Sunday, October 6, 2024–7:55 p.m.

-David Crowder, WRGA News-

Preliminary work on the conversion of the Rome-Floyd Joint Law Enforcement Center in Downtown Rome is underway, and the work could begin in earnest in the not-too-distant future.

Floyd County Manager Jamie McCord gave an update during a recent joint services committee meeting.

We have our test fit completed on two floors, and we’re working on the first floor,” McCord said. “We have the second and third floor done and we’re hoping to have plans ready for bid, fingers crossed, in November or December. We are going to be working in that building sooner than later.”

McCord told the committee he has a pretty good idea about which offices and courts will be moving into the law enforcement center building.

“The tax commissioner and the tax assessor will be on one floor,” he said. “911 and juvenile court will be on another floor with probate court and magistrate court on another. There will be two departments on each floor. We’re pretty sure we know who is going where. We are kind of waiting on our consultant to finalize that. We are going to have to add an elevator. The building has two elevators, but one is a private elevator. We’re going to have to have two public elevators.”

The conversion of the law enforcement center into additional courtroom space came about as part of last year’s local option sales tax negotiations.

The Floyd County Police Department headquarters will be moving from the law enforcement center to the former Glenwood Primary School building off Old Dalton Road. Renovations to the buildings, which were donated to the county by the Floyd County School System, are currently underway. Pennant Construction was the low bidder for the project in an amount not to exceed $2,447,000.

Meanwhile, the Rome Police Department and municipal court has moved to a temporary location off Technology Parkway. However, the Rome PD evidence room has not yet to be relocated as city officials look for a new permanent headquarters.

“Technology Parkway has been a great move,” said Rome City Manager Sammy Rich. “For us, the city debate becomes about whether we build a new evidence facility on Technology Parkway or do we do something temporary.”

Close to $22.5 million was included in the latest SPLOST package for construction of the new city police headquarters.