Mile markers to be set on Etowah River to help rescuers find people who need help

Floyd and Bartow officials are planning to set mile markers along the Etowah River, from Lake Allatoona to downtown Rome, to help rescuers find people who need help on the water.

Tim Herrington, director of the Floyd County Emergency Management Agency, said there would be 14 signs placed along the Etowah in Floyd County — starting at the Bartow County line and ending at the confluence with the Oostanaula River downtown.

“It’s needed,” said Rome- Floyd County Fire Chief Troy Brock. “People get in to float and get stranded.”

Brock said Bartow County EMA would be responsible for placing the signs in their county, starting at Lake Allatoona.

The signs will be placed on the banks of the river.

They’ll be used to help fire rescue squads know where to put in their boats if someone gets hurt or stranded in the river.

Herrington’s announcement came during the county’s public safety committee meeting Wednesday. Committee members noted that more and more people are using Rome’s rivers for recreation.

It’s unclear when the signs would be posted. Herrington said his agency is still researching how much the signs would cost and how they could be paid for.

The signs will be placed on the banks of the river, which are con- sidered public right of way.

“We’re not saying the public is going to have access to private property,” Herrington said. People traveling down the river are still prohibited from trespassing on private property.

Also on Wednesday, Animal Control Director Jason Broome reported that there were 311 animals euthanized from January to July. Last year’s total over the same time period was 633.

The decrease, Broome said, is because of an effort to send animals to rescue facilities in other states that have small animal populations due to strict spay and neuter policies.

These states are found in the Northeast, Northwest and West Coast, Broome said.