More diverse housing, money for water leaks head Rockmart city council agenda
Added fee will help local residents save in case of leaks, council members seek different look at community housing
Rockmart Mayor Steve Miller and city council members have a vision of the next four years that includes new programs and changes.
These were revealed during a recent work session when they reviewed the following topics, presented by Jeff Ellis, city manager: Georgia Initiative for Community Housing (GICH) program, leak protection (water) for residents and the individual vision of each council member.
GICH program
Councilmember Sherman Ross is taking a lead role in the three-year GICH program. He said meetings would continue during the initial planning process. The objective is to receive help in creating and launching a locally based plan to meet housing needs and neighborhood revitalization. This will involve technical assistance, collaboration, expert presenters, trainers, facilitation, and consensus building, networking and mentoring.
Council members also discussed ideas for providing more single-family housing in Rockmart.
Ellis said the trend during the past decade was to build more apartments.
“If this continues, we could see an over abundance of this type of housing,” he said.
He suggested exploring other options. This would include encouraging property owners to “fix up” property that would attract single families.
Prioritizing planned housing projects was reviewed and what wards would be affected. One area mentioned includes Jones Avenue and Hogue, Pearl, Long and College streets.
“We have housing needs in every ward,” Ross said.
Ellis suggested reviewing, revising and updating codes. “We are taking an aggressive stance on removing abandoned or dilapidated buildings,” he said. “However, we don’t need a city filled with odd-shaped vacant lots that don’t meet existing requirements.”
He encouraged council members to seek support and partnerships of city residents to maintain and clean up property.
Funding options to improve housing include grants from Georgia’s Department of Community Development and the Appalachian Regional Commission.
A Community Development Block Grant ( CDBG) was mentioned as well as revisiting the idea of a Boys and Girls Club in Rockmart. The idea was first proposed last year and tabled in the spring of this year after Ellis said the project couldn’t work at this time because of a prohibition against line items in city budgets to help non-profits.
Leak protection
Ellis proposed a new “leak protection” program for single family homes in Rockmart.
He said he has discussed this idea with county, city and other officials in the area and that most have adopted this cost saving endeavor for water customers.
The program would include a $3.00 fee added to each month’s bill. The money would be available to help defray the cost of leaks to property owners.
Individuals would be given an annual credit of up to $750, which could be used by the customer in case a leak caused a huge bill. Opportunity to “opt out” of the program would be available.
This idea found favor with council members who hope to implement it by January 2016. If the plan is approved, a letter explaining details of the program will be mailed to residents in December.
Vision of future
Ellis presented facts about initial streetscape projects in the downtown area. Hopes are to complete sidewalk improvements along College Street that could launch efforts to develop a pedestrian friendly downtown.
He asked the group to consider the idea of obtaining the Floyd Medical Center building on Piedmont Avenue and converting it into an attractive, spacious space for the Polk County Health Department in Rockmart.
“We have two economic hubs in the county and it only makes sense to have a more modern building for people in this area to use,” he said. “I believe it would benefit clients that use the local health center here.”
He also favors an inhouse plan for training and promotion of city staff that can fill positions as they become vacant. He indicated this would include all departments.
No vote was taken on any of the items discussed since it was a work session and not a regular meeting.