At a public hearing before the Rome Common Council on Dec. 10, 2025, residents who live on West Chestnut Street urged the council not to discontinue or sell Wolf Lane, a paper alley used for rear-yard access.

"It takes away access to our backyard," said Jason Jaggers, who identified himself as co-owner of 207 West Chestnut, arguing the loss of the alley would leave the property without rear access and reduce its value. David Bruce, who lives at 209 West Chestnut Street, said the alley is used by the 200 block for maintenance, repairs and upgrades and that removing it would make those tasks much more difficult and costly. "I would ask that you vote against the sale of Wolf Lane to a private party," Bruce said.

The council previously read a resolution authorizing the city clerk to advertise notice of a public hearing regarding the proposed discontinuance of Wolf Lane. On Dec. 10 the council took public comment and then closed the hearing; there is no final council decision on the alley recorded in the Dec. 10 transcript.

The two speakers framed their opposition around concrete impacts: loss of physical access to rear yards, higher cost and complexity of property maintenance, and a perceived decline in property values if access is removed. The council did not act on the discontinuance during this session; the public hearing was closed and regular business resumed.

Next steps: the transcript records the hearing as closed at the Dec. 10 meeting and does not record a vote to discontinue Wolf Lane. Any further action would require council direction or a future agenda item.