Floyd County OKs library land for arts amphitheater

Commissioners also approve cremation as an option for pauper remains.

County commissioners also approve cremation as an option for pauper remains.

The Floyd County Commission approved on Tuesday the dedication of a swath of land along the Oostanaula River on the library grounds for an outdoor arts amphitheater.

Funding for the design and construction is from Dr. and Mrs. Charles “Soc” Sennett to the Rome Area Council for the Arts, in memory of their late son Chuck Sennett.

“The Sennetts are great citizens,” Commissioner Wright Bagby said. “They do things like this a lot but a lot of people don’t know about it.”

RACA Executive Director Mandy Maloney said they plan to hold a design competition. Once the amphitheater is built, the Rome Floyd County Library would oversee the use of the facility.

“It’s a gift to the community,” Maloney said. “It will be available to all kinds of groups, but with first priority to the arts.”

The library board is slated to take up the issue at its Nov. 17 meeting, although several members attended the commission’s Tuesday caucus to register support. County Manager Jamie McCord said he’s worked with Maloney and Lori Hubbard of RACA on the project for several months and it will be a good addition to the library campus.

“And it will be less maintenance than it is now,” he told commissioners.

Also on Tuesday, the county commission adopted an ordinance that allows cremation instead of burial for pauper remains.

McCord said many other communities have made the update to save money and space in their cemetery. The coroner would be able to approve burial if there is an objection.

“We did get a couple of emails about people’s religion, but I think we’ve addressed that,” Commission Chair Rhonda Wallace said.