February 12, 2016
Board of
Commissioners Regular Meetings February 16 (Cancelled) 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.
Henry County Chairman Offers State of the County Address Henry County Commission Chairman Tommy Smith released his annual State of the County Address, this month on Henry Television, Henry County’s government access television station. In his yearly address, Smith highlighted the SPLOST IV initiative and the many projects that have been started or accomplished under the program, including a new fire station and investments in public safety through the purchase of vehicles and capital equipment; new parks and park improvements; intersection improvement projects; several miles of road resurfacing; and upgrades to the Henry County Jail and the Henry County Animal Care and Control facility. He thanked the voters for making SPLOST possible. “I would like to take this opportunity to talk about the impact of SPLOST IV and how valuable it has been to Henry County. In November 2013, SPLOST IV was passed by voter referendum and we are now seeing the benefits of those SPLOST collections,” said Smith. “The penny sales tax has enabled us to plan for various capital and road projects, and the credit for the impact of SPLOST goes to you,
Henry County Chairman Tommy N. Smith
the citizens.” He also highlighted the County’s efforts to stretch resources and save money, most notably through grant applications. He said the County’s most recent application for grant funding to the Go Transit Capital Program could potentially bring in millions of dollars to Henry County for a Park and Ride Facility. Chairman Smith spoke about the latest budget and his efforts to keep spending down while providing for the needs of the County and its citizens. “I want to thank the people of Continued on page 3
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February 12, 2016 Published by Henry County Communications Department The Henry County Board of Commissioners
Commissioner Holmes Honored by the Henry County Chamber of Commerce
Editor Melissa Robinson
Graphic Designer Meredith Butler Samantha Watson
Layout Designer Meredith Butler Samantha Watson
Contributors Melissa Robinson Samantha Watson Kevin Williams
Henry County District V Commissioner Bruce B. Holmes.
Henry County District V Commissioner Bruce B. Holmes was honored with the 2015 W.L. “Billy” Carter Public Service Award at the Henry County Chamber of Commerce’s 49th Annual Meeting and Awards Dinner, held on February 6, 2016 at Eagle’s Landing Country Club in Stockbridge. Commissioner Holmes has long been active in public life and has been recognized for his service to the community with several awards, recognitions and appointments, and is regarded as a person of influence in Metro Atlanta. In addition to his duties as Commissioner, Holmes also started the Commissioner Bruce Holmes Youth Foundation in order to give opportunities to young people in the community, through educational, athletic and mentoring programs.
Additionally, he has received appointments from the ACCG and GEMA, and has worked to help grow economic and business opportunities in the County. “As a County Commissioner our honoree has made a significant impact on Henry County. By tirelessly working to foster economic development and quality of life, he has clearly made a difference to the community,” stated a release from the Henry County Chamber of Commerce. Each year the Henry County Chamber of Commerce recognizes excellence by presenting awards to recipients chosen for their exemplary leadership and dedication to improving the community. The W. L. “Billy” Carter Public Service Award is presented to an individual who serves in an elected, Continued on page 3
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State of the County from page 1
Smoke Alarm Blitz on February 13
Henry County as I, along with the Henry County Board of Commissioners, consider it an honor to work for the citizens of Henry County and strive to make the best decisions for the people we serve,” said Smith in closing. The Henry County State of the County can be seen on Charter Channel 180 and ATT&T U-verse Channel 99 daily at 6:45a.m., 10:45a.m., 2:45p.m. and 9:45p.m., as well as “On demand” through the County website at www.henrycounty-ga.org.
Bruce Holmes from page 2 appointed or employed public position. The award is based primarily on services and benefits rendered to other people and to the community as a whole – beyond excellence in one’s own position, and recipients have demonstrated an extraordinary record of public service in Henry County. For more information on the Henry County Chamber of Commerce, visit www.henrycounty.com. For more information on Commissioner Bruce Holmes, please log on to http://www.co.henry.ga.us/Board_of_ Commissioners/District5.aspx.
The Henry County Fire Department has scheduled its first smoke alarm blitz of 2016 for Saturday, February 13 at 10 a.m. During the blitz, members of the Battalion 2, Company 6, Company 11 and Ladder 9 will be going door-to-door in the Poole’s Manor MHC in Ellenwood, giving residents free smoke alarms and offering to check residents’ homes to ensure that smoke alarms are in working order. The Henry County Fire Department wants to remind citizens that working smoke alarms save lives, and that they should be tested monthly. For more Fire Department news, visit www.henrycounty-ga.org/fire.
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February 12, 2016 Pickleball offered through Henry County Parks and Rec
Players enjoy a round of Pickleball at J.P. Moseley Rec Center in Stockbridge.
What do get when you cross badminton with tennis and throw in some fun and good exercise? It’s the growing craze called Pickleball and Henry County has it! The Henry County Parks and Recreation Department hosts Pickleball every Tuesday and Wednesday from 9 a.m. to 12 p.m. at the J.P. Moseley Recreation Center in Stockbridge. Pickleball is free to play for members and costs only $2.00 for non-members. An excellent activity for all age groups, Pickleball is great for agility and balance as well as enhanced coordination and is easy to learn. Pickleball is a combination of badminton, volleyball, ping pong and tennis and is played on a modified indoor court, similar to a tennis court, however the net sits lower and the ball moves more slowly than a tennis ball.
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Pickleball equipment is provided by the J.P. Moseley Recreation Center and may be checked out at the front desk. For more information on Pickleball, please contact Peggy Hesselbach at 770-288-7294 or through email at phesselbach@co.henry.ga.us
Henry County Fire Department Seeking Certified Candidates The Henry County Fire Department is searching for Certified Firefighter/EMTs, Firefighter/Paramedics, EMT-Advanced and Paramedics to fill open full-time positions. The department will hold two informational meetings to discuss department dynamics, current operati0nal deployment, pay and benefits and future departmental endeavors. Potential candidates for hire will have the opportunity to engage in one-on-one question and answer sessions with division chiefs and officers. The informational meetings will be held at the Henry County Training Division located at 100 Ronnie Stewart Drive McDonough, Georgia, 30253. The meetings will last for one hour, and start at 9 a.m. on Monday, February 15 and Tuesday, February 16. For further information you may contact the Henry County Fire Department at 770-288-6600.
The Henry County Library System Celebrates Black History Month with a Film Screening and Discussion The Henry County Library System, in collaboration with the Andrew J. Young Foundation, is hosting a screening and discussion on Ambassador Andrew Young’s documentary “Leaving Selma” for Henry County residents in honor of Black History Month. On Thursday, February 18 at 4 p.m., Director Kathy J. White will be on hand to lead a discussion on the film as well as the continued efforts of the Andrew J Young Foundation. “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. Join us at the Fairview Public Library as we celebrate Black History Month and share some knowledge and history with others in our community.
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 12, 2016 Help Save A Life with Hands Only CPR If you are called on to give CPR in an emergency, you will most likely be trying to save the life of someone you love: a child, a spouse, a parent or a friend. The Henry County Fire Department is offering Hands-Only™ CPR demonstrations at three locations in the county. Training sessions are free and have been scheduled to take place throughout each day. There is no need to register for this opportunity to help save a life. Hands-Only CPR is an American Heart Association (AHA) initiative which focuses on two steps to staying alive. If you see a teen or adult suddenly collapse, call 911 and push hard and fast in the center of the chest to the beat of the classic disco song “Stayin’ Alive.” This 1977 classic by the Bee Gees has the right beat for Hand-Only CPR. According to the AHA, “Approximately 360,000 cardiac deaths occur outside the hospital each year, and CPR can more than double a person’s chances of survival. Most people who experience cardiac arrest in public or at home die because they don’t receive immediate CPR from someone on the scene. “CPR is a simple skill that can help save a life, and if more people knew how to do CPR, more lives could be saved,” said Captain Michael Black, Fire Safety Educator for the Henry County Fire Department. For more information on this initiative, contact Black at 770-288-6619 or mblack@co.henry.ga.us.
The following is a list of class dates and times: February 13, 2016 - Henry County Fire Station #1, 664 Industrial Boulevard, McDonough, GA 30253 8:30am 10:30am 1:30pm 3:30pm February 19, 2016 - Henry County Fire Station #9, 122 Rock Quarry Road, Stockbridge, GA 30281 8:30am 10:30am 1:30pm 3:30pm February 25, 2016 - Henry County Fire Station #10 1059 Upchurch RoadMcDonough, GA 30252 8:30am 10:30am 1:30pm 3:30pm
Small Fruit Plant Sale Benefits 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. Checks should be made payable to Henry County Extension- 4-H.
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Henry County Employees “Go Red� for Heart Disease Awareness and Prevention Henry County Government employees show their colors on National Wear Red Day, in support of the Go Red for Women campaign and February as American Heart Month. According to the American Heart Association, heart disease and stroke cause 1 in 3 deaths among women each year, killing approximately one woman every 80 seconds. However, that startling statistic can change because 80 percent of cardiac and stroke events may be prevented with education and action. For more information, please visit www.goredforwomen.org or www.heart.org.
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February 12, 2016 Henry County PD to Utilize Crossing Guards for Traffic Control During Early Voting & Primary Election Day voter turnout in the state. Henry County currently has 143,000 registered voters on the rolls. In anticipation of a busy election season, Henry County has made upgrades to the new Elections Office located at 40 Atlanta Street in McDonough. Facilities Maintenance crews have renovated the inside of the building for easier handicap access, and have made improvements to the parking lot for enhanced traffic flow.
With early voting right around the corner, the Henry County Police Department is working with the Elections Office to help ensure a smooth voting process for citizens by utilizing crossing guards to assist in guiding traffic into the Elections Office building, located at 40 Atlanta St. County officials made the decision to utilize traffic control methods during this election season after the Elections Office was moved from its former location on Phillips Drive to the busier area of Atlanta St., which is near the downtown McDonough Square. Early voting for the March 2016 Presidential Preference Primary, ESPLOST and Annexation by Referendum question for Locust Grove begins Monday, February 8, 2016 and runs through February 26, 2016 at various locations throughout the County, including the Elections and Voter Registration Main Office. During the early voting period, voters will also have the opportunity to cast their ballots on Saturday, Feb. 20 and Sunday, Feb. 21. Tina Lunsford, Henry County Director of Elections, said she expects to see roughly around 65,000 voters between all early voting locations and the March 1 Presidential Preference Primary, noting that at last report, Henry County had the fifth highest
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The early voting schedule is as follows: Elections & Voter Registration Main Office: 40 Atlanta St., McDonough February 8 -12 8 a.m. – 5 p.m. February 15 – 19 7 a.m. – 7 p.m. February 20 9 a.m. – 4 p.m. February 21 1 p.m. – 5 p.m. February 22 – 26 7 a.m. – 7 p.m. Merle Manders Conference Center: 111 Davis Rd., Stockbridge February 15 – 19 7 a.m. - 7 p.m. February 20 9 a.m. - 4 p.m. February 21 1 p.m. - 5 p.m. February 22 – 26 7 a.m. - 7 p.m. Fairview Library: 28 Austin Rd., Stockbridge February 22 – 26 7 a.m. – 7 p.m. Fortson (Hampton) Library: 61 McDonough St., Hampton February 22 – 26 7 a.m. – 7 p.m. Locust Grove Library: 115 LG Griffin Rd., Locust Grove February 22 – 26 7 a.m. – 7 p.m. For further information or to request an absentee ballot, call 770-288-6448.