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formal decision among recent city meetings, most of which were informational or agenda-only sessions with minutes still unpublished.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.