Henry County Update - Newsletter

February 4, 2016

Board of

Commissioners

County Breaks Ground on New Hampton Senior/Recreation Center

Regular Meetings (Canceled) February 16 at 6:30 PM March 1 at 9:00 AM Meetings held at: Administration Building Community Room 140 Henry Parkway McDonough, GA 30253 Regular Commission meetings air daily on Henry TV Channel 180 and AT&T U-Verse Channel 99, at 9 a.m. & 7 p.m.

County and city officials “break ground” on the new Hampton Senior/Recreation Center. Pictured (l. to r.) Hampton Councilman Chris Moore, Hampton Councilwoman Ann Tarpley, Hampton Councilman Marty Meeks, Henry County Senior Services Director Diane Reed, Henry County Council on Aging Chair Mildred Schmelz, Hampton councilman Henry Byrd, Henry County Commission Chairman Tommy Smith, Hampton Mayor Steve Hutchison, Henry County District II Commissioner Brian Preston, District III Commissioner Gary Barham and District I Commissioner Bo Moss.

Henry County officials formally broke ground on the much-anticipated Hampton Senior/Recreation Center with Henry County District II Commissioner Brian Preston, Henry County Commission Chairman Tommy Smith, District I Commissioner Bo Moss, District 3 Commissioner Gary Barham and District 4 Commissioner Blake Prince, the SPLOST Department and other county and city of Hampton officials in attendance.

The groundbreaking ceremony took place on February 1, 2016 at 56 McDonough Street, where the center will be located, situated across the street from the Fortson Library.

Commissioner Preston addressed the crowd, recognizing that the longawaited project was finally coming to fruition, and thanked the mayor and the city council for their continued efforts.

“What a beautiful piece of property, and how it ties into the library, and the architecture across the way. We’re fortunate enough that our Chairman was able to Continued on page 5

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February 4, 2016 Published by Henry County Communications Department The Henry County Board of Commissioners

Editor Melissa Robinson

Graphic Designer Meredith Butler Samantha Watson

Layout Designer Samantha Watson

Contributors Samantha Watson Melissa Robinson Kevin Williams

Youth Track and Field Registration Open

There’s no better way to “warm up” your kids in winter than by registering them for Henry County Parks and Recreation’s youth track and field program.

The youth track and field program is for children ages 7-14. It costs $85.00 per child to register, which includes a uniform, warmup sweatpants and hoodie, award and meet fees.

Registration takes place Monday through Friday, 9 a.m. until 4 p.m. from February 1 to February 26, 2016. You can register at the Heritage Park office, the J.P. Moseley Recreation Center, Locust Grove Recreation Center, Fairview Recreation Center or online at www.hcprd.org.

For more information on the youth track and field program, contact Henry County Parks and Recreation at 770-288-7300 or visit www.hcprd.org. henrycounty-ga.org

Fire Department Announces New Promotions

On February 1, 2016 the Henry County Fire Department announced the promotions of Firefighter/ Paramedic Todd Harris and Firefighter/Paramedic Ben Elkins to the rank of Lieutenant. The official pinning ceremony will be held on February 12 at 9:00 a.m. at the Fire Department Training Auditorium located at 100 Ronnie Stewart Drive, McDonough, Georgia.

Family and friends are

invited to the pinning ceremony to help celebrate the career milestones of these two public servants.

Interim Fire Chief Brad Johnson and the entire fire department family would like to congratulate Lieutenant Harris and Lieutenant Elkins on their achievements.

The mission of the Henry County Fire Department is to provide safe, professional service through education, prevention, emergency services, and community relations.

For more information on the Fire Department, please visit www.henrycounty-ga.org/fire.

Lt. Elkins is shown above on the left and Lt. Harris is shown above on the right.

Early Voting Starts February 8

Voter registration for the March 1, 2016 primary election ends February 1, 2016! Early voting for the March 2016 Presidential Preference Primary, ESPLOST and Annexation by Referendum question for Locust Grove will be conducted at various locations including the Elections and Voter Registration Main Office from February 8, 2016 until February 26, 2016.

During the early voting period, voters will have the opportunity to cast a ballot on Saturday, Feb. 21

and Sunday, Feb. 22.

In anticipation of a busy election season, Henry County is in the process of making upgrades to the new elections office located at 40 Atlanta Street in McDonough. Facilities Maintenance crews have been renovating the inside of the building for easier handicap access and are making improvements to the parking lot for enhanced traffic flow.

The early voting schedule is as follows:

Merle Manders Fairview Conference Library Center

Fortson (Hampton) Library

Locust Grove Library

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Feb. 15-19 7 a.m. - 7 p.m. 7 a.m. - 7 p.m. ------------------

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Feb. 20

9 a.m. - 4 p.m. 9 a.m. - 4 p.m. ------------------

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Feb. 21

1 p.m. - 5 p.m. 1 p.m. - 5 p.m. ------------------

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DATE

Elections Office

Feb. 8-12

8 a.m. - 5 p.m. ------------------

Feb. 22-26 7 a.m. - 7 p.m. 7 a.m. - 7 p.m. 7 a.m. - 7 p.m. 7 a.m. - 7 p.m. 7 a.m. - 7 p.m.

Small Fruit Lunch and Learn on February 9

Successful plant growers always prepare for the spring season before the ice melts. With the support of the Henry County Extension Office and its upcoming Lunch and Learn on February 9 at noon, you too can be a successful small fruit plant grower!

Pack a lunch and spend an hour with Small Fruit Specialist Dr. Erick Smith from UGA Tifton. He will be explaining what to grow and how to do it during this month’s Lunch and Learn session.

For more information visit the Extension Office’s website at www.caes.uga.edu/extension/henry.

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February 4, 2016 Small Fruit Plant Sale Benefits Extension Programs

The Henry County Extension Office wants to remind residents that warm weather will be here before you know it. With that in mind, be sure to order your small fruit plants from the Henry County Cooperative Extension Office’s “Small Fruit Plant Sale,” with proceeds going to support various extension programs.

Blueberry bushes are $10 each; blackberry bushes, fig trees and muscadines are $8 each; raspberry plants are $7; and 5-gallon pear trees are $16 each.

Plant orders are being taken from now until Friday, March 11, for pick up the following week at Heritage Park. Order forms may be found online at http://www.caes.uga.edu/extension/henry/ from the menu on the right.

Free Tree Seedling Giveaway for Georgia Arbor Day

It’s never too early to start thinking about spring in Henry County, and with Georgia Arbor Day right around the corner, the Henry County Soil and Water Conservation District is partnering with the Henry County Extension Office, the Henry Master Gardeners, the Henry County BOC, and the cities of McDonough, Locust Grove and Stockbridge for this year’s Arbor Day Tree Giveaway, which will be held on Friday, February 19, 2016 beginning at 8:30 a.m.

The three species selected for this year’s giveaway are the Flowering Dogwood, Pecan and Yellow Poplar which are all beautiful ornamental trees that attract various wildlife. Seedlings will be available at four locations, including the Aubrey Harvey Agriculture Building located at 333 Phillips Dr., and Heritage Park, at 97 Lake Dow Rd., both in McDonough; the Locust Grove Municipal Building located at 3644 Hwy 42 S., Locust Grove; and Stockbridge Presbyterian Church, located at 4740 North Henry Blvd., Stockbridge.

New Fire Trucks and Emergency Medical Equipment Purchased with SPLOST IV Funds

Approval for the purchase of emergency medical equipment for new emergency medical vehicles, three new pumper fire trucks and a subsequent budget amendment was awarded at the February 2 Commission meeting.

The Henry County Fire Department requires special medical equipment to save victim’s lives, which includes Zoll “X Series” Defibrillators and “AutoPulse” CPR systems. The new equipment will outfit four new emergency medical vehicles that were purchased after Board approval on December 15, 2015.

The total cost for four defibrillators and four CPR systems, including trade-in credits, is $131,267.80. henrycounty-ga.org

Funds are available in the SPLOST IV 2016 Fire Stations Capital Equipment account.

SPLOST IV funds will also be used in purchasing three new 2016 Pierce Saber Pumper Fire Trucks from Pierce Manufacturing, Inc. for $1,171,965 which includes discounts and delivery.

A budget amendment was approved in order to transfer $700,000 from the SPLOST IV 2017 Fire Stations Capital Equipment account to the SPLOST IV 2016 Fire Stations Capital Equipment account.

To keep up with other SPLOST Capital Projects, log on to www.henrycounty-ga.org/splost.

Groundbreaking from page 1

Chairman Tommy Smith says a few words before the groundbreaking of the Hampton Senior/Recreation Center.

Sheriff Keith McBrayer and SPLOST Capital Projcets Director Ron Burckhalter review the plans for the new Hampton Senior/ Recreation Center at the formal groundbreaking.

bring a deal together that helped accomplish this, in conjunction with the city of Hampton. I can’t think of a better collaborative experience than having such stakeholders as the city of Hampton and the County Commission trying to fulfill a promise that was made to people years ago,” said Preston.

“So, thank you, and we’re excited. This is a day of celebration.”

The new joint senior/recreation center will be built on five acres and is the first of its kind in Henry County, with an overall square footage of 20,800, with 9,900 square feet dedicated to the senior center, 6,100 square feet utilized by the recreation center and 4,800 square feet to be shared.

The senior center will feature its own covered, drive-up entrance; lobby/lounge with gas fire place; game room, card room, craft room and multi-purpose room; full service kitchen and dining room; adjacent outdoor porch and patio area; restrooms and staff offices; and direct access to the shared fitness area.

The Recreation Center will include a separate entrance; two large multi-purpose activity rooms; a vending area; restrooms; office and breakroom; direct access to the shared fitness area; and adjacent land to accommodate future growth.

The shared space includes an aerobics room,

fitness area to include several pieces of cardio/weight equipment and an indoor walking track.

Chairman Tommy Smith addressed the crowd and said the project was a long time in coming, but that good things were coming at last.

District I Commissioner Bo Moss also thanked those in attendance as well as the community for their support of this and other SPLOST projects.

“I’d just like to take a minute to thank all the citizens of Henry County for voting on SPLOST and making this possible and building this one penny at a time,” said Moss.

“It’s a great effort by the county, and, like I said, I give the Chairman all the credit and Brian Preston, our District 2 Commissioner. It’s finally happening, and I hope that in the next nine months, you’ll see it completed. I just thank everybody for being here today,” said Hampton Mayor Steve Hutchison.

Architect for the new center is Flynn Finderup Architects of Atlanta and contractor is Meja Construction of Peachtree City. With a $4 million budget, the Hampton Senior/Recreation Center was made possible under the SPLOST IV initiative. Construction is estimated to be completed by November 2016.

For more information on this or any SPLOST project, please visit henrycounty-ga.org/splost.

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February 4, 2016 Bids awarded for SPLOST Transportation Projects

Three bids were awarded at the February 2 Commission meeting for SPLOST funded transportation projects in District II. The first bid was awarded to Health & Lineback Engineers, Inc. for design services for Industrial at State Route 20.

This was the lowest bid, totaling $44,400.

The second bid was awarded to Wolverton & Associates, Inc. for design services for the dirt road portion of Selfridge Road from Speedway Blvd. to the airport entrance. This was the lowest bid, totaling $96,112.

The third bid was also awarded to Wolverton & Associates, Inc. for design services at South Cleveland Church Road, which is currently a dirt road. This was the lowest bid, totaling $90,695.

Funding for all three design service projects is available in each project’s budget.

henrycounty-ga.org

Mid-Winter Break Day Camp Registration Now Open

The Henry County Parks and Recreation Mid-Winter Break Day Camp is back! Camp will take place at the Fairview Recreation Center, J.P. Moseley Recreation Center and Heritage Park from February 15 through 19, 7:30 a.m. to 6 p.m., and end on February 22.

Registration is now open for children ages 5 to 13, and will run until February 12. You can register at any Henry County Recreation Center from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. or online at www.hcprd.org. Registration is $100 per child for February 15-19 camp dates; $120 per child for February 15-19 and February 22 camp dates; and $30 per child for the single day of camp on February 22.

The Parks and Recreation Department will give a $10 discount for each additional child being registered in a household for the full week of camp only.

The camp day of February 17 will include a field trip to the World of Coke.

For more information please call 770-288-7300.

To register online or to learn more about other Parks and Recreation programs, log onto www.hcprd.org.

Free Damage Assessment Training on Feb. 11

The Henry County Emergency Management Agency (E.M.A.) in coordination with the Georgia Emergency Management Agency of Homeland Security is hosting two free damage assessment training sessions on February 11 at the Emergency Operations Center.

The morning session will start at 9 a.m. and the afternoon session will start at 1 p.m.

Damage assessment is an important factor in how Emergency Management Agencies respond to an emergency or disaster. It allows teams to determine what happened, what areas were hardest hit, where

First Responders Recognized with Appreciation Breakfast

Integrated Fire Protection, the Georgia Arson Control and Georgia Underwriting recognized the dedication and sacrifice of Henry County’s First Responders with an appreciation breakfast earlier this month. Representatives visited Henry County on Thursday morning, January 21, 2016, and provided breakfast for the responders saying, “Thank You” to the individuals whose efforts often go unobserved.

Integrated Fire Protection’s Account Executive, Billy Brewster, was present, along with Jim Beck; President of the Georgia Underwriting Association, and awarded first responders with a custom Integrated Fire Protection corn hole set.

Also in attendance retired Fire Chief Bill Lacy, Interim Fire Chief Brad Johnson, Chief of Prevention Joe Kelley, and Henry County Commission Chairman Tommy Smith. Fire and county officials were grateful for the welcomed recognition of the hard working men and women of Henry County.

priority must be given and what type of assistance is needed.

The class will cover the fundamentals of different types of damage assessments and categories of damage classifications used by the state and Federal Emergency Management Agency. Upon completion of the training, participants will be able to define the purpose of damage assessment, define basic terms related to damage assessment and list critical infrastructure in a community.

This training will provide citizens with the knowledge needed to assist the Henry County E.M.A. if needed. Interested individuals should email Emergency Management Officer, Shelita Broomfield at sbroomfield@co.henry.ga.us.

The Henry County Library System Celebrates Black History Month

The Henry County Library System, in collaboration with the Andrew J. Young Foundation, is hosting a screening of and discussion on Ambassador Andrew Young’s documentary “Leaving Selma” for Henry County residents on Thursday, February 18 from 4 p.m. to 7 p.m. at the Fairview Public Library.

The film’s Director, Kathy J. White, will be on hand to lead a discussion on the film and to talk about the continued efforts of the Andrew J Young Foundation, who produced the film.

“Leaving Selma” highlights the historic 1965 march from Selma to Montgomery, Alabama, when law enforcement officers brutally attacked peaceful demonstrators as they tried to cross the Edmund Pettus Bridge.

For more information on Black History Month events and programs at the Henry County Library System, visit us online at www.henry.public.lib.ga.us.

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February 4, 2016 Registration for Rock Eagle Summer Camp For Henry County 5TH Graders Begins February 6

An amazing adventure awaits Henry County 5th grade students at the Rock Eagle 4-H Center, to be held this year from June 13-17, 2016. The Henry County 4-H staff will travel with students for a 5-day residential camp that week, where opportunities

will abound during a fun-filled week at the 1,500 acre camp located just north of Eatonton – about 60 miles from McDonough.

The camp is situated around a 110-acre lake and campers have the opportunity to canoe as well as engage in fun and educational activities, such as canoeing, archery, conservation, entomology, forestry, herpetology, lake ecology and the study of wildlife.

Campers will also enjoy periods of free-time where they can visit one of two swimming pools, play miniature golf or visit the canteen and hang out with friends.

All 5th grade campers take part in a hike to the actual Rock Eagle mound – a stone effigy measuring 120-feet from wingtip to wingtip. It is made entirely of milky quartz rocks and is believed to have been built about 2,000 years ago by Native Americans. The mound is on the National Register of Historic Places.

Camp sessions are led by very energetic counselors who have passed a rigorous selection process and completed multiple training sessions.

Camp chaperones include Henry County 4-H staff members along with volunteer leaders that are trained to meet the requirements for camp. henrycounty-ga.org

Knowing that physical activity and good nutrition are so very important for everyone, Rock Eagle offers the “Health’s Our Pledge” (HOP) Class during the week of camp. Students learn about the value of always being active and eating well.

A week of residential camp is an opportunity to gain independence, with emphasis placed on: * The importance of being early for each session. * The value of being responsible for one’s belongings. * The benefit of making new friends. * The merit of learning to work as part of a team or group.

Counselors and chaperones keep safety as the top priority while striving to help participants have great fun during a “technology-free” week.

Camp registration for Henry County 5th graders will be from at 9 a.m. to noon on Saturday, February 6, at the Henry County 4-H Office, which is located in Heritage Park at 97 Lake Dow Road, McDonough.

The camp registration form is distributed to all Henry County 5th graders in the Henry County School system and it may also be found at www.ugaextension.com/henry. Full payment can be made at time of registration or in three installments.

To view a video of camp highlights, go to the Georgia 4-H website, click on “activities & events”, then summer camp, and then Cloverleaf Camp Videos – Rock Eagle. The direct link is http://georgia4-h.wistia.com/medias/wzux86tm02.