Monday, October 27, 2025–9:00 p.m.
-David Crowder, WRGA News-
The Rome City Commission hears a difficult and emotional plea for a rezoning request on Monday, and vows to help find a solution to reunify a family.
The applicants were seeking a change in zoning for 3 Forsyth Street from High-Density Traditional Residential to Suburban Residential with a special use permit for a manufactured home.
Since rezoning to S-R would constitute an island zoning and mobile homes are not permitted in H-D-T zones, the planning commission voted 4-2 to recommend denial without prejudice, meaning the applicant could reapply without having to wait a full year.
However, there is more to the story as the applicant told city commissioners during Monday’s public hearing.
“WE bought a house and we couldn’t do repairs on that house,” she said. “DFCS got involved, and they took our son. It took us a year and a half to sell our house and to purchase a trailer and a piece of land that the real estate agent told us, promised us, and guaranteed us that a trailer could go on this piece of land.”
Then they found out, the property was not zoned for a manufactured home, despite there having previously been a mobile home there.
“It’s getting to the point where we are about to lose our son because we don’t have a home to bring him home to,” she added.
Commissioner Randy Quick made a motion to table the matter in order to buy time to find some other solutions, some of which could be a land swap through the Rome-Floyd County Land Bank Authority or transitional housing through the Northwest Georgia Housing Authority.
Commissioner Elaina Beeman stated that she would work to help the family, stating that the reunification with their son is a top priority.
“I will work with you guys<’ she said. “We will try to work with another real estate agent to help you get into transitional housing or wrap-around housing, so that you can reunify with your son. Then you will get some time to work on the other project. The first thing is….Let’s get your family back together.”
Commission approves body cam purchase
Also Monday, the commission approved an unbudgeted capital request for additional body cameras for the Rome Police Department.
With the introduction of the Public Safety Bicycle Ambassadors and the projected increase in officer staffing, 10 additional cameras are needed, along with 5 additional user licenses for the Digital Evidence Server.
The additional cameras will cost $48,425, payable in 2025, with an ongoing annual cost increase of $27,103 for the remainder of the contract.
The money is coming from the funds from the RedSpeed camera tickets.
Beginning in 2026, the ongoing costs will be budgeted from operational expenses.