Grand jury wants more staffing at Forum, more workers at jail

The Floyd County Grand Jury on Friday recommended that staffing be increased at The Forum civic center in downtown Rome.

The issue is timely, with the County Commission considering hiring a mar- keting firm for the facility and also discussing renovations that are necessary.

The grand jury visits county facilities and government offices each spring, often making recommendations for fixes to possible problems. The recommendations made in the presentments Friday are just that — recommendations.

The grand jurors recommended that staffing should be increased to five employees, including a full- time recep- tionist and full- time maintenance worker, according to the presentments.

Currently, The Forum has two fulltime employees and two part-time employees. The jurors recommended that the employees’ salaries be increased as well.

Additionally, the jurors felt that more parking spaces are needed to accommodate groups of over 300 people. They also wanted to see more storage space for tables and chairs.

The County Commission recently signed a contract with Peacock Partnership, which will plan interior renovations for the building.

The interior renovations will be paid for by $1.4 million collected in the 2013 special purpose, local option sales tax.

County officials are also working to sign a management contract with Safari Hospitality, an Atlantabased management agency, as early as July 1 to manage The Forum.

Other recommendations made by the grand jury include increasing the number of full- time employees at the Floyd County Jail and increasing the budget for renovations and changes needed at the facility.

The jail recommendations “should be a high priority of the County Commission not only for the safety of the employees, but also for the safety of our community,” the presentments stated.

The Grand Jury also recommended a few changes at the Floyd County 911 center, which was named the 2016 Georgia 911 Center of the Year on March 9.

Jurors suggested that storm windows and bullet-proof windows be installed on the center’s wing of the Joint Law Enforcement Center.

The recommendations also called for an increase in salaries and more space and equipment so the dispatchers and call-takers aren’t so close together.