Henry County Update - Newsletter

April 5, 2017

Board of

County Breaks Ground for New Roundabout

Commissioners Regular Meetings April 18, 2017 6:30 PM May 2, 2017 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 officials break ground on a new roundabout at Hemphill and SR 138. Pictured (l. to r.) SPLOST engineer Chae Yi, Travis McClam and Nick Castronova, both with AECOM, SPLOST Transportation Director Roque Romero, Henry County Commission Chair June Wood, District IV Commissioner Blake Prince, Jim Rivers with Pittman Construction, County Manager Cheri Hobson-Matthews and SPLOST Construction Inspector Phil Woodall.

Blue skies and a modest wind carried the morning as District IV Commissioner Blake Prince, along with other county officials, broke ground on intersection improvements to Hemphill Road and State Route 138. The groundbreaking was held on March 29.

Commissioner Prince said he was glad to see the project begin.

“This project is long overdue --- I would have to argue that this Hemphill intersection is probably one of the most dangerous intersections in Henry County.

We’ve been working on this for quite a while,” said Prince. “There was a red light slotted for here but new data shows that roundabouts are actually safer and less expensive.

So we were able to save money and increase safety by building this roundabout,” stated Prince.

The new roundabout has a budget of $1,350,865.60 and is made possible under the SPLOST IV initiative. The design engineer is AECOM Technical Service and Continued on page 2

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April 5, 2017 Published by Henry County Communications Department The Henry County Board of Commissioners

Editor Melissa Robinson

Graphic Designer Meredith Butler

Layout Designer Melissa Robinson Meredith Butler

Contributors Melissa Robinson Erika Richards Kevin Williams

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Roundabout Continued from page 1 construction will be handled by Pittman Construction.

The project is expected to be completed by February 2018.

“It’s a wonderful day for Henry County, a wonderful day for the 4th District, making sure that the people get home safe from work and school. Thanks so much to the citizens voting for SPLOST and thank you to everybody that’s involved in this project,” stated Prince.

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

Firefighters Go Door-to-Door in Smoke Alarm Blitz

On Saturday, March 25, 2017, the Henry County Fire Department organized a “Smoke Alarm Blitz” in the neighborhood of Lake Cindy Estates in Hampton, GA. Firefighters and volunteers went doorto-door offering to check smoke alarms and install free smoke alarms in homes that needed them.

Armed with educational handout materials and new alarms powered by a 10-year long life sealed batteries, it took five teams of firefighters and volunteers just under five hours to install 128 smoke alarms. Homeowners also received personal, portable fire extinguishers provided by FireAde™ and The Ronnie Thames Foundation.

The Smoke Alarm Blitz served as a proactive approach to fire safety and outreach within the community.

“The goal of this outreach program is to save lives,” stated Henry County Fire Captain Michael Black.

“We’re asking residents to please check their smoke alarms to make sure they’re working, and if they have one that’s more than 10 years old, to replace it.”

Black said that public safety is always the HCFD’s top priority and they appreciate all of the residents who allowed the blitz teams to come into their homes and install working smoke alarms in order to help keep everyone safer.

Longtime Employee Named Assistant County Manager

Henry County Deputy Fire Chief Brad Johnson was named as the new Assistant Manager for Henry County Government. Manager Cheri HobsonMatthews made the announcement yesterday.

Johnson, a 28-year veteran of the Fire Department, joined the Henry County Fire Department in July 1988 and was appointed Deputy Chief in October, 2014. Prior to his appointment as Deputy Chief he served in a variety of fire department leadership positions including as Assistant Chief of Operations in which he was responsible for all response-related activities, including fire, EMS, hazardous materials and technical rescue response, incident management and operational training.

Hobson-Matthews said that Johnson’s extensive experience in county government will serve him well in his new role

“I am confident that Brad will be a true asset and leader within the County Manager’s Office and will serve Henry County well, as he embarks upon a new mission,” said Hobson-Matthews.

In his new role he will be responsible for assisting in the management of more than 1,700 employees and the operations of various county departments.

For more information on Henry County Government please visit www.henrycounty-ga.org.

Connecting Henry Collaborative Meeting Sees Largest Turnout to Date Connecting Henry had a great turnout at the March 28 Collaborative Meeting, which was held at Shiloh Baptist Church, and had more than 100 participants.

Henry’s Connecting

Collaborative Meeting brings community partners together to improve the well-being of families and children in Henry County, with a vision is to make positive changes in the community.

The next Collaborative Meeting will be held on May 23, 2017 at 9 a.m. at Heritage Park, which is located at 97 Lake Dow Road in McDonough, GA.

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April 5, 2017 Henry County Supports Fair Housing Month

Marion Thomas with Metro Fair Housing Services, Inc. accepts a proclamation from the Henry County Board of Commissioners in recognition of Fair Housing Month. Pictured in the first row (l. to r.) Marion Thomas, Henry County Commission Chair June Wood and District II Commissioner Dee Clemmons; Second row: District V Commissioner Blake Prince; Third row (l. to r.) District I Commissioner Johnny Wilson, District III Commissioner Gary Barham and District V Commissioner Bruce Holmes.

The Board of Commissioners recognized April as Fair Housing Month with a proclamation on April 4, at the regular Commission meeting.

The Fair Housing Act is a national policy prohibiting discrimination concerning the sale, rental, and financing of housing based on race, color, religion, national origin, sex, disability and familial status.

The Fair Housing Proclamation read in part, “WHEREAS, Fair housing means that our

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communities are open and welcoming, free from housing discrimination and hostility, consisting of neighborhoods of opportunity, where our children can attend quality schools, our environment allows us to be healthy, and economic opportunities and selfsufficiency can grow; and…”

The 49th anniversary of the Fair Housing Act is April 11, 2017.

Enhanced security surveillance added to Admin Building

The Henry County Administrative Building will be adding improved security cameras around entrances and exits for maximum security after the approval at the April 4 Commission Meeting.

There is an existing security system in place, but the Technology Services Director, Skip Floyd believes it is best to further the safety of the building and the employees.

“With increased security needs around here, we recommend additional cameras being added to an existing security system that we already have,� stated Floyd.

The security surveillance cameras will cover several critical areas in and around the building that have not been covered with the existing system, including the Building Department, Planning and Zoning, hallways and traffic outside of the Administrative Building.

The expanded version of the security system will be monitored by security personnel at all times.

The equipment will be purchased through a sole source purchase, and Comtech will be installing the cameras. The project will cost $16,189.

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April 5, 2017 District Attorney launches Pretrial Diversion Program

Henry County District Attorney Darius Pattillo is pleased to announce the launch of his Pretrial Diversion Program to help rehabilitate non-violent, first-time offenders. The launch comes on his 90th day in office.

The Pretrial Diversion Program is an alternative to traditional prosecution and allows defendants with non-violent offenses the opportunity to have their charges dismissed by completing a series of corrective programs, such as counseling, community service, anger management, drug rehabilitation and other classes. During the program, offenders are supervised similar to probation, drug screened, and must stay out of trouble.

Anyone who fails the program will have their case prosecuted in Henry County Superior Court.

“This is a rigorous program, but it gives youthful, nonviolent offenders who are serious about making a change the opportunity for a second chance,” Pattillo said. “While we are aggressive at getting dangerous felons off the street, we also recognize that not everyone who is arrested falls in that category.”

The program is only for offenders without a criminal history and for less serious offenses, such henrycounty-ga.org

as thefts, criminal damage to property and drug possession. Participants will be supervised by Pretrial Diversion Coordinator LaTisha Flint, who joined the District Attorney’s Office after working for the Georgia Department of Community Supervision for more than four years.

Since taking office on Jan. 3, Pattillo has launched a unit to specialize in crimes against women and children, hired an appellate a t t o r n e y , reorganized the trial line to be more aggressive on violent crime and streamlined the grand jury process.

In addition, Pattillo has increased outreach in schools to reduce juvenile crime.

“I have heard from many r e s i d e n t s concerned about the number of youth incarcerated for non-violent, first-time offenses,” Pattillo said. “This program directly addresses that concern and provides education and resources to those in need, while still allowing us to aggressively prosecute violent offenders and career criminals. This is another way we are working to give back to our community and keep Henry County safe.”

4-H Geraniums on Sale at Henry County Extension Office

As spring time rolls around again, add beautiful geraniums to your garden this year. The Henry County Extension Office is holding its annual geranium plant sale from April 4 to May 20, Monday through Friday, from 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. at the Extension Office in Heritage Park.

Geraniums will be available in eight inch pots for $8, in a variety of vibrant colors. All the proceeds will support 4-H programs for Henry County youth.

There will be an extended sale on Saturday, May 6

from 8 a.m. to noon at the Shade Park in Heritage Park, following the 40th annual Geranium Festival on May 20. The festival will be held at the McDonough Square from 9 am to 5pm, where more pot size options will be on sale.

For more information, contact the Henry County Extension Office at 770-288-8421. The Henry County Extension Office is located at 97 Lake Dow Road (Heritage Park) in McDonough.

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Stay Informed with CodeRED

Henry County E-911 Department has a new way of reaching out to the public in times of emergencies with CodeRED. CodeRED is an application that notifies citizens via phone, email, text message and social media to keep citizens informed in the event of an emergency.

CodeRED sends out alerts when there are evacuation notices, utility outages, water main breaks, fire or floods, chemical spills or other emergency situations.

Don Ash, Director of E-911, said CodeRED provides advancement on warnings during times of severe weather.

CodeRED is free of charge and registering is easy through the county website:

• Sign up for CodeRED online at http://www. henrycounty-ga.org/911 • Add the CodeRED phone number, (866) 419-5000 to your caller ID- this is for EMERGENCY CALLS • Add the CodeRED phone number, (855) 969-4636 to your caller ID- this is for GENERAL CALLS For more information about CodeRED service, visit http://www.henrycounty-ga.org/911

Henry County Employees Support Autism Awareness

Henry County Employees in the Administration Building show off their blue in recognition of National Autism Awareness Month. Henry County and the “Get

Fit” initiative support April as Autism Awareness Month and want to help bring awareness for those who are affected with autism.

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April 5, 2017 Tech Students Discover New Capabilities at Henry County Airport

Undergraduate students from the Georgia Institute of Technology recently visited the Henry County Airport to test a prototype for BLW, Bluetooth Low Energy, range extension. The Georgia Tech students used amplifiers, military grade Wi-Fi antennas, and

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their engineering skills to detect BLE data across the entire length of a five thousand foot taxiway and field.

The students expressed their gratitude to Airport Manager Michael Toney for access to the property to conduct the experiment.

Miles for Meals Walk 23rd Anniversary Set for May 6

The 23rd Annual Miles for Meals Walk, hosted by the Henry County Council on Aging, will take place on May 6 at the Jason Harper Event Center from 10 a.m. to noon, with registration beginning at 9 a.m.

Proceeds from the event will go toward services and programs for senior adults in Henry County.

The walk will take participants on trails throughout Heritage Park with routes to fit all fitness levels. A picnic lunch will be served following the walk and a professional DJ will be playing music to keep participants energized.

Registered walkers who raise at least $25 will receive a t-shirt and will be eligible to win a variety of door prizes.

The Miles for Meals walk, which is the oldest continuous fundraising walk in Henry County, was developed by the Henry County Council on Aging to support its mission to subsidize and sustain programs and services for Henry County’s senior adults. The event is held on the first Saturday of May in observance of Older

and acting as advocates on their behalf.

For more information on the Miles for Meals walk, the Henry County Council on Aging or Henry County Senior Services, visit www.henrycounty-ga. org/seniorservices or call Ann Marie Quincey at 770288-6975.

Americans Month.

The Henry County Council on Aging is a non-profit organization dedicated to supporting services for senior adults

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April 5, 2017 America Wheelchair Tennis Championships Scheduled for April 20-23 Volunteers needed for a variety of jobs

“AMERICA’S PREMIER EVENT”

L ARGEST USTA WHEELCHAIR TENNIS TOURNAMENT IN THE NATION

Right here in McDonough 100 WHEELCHAIR PL AYERS T FR AC TH U..S TR RA AV VE EL LIIN NG GF RO OM MA CR RO OS SS ST HE EU S..A A..

C FO NA RA CO OM MP PE ET TIIN NG GF OR RN AT TIIO ON NA AL LR AN NK KIIN NG GS S

COME READY TO BE AMAZED!!!

April 20 – 23, 2017 9AM – 6PM DAILY Richard Craig Park McDonough, GA 30253 For more information contact: Harlon Matthews 770-288-7293, hmatthews@co.henry.ga.us

Inside Wal-Mart locust grove

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Be amazed at “America’s Premier Event” the America Wheelchair Tennis Championship to be held on April 20-23 at Richard Craig Park in McDonough.

The tournament is celebrating its 11th year anniversary with its largest participation rate yet. One hundred players from all across the nation will be participating.

Singles and doubles competitions will begin at 9 a.m. on Friday, Saturday and Sunday and end at 6 p.m. The highly competitive exhibitions will start at 6 p.m. on Friday and Saturday.

There are two new divisions added to this year’s championship. The first addition is, a quad division comprised of Quadriplegics, and a ‘Sets for Vets’ division that features disabled veterans playing doubles matches. In honor of the United States Military, a special “John Purser Military Service Award” will be presented to a veteran for his or her service to the United States of America.

Spectators in attendance are sure to see incredible athleticism at the largest USTA Wheelchair Tournament in the nation.

The America Wheelchair Tennis Championship is presented by Henry County Parks and Recreation and was made possible by the County’s support and generous community sponsors.

For more information or to volunteer, contact Harlon Matthews at 404-308-2414 or hmatthews@co.henry. ga.us.

Village Park at North Henry to Prohibit Animals for Safety

The Henry County Board of Commissioners approved a resolution prohibiting domesticated animals from entering the Village Park at North Henry.

The newly opened park in Fairview has been a bustling scene of children and families, however District V Commissioner Bruce Holmes said he has received numerous complaints of large pit bulls and other traditionally aggressive dogs in the park.

Holmes said in order to keep the park safe for the many children who play there, he feels that banning domesticated animals is the best course of action for public safety. He also noted a concern in which some dog owners are not cleaning up after their pets, posing a possible health risk.

“Dogs are no longer allowed in Village Park.

There have been too many complaints regarding child safety and dog feces throughout the park,” said Holmes. “Although I believe that most dog owners

are responsible for their pets, others have shown a disregard and disrespect at the expense of everyone else’s enjoyment. With hundreds of people visiting the park daily, I want to ensure that everyone has a pleasant experience.”

Holmes recalled that just a few months ago in Fulton County, young children were attacked by several pit bulls while waiting for the school bus. One of the young victims tragically died from his injuries and Holmes has vowed that he will do what he has to do to keep people safe, even if it means inconveniencing some pet owners.

“I have had so many calls from concerned citizens and parents regarding the dog issue. Parents are on high alert and want assurances that we are doing everything we can to promote safety in our park,” said Holmes.

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