Henry County Update - Newsletter

June 23, 2016

Board of

Commissioners

HCPD Recognized at the 2016 Golden Shield Honor Awards

Regular Meetings July 19 at 6:30 PM 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.

(Front row l. to r.) Officer Matt Palmer, Sgt. Scott Cumbie, Officer Kelly Home, Officer Jason Jones, Captain Chuck Simmons. (Second row l. to r.) Chairman Tommy Smith, Deputy Chief Mark Amerman, District V Commissioner Bruce Holmes, Police Chief Keith Nichols, Major Jim Burch, District IV Commissioner Blake Prince, Major Keith Going. (Back row l. to r.) District I Commissioner Bo Moss, District II Commissioner Brian Preston and District III Commissioner Gary Barham.

The Henry County Police Department and nine of its officers were recognized at the 2016 Golden Shield Awards hosted by Mothers Against Drunk Driving earlier this month.

The Henry County Police Department was named Agency of the Year and DUI Agency Hero, which is given to the agency, of a particular size, who reported the most DUI’s across the state. The department’s HEAT unit was named HEAT Unit of the Year.

Officer Jason Jones was awarded a gold pin for 153 DUI arrests, Matt Palmer was awarded a silver pin for 73 arrests and Kelly Home and Timothy Williams were awarded silver pins for 52 arrests each. The bronze pin winners include Zachary Campbell for 30 arrests, Mathew Davis for 25 arrests, Robert Ledford for 37 arrests, Kenneth Palmer for 26 arrests and Tyler Stone for 42 arrests.

To keep up with HCPD news, visit www.henrycounty-ga.org/police.

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June 23, 2016

Published by Henry County Communications Department The Henry County Board of Commissioners

Adopt-A-Stream Monitoring Workshops Set for July 19 and 21

Editor Melissa Robinson

Graphic Designer Meredith Butler Samantha Watson

Layout Designer Samantha Watson

Contributors Melissa Robinson Samantha Watson Kevin Williams

henrycounty-ga.org

If you love the way a beautiful stream or river looks, sounds and feels then you want to ensure that it stays healthy. Knowing how to assess the habitat condition of a stream and how to set up a stream monitoring site is the first step to safeguard those bodies of water that we tend to take for granted.

Henry County Stormwater Management is offering a Visual Monitoring and Chemical Monitoring Workshop for Henry County citizens that will provide demonstrations on how to monitor local streams for water quality and habitat health.

The Visual Monitoring Workshop will take place on Tuesday, July 19 from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. The Chemical Monitoring Workshop will take place on Thursday, July 21 from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m.

Both workshops will be held at Alexander Park, are free and do not require any prior experience or knowledge on stream monitoring. Participants who attend the Chemical Monitoring Workshop will have the opportunity to take a short exam to acquire official GA Adopt-A-Stream Chemical Monitoring Volunteer Certification.

Participants are encouraged to wear rain boots, a hat, comfortable outdoor clothing and bring water, snacks and a chair.

To RSVP, contact Alexa Robinson at arobinson@co.henry.ga.us or call 770-288-7266.

Alexander Park is located at 300 Atlanta St, McDonough, GA 30253.

Captain Scott Gray Recognized by the Chief of Police

On June 21, 2016 Captain Scott Gray was recognized by the Chief of Police for successful completion of his Master’s degree of Public Safety Administration at Columbus State University’s Georgia Command College.

The Georgia Association of Chiefs of Police in partnership with Columbus State University developed the program in 1994 and is individually designed to meet the organizational needs of law enforcement agencies all over the state of Georgia.

Captain Gray is the Commander of the Department’s North Precinct and began his career at HCPD in 2003.

(Pictured left to right) Deputy Chief Mark Amerman, Captain Scott Gray and Police Chief Kieth Nichols.

HCPD to Make Grant Application

The Henry County Police Department (HCPD) is applying for a federal grant of $26,351.00 under the Edward Byrne Memorial Justice Assistance Grant (JAG) Formula Program: Local Solicitation, CFDA 16.738, to support the project entitled “Criminal Apprehension and Gang Enforcement” or “CAGE.” HCPD seeks to maximize the effectiveness of JAG funding at the local level by enhancing the capabilities of the successful CAGE Unit within the Police Department. If awarded, budgeted equipment and supplies will be 100 percent federally funded and incur no additional expenses charged to the taxpayers.

The CAGE Unit fulfills policing duties regarding the identification, prevention, disruption and prosecution of gang related crimes. The CAGE Unit was formed under the Bureau of Justice Assistance’s Targeting Violent Crime Initiative (TCVI) in 2007 in response to a crime surge attributed to individuals involved in gang activity. The CAGE Unit works extensively with the Henry County Solicitor and District Attorney, investigating and preparing cases for prosecution under O.C.G.A. §16-15-4, known as the “Georgia Gang Act,” as well as other applicable statutes.

The CAGE Project grant aims to alleviate the operational gaps that were inevitable with a maturing Unit. Since its inception, the Unit has grown and consolidated, reached out to the community and looked inward at informants, promoted talented supervisors and recruited new agents, ebbed and flowed to meet the changing crime needs of Henry County. Once covert vehicles are long since known to local gangs, and the agents’ technology is mostly circa 2008-2010.

A fresh upgrade in surveillance vehicles and personal technology will allow the unit to continue operations in high-risk neighborhoods by giving the agents a new autonomy. The CAGE Project grant will request funds to support operations through technology enhancement and a commitment to officer safety.

Submission deadline for this grant application is June 30, 2016. A public comment period, as required in the official solicitation, allows citizens to inquire about the proposed program and to voice comments or suggestions. HCPD’s grant administrator, Kimberly Monast, is available for questions or comments at 770288-8133 or at kmonast@co.henry.ga.us.

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June 23, 2016

Four Henry County Courts Receive Grant Funding

Four Henry County Courts were awarded state grant funding this month from the Criminal Justice Coordinating Council, which operates out of the Office of the Governor.

The Henry County Resource Court received $140,299 in grant funding. The funds will be used for operational purposes to cover salaries and benefits, treatment, drug testing, some travel expenses for training and transportation costs. The grant requires a cash match of $15,589 that is met with existing budgeted funds.

The Henry County Adult Felony Drug Court was awarded funds in the amount of $202,136 to be used for operational purposes to cover salaries and benefits, contract personnel, drug screenings and training related travel costs. The grant requires a $22,460 match in funds from the County.

The Henry County Juvenile Mental Health Court was awarded grant funds in the amount of $30,639 to be applied to treatment, surveillance, equipment, drug testing supplies and assessment tools. A 10 percent cash match is required and is covered by existing funds within the Court’s budget.

The Henry County DUI/Drug Court received $37,429 in grant funding to be used for the annual Accountability Court Conference, surveillance officers, electronic monitoring and drug testing. The $4,159 required match is covered by existing funds within the Court’s budget.

henrycounty-ga.org

Firecracker Road Race to be Held July 4

The annual Firecracker Road Race 5K/10K to benefit Henry County Parks and Recreation’s Special Olympics will be held on Monday, July 4, 2016 at Nash Farm in Hampton.

The event features a 5K and 10K race, as well as 1 Mile Walk and Tot Trot. Pre-registration for the 5K is $25 or $30 on race day; 10K is $30 and $35 on race day; and the one-mile is $20 or $25 on race day. The Tot Trot is free to ages six and under.

Registration on-site will take place from 6:45 to 7:45 and the race will begin at 8 a.m. Register by June 24 to guarantee a tee-shirt. An awards ceremony will be held immediately following the race.

Participants may register online at www. getsetgrow.com Registration forms are also available at the Henry County Parks and Recreation Department at Heritage Park in McDonough. Checks should be made payable to Henry County Parks and Recreation Special Olympics.

For more information, visit www.henrycounty-ga.org.

July 26 Republican Primary Runoff

Early voting for the July 26 Republican Primary Runoff Election will be conducted at the Elections and Voter Registration Main Office at 40 Atlanta Street in McDonough from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. on July 5-8, July 1115 and July 18-22.

If you voted a Democratic ballot in the May Primary, you will be ineligible to cast a ballot in the runoff election as there are no Democratic contested races on the runoff ballot.

Polls will be open Election Day, July 26 from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. For further information or to request an absentee ballot, call 770-288-6448.

Food Truck Tasty Tuesday with Henry County Planning and Zoning

Henry County Planning and Zoning will be hosting “Food-Truck Tasty Tuesdays” with the City of Stockbridge on Tuesday July 12 from 5:30 p.m. to 9 p.m. at 4640 North Henry Blvd, Stockbridge.

Henry County Planners, joined by Planners from Henry County cities will be in attendance to meet with the community and answer any questions citizens may have about current and upcoming planning and zoning projects.

Participants will also have an opportunity to let government officials know how they feel about the community and its planning and zoning policies and projects in the form of short surveys.

For more information on this event, contact Juli Yoder at jyoder@co.henry.ga.us or 770-288-7526 ext.

7532.

HCFD Collects More Than $58,000 for Burn Foundation

The Henry County Fire Department collected $58,011 for the Georgia Firefighters Burn Foundation during its “Give Burns The Boot”® drive, which was held May 6 and 13, and June 10, 2016.

The Henry County Fire Department is one of nearly 100 fire departments throughout the State of Georgia that participated in the 27th annual “Give Burns The Boot”® fund-raiser, benefiting the Georgia Firefighters Burn Foundation.

“We would like to thank all of our citizens for

their generous support,” said Captain Michael Black, boot drive coordinator for the Henry County Fire Department. “It is great seeing citizens interacting with firefighters in a positive way, even for a brief second.”

Throughout its 26 year history, this event has raised more than $13 million statewide for the GFBF.

Funds collected through the boot drive will be used to help support the Georgia Firefighters Burn Foundation’s mission of partnering with the fire service and burn care community to provide fire safety and prevention education, support medical facilities and assist burn survivors in their recovery.

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