Cave Spring hosted the SPLOST Citizens Advisory Committee on Tuesday for a quarterly progress update.

The 2006 special purpose, local option sales tax package contained $850,000 to remodel an historic Georgia School for the Deaf building as a community center, where the gathering was held. The city also received $1.2 million for a new fire station and equipment.

“Without the SPLOST, this would never have been possible,” Mayor Rob Ware said.

Twenty-one of the 28 projects are either done or expected to wrap up this spring. The $510,000 earmarked for tennis courts in the city of Rome is being offered as seed money for a proposed Tennis Center of Georgia.

A $2 million contribution toward widening the Turner McCall Boulevard bridge over the Etowah River is on indefinite hold because the state’s share is not available.

Bid documents are being prepared for several projects.

Calls will go out in February for firms to renovate the Marine Armory as a recreation center. Bids will be sought in March for construction of the Rome High secondary access road and pedestrian improvements along the South Broad Street corridor.

Rome City Manager John Bennett said the contractor upgrading the levee is waiting for the water to recede before installing the new gate.

“Once he makes the cut (in the levee), everything should be done in 90 days,” Bennett said.

More archaeological review could be needed before the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers issues a permit to start building the Armuchee Connector across the Oostanaula River, Floyd County Manager Kevin Poe said.

“Once they start, it will take 19 months to complete the project. And we estimate about $500,000 left over to start engineering on the future phase connection between (U.S.) 27 and (Ga.) 53,” he said.

Poe said SPLOST collections are falling about $1.3 million less than projected, although earned interest is covering some of the shortfall. Several projects, including the acquisition of right of way for future frontage roads on U.S. 411, have come in under budget.

The 1-cent collection ends June 30. Voters approved in November a continuation, starting July 1, that will fund a separate $42.3 million package of projects.

Poe said the county expects to sell $20 million worth of SPLOST-backed bonds in March to jumpstart the priorities — a countywide emergency communications system and renovations including artificial turf at Barron Stadium.

2006 SPLOST PROJECTS

Completed projects are in bold.

Heritage Park access relocation and levee upgrade, $2,900,000. Estimated completion: July 2010.

Turn lane at Turner McCall Boulevard and North Fifth Avenue, $550,000. Done. Cost: $494,843.

Rome High secondary access road, $2,900,000. Will be put out for bid in March.

Turn lane at Shorter Avenue and Redmond Road, $1,470,000. Negotiating utility relocation cost.

Turn lane at North Broad Street and Turner McCall Boulevard, $330,000. Done. Cost: $214,645.

Turner McCall bridge widening, $2,000,000. On hold. State share not available.

Renovations to three fire stations, $410,000. Done. Cost: $578,603.

New fire training facility, $500,000. Done. Cost: $547,555.

Wastewater treatment plant upgrade, $5,200,000. Done. Cost: $4,648,062.

South Broad Street pedestrian improvements, $2,000,000. Will be put out for bid in March.

South Rome Youth Center, $2,000,000. Done. Cost: $2,125,800.

City Hall/Carnegie Building renovations, $1,500,000. Done except for rear entrance renovation.

ECO Museum river education center, $834,825. Estimated move-in: March.

Town Green, $1,690,00. Done. Cost: $1,625,305.

U.S. 411 right of way, $3,300,000. One parcel remaining. Estimated total cost: $2.4 million.

Armuchee Connector, $12,000,000. Awaiting U.S. Army Corps of Engineers permit. Construction: 19 months.

Huffaker Road engineering and right of way, $1,250,000. Two parcels remaining. On budget.

Work release center, $1,750,000. Will open Feb. 15. Cost: $2,719,740.

Historic Courthouse parking lot, $1,540,000. Done. Cost: $600,000.

Renovate Marine Armory as a recreation headquarters, $1,600,000. Will be put out for bid this month.

Shannon Park recreation center, $927,000. Estimated completion: March.

North Floyd Park recreation center, $3,000,000. Estimated completion: March. Over budget.

Wolfe Park improvements, $200,000. Done. Cost: $200,000.

Practice field renovations, $850,000. Estimated completion of remaining field: Early 2010.

New tennis courts, $600,000. County’s done. Rome’s share to be seed money for the proposed Tennis Center of Georgia.

North Rome Swim Center, $530,000. Done. Cost: $512,620.

Cave Spring fire station, $1,200,000. Done. Cost: $1,199,825.

Cave Spring community center, $850,000. Done. Cost: $871,846 (balance paid by Cave Spring).

Sources: Floyd County, Rome, Cave Spring governments