The Rome Tea Party is hosting a town hall meeting Thursday for anyone who wants to know more about the planned U.S. 411 Connector, but the one-sided presentation has nettled some local leaders.

Organizer Mike Morton said the original plan was to hear from a supporter and an opponent of the selected Route D-VE, but he’s been unable to get a commitment from a supporter. Still, he said, the town hall will go on.

“This is clearly a Tea Party event … It’s our effort to educate the public about something important to the county. There’s still a lack of clarity,” Morton said.

The 6.34-mile, limited access highway would provide drivers from Floyd County with a straight shot to Interstate 75 through Bartow County and relieve congestion on Cartersville surface streets.

The decades-old project, however, is being stymied by the wealthy Rollins family, whose 1,800-acre Cartersville ranch would be traversed by the road.

Morton has lined up a Rollins advocate, transportation consultant Tom K. Perdue of The Perdue Group, to speak about alternatives to the route selected by the Georgia Department of Transportation.

He said he hoped the Greater Rome Chamber of Commerce would help him find an expert in support of the selected route, but he learned Monday they would not be sending anyone.

“There have been comments that we’re bringing in a hired gun and nobody wants to go up against him, but I found (Perdue) to be a reasonable, fact-based guy,” Morton said. “I think there’s some good information that a lot of people have not heard.”

Morton is still trying to find a GDOT representative or other 411 Connector expert, but had no luck on Tuesday.

Floyd County Commissioner Rhonda Wallace said several chamber representatives are planning to attend the Thursday town hall to hear Perdue and to ask questions that may not be addressed in his presentation.

The free, public event is scheduled for 6:30 to 8:30 p.m. at Grace Bible Church, 614 Old Dalton Road.