Public safety SPLOST projects on tap

The panel reviewing applications for sales tax funding is slated to hear eight presentations Thursday.

Big-ticket public safety projects make up the bulk of the applications the SPLOST Citizens Advisory Committee will consider at its Thursday meeting.

Roadwork, tennis courts and new heavy machinery and cars also are on the list.

The panel convenes at 5:30 p.m. at the Fire Administration Building, 409 E. 12th St., and is scheduled to hear 20-minute presentations through 9 p.m. The meeting is open to the public.

First up is a requested $8.6 million earmark for Rome street improvements that would include milling and paving citywide.

Public Works Director Chris Jenkins said he also wants to add sidewalks in heavily traveled areas such as to West End Elementary School and the Sam’s Club shopping complex.

Following that are presentations on security upgrades at the Floyd County Prison, at $2.7 million; a $5.4 million packet for fire trucks, police cars and a maintenance shop; and Phase II of the medical facility expansion at the Floyd County Jail, at $5.2 million.

After a 7:20 p.m. break, the SPLOST committee is slated to hear the proposal to add covered tennis courts at the Rome Tennis Center at Berry College.

The initial request was for $4 million but City Manager Sammy Rich has been researching cheaper options.

Jail Administrator Bob Sapp also is slated to explain how he would use a $1.4 million allocation for his facility — starting with a plumbing upgrade that would prevent inmates from deliberately flooding their cells.

County Special Projects Manager Bruce Ivey will round off the night with two proposals: a $500,000 initiative to map and model the county water system and $2.8 million to continue replacing aging vehicles and equipment.

The SPLOST committee is reviewing more than $170 million worth of proposals with an eye to recommending up to $62 million for funding through an extension of the 1-cent special purpose, local option sales tax.

Committee chairman Davis Newby said they expect to be done by early August. A countywide vote on the package is expected to be called for November.