Rome’s Community Development committee is recommending a five-year, $13,500-per-year commitment in support of the Overlook at Fairgrounds development proposed by the Northwest Georgia Housing Authority.

“For certain Housing and Urban Development projects they have to show a financial commitment from local government,” Rome City Manager John Bennett told the committee Tuesday afternoon.

NWGHA Executive Director Sandra Hudson said the housing authority would use federal replacement-housing funds for the project.

The housing authority is proposing to build a 32-unit single-family residential complex in the area where the old Fairgrounds public housing complex was demolished more than a year ago. The development will be constructed in several phases. The working budget for the proposed gated-community is $4,137,145.

“We can get an additional five years (of federal funding) if we get a commitment from the city to donate a percentage of the funds to the project,” Hudson said.

The committee’s recommendation now goes to the full Rome City Commission.

In other committee actions:

Rome-Floyd Environmental Planner Eric Lindberg said the E.C.O. River Education Center will be open to the public Tuesdays through Saturdays from 1 p.m. to 5 p.m. The center in Ridge Ferry Park also will be partnering with Chieftains Museum in the future to develop programs and share volunteers.

Lindberg said an American Whiskey-Tasting event is slated for April 6 at the E.C.O. Center. The fundraiser will serve as a kick-off for a new membership program.

“We’re doing it to raise a little bit of money, but even more, to get community involvement,” Lindberg said.

Memberships will be sold for $25-$35 and will entitle members to reduced fees for various events, including a special birthday party program for children.

Lindberg also told the panel the Roman Holiday tour boat will go back into the water for the tour season on March 18. Call 706-295-5576 for bookings and more information, or ask at the Rome-Floyd Visitor Center on Jackson Hill.

Community Development specialist Bekki Fox told the committee that since 2007, the city has used $475,000 in Community Development Block Grant funds to finance the Minor Repair program which has benefited 102 low income home owners all across the city. The minor repair program provides up to $5,000 per home.