Describe the type of relationship the county should have with the cities of Rome and Cave Spring.

We have great relationships with the cities of Rome and Cave Spring. In fact, we have more joint service agreements with both than any other cities and counties in Georgia. These agreements provide better service at a cheaper cost than would otherwise be possible. We need to continue to explore all avenues we can find for partnerships. The most recent examples are the Litter & Blight Task Force and the concept of having Rome’s parking service manage our county parking spaces.

Floyd County needs to build and maintain a cooperative relationship with both Rome and Cave Spring. Rome and Cave Spring needs to respect the different responsibilities and obligations that Floyd County has under the state constitution. Cities and counties are alike in many ways, but very different in many ways as well. The key is to respect each other’s differences while working together with a united effort to attract new industry and expand existing industries.

The county and cities should have a respectful collaborative approach. The economic futures are intertwined. If the cities are thriving and have things to offer, businesses will want to relocate to Floyd County. Likewise, if the county is thriving, people are more likely to go to downtown Rome or Cave Spring. We are all one Floyd County. The recent TAD issue is one where the county dropped the ball, but thanks to Rome’s foresightedness, the county will reap the benefits anyway.

Working together works better. The leadership teams at Rome, Cave Spring and Floyd County work very well together. With over 30 joint agreements and numerous joint projects, we have worked hard to serve the needs of every citizen in Floyd County. A recent example of working together is the Litter and Blight Task Force. This task force is citizen-lead with representation from Rome, Cave Spring and Floyd County. We recognize that tackling litter and blight is best achieved by working together.