The Henry County Update - Feb. 6, 2014

February 6, 2014

BOARD OF COMMISSIONERS Regular Meetings February 4th - 9:00 AM March 4th - 9:00 AM

Meetings held at: Administration Building Community Room 140 Henry Parkway McDonough, GA 30253

Regular Commission meetings will air Fridays, Saturdays, Mondays and Wednesdays on Henry TV Channel 14 and AT&T U-Verse Channel 99, at 9 a.m. & 7 p.m.

Henry County Commissioners Recognize Severe Weather Awareness Week

The Henry County Board of Commissioners recognized the importance of Severe Weather Awareness Week by issuing a proclamation encouraging residents to become more aware of severe weather safety measures and the resources available to citizens in order to prepare for weather-related emergencies.

Emergency Management Agency Director Don Ash accepted the proclamation on behalf of the County.

The action came at the February 4th

Commission meeting. Preceding the proclamation, commissioners took the opportunity to express their gratitude to county employees who helped Henry County get through a late January snow storm that hit the metro Atlanta area.

“I would like to take this opportunity to thank all our staff who got us through the last week. They did a very good job… when we go through a crises like that and it’s uneventful, then it means everyone stepped up to the plate,” said Chairman

EMA Director Don Ash accepts a proclamation from Henry County Commission Chairman, Tommy N. Smith, during the February 4th BOC meeting. Pictured in the front row (l. to r.) Interim County Manager, Michael Harris, DOT Director, Terry McMickle, Major Keith Going with the Henry County Police Department, HCFD Operations Chief, Brad Johnson, Tommy Smith, Don Ash, and Captain James Gray, Officer Rick Franklin and Officer Harrison Smith, all with the Henry County Police Department.

Second row (l. to r.) District IV Commissioner Reid Bowman, District III Commissioner Gary Barham, District II Commissioner Brian Preston and District I Commissioner Bo Moss.

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February 6, 2014 Henry County Fire Department Holds Sixth Annual Awards Banquet

Henry County Training Captain Robby Russell “I have long believed that kindness, generosity and Shift Lieutenant Bobby Wilkerson welcomed and genuine compassion for the needs of other approximately 150 guests comprised of fire department people are what set our profession apart from other employees, their families and two of Georgia’s professions. Thank you for your professionalism and distinguished Fire Chiefs, on Friday January 17, for the quality service you give to our community each 2014, at the Sixth Annual Awards Banquet. The event day,” said Chief Lacy. was held at the Locust Grove

“It’s going to be a very Conference Center. busy year with great things in

The Awards Banquet store for Henry County Fire is an event to honor the men Department,” added Operations and women of the Henry Chief Brad Johnson.

County Fire Department in

Additional awards, the following areas of service: including a presentation to Kyla Firefighter of the Year, EMT Tammaro, wife of Firefighter/ of the Year, Rookie of the Paramedic Joe Tammaro, with Year, Officer of the Year, a certificate of appreciation.

Paramedic of the Year, Training Humorous awards were also Officer Award, Inspection/ presented as the evening drew to Prevention Officer Award, and a close. Awards were presented Administrative Assistant of the Firefighter/Paramedic Kyle Prince receives congratu- to recipients by their immediate Year. Personnel with 25 years lations from Fire Chief Bill Lacy and Training Chief officer.

Ike McConnell on being named Firefighter of the were also recognized for their Year.

Awards: dedication and years of service.

• Firefighter of the Year - FF/Paramedic Kyle Prince

To begin the ceremonies, the Henry County presented by Lieutenant Rodney Wiggins Honor Guard presented the colors and the Pledge of • EMT of the Year - FF/EMT Malcom White presented Allegiance was recited, followed by an invocation given

by Lieutenant Janet Slagle-Robinson

by Captain Damion Vaughan. A buffet style dinner was • Rookie of the Year - FF/EMT Carlos Bentley catered by the locally owned Shane’s Rib Shack. presented by Lieutenant Janet Slagle-Robinson

“Shane’s Rib Shack has always been a great • Officer of the Year - Lieutenant Lucas Harmsen sponsor for Henry County Fire Department events and presented by Chief Chris Sherwood & Captain we can’t thank them enough for the many years of Jonathan Burnette support,” stated Captain Sabrina Puckett.

• Paramedic of the Year - FF/Paramedic Drew Hand

After dinner and a time for fellowship, Fire Chief presented by Chief Chris Sherwood & Captain Bill Lacy and Operations Chief Brad Johnson delivered Jonathan Burnette a brief message followed by the presentation of the • Training Officers Award - Lieutenant Rodney annual awards. Chief Lacy ended his address with Wiggins presented by Training Chief Ike McConnell heartfelt remarks.

• Inspections/Prevention Officer Award - Lieutenant

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Weather Awareness from 1 Tommy Smith. “I would like to thank all who participated in this and it has nothing to do with this board except that we hire professional people to do this and they will not let you down.”

District IV Commissioner Reid Bowman also commended staff for a job well done.

“Public safety, DOT and 911 Services did a tremendous job making sure we weren’t in the same boat that a lot of others were in. We all received several emails thanking the county for making the right moves at the right time,” he said. “Our school board did a great job.

They shut it down early and they shut it down for the right amount of time, so we didn’t have kids stuck in schools or out stuck on school buses.”

“I personally tried to call each and every one of the directors to thank them for their hard work, and we

appreciate everything they did to help keep us intact,” said District I Commissioner Bo Moss.

“I too, want to thank our staff for doing a great job.

Don Ash deserves a lot of credit for moving everybody forward,” added Gary Barham, District III Commissioner.

District II Commissioner Brian Preston said that during the storm he had a few calls regarding dangerous roads, and that the Henry County Department of Transportation was right on top of those concerns. He also said that he has clients throughout the United States that asked him about the storm’s effect on Georgia.

“When there’s a big storm, literally, not just the weather but the media exposure, it’s nice to be able to say that here in our community, things were done right,” said Preston.

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February 6, 2014

Youth Basketball Tryouts Set for February 22nd and 23rd Volunteer coaches also needed

The Commissioner Bruce Holmes Youth Foundation Chargers AAU basketball tryouts for all middle through high school young men will be held on Saturday, February 22 and Sunday February 23 from 9 am to 2 p.m. at the Fairview Recreation Center.

Volunteer coaches are also needed.

No experience necessary, just a willingness to empower young men through athletics. Those interested in coaching should contact Coach Robinson at 678-480-9362 or Coach McMullen at 678-462-3921

by February 14.

The Fairview Recreation Center is located at 35 Austin Rd., Stockbridge GA 30281.

The Henry County Police Department is now using YouTube! The purpose is to work in partnership with our citizens in solving and reducing crime.

www.youtube.com/user/HenryCountyPoliceDpt

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Fire Department Awards from 3 Glenn Brooks presented by Captain Ron Reagan • Administrator Assistant of the Year - Receptionist Torrie Mitchell presented by Operations Chief Brad Johnson

Special guests in attendance included retired Clayton County Battalion Chief, Steve McCullough, and Hall County Fire Chief, David Kimbrell.

According to Captain Puckett, the banquet was totally funded through private donations and without those who graciously give each year, the event would not be possible.

“A heartfelt thank you is extended to Shane’s Rib Shack, who made this years’ banquet possible.

A special thank you also goes out to all those who contributed their time and efforts coordinating the Sixth Annual Henry County Fire Department Awards Banquet,” she said. “Organizers of this very successful event include Firefighter/EMT Justin Wynn, Station Number One “B” Shift personnel, and Dawn Keck, wife of Firefighter/Paramedic Tim Keck.”

Bid Awarded for Reclamation Road Work

The Henry County Board of Commissioners approved a bid for full depth reclamation work on various county roads in the amount of $662, 607.55, to Atlanta Paving & Concrete, Inc. of Norcross. The action came at the January 21, 2014 regular Commission meeting.

The Department of Transportation project includes improvements to various county roads using the method of cement stabilized base reclamation construction. The process utilizes existing roadway materials mixed with Portland cement to form the

roadway base, and the county’s DOT applies the finishing top of asphalt. The process is a cost-effective and environmentally friendly way of rebuilding the existing roadway, rather than with new, more costly material.

Four vendors responded to the bid invitation, and Atlanta Paving & Concrete, Inc. was the lowest and most responsive bidder. The company has satisfactorily completed previous reclamation projects in the County.

Work is expected to be completed 90 days from the Notice to Proceed.

Commissioner Bruce Holmes To Be Special Guest at Youth Summit

Henry County Commissioner Bruce Holmes will be one of several special guests at a Youth Summit event to empower young people in making good life decisions and teach the importance of saying no to drugs and violence.

Commissioner Holmes will take part in the “Discover the Hero in You!” Youth Summit, presented by 100 Black Men of DeKalb County, to be held on February 22, 2014 from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. at Arabia Mountain High School in Lithonia.

The event will offer youth empowerment workshops and leadership development, as well as assistance to help young people in discovering their voice and potential, and showing them the consequences of wrong choices.

For more information, including sponsorship information and registration, visit www.dekalb100blackmen.org/events.

Arabia Mountain High School is located at 6610 Brown Mills Rd., Lithonia, GA 30038.

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February 6, 2014

Henry County Parks and Recreation Offers Mid-Winter Break Camp

The Henry County Parks and Recreation Department is offering a Mid-Winter Break Camp February 17 through 21 during the week of winter break for Henry County schools. The cost for the camp is $100 per child and camp hours are from 7:30 a.m. until 6:00 p.m. for ages 5 to 12.

Camps will be held at the Fairview Recreation Center in Stockbridge, Heritage Park in McDonough and the J. P. Moseley Recreation Center in Stockbridge. Additional camps will be held at Locust Grove Recreation Center and Nash Farm Park if the two locations have at least 10 campers registered by February 7.

As always, there will be fun games and activities, arts and crafts, and this year includes an exciting field trip to Fun Bowl in McDonough.

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According to Tina Fuss, Recreation Specialist, Henry County Parks and Recreation strives to offer the children a break camp program that meets their educational, physical and social needs. A great deal of planning goes into making sure that the camps not only provide structure for the children, but also provide an experience that will benefit them in other areas of their lives.

Registration will be held Monday through Friday, beginning now through February 14, from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. at Heritage Park or any of the recreation centers mentioned above. Campers may also register online at www.hcprd.org. Hurry, because space is limited. For more information, call Henry County Parks and Recreation at 770.288.7300.

Severe Weather Awareness Week Observed February 3rd through 7th

The Henry County Board of Commissioners is joining the Henry County Emergency Management Agency (EMA), Georgia Emergency Management Agency (GEMA), the State of Georgia and the National Weather Service in proclaiming February 3 through 7 as Severe Weather Awareness Week. This annual observance is designed to educate Georgians about weather-related topics, including family preparedness, NOAA weather radios, the dangers of thunderstorms, tornadoes, lightning and floods, and is an excellent time for families to learn emergency preparedness and response procedures for all types of severe weather.

From tornadoes to lightning to floods, Georgia is susceptible to a variety of natural disasters. Severe weather is dangerous and can strike with very little warning, which is why it’s important to get ready in advance.

Each day of Severe Weather Awareness Week focuses on a different type of threat faced by Georgians.

Henry County is encouraging all residents to take a few minutes to learn about how to deal with each emergency situation by visiting http://www.co.henry.ga.us/911/ FamilyEmergency.shtml or the Ready Georgia website at www.ready.ga.gov.

Weather Awareness Week is a great time to make sure you and your family are prepared and each day focuses on a different weather-related topic: • February 3 Family Preparedness/NOAA Weather Radio Day • February 4 Thunderstorm Safety • February 5 Tornado Safety and statewide drill issued by NWS • February 6 Lightning Safety • February 7 Flood Safety (alt. tornado drill date)

The week’s activities begin with Family Preparedness Day on Feb. 3, when Henry County households are encouraged to program their NOAA Weather Radios and create Ready Profiles. With a Ready Profile, families can create a customized checklist of emergency supplies and a tailored family communications plan. It’s also important to keep mind that during severe weather, emergency workers might need at least three days to open roadways and restore utilities. If you are prepared to survive independently, it not only helps your family, it also frees up resources to quickly deal with the most urgent threats

On Wednesday, when tornado safety is emphasized, a statewide tornado drill will be issued by the National Weather Service. If there is a threat of severe weather on that day, the drill will be held Friday, February 8.

Another valuable new tool for Henry County residents is the Emergency Notification System. Sign up to receive these notifications at www.henrycountyga.org. We also recommend NOAA Weather Radio as standard operating equipment in every home.

NOAA Weather Radio is a nationwide network of radio stations dedicated to broadcasting continuous weather information directly from a nearby National Weather Service office. It is the best way to hear watches and warning from the National Weather Service (NWS), even if they are issued in the middle of the night.

For more information about how to prepare for weather emergencies, please visit www.henrycounty-ga.org/911 or the Ready Georgia website at www.ready.ga.gov.

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Henry County Transit Drivers Recognized With Safety Awards

The Henry County Board of Commissioners recognized several drivers with the Henry County Transit Department, with Safe Driver Awards, at the January 21 regular Commission meeting.

Cheri Hobson-Matthews, Interim Community Development Division Director, presented the awards, along with recently retired Transit Director, David Williamson.

According to Hobson-Matthews, drivers were recognized for their safe driving practices by having no preventable accidents in the past year. She said the drivers logged a combined 26,512 miles throughout the County.

“These drivers are being recognized for having no preventable accidents in 2013,” she said, when

addressing the Board. “That’s certainly an honor for these employees because as you may not know, our transit drivers are up and starting about 6 a.m. every morning, and at 5 o’clock, when a lot of us are leaving work, they are still on the roads making sure that they are transporting every citizen in Henry County who wants to get from point A to point B, somewhere in the County.”

Henry County Transit provides safe, reliable, accessible and affordable transportation to the citizens of Henry County, with curb-to-curb service provided on a first-come, first-served reservation system. For more information on the Henry County Transit Department, or to schedule a trip, call 770.288.RIDE or visit www.henrycounty-ga.org/transit.

Several members of the Henry County Transit Department received Safety Awards at the January 21 BOC meeting. Pictured, in the first row are (l. to r.) transit drivers Leslie Willard, Pamela Carden, David Pike, Albert Gober, Chairman Tommy Smith, transit drivers Chris Story and Tracy Johnson, and David Williamson; Second row (l. to r.) Cheri Hobson-Matthews, Tammy Austin, District II Commissioner Brian Preston and District V Commissioner Bruce Holmes; Third row (l. to r.) District IV commissioner Reid Bowman, District III Commissioner Gary Barham and District I Commissioner Bo Moss.

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Community Oriented Policing Unit Women’s Self Defense Classes

The Police Department will be offering Women’s Self Defense Classes in 2014 on the following dates: • March 20, 21, 22 • May 22, 23, 24 • June 12, 13, 14 • July 10, 11, 12 • October 9, 10, 11

Classes are open to citizens that live or work in Henry County and are held on Thursday and Friday from 6:00 to 8:00 p.m. and Saturday from 9:00 to 11:00 a.m. Saturday will be a weapons safety class. These classes are held at various police facilities within Henry County.

For more information visit the community section of www.henrycountypolicedeparment.org.

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Community Oriented Policing Unit Citizen’s Police Academy

The Citizen Police Academy is an eleven-week program designed to educate and inform citizens about issues that face law enforcement efforts in Henry County. Each session consists of eleven consecutive Tuesday night classes and one Saturday class at Henry County Police Department Training facilities.

The instruction is comprehensive and each week separate areas of the department are covered.

The goal of the Citizen Police Academy is not only to help local residents better understand police work in their community, but to develop stronger ties between our community and police agencies, in an effort to better address crime issues. Community Based Policing is an important and vital aspect of crime control in any community. It is through community cooperation and planning that we can best ensure quality police services in an organized effective crime prevention effort. The Citizen Police Academy is yet another mechanism for local police departments to inform the

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public of what they do, improve communication, and obtain citizen input, assistance, and support throughout the county.

The instruction provided at the Citizen Police Academy will include topics relevant to Henry County crime problems, such as: crime prevention and community based policing, drugs, gangs, DUI and traffic enforcement, investigations, the Use of Force Model and use of force, firearms safety and the law, and a tour of the Henry County Jail.

The following sessions will be offered in 2014: March 11th – May 20th & September 16th – November 25th. The classes are held once a week on Tuesday from 6:00 to 8:00 p.m. Classes are free of charge, but involve a commitment to attend an eleven week session. Most of the classes are held at the Henry County Police Department Training Room. For more information visit the community section of www.henrycountypolicedeparment.org.