July 1, 2016
Board of
Commissioners
Henry County Receives Grant for Park and Ride
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.
Henry County received word last week that they have been awarded $3.5 million to build a new Park and Ride lot on Jonesboro Road, near I-75. Georgia Governor Nathan Deal made the pronouncement at the Capitol on Wednesday, June 22 announcing the $3.5 million award, one of 11 transit projects across metro Atlanta to receive the funding. In January of this year, the Henry County Department of Transportation (HCDOT) submitted a project application to the State Road and Tollway Authority through the Go! Transit Capital Program (GOTCP) for the construction of a park and ride facility near the Jonesboro Road/I-75 Interchange (exit 221). At that time, in an effort to receive better consideration, the County allocated $100,000 to a grant match fund that would be used to match the GOTCP funds, should the grant be awarded. Assistant County Manager Cheri Hobson-Matthews, Planner Stacey JordanRudeseal and David Simmons with Henry County DOT were in attendance when the Governor made the announcement. According to Hobson-Matthews, Henry County has one of the highest number of riders on the GRTA Xpress Bus Service line in the metro Atlanta area, and existing lots are often full to capacity. Continued on page 2
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July 1, 2016 Park and ride from page 1
Published by Henry County Communications Department The Henry County Board of Commissioners
Editor Melissa Robinson
Graphic Designer Meredith Butler Samantha Watson
Layout Designer
“This is certainly a great opportunity for residents who utilize the GRTA Xpress Service,” said Hobson-Matthews. “And we are grateful to the SRTA (State Road and Tollway Authority) Board and Executive Director Chris Tomlinson for awarding Henry County this outstanding opportunity.” The GOTCP is a competitive funding program designed to address some of the critical capital related public transportation needs throughout Georgia and any existing public transportation operators that are government units are eligible to apply to the program. To learn more about the GOTCP please visit www.georgiatolls.com/gotransit.
Samantha Watson
Contributors Melissa Robinson Samantha Watson Kevin Williams
Food Truck Tasty Tuesday With HC 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. henrycounty-ga.org
Henry County Parks and Rec to Manage Golf Course The Henry County Parks and Recreation Department will be taking over operation of Cotton Fields Golf Course beginning July 1, after the Board of Commissioners approved a resolution in a 4-2 vote with Chairman Tommy Smith and Commissioner Blake Prince in opposition. The action came at the regular Commission meeting held on June 21. According to the resolution, the current management company has decided to opt out of the day-to-day operations of the golf course, however will continue on a contractual basis to provide some services, including greens maintenance and the lease of various equipment. The resolution also allowed for payment to the current management company in the amount of $140,740 for previous services rendered. Henry County Commission meetings are available in their entirety through Charter channel 180, AT&T U-verse channel 99 and on-demand though the County website at www.henrycounty-ga.org. Cotton Fields Golf Course is located at 400 Industrial Parkway in McDonough, Georgia.
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 a.m. to 7:45 a.m. and the race will begin at 8 a.m. 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.
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. However, if you did not vote at all in the May Primary or you voted on a non-partisan ballot, you are eligible to vote in the Republican Runoff Election. Polls will be open Election Day from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. For further information or to request an absentee ballot, call 770-288-6448.
Adopt-A-Stream Monitoring Workshops Set for July 19 and 21
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.
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July 1, 2016
Henry County Fire Department Encourages Safe and Fun Fourth of July Celebrations The number of consumers using fireworks this Fourth of July is expected to reach an all-time high. Consumer fireworks cause thousands of burns and eye injuries each year and new laws governing the use of fireworks raise new concerns on behalf of the consumer. The National Council on Fireworks Safety, along with the Henry County Fire Department, encourages consumers to use caution and review safety tips before purchasing and using fireworks. “Fireworks are the most iconic and festive way to celebrate our country’s independence and there can be dangers if fireworks are used improperly,” said Nancy Blogin, President of the National Council on Fireworks Safety. The risk of suffering an injury from the improper use of fireworks is twice as high for children ages 10 to 14. Consumer fireworks include sparklers and firecrackers. Sparklers burn at a temperature of more than 1,200 degrees Fahrenheit; hot enough to cause third-degree burns. With recent high temperatures and drought like conditions, the risk of fire increases as well as the potential for injury. “The goal of the Henry County Fire Department is to educate the public on the safe use of fireworks by encouraging citizens to make safety their first priority,” stated Captain Michael Black. Citizens are encouraged to report any unsafe act to the fire department or police department. The following safety tips should be followed to ensure your holiday celebrations are incident free. For more information on the National Council on Fireworks Safety visit http://www.fireworkssafety.org, or contact the Henry County Fire Department by email to discuss your community needs at fdcommunityrelations@ co.henry.ga.us. henrycounty-ga.org
Fireworks Safety Tips • The safest way to enjoy fireworks is to attend a public display conducted by trained professionals. • A responsible adult should supervise all firework activities. Never give fireworks to children. • Only light fireworks on smooth, flat surfaces away from houses, dry vegetation and flammable materials. • Never try to relight fireworks. • In case of malfunction or fire, have a hose, bucket of water or fire extinguisher nearby. • Purchase fireworks from a reputable dealer and check all instructions on packaging before use. • Check local and state laws for fireworks use in your city. • Alcohol and fireworks do not mix. Save your alcohol for after the show. • Wear safety glasses and do not stand directly over fireworks when lighting. • Do not hold fireworks in your hand • Dispose of spent fireworks by wetting them down and place in a metal trashcan away from any building or combustible materials until the next day.