$300,000 provided to Cedartown, Rockmart for Quality of Life projects

The big checks were brought out by Polk County officials on Tuesday evening during their regular session as they celebrated a recent round of funding for Quality of Life projects being completed by the Cities of Cedartown and Rockmart.

County Commissioners gave unanimous approval for $300,000 in funding to for each city’s project, and they got to hear how the municipalities will be spending the Money.

Cedartown City Commissioner Dale Tuck said Cedartown plans to use the funds to replace a beloved community facility that is in need of an update.

“This is going to the Turner Street community, it will replace their community center,” Tuck said. “It is much needed.”

City Manager Edward Guzman said the replacement will be forthcoming, but additional planning is in the works and a further announcement will be made at a later date. For now, the plan is to completely replace the current Turner Street Center center building with a new one at Turner Street Park.

Rockmart City Manager Stacey Smith said their check is going toward construction of the amphitheater planned for the Church Street Manor property in downtown. Part of that project is already completed with the parking pad already paved and marked.

“It’s going to be a multi-use venue,” Smith said.

The $300,000 given to each city was originally voted upon to be set aside in the past few years by the County Commission. The funding made up of Special Purpose, Local Option Sales Tax money took two years to build up before the county could vote to disperse it.

Once the funds became available, both cities had to submit their projects for approval, and both received the funds at the same time.