The Floyd County Board of Commissioners is a group of dedicated, public spirited individuals who together are committed to maximizing resources and improving the quality of life in Floyd County. The Board is responsible for setting directions and approving policies as well as managing the budget and authorizing expenditures.
The Board of Commissioners of Floyd County is composed of five (5) members. Any person offering for election as a member of the board must designate the post which they are seeking. To qualify for election as a member of the board, a person must be a resident of Floyd County for at least one (1) year, and such residency must be as follows: any person seeking to qualify for election Posts 1 or 2 must reside within the corporate limits of the City of Rome and must have resided accordingly for at least one (1) year immediately prior to being qualified, and any person seeking to qualify for election to Posts 3, 4, or 5 must reside outside the corporate limits of the City of Rome and must have resided accordingly for at least one (1) year immediately prior to being qualified.
The Board conducts official business meetings the second Tuesday and the fourth Tuesday of each month at 6:00 p.m. A caucus session is held prior to the business meetings at 4:00 p.m. These meetings are held on the second floor of the Administration Building, 12 East 4th Avenue, in the Commissioners Meeting Room, Suite 206.
All meetings are open to the public. Please see Meetings for any updates or changes to the meeting schedule.
Called Meetings: The Chairman may call a meeting of the Board at any time with proper public notice. All Called Meetings are open to the public.
Chair, Post One
Rhonda Wallace
Rhonda Selman Wallace is a lifelong resident of Rome and Floyd County, and a proud graduate of Model High School. Elected to the Floyd County Commission in 2012, she has spent her time in office working with local citizens, city leaders and county partners to advance policies that benefit all Floyd County residents.
Her focus has remained on strengthening public safety, encouraging responsible and healthy growth and preserving the quality of life that makes this community a great place to live and work.
Before serving on the Commission, Rhonda built an extensive record of civic involvement through service on numerous nonprofit boards and community committees, including the YMCA, Rome Exchange Club, Georgia Highlands College Foundation Board, Floyd Healthcare Foundation Board, American Heart Association Board, Rome History Museum, United Way, Children’s Open Door Home, Rome Chamber of Commerce, Rome Board of Realtors, Rome Republican Women, and the Rome-Floyd Planning Commission.
In her professional career, Rhonda serves as Senior Vice President and Commercial Relationship Manager at River City Bank and has worked in banking for more than 40 years. Her commitment to service and leadership has earned her many honors over the years, including the Heart of the Community, Women of Excellence Award, the William B. Turner Humanitarian Award, and repeated recognition as Best Banker by the Rome News-Tribune.
Chair Wallace currently represents the Board of Commissioners on the following boards and committees:
Elected Chiefs
Administrative Services Committee - Chair
Gordon-Floyd Development Authority
Joint Services
Joint Oversight Committee
Rome-Floyd Development Authority
Fire Overview
Atrium Health / Floyd Hospital Authority
Board of Health
Her focus has remained on strengthening public safety, encouraging responsible and healthy growth and preserving the quality of life that makes this community a great place to live and work.
Before serving on the Commission, Rhonda built an extensive record of civic involvement through service on numerous nonprofit boards and community committees, including the YMCA, Rome Exchange Club, Georgia Highlands College Foundation Board, Floyd Healthcare Foundation Board, American Heart Association Board, Rome History Museum, United Way, Children’s Open Door Home, Rome Chamber of Commerce, Rome Board of Realtors, Rome Republican Women, and the Rome-Floyd Planning Commission.
In her professional career, Rhonda serves as Senior Vice President and Commercial Relationship Manager at River City Bank and has worked in banking for more than 40 years. Her commitment to service and leadership has earned her many honors over the years, including the Heart of the Community, Women of Excellence Award, the William B. Turner Humanitarian Award, and repeated recognition as Best Banker by the Rome News-Tribune.
Chair Wallace currently represents the Board of Commissioners on the following boards and committees:
Elected Chiefs
Administrative Services Committee - Chair
Gordon-Floyd Development Authority
Joint Services
Joint Oversight Committee
Rome-Floyd Development Authority
Fire Overview
Atrium Health / Floyd Hospital Authority
Board of Health
Vice Chair, Post Five
Scotty Hancock
Scotty is a lifelong resident of Floyd County and a graduate of Pepperell High School. He holds an associate's degree from Floyd College, where he was an honor graduate, and a Bachelor of Science in Management, where he graduated cum laude, and a Master of Arts in Leadership from Shorter University. Scotty served seven years in the United States Army with the 25th Infantry Division. He is currently employed at AdventHealth Redmond as the Director of Business Development for the Georgia Market. He also serves as an adjunct professor at Shorter University. He and his wife, Ronda, are foster parents and have three children and two grandchildren.
He and his family attend First Baptist of Rome and reside in the Lindale Community.
Scotty is a former Floyd County employee with 18 years of service. He began his career at the Floyd County Prison and the Sheriff's Office before being promoted to Animal Control Director and, finally, to Director of the Floyd County Emergency Management Agency.
Commissioner Hancock currently represents the Board of Commissioners on the following boards and committees:
Board of Health - Alternate
Public Utilities and Transportation Commitee - Chair
Administrative Services Committee - Alternate
Joint Services
Joint Oversight Committee
Downtown Development Authority
SPLOST - Alternate
TPC
He and his family attend First Baptist of Rome and reside in the Lindale Community.
Scotty is a former Floyd County employee with 18 years of service. He began his career at the Floyd County Prison and the Sheriff's Office before being promoted to Animal Control Director and, finally, to Director of the Floyd County Emergency Management Agency.
Commissioner Hancock currently represents the Board of Commissioners on the following boards and committees:
Board of Health - Alternate
Public Utilities and Transportation Commitee - Chair
Administrative Services Committee - Alternate
Joint Services
Joint Oversight Committee
Downtown Development Authority
SPLOST - Alternate
TPC
Post Two
Mike Burnes
Mike Burnes was born in Rome and lived in Lindale before his family moved to East Rome at the age of five. He graduated from East Rome High School in 1969 and the U.S. Naval Academy in 1973. He served seven years active duty in the Navy and 23 years in Naval Reserve. He retired as a Navy Captain (O-6) in 2003. He has two master's degrees, each from George Washington University and Florida Institute of Technology. He retired as the Plant Financial Manager at the Rome Tyson Foods plant in 2016.
Mike's community involvement includes:
Rome Tennis Club/Coosa Valley Tennis Association where he has served as Treasurer, President-elect, President, and Board member
Co-Coordinator of volunteers for the Atlantic Coast Conference Tennis Championship in 2017
Steering Committee for the Rome Tennis Center
Volunteer recruiter for Naval Academy as a Blue & Gold Officer
Served under U.S. Senator Saxby Chambliss and Congressman Phil Gingrey; Served as Chairman of Congressman Tom Graves Selection Board and is currently serving as Chairman on Congresswoman Marjorie Taylor Greene’s Military Academy Selection Boards.
Served as Chairman twice and is a current Board member for the Greater Rome Convention and Visitor’s Bureau
Board member of Rome Floyd Parks and Recreation and Chairman of Board
2017 and 2023 SPLOST Committee
Mike and his wife Cynthia live in Rome and have four married children and eight grandchildren. He attends and serves as an usher at Saint Peters Episcopal Church in Rome.
Commissioner Burnes currently represents the Board of Commissioners on the following boards and committees:
Alcohol Control Commission - Alternate
Airport Commission
Solid Waste
Planning Commission
Elected Officials - Chair
Public Safety - Alternate
Keep Rome-Floyd Beautiful - Alternate
Mike's community involvement includes:
Rome Tennis Club/Coosa Valley Tennis Association where he has served as Treasurer, President-elect, President, and Board member
Co-Coordinator of volunteers for the Atlantic Coast Conference Tennis Championship in 2017
Steering Committee for the Rome Tennis Center Volunteer recruiter for Naval Academy as a Blue & Gold Officer
Served under U.S. Senator Saxby Chambliss and Congressman Phil Gingrey; Served as Chairman of Congressman Tom Graves Selection Board and is currently serving as Chairman on Congresswoman Marjorie Taylor Greene’s Military Academy Selection Boards.
Served as Chairman twice and is a current Board member for the Greater Rome Convention and Visitor’s Bureau
Board member of Rome Floyd Parks and Recreation and Chairman of Board
2017 and 2023 SPLOST Committee
Mike and his wife Cynthia live in Rome and have four married children and eight grandchildren. He attends and serves as an usher at Saint Peters Episcopal Church in Rome.
Commissioner Burnes currently represents the Board of Commissioners on the following boards and committees:
Alcohol Control Commission - Alternate
Airport Commission
Solid Waste
Planning Commission
Elected Officials - Chair
Public Safety - Alternate
Keep Rome-Floyd Beautiful - Alternate
Post Three
Allison Watters
Allison Watters grew up in Middle Tennessee and graduated from Kennesaw State University before moving to Rome in 1994 to serve as director of human resources at Redmond Regional Medical Center. She is married to Ed Watters and they have two daughters, Grace and Ivy.
Since moving to Floyd County, Allison has made it her mission to be involved in the community and champion causes about which she is passionate. She is co-chair of Rome for the Rescues, a fundraising organization for animal welfare projects. A past chair of the Heart of the Community Board of Directors, she was named one of the Heart of the Community Award recipients in 2016.
Allison is an active member of Rome First United Methodist Church. She is also a graduate of Leadership Georgia and a graduate and former coordinator of the Greater Rome Chamber of Commerce’s Leadership Rome program, in which she met her husband Ed. She serves as an Advisor for the Greater Rome Chamber Emerge program.
Chair Watters currently represents the Board of Commissioners on the following boards and committees:
Northwest Georgia Regional Commission
Public Safety - Chair
Fire Overview
Highland Rivers
Alcohol Control Commission - Chair
Public Utilities and Transportation Committee - Alternate
Elected Officials - Alternate
Rome-Floyd Parks and Recreation - Alternate
SPLOST
Since moving to Floyd County, Allison has made it her mission to be involved in the community and champion causes about which she is passionate. She is co-chair of Rome for the Rescues, a fundraising organization for animal welfare projects. A past chair of the Heart of the Community Board of Directors, she was named one of the Heart of the Community Award recipients in 2016.
Allison is an active member of Rome First United Methodist Church. She is also a graduate of Leadership Georgia and a graduate and former coordinator of the Greater Rome Chamber of Commerce’s Leadership Rome program, in which she met her husband Ed. She serves as an Advisor for the Greater Rome Chamber Emerge program.
Chair Watters currently represents the Board of Commissioners on the following boards and committees:
Northwest Georgia Regional Commission
Public Safety - Chair
Fire Overview
Highland Rivers
Alcohol Control Commission - Chair
Public Utilities and Transportation Committee - Alternate
Elected Officials - Alternate
Rome-Floyd Parks and Recreation - Alternate
SPLOST
Post Four
David Thornton
David Thornton is a native of Rome. He and his wife, Teresa, have five children and 13 grandchildren.
David's community involvement includes:
Volunteer chaplain for the Floyd County Sheriff's Office 37 years ago before becoming a full-time chaplain in 2018. Currently serving Floyd County Police Department, the Gordon County Sheriff's office, E-911 dispatchers, Metro Task Force, Armuchee High School football team, and many more.
CFO of RomeGACares, a disaster relief program that serves communities across Georgia
Heart of the Community award recipient in 2022
Vice-President of the Rome Noon Optimist Club
Sr. Chaplain Emeritus Georgia Sheriff's Association
Leads mission trips to Israel and Greece
Founder of Essential Church for First Responders
Volunteer coach and referee for high school basketball
Commissioner Thornton currently represents the Board of Commissioners on the following boards and committees:
Commission on Children & Youth
Department of Family & Children Services
Transportation Policy Committee (TPC)
Keep Rome-Floyd Beautiful
Solid Waste
Rome-Floyd Parks and Recreation
Rome-Floyd Library
Airport Commission - Alternate
Tourism
David's community involvement includes:
Volunteer chaplain for the Floyd County Sheriff's Office 37 years ago before becoming a full-time chaplain in 2018. Currently serving Floyd County Police Department, the Gordon County Sheriff's office, E-911 dispatchers, Metro Task Force, Armuchee High School football team, and many more.
CFO of RomeGACares, a disaster relief program that serves communities across Georgia
Heart of the Community award recipient in 2022
Vice-President of the Rome Noon Optimist Club
Sr. Chaplain Emeritus Georgia Sheriff's Association
Leads mission trips to Israel and Greece
Founder of Essential Church for First Responders
Volunteer coach and referee for high school basketball
Commissioner Thornton currently represents the Board of Commissioners on the following boards and committees:
Commission on Children & Youth
Department of Family & Children Services
Transportation Policy Committee (TPC)
Keep Rome-Floyd Beautiful
Solid Waste
Rome-Floyd Parks and Recreation
Rome-Floyd Library
Airport Commission - Alternate
Tourism