopathic Medicine in Tulsa. He completed his internal medicine residency program and his cardiovascular disease and interventional cardiology fellowships at Baylor Scott & White Texas A&M University Health Science Center in Temple.

Robert Styperek, MD, FHRS, FACC, is a board-certified cardiac electrophysiologist. Dedicated to patient care in Rome since 2002, Dr. Styperek is deeply committed to

caring for all his patients. He is driven by his compassion and desire to support their whole health.

Dr. Styperek earned his medical degree and completed his residency program in internal medicine at Emory University School of Medicine in Atlanta. He completed fellowships in cardiology and electrophysiology at the University of Miami/Jackson Memorial Hospital in Florida.

G. Justin Tanner, MD, is a board-certified interventional cardiologist. Dr. Tanner is deeply committed to the care of all his patients and is driven by his compassion and desire to help his patients lead healthier lives.

Dr. Tanner earned his medical degree at Mercer University School of Medicine in Macon, Georgia, and completed his residency program in internal medicine there as well.

He completed cardiovascular disease and interventional cardiology fellowships at the University of South Florida Morsani College of Medicine in Tampa.

J. Michael Ware, MD, FACC, is a board-certified interventional cardiologist. Dr. Ware is deeply committed to caring for all his patients and is driven by the intellectual and hands-on challenges practicing medicine brings. It is important to him for his patients to know how much he cares about their body, mind, and spirit wellbeing. He was recently recognized as the AdventHealth

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2023 Physician of the Year.

Dr. Ware earned his medical degree at Emory University School of Medicine in Atlanta and completed his residency program in internal medicine at Vanderbilt University Hospital in Nashville, Tennessee.

His fellowship was in cardiovascular disease at Emory.

For more information, visit GeorgiaHeartExperts.com or call 706.368.8500.

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The cardiovascular conditions and treatments provided by the specialists at AdventHealth Cardiology include: • Ablation • Aneurysm (aortic and abdominal) • Angiogram and Angioplasty • Atrial Fibrillation • Cardiac Catheterization • Cardiac Rehabilitation • Cardiac Stress Testing • CardioMEMS™ • Cardioversion • Coronary Balloon Angioplasty • Coronary Heart Disease • Coronary Bypass Surgery • Coronary Stenting • Deep Vein Thrombosis • Echocardiograms • Electrophysiology • Heart Attack • Heart Failure • Holter Monitoring • Hypertension • Mechanical Circulatory Support • Mitral Valve Replacement and MitraClip™ • Myocardial Infarction (STEMI) • Open-Heart Surgery • Pacemaker Implantation • Percutaneous Coronary Intervention • Peripheral Artery Disease • Stoke • Transcatheter Aortic Valve Replacement • Vascular Surgery

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ROME'S

TENNIS Center

It's hard to believe that seven years have passed since the opening of the Rome Tennis Center at Berry College. What may be even harder to fathom is that over those seven years, close to a million tennis players have found their way to the sprawling hardcourt complex in a band of the Armuchee Connector.

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In recent years, as Rome has added men's and women's professional tournaments to the long-standing mix of USTA league and junior, intercollegiate, and interscholastic tournaments, players have come from around the world.

Rome has been hosting large tournaments for many years; however, the courts were spread out at sites from Etowah Park to Alto Park, the downtown courts to courts at Darlington School, and larger tournaments had become a logistical challenge.

Leaders of the tennis community came together in 2008 and thought it would be a good idea to build a new complex that would be large enough to handle the growing number of tournaments that were coming to Rome.

An economic impact study by Dr. Jeffrey Humphreys of the Selig Center for Economic Growth at the University of Georgia was used to try to attract some state assistance with the center's financing.

Ultimately, leaders put the facility in a 2013 Special-Purpose Sales Tax package that local voters passed. The center opened in the fall of 2016.

A few years later, the city, noting the need for indoor courts to accompany bidding on many tournaments, agreed to sell bonds to

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construct the six-court indoor complex, which was completed in time for the 2021 Atlantic Coast Conference tournament.

The ACC men's and women's tournaments were held in Rome in 2021 and 2022.

Putting the SPLOST and bond funds, the capital investments in the tennis center totaled close to $16 million. On the other hand, the local Convention and Visitors Bureau has been able to track more than $35 million in direct economic impact that has resulted from the growing number of events at the center.

United States Tennis Association Junior tournaments, along with various regional and state-sanctioned adult league events, are conducted almost monthly at the center.

In addition to the ACC tournament, several Intercollegiate Tennis Association Fall championships for NCAA Division II and III, NAIA, and National Junior College competitors have been held at the Rome Tennis Center.

Micheal Chang watches his daughter Lani, pictured on the previous page, as she competes at a recent event.

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The United States Tennis Association Girls 14& Under championships have been played in Rome for many years. The event, which concluded in August, brought young ladies from more than 35 states to Rome over a nine-day period.

You never know who you might see at the 14&U event. Last year, former heavyweight boxing champ Mike Tyson was here to watch his daughter Milan play. This year it was Michael Chang, the youngest man ever to win a Grand Slam event (the French Open at age 17), who was in Rome to watch his daughter, Lani.

Chang said he wished there were some complexes like the Rome Tennis Center near his home in Mission Viejo, California. "This is a great facility," Chang said. The staff here, obviously their experience shows… they did a phenomenal job."

The Rome tennis center is also a great venue for those who are fans of tennis in general. It has hosted two Association of Tennis Professionals Challenger tournaments for men.

(Continued on page 34)

Mike Tyson and family visited Rome in 2022.

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(Continued from page 33)

The first was won by Yibing Wu, a young Chinese professional who is ranked 87th in the world. He beat defending NCAA champion Ben Shelton who turned pro right after that tournament and is ranked number 40.

Earlier this year, Australian Jordan Thompson won the second tournament, currently number 55, over California teen sensation Alex Michelsen who is already in the top 150.

Three women's tournaments have been played in Rome, won by Spaniard Irene Burillo Escorihuela, German Tatiana Maria, who went on to reach the Wimbledon semi-finals last year, and Peyton Stearns, the defending NCAA champion out of the University of Texas who has turned pro.

International Tennis Federation Wheelchair tournaments have brought most of the top wheelchair players from around the globe to Rome, including Shingo Kunieda of Japan, Alfie Hewett of Great Britain, and Diede de Groot and Aniek van Koot of The Netherlands.

Alfie Hewett of Great Britain competes at the ITFW tournament.

2023 USTA 14U Champion, Lyla Middleton and Reagan Levine.

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H I S T O RY

MYRTLE Hill 36

Pick a name that you associate with Rome - Berry, Shorter, Barron, Harbin, Mitchell, and you will find important members of those families who have been laid to rest in the historic Myrtle Hill Cemetery. And that doesn't include the resting place of First Lady Ellen Axson Wilson, one of the most visited graves in the entire cemetery.

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One of the seven hills of Rome, Myrtle Hill has been around since the first Native Americans arrived in what we now call Rome. The knoll which overlooks Rome became a cemetery in 1857. The permanent resting place for more than 20,000, Myrtle Hill Cemetery is one of the community's leading tourist attractions.

While the Wilson site may be the most visited grave in Myrtle Hill, the Von Gammon site is also popular during cemetery tours. Gammon died from injuries sustained in a football at the University of Georgia in October of 1897, prompting the state legislature to ban football. His mother, Rosalind Gammon, penned a letter to Governor William (Continued on page 38)

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Gravesite of Ellen Axson Wilson. Wilson, a former First Lady, grew up in Rome.

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(Continued from page 37)

Atkinson urging him to veto the legislation, and you know the rest of that story.

H I S T O RY

In front of the cemetery lies a plaza that pays homage to veterans and is the host site for America's Tomb of the Known Soldier, World War I Private Charles Graves. His mother objected to his burial at the Arlington National Cemetery. He was brought home to Rome and laid to rest in the Antioch Church Cemetery in April 1922.

Following his mother's death, Graves's body was relocated to Myrtle Hill, and he was finally formally recognized as America's Known Soldier. Rome's largest Veteran's Day celebration each November 11 is held at the plaza.

The plaza was improved in 2000, two years after the founding of the Myrtle Hill/Oak Hill Memorial Association. Longtime cemetery historian Anne Culpepper calls the group the "Pink Ladies" of the cemetery. They raise funds by selling bricks and benches to renovate the plaza completely. The association seeks solely to protect and preserve the cemetery.

The plaza at the base of the cemetery is surrounded on South Broad Street and Myrtle Street by 34 giant magnolia trees to honor the 34 Rome and Floyd County veterans who died in service during World War I. (Continued on page 40) 38

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Grave of Rome founder Col. Zachariah Hargrove is located near the top of Myrtle Hill.

Col. Daniel Mitchell's tombstone.

Below: Photo D.R. Mitchell from Battey/A History of Rome and Floyd County.

The mediation garden offers a quite area for reflection and rest. bridgesmagazinerome.com

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The gravesite of Mary T. Banks, the first African-American teacher in Rome.

H I S T O RY

(Continued from page 38)

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Another grave that involved a re-burial can be found higher on the hill. Charles B. Norton. who was killed at the First Battle of Manassas (Bull Run, if you're from the North), was re-interred in Myrtle Hill years after the Civil War. His grave is not a part of the huge Civil War section of the cemetery, located just to the left of the main entrance.

where people visiting the cemetery could rest in a place of quiet and beauty.

Two of Rome's founders, Col. Daniel Mitchell and Col. Zachariah Hargrove, are laid to rest near one another close to the peak of Myrtle Hill.

Culpepper quickly points out that no tax dollars are used to fund the enhancements and repairs to preserve the historical integrity of the old cemetery. Since it was founded, the Myrtle Hill-Oak Hill Memorial Association has also raised funds to replace the entrance gates at the cemetery and renovated the Sexton's house, which houses the offices of the cemetery director.

Congressman Augustus Wright, who served with Abraham Lincoln in the years leading up to the war, is also buried in Myrtle Hill. Col. Alfred Shorter, of Shorter University fame, was buried in the cemetery. Lt. Walton Shanklin and W.J. Attaway, both killed in WWI, for whom Rome's largest American Legion Post is named, are each buried in the cemetery, A mausoleum was added in 2012 to accommodate the many Romans who wanted to be laid to rest in Myrtle Hill; however, grave sites in the cemetery were essentially sold out.

Another addition to the cemetery is a meditation garden designed by John Paul Schulz, which opened in 2016. The garden is accented by a 150-year-old wrought iron fence donated by Leeta and Michael McDougald. The cemetery, originally laid out by Cunningham Pennington (think Pennington Avenue), was conceived as a garden cemetery so members of the Myrtle Hill-Oak Hill Memorial Association felt it only proper to have a spot

An app is available to help visitors locate specific grave sites and features of the cemetery. Just search Myrtle Hill Cemetery in the Apple App Store or Google Play.

The newest addition to the cemetery is the Angel in the Oak, a sculpture by Jeremy Smith carved into what was believed to be one of the oldest trees in the cemetery.

More recently, historic preservation staff in the RomeFloyd Planning office have undertaken a project to locate and identify as many gravesites as possible in the African American section of the cemetery near the intersection of Myrtle Street and Pennington Avenue. The Mary T. Banks grave is considered among the important sites in that section. She taught in the local schools for 44 years before retiring in 1952.

Each fall, the association hosts "Where Romans Rest" tours of the cemetery during October, with tour leaders dressed in period wear.

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cell

FALL

IN LOVE WITH

F E S T I VA L S

Local Fall Festivals

42

Every fall Georgia’s Rome becomes a symphony of color that layers the hills and surrounds the rivers. It creates the perfect backdrop for Rome’s vibrant festival season, which is also the perfect time to invite friends and family to discover the charm of Rome!

The festival season begins in mid-September with the Annual Cave Spring Pig Out and Car Show held in Rolater Park. Carnivore lovers will rejoice but act fast because the BBQ tasting tickets sell out. It’s the only way to taste and vote for the best BBQ in Floyd County!

If BBQ is not your vibe, how about mushrooms? Yes, Cave Spring is also home to the Georgia Mushroom Festival. It combines the mega science of mycology with art, food and music where you can learn from expert mycologist, attend workshops and go on guided mushroom walks. It’s not your typical fall festival, but it’s a pretty cool science to discover.

Kicking off the month of October is a local tradition where you’ll enjoy the smell of roasted corn dogs,

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funnel cakes and deep-fried Oreos. Combine that with sounds of thrills, cheers and laughter and you have the Coosa Valley Fair.

For over 70 years, the fair provides five full days of nostalgic fun including rides, games, attractions, livestock, arts, crafts, and the Miss Coosa Valley Fair pageant!

If you love fun and games, along with exploring and solving puzzles, then you need to experience Going Caching. This 5-day mega-event is one of the largest geocaching events in North America! Participants enjoy GPS adventure games, lab caches, newly published geocaches, socials and gatherings. Did we mention it’s free?!

Another free festival we love is Fiddlin’ Fest! Downtown Rome literally transforms into one huge street festival featuring the (Continued on page 44)

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(Continued from page 43)

F E S T I VA L S

classic sounds of bluegrass music on two live music stages along with activities on every block of Broad Street. Enjoy the car show, craft vendors, interactive booths and Roman Holiday Riverboat tours. Plan to dine downtown and shop the cute boutiques and sidewalk sales.

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For more toe-tappin’ fun, along with cider-sippin’, check out the Chiaha Arts Festival. It offers a diverse mix of quality crafts, fine arts, children’s activities, music and fair food. Most people can’t leave without tasting the fresh popped kettle corn, made the old fashion way in a giant copper kettle!

Speaking of giant, you’ll see both giant and miniature Schnauzers at Rome Schnauzerfest. It’s the cutest celebration of whiskered snouts you’ve ever seen! Festivities include an agility contest, Schnauzer Idol Singing Competition, a Schnauzer Parade and plenty of parties for participants who travel from across the U.S. every year for this event!

Rounding out the fun and culture offered during Rome’s fall festival season is the Rome International Film Festival, known by locals as RIFF. It was named one of 20 festivals worth the entry fee by MovieMaker Magazine! View regional, national, and international films,

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and participate in film industry workshops. If you want to mix and mingle with filmmakers and people who love films, be sure to get a Patron Pass to enjoy the evening parties.

Our last two events are technically not in the festival category but are too hauntingly good not to mention! The Rome Area History Centers offers Haunted on Broad Tours for two weekends in October. Hear bone-chilling tales at different sites around Rome. You’ll also want to catch the Where Romans Rest Tours at Myrtle Hill to hear the storied histories of some notable residents of the cemetery.

For more fun ways to explore Rome or to get all the dates and details on area festivals, scan the QR code.

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SPLOST

(Continued from page 31)

Rome and Floyd County have only rejected three sales tax packages since 1986. The first time community leaders tried to raise money for a minor league baseball stadium in 1992, voters said no. A school project list failed in 1998, and a multi-purpose package was defeated in 2005 Floyd County Manager Jamie McCord said the City Police headquarters facility is probably the signature project on this package. Almost a third of the entire package can be linked to a year ago's decision to turn over the Joint Law Enforcement Center to Floyd County for court purposes.

If that deal had not occurred, much of the new SPLOST package might have focused on a new judicial center. The E-911 center will remain on the second floor of the current law enforcement building, with the first and third floors expected to be earmarked for Magistrate, Probate, and Juvenile Court use.

The Floyd County Police will move to the former Glenwood school campus, which will require significant renovations.

The new Rome Police facility could come in the form of renovations to an existing building or an entirely new facility altogether. The police

need approximately 30,000 feet. City Manager Sammy Rich said that he is trying to find a centrally located space because, in addition to the police, the facility will also house the Municipal Court.

McCord said that some of the recreation projects countywide should also be attractive to voters as splash pads are planned for several parks. The infields at the Alto Park baseball and softball complex are slated to get artificial turf, as are some of the soccer/multi-purpose fields at Garden Lakes Park. Artificial turf will be installed at the ball fields at Etowah Park, which will be renamed Veterans Park at Etowah.

McCord also believes the $10 million for economic development work will be critical to helping attract new jobs to the community. Water and sewer projects out 411 East and in the Southeast part of the county will be important to future growth.

The money earmarked for improving Chulio Road, taking out some curves, and leveling some of the hilly terrain will be important to the growth foreseen in that part of the community.

Rome, Georgia

Your One-Stop Shop For Insurance Ben McWhorter

601 E 1st St. Rome, GA 30161-3143 (706) 234-8686 BMcWhorter@alfains.com

CHUCK

HUFSTETLER

FINANCE CHAIR, GEORGIA STATE SENATE

The Georgia State Senate has had a very busy off-session!

S E N AT E R E V I E W

But before I tell you about that, I want to share my decision to retire from my full-time status as an anesthetist. I will continue to help when I can because our field has also experienced a personnel shortage. However, after 11 years of working full-time and as your state senator (considered part-time but mostly full-time), I have been more than just busy. My decision will allow more time for family and the increasing responsibilities of my constituents and as the Finance chair for Georgia.

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I am pleased to report to you that the governor continues to focus on “kitchen table” issues for Georgia. We have now returned tax refunds for two years of $500 per family.

This is made possible because of our booming economy supported by our strong fiscal policy. We also accepted unspent stimulus money from the federal government, which we have designated to be used for broadband, strengthening our infrastructure, and setting aside for inevitable future needs.

As you recall, we also suspended the gas tax for almost a year. This was done to help abet the high prices that inflation causes. As the sponsor of the gas tax suspension and as finance chair, I am pleased to see tax refunds and other kitchen table issues, such as the $500 to $600 deduction from your local tax bill. It is gratifying to have a governor who shares our concerns and views and has the clout to make good things happen for Georgians.

The state does not collect property taxes, but collections are up in many areas due to increased assessments. In 2002, when I served on the Floyd County Commission, we initiated a “floating homestead exemption,” which meant the county part of your bill stays the same no matter what your new home assessment reads. However, this does not apply to the schools; that is where the increase is. I have been tasked at the state level to look at legislation in January to keep the drastic increases people are seeing on their property tax bills to a minimum. We realize the money we are sending to the local governments this year is only a band-aid. Obviously, an overall change in the structure is needed.

We set a record three years ago to double new jobs coming to Georgia via new companies - we broke that record. We continue to break records. Just over the Floyd County line, we hold the third largest investment in Georgia with the new SK Battery Plant. Major investments by Qcells solar panels are highlighted by the recent announcement of Switch, a $770M data center in Bartow County, and inside our 52nd senate district.

I toured Switch’s data center in Las Vegas about four years ago. This is a data center of giant proportions. In perspective, for example, everything that is ESPN Cable Network goes through the center. It contains redundant power and air conditioning sufficient to cool the massive equipment and computers, along with its own fire station. Strict security aids in maintaining a sterling reputation, which is imperative for its global customer base. Such a center can never be offline, not even for a millisecond. The good news includes that the plant will grow the property tax base without incurring heavy costs. I am confident that Rome and Floyd County are on the edge of securing companies such as these, and we don’t have to ‘give the farm away’ to entice them to build here.

Speaking of which, I am pleased that our tax credit study committee, which I chair, chose to meet in Rome in September. Continuing through November, the study is focused on evaluating the billions of dollars allowed in corporate tax breaks. My hope is that we can eliminate unnecessary ones and have lower tax rates for everyone.

As always, I thank you all for allowing me the opportunity.

State Senate Committee Memberships: Appropiations, Ex-Officio Finance, Chairman Health and Human Services,Member Higher Education,Member Rules, Member

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