Rome Reporter

County of Gordon issued the following announcement on Feb. 1

FINANCIAL REPORT

• SPLOST AND LOST:  SPLOST and LOST revenue shown in the report dated January 31, 2022 reflect collections reported for December 2021. For that period, SPLOST collections were $1,302,841.39 which is a $323,318.09 (33.01%) increase over the same period last year. LOST collections were $825,574.48 which is a $204,771.84 (32.99%) increase over the same period last year.
• REVENUE AND EXPENDITURES:  The Revenue and Expenditure Report on a cash basis for the six month period ending December 31, 2021 and 2020 is available. For that period, revenue is up compared to the previous year primarily because ad valorem property taxes have been collected earlier this year.

SIGNIFICANT PROJECTS AND ACTIVITY

• JUDICIAL BUILDING CONSTRUCTION:  Phase One, the Judicial Building, is ready for the Architects to certify as substantially complete. The State Fire Marshall has inspected the building and all issues are resolved according to my understanding. Furniture will begin arriving in a couple of weeks. The building will be occupied and open to conduct business in April as planned. Phase Two, the renovation of the 1961 Courthouse will move forward on April 4th when possession of the building will be transferred to Momon Construction.
• COVID:  The Task Force met today. Advent Gordon Hospital reports 73 patients are admitted to the hospital today with an additional 23 patients on hold waiting for a room in the ER. 43 patients are Covid positive. Two patients with Covid are on ventilators. The Health Department emphasized that they are not offering Covid tests and they do not have Covid test kits. They also reported that the new quarantine standard is 5 days. However, some businesses are requiring a negative test to return to work. The health department reports that it is not a government requirement to have a negative test to return to work and it is possible a person could test positive up to 4 months after having Covid. EMA reports:
  • Monday, January 10, 2022 = 9,767 cases and 183 deaths (+912 cases and +6 deaths since December 6)
  • Monday, January 31, 2021 = 11,351 cases and 200 deaths (+1,584 cases and +17 deaths since January 10)
• SUNDAY ALCOHOL SALES REQUEST:  Rebecca Black appeared before the BOC on July 6, 2021 and spoke in support of a voter referendum to establish Sunday sales. I have attached the minutes from that meeting for your information. Gordon County will host a primary election on May 24, 2022 and Mrs. Black has asked that the BOC consider her request in time to place the referendum on that ballot.  A general summary of the process is:

  1. The Board, if interested in the request, would need to pass a resolution or ordinance for sale on the premises and/or package sales on Sunday. then,

  2. The election superintendent must issue the call for an election within 10 to 60 days of the ordinance or resolution to submit the issue to the voters to approve or disapprove. then,

  3. The election must be held within 30 to 60 days of the call.

  The next date for a countywide election is May 24, 2022.

• DEVELOPMENT AUTHORITY:  Met last week and interest in our community for manufacturing and warehousing remains at an all time high.

MISCELLANEOUS ACTIVITY:

• I attended the annual Firefighter awards banquet.
• I attended a celebration at the Main Courtroom to honor attorney Charles Williams on 52 years of membership in the State Bar of Georgia.
• Keith King and I gave Bartow County Administrator, Peter Olsen, a tour of the Judicial Building and discussed current issues relevant to county governance.

Original source can be found here.