Members of the Rome City Commission are expected to vote during their regular meeting tonight on a resolution authorizing the city to begin the process of condemning 15 parcels located where the school is to be built.
According to the resolution, the properties are located on South Broad Street and East Main Street as well as Wimpee Street and Pennington Avenue.
Seven of the parcels, including the old Howell (Triangle) Grocery located in the fork of South Broad and East Main streets, are owned by Kerry Brown, according to City Manager John Bennett.
“They all have to be condemned to clear the titles so we can begin work,” Bennett said.
The new school has been slated to be completed in early 2014.
“We’re getting it ready for everything and for the project to move forward,” Rome Mayor Evie McNiece said. “I feel like everything will go well.”
A public hearing on two articles of the city ordinance concerning the keeping of backyard chickens by residents will also be part of tonight’s meeting.
Bennett said the commissioners are weighing the differing opinions concerning the issue and are focused on trying to determine guidelines.
A family on Hycliff Road applied last August for a special use permit in order for them to keep chickens for “educational purposes,” according to the application.
The board tabled a decision on the permit at its Dec. 17 meeting and the Rome-Floyd County Planning Commission turned in a split vote, 5-5, earlier this month on the matter of keeping chickens inside the city limits.
The board caucuses at 5 p.m. and starts its regular meeting at 6:30 p.m. in City Hall, 601 Broad St. Click here to see an agenda.
Patrick Kirn, general manager of Stonebridge Golf Club, will make a presentation on the city-owned golf course during the caucus meeting prior to the regular meeting.
Former general manager Joe Cieri left late last year, and McNiece said it will be good to get to know Kirn a little better.
“Stonebridge had a banner year, and we would definitely like to see that continue,” McNiece said. “And we hope to see that happen with the new leadership.”
Either this can happen to everyone, or it can't happen to anyone. Maybe these people should start digging mines on their property? Apparently all it takes is a hole and someone to say they're looking for minerals.
Funny how a city that tauts itself as being "historic" continues to destroy the second oldest area of Rome, which is on the historic register