Rethink Rockmart seeks to tackle blight
The Rethink Rockmart group met for another addition of their monthly meetings in an effort to improve the community as part of Rockmart's commitment to the Georgia Initiative for Community Housing.
This time, the agenda was filled with topics ranging from dangerous structures, tethering regulations, and a review community clean-up efforts which took place in June.
At the forefront of topics, and a major reason Rethink Rockmart exists, is the Dangerous, Unsafe, and Vacant or Abandoned Building Ordinance and how the group plans to deal with the poorly maintained structures within the city limits.
When properties are poorly maintained, they become health hazards that also bring down property value for neighboring homes and businesses. A rotting, abandoned property almost ensures nearby homes will drop in value, and pose risks to residents if access is gained by children or homeless looking for dry places out of the weather they can go unnoticed.
The consequences of leaving abandoned properties untouched has seen increases in the number of vacant house fires, decrease in property values and overall blight on local neighborhoods, with people passing by daily wondering aloud "when is someone going to tear down this house?"
Thankfully, The Abandoned Building Ordinance has set clear guidelines on what makes a building a community nuisance.
Rethink Rockmart is helping to make sure that the rules are followed and
perpetrators are being dealt with via court should they fail to control their unruly property.
To avoid being listed as a nuisance or dangerous, buildings must have all doors, windows, and openings be weather tight and secure against entry.
All roof and roof flashing must be in solid enough condition that no rain will destroy walls or other parts of the building. The building must be structurally sound and free from rubbish, garbage, and debris.
Walls should be strong enough to bear large weight, and the foundation must be able to support large weight. The outside of the home must be free of loose, rotten materials and holes.
Any balconies, canopies, signs, awnings, or fire escapes must be in quality shape.
The Abandoned Property Ordinance is now two years old, and Rockmart City Council member and local businessman Sherman Ross - one of t he Rethink Rockmart creators - expressed that the community needs to "clean up, enforce, and be willing to take people to court over this. We need to build a culture where investors are willing to come here."
The gathering also discussed a tethering ordinance Rethink Rockmart would like to have passed.
Tethering refers to tying up an animal, typically dogs, to trees or other posts outside. In 2016, Cedartown passed an or- dinance proscribing the amount of time a dog could be tethered and mandated the dog have access to food, water, and shelter.
Rockmart's city council brought up the issue previously after Cedartown-Polk County Humane Society President Charlotte Harrison previously brought the issue before members during the winter months, and has sat without any resolution.
Tethering is still legal in Rockmart, and Rethink Rockmart is encouraging citizens to contact their councilman and voice their opinion on whether an ordinance should be enacted to regulate tethering.
Citizens can contact the city council at www.rockmart- ga.gov /29/ City-Council.
The Rethink Rockmart group also critiqued their clean up day from earlier this month.
The event consisted of the Rethink group and volunteers scouring local neighborhoods for trash and working to control overgrown brush back in June. The event was met with primarily positive response because not only did the group and volunteers finish cleaning and various citizens took up arms and helped with work despite not being a part of the group.
The various community clean-up signs also seemed to inspire local citizens to clean as Ross reportedly saw "more people simultaneously cutting grass than ever before."
After going to retrieve the signs, Ross noticed the areas were clean even though he had not assigned any volunteers to those streets.
Other business featured at the meeting in- cluded the group's use of social media and future plans to advertise their plans on it. Rethink currently has almost 100 followers on their Facebook page, and the group is hoping to grow even more popular so advertisements truly hit home.
One of the prominent activities the group is advertising and encouraging on social media is the donation of old cars citizens may not use anymore. The group has detailed 3 separate car donation companies. Those interested in following Rethink Rockmart can search for them on their Facebook page.
Rethink Rockmart meetings, always the last Thursday of each month. The next community clean up is slated for October 14, with more information to come for those interested in participating.