Sunday, May 13, 2024–2:04 p.m.
-David Crowder, WRGA News-
A coin-operated amusement machine ordinance is set for first reading during Monday’s Rome City Commission meeting.
In February, the commission implemented a six-month moratorium on new permits for stores that house the gaming machines to do research on the issue and to have the city attorney draft an ordinance.
Local governments are limited in the regulations they can impose because the gaming machines are regulated by the Georgia Lottery Corporation.
The proposed local ordinance addresses things like license requirements and distance requirements from schools and churches.
The ordinance also requires reports and an annual audit to show that the business is meeting the state requirement that no more than 50 percent of gross receipts come from gaming machines.
It also sets a maximum of six machines per location and spells out penalties for violations.
Rome City Attorney Andy Davis is expected to go over the ordinance during the commission’s pre-meeting caucus, which starts at 5 p.m. at Rome City Hall.
You can view the draft ordinance here.
Since it will only be a first reading on Monday, no vote will be taken.
Second reading and final approval is expected during the commission’s next meeting in two weeks.
Also Monday, the commission is expected to approve a change in landfill fees for loads of garbage and construction debris over a thousand pounds.
If approved, the fee would go from $35 to $40 a ton for 1,001 to 2,000 pounds.
The rate for 2,000 and over would go from $38 to $46 a ton.
An increase in tipping fees has been discussed as a way to address the issue of waste coming in from outside Floyd County.
Floyd County has lower tipping fees than many of the surrounding areas meaning that companies from outside of the county bring their debris to the Walker Mountain Landfill to save money.
The increase is expected to help level the playing field somewhat.
Monday’s Rome City Commission meeting begins at 6:30 p.m. on the second floor at Rome City Hall.
