Covered tennis courts stir debate
The SPLOST Citizens Advisory Committee hopes to have a recommended package as early as next week.
A proposed $4 million earmark for covered courts at the Rome Tennis Center at Berry College sparked serious debate Thursday among members of the SPLOST Citizens Advisory Committee.
“I think it’s the kiss of death for the whole SPLOST,” member Jim Bojo said.
No one on the committee disputed the success of the year-old facility — including Bojo, who also called it “the crown jewel” of the 2013 SPLOST. Supporters argued that covered courts are
all that’s needed to cement its position in the tennis tournament world.
“You talk about bringing money in from outside the community … This is operating exactly the way it’s supposed to,” Mike Burnes said.
The covered courts were part of the original plan, but the committee vetting projects for the 2013 special purpose, local option sales tax package narrowed the scope. But the current committee also is looking for places to cut, and the admittedly controversial courts could be left out.
“It’s surprising to me the number of SPLOST supporters who don’t think it should be on there,” said Tannika Wester.
Committee members informally agreed Thursday to recommend a 5-year collection, which is expected to raise between $61 million and $63 million. They received about $156 million in proposed projects and hope to finalize a recommended package next week.
“We’re close. We’re $9 million close,” Chairman David Newby said.
A number of adjustments to the working draft Thursday brought the list to about $72 million, although none of the figures are yet set in stone. Last month the committee appeared to reject a $2.2 million streetscape for the Fifth Avenue River District, but returned funding this week.
“I see it as a quality-of-life project first and economic development second … we need to make it more inviting for businesses to move there,” said Ghee Wilson.
That decision may have sapped more funding from another economic development proposal — tentatively leaving the development authorities
with $2,750,000 out of the $15 million requested to buy large tracts of industrial land.
Committee members also cut a $2.7 million allocation for Cave Spring sewer system improvements to $1 million and combined several river trails projects.
Two changes are likely permanent. Chief Deputy Tom Caldwell withdrew the entire $1.4 million request for jail improvements to prioritize the $5.2 million jail medical facility. And Floyd County Commission Chair Rhonda Wallace said to remove a police request for $23,700 in traffic safety equipment.
“We’ll fund that,” she said.