Wednesday, June 7, 2023–10:00 a.m.
-David Crowder, WRGA News-
City officials are still looking at options for a new headquarters for the Rome City Police Department.
When the City of Rome and Floyd County reached an agreement regarding the distribution of local sales tax revenue, part of the deal stipulated that city police would move out of the joint law enforcement center so the building could be converted into another courthouse.
A 12-month timeline was given for the move, and that was six months ago.
Rome City Manager Sammy Rich gave an update during Tuesday’s joint services committee meeting.
He said a space needs study has been conducted and it was determined that 28,276 square feet were needed, along with another 29,000 square feet for parking.
“I wish I had a great solution and could say, hey, here’s what we’re doing,” Rich told the committee. “The reality is we are looking at all options. We are looking at two serious options. One would be to construct a net new facility and the other one is to buy an existing facility that we can retrofit.”
Whether a new building is constructed or an existing building is retrofitted, the estimated cost is around $20 million.
“I don’t know if it’s much of a consolation prize, but a $20 million new police facility is much more affordable than a $100 million courthouse,” Rich said. “So, for all of our community, I still think this is probably better money spent and I still feel it’s the right decision to use the law enforcement center for court.”
Rich said that in addition to looking for a permanent home for city police, they are also looking at a temporary home, so work on renovating the law enforcement center can get underway.
The Floyd County Police Department has already announced that its new home will be at the former Glenwood Elementary School on Old Dalton Road.
The new city police headquarters is one of the projects that will be presented during a meeting of the SPLOST citizen’s advisory committee Thursday.
There will also be presentations regarding real estate and infrastructure for economic development, rural roads and water lines in Floyd County, and capital equipment for the fire department.
The committee will take all of the presentations they have heard over the last several weeks into consideration as they narrow down a list of projects that will be presented to voters this November as part of a special purpose, local option sales tax package.
Thursday’s meeting begins at 5 p.m. at the fire education center on East 12th Street.