County may seek longer review period for TADS

♦ Board members also want to move on an update to the joint citycounty website.

Floyd County commissioners are looking at setting a new time frame for developers to apply for tax allocation district status — at least 30 days ahead of a vote by the city and county commissions.

This follows the commission’s split vote over awarding a TAD to Berry College to build a hotel next to the tennis center off the Armuchee Connector.

Commissioners Wright Bagby Jr. and Rhonda Wallace voted in favor of the TAD but, during the county’s Administrative Finance Committee meeting Thursday, they both said they wish the TAD was submitted for approval earlier. The commission only had about two weeks to make its final decision.

The two commissioners agreed that a 30- day period between the application and commissioners making a final decision would be more suitable. They’ll bring this proposal to the rest of the county commission at an upcoming meeting.

County Clerk Erin Elrod also raised the issue of updating the joint county and city website. The 2020 county budget set aside money for a website update, but it hasn’t started yet.

Usually, government website software is updated every four years, but for Rome and Floyd County’s website, it’s been eight, according to Elrod.

Many people have voiced problems with the website, which has resources for both county and city governments. And since the coronavirus pandemic started and more people are going online to pay their water bill and use other resources, the complaints have increased, Elrod said.

The county clerk went on to say that the way the website is currently set up makes it difficult for the clerks to use and edit it as well. If they were to switch software, they would look for one that makes the website easy to edit.

At the upcoming Joint Services Committee meeting on Oct. 6, County Manager Jamie Mccord said he plans to ask about setting up a committee with representatives from both the city and county to oversee the website update. The committee would include Elrod and people from departments that use the website the most, including purchasing, IT and water.