Rome Mayor Evie Mc­Niece and City Commissioners Buzz Wachsteter and Milton Slack were in Atlanta on Friday for the Georgia Municipal Association’s Mayor’s Day Conference.

McNiece serves as the president of the first district, which covers the cities in the 15 Northwest Georgia counties.

The annual conference gives city officials a chance to take continuing education courses on topics including ethics, municipal law, municipal finances and social media law for elected officials.

The conference continues through Monday, when Gov. Nathan Deal, Lt. Gov. Casey Cagle and House Speaker David Ralston host a legislative breakfast.

The guest speaker is Ray Hood, the U.S. secretary of transportation, and there will be opportunities to see other federal and state officials.

City Manager John Bennett said the U.S. 411 Connector project remains “on everyone’s mind.”

Earlier this week, a delegation from the Greater Rome Chamber of Commerce met with Deal to discuss the direct connection from Rome to I-75. The planned road through Cartersville is being held up by challenges by the wealthy Rollins family, whose large acreage would be bisected.

McNiece said other issues also have been discussed with local lawmakers and “we see them all the time.”

Bennett will moderate one of the discussions on Sunday morning concerning the Georgia Municipal Employees Benefit System. Rome is one of the municipalities that participate in the benefit program.

Sunday night will feature a Legislative Policy Council meeting, in which the GMA will finalize its list of priorities for the 2013 Georgia General Assembly session.

The conference will close Monday with district meetings and a Georgia Main Street/Better Hometown awards luncheon. Rome has been a Main Street city since 1981.