SPLOST priorities emerging
Cave Spring’s sewer upgrades, renovation of the historic county courthouse and a new jail medical facility are among the projects considered urgent.
The guilty plea this week of a man who killed his cellmate in the Floyd County Jail underscored the need for a larger medical facility — with a separate section to house inmates who are mentally ill.
Voters saw the urgency in November, approving a SPLOST extension that includes $5.2 million for the project. Floyd County Sheriff Tim Burkhalter and the county commission are marking it as a top priority for construction.
“We’ll probably do the jail medical first,” County Manager Jamie McCord said. “We’re in Phase I now, and we’re trying to figure how to blend them.”
The 2013 special purpose, local option sales tax package contains $2.2 million to add 16 beds. Passage of the 2017 SPLOST now allows for a complete facility in a remodeled jail pod.
Collections for the $63.8 million 2017 SPLOST don’t start until the current tax expires on March 31, 2019, but voters approved the ability to issue bonds to jump-start projects.
County commissioners also approved this week a resolution that lets them get reimbursed if they use general funds for construction before the sales tax revenue comes in.
“I’m not saying we will,” McCord said. “But they had to do that if we want to get paid back.”
The resolution covers the whole package, including the projects assigned to the cities of Rome and Cave Spring. McCord noted that Cave Spring’s sole project, a $1.8 million upgrade to its failing sewer system, is a major priority and ready to go immediately.
“They want to know when we’ll issue bonds,” McCord told members of the Rome and Floyd County commissions’ joint services committee.
Cave Spring council members have also said they may apply for state loans now that they have the 2017 SPLOST funding assurance.
The city and county commissions are planning to discuss their project priorities at their annual retreats, which will likely be scheduled in early March. Officials agreed to coordinate the separate gatherings so they can spend half a day in a joint session.
“The bond question is the biggest discussion for this group,” Rome City Manager Sammy Rich said.
County commissioners have not said if they would favor bonds, which would allow construction at today’s prices but add extra costs due to debt service.
However, Commission Chair Rhonda Wallace said renovating the Historic Floyd County Courthouse is another project that shouldn’t wait too long. The 2017 SPLOST will bring $5 million to restore the 1892 building and remodel areas to house some of the Judicial Center operations.
“It may seem like a luxury project, but the courtrooms are jammed,” Wallace said. “They have people everywhere and we’ve got to do something quickly.”
Officials have been completing the 2013 SPLOST projects on a pay-as-yougo basis, as the money comes in. McCord said the county has $10 million in the bank and $9.5 million is needed for projects that are underway. There are 15 months left in the collection period.
“We’re not behind, we’re on target,” McCord said.
Contractors on the $5.8 million Everett Springs water line project were given notices to proceed last week and work will start before the end of the year.
McCord said a call for bids on the $5.7 million airport runway extension project is tentatively scheduled for May.