September 25, 2014
BOARD OF COMMISSIONERS
County Breaks Ground on Intersection Improvements at SR 81 and Mt. Bethel Road
Regular Meetings October 7th - Canceled October 21st - 6:30 PM 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 180 and AT&T U-Verse Channel 99, at 9 a.m. & 7 p.m.
Officials break ground on SR 81 and Mt. Bethel Rd. intersection improvements. Pictured (l. to r.) are Michael Hill, SPLOST Coordinator, Mario Macrina with Wolverton Engineering, Roque Romero, SPLOST Transportation Director, District I Commissioner Bo Moss, District III Commissioner Gary Barham, Diane Chumbley, historian for Mt. Bethel United Methodist Church, Bert Bivens, SPLOST Project Manager, Chae Yi, SPLOST Civil Engineer and citizen Phil Woodall.
Members of the Henry County Board of Commissioners, along with the Henry County SPLOST Department and other officials celebrated a groundbreaking on Thursday, September 18 for intersection improvements to SR 81 and Mt. Bethel Rd in McDonough. The groundbreaking is the beginning of a long-awaited SPLOST road project for the area that will see Mt. Bethel Road realign to Wynn Road and include dedicated right and left turn lanes. The project was awarded to the Conyers firm of Pittman Construction Company in the amount of $1,338,587.10 and
Wolverton Associates is the engineering consulting firm. Construction is expected to be completed by June, 2015. District III Commissioner Gary Barham and District I Commissioner Bo Moss were on hand for the groundbreaking. “This is one of those projects that had been on previous SPLOST lists for some time, and I am very pleased that we were able to expedite this under SPLOST IV and make it a priority for the citizens of Henry County,� said Barham. Commissioner Moss echoed those sentiments and acknowledged the importance of working together. Continued on Page 3 the henry county update
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September 25, 2014 HCFD Paramedic Program Earns National Accreditation The Henry County Fire Department has been awarded national recognition with initial accreditation from the Commission of Accreditation of Allied Health Education Programs (CAAHEP), for its EMT to Paramedic Training Program. The HCFD is just one of two fire departments that have earned accreditation in the state of Georgia, joining Gwinnett County Fire and Emergency Services, in this distinguished honor. According to the award letter sent to Henry County Fire Chief Bill Lacy, the Commission on Accreditation of Allied Health Education Programs has awarded initial accreditation to Henry County Fire Department’s Emergency Medical TechnicianParamedic program after a recent peer review conducted by the Committee on Accreditation of Educational Programs for the Emergency Medical Services Professions (CoA EMSP). It went on to say that CAAHEP’s Board of Directors recognized the program’s substantial compliance with the nationally established accreditation standards.
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“This is a tremendous achievement that is not attempted nor accomplished by many,” said Chief Lacy. “I really appreciate the incredible investment in time and effort that my department has put into making this dream a reality. This is far more than a ‘feather in our cap’ as it is essential to our program’s continued existence.” Although Lacy said that the Department has had a training program for several years in affiliation with Southern Crescent Technical College, this designation is for the Department’s “stand alone” paramedic training program and is a great accomplishment. The accreditation mirrors a set of high standards accepted nationwide for the training and education of EMTs to paramedics. The CAAHEP is a postsecondary accredited agency recognized by the Council for Higher Education Accreditation (CHEA) and carries out its accrediting activities in cooperation with 21 review committees. CAAHEP currently accredits over 2,100 entry level education programs in 26 health science professions.
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“Transportation is an issue in Henry County and this is a project that affects not only Districts 1 and 3, but the whole county, so of course I’m glad that we were able to work together and get this project started,” said Moss. Crews will begin with a pipe replacement as part of the project and will close SR 81 on October 3, 2014 between Mt. Bethel and Wynn Road. The work will
consist of installing a 60” concrete pipe under SR 81. The detour will begin at 9 p.m. on Friday, October 3 and the road will reopen at 5 a.m. on Monday, October 6. Mt. Bethel and Sandy Ridge roads will be used as part of the detour and clearly marked signage will be used to guide drivers. For more information on SPLOST, please visit www.henrycounty-ga.org/splost.
FOURTH ANNUAL GOLD STAR FAMILY DAY TO HONOR LOCAL FALLEN HEROES The ceremony will be held on Saturday, September 27 at the Veterans Wall of Honor and the Veterans Museum, both located at Heritage Park in McDonough. The event will begin with a public ceremony at the Veterans Wall of Honor beginning at 1 p.m. The Veterans Museum is located in Heritage Park, at 101 Lake Dow Rd. in McDonough. For more information, contact Jim Joyce at 404-831-9740 or jjoyce@co.henry.ga.us, or contact Melissa McKenzie, Support Coordinator for Survivor Outreach Services at 478-284-2766 or melissa.n.mckenzie.ctr@mail.mil.
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September 25, 2014 Officials Present Plans for Intersection Improvements to East Lake Rd. and SR 20
Roundabout expert Mark Lenters answers citizens’ questions at a public information meeting held earlier this month regarding intersection improvements to SR 81 and East Lake Rd.
The Henry County SPLOST Department, County officials, representatives from the Georgia Department of Transportation and other officials held a public information meeting last week at Timber Ridge Elementary School regarding improvements to the intersection of SR 20 and East Lake Rd. in McDonough. Roundabout expert Mark Lenters, with GHD Inc. gave a presentation and answered questions on modern roundabouts, how they work and why GDOT has determined that a roundabout is the best solution for the intersection. Tom Crochet, with McGee Partners, also provided information and answered audience questions. East Lake Road at SR 20 is a designated SPLOST IV Priority 1 Project for calendar year 2014, having been moved up on the SPLOST IV list after a series of traffic accidents. According to Roque Romero, Henry County’s SPLOST Transportation Project Director, SR 20 is a state roadway under control of the Georgia Department of Transportation, and after conducting a recent
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study of the East Lake Rd. and SR 20 intersection, GDOT officials determined that a roundabout was the correct course of action for safety improvements at the intersection. The Henry County Board of Commissioners approved the bid for design services for intersection improvements for the area at the June 17, 2014 Commission meeting. The public information meeting held on September 18 featured a presentation as well as a scale model replica of a roundabout, an informational video and various handouts to keep citizens informed of the upcoming intersection improvements. Work on the intersection is expected to begin in early 2015, weather permitting and the entire project will cost approximately $1.7 million funded through SPLOST IV. For more information on the SPLOST Department or the current SPLOST IV priority list, or to view the full roundabout presentation from the September 18 public information meeting, please visit www.henrycounty-ga.org/splost.
Commissioners Recognize September 17 through 23 As Constitution Week The Henry County Board of Commissioners proclaimed the week of September 17 through 23 as Constitution Week in Henry County, to coincide with the national observance of Constitution Week. The action came at the regular Commission meeting held on September 16, 2014, where members of the Daughters of the American Revolution, Andrew McBride Chapter, were present to accept the proclamation. This year marks the 227th anniversary of the
drafting of the Constitution of the United States of America by the Constitutional Convention. The proclamation issued by the Commissioners read, in part, “For more than two centuries, the Constitution has presided as the supreme law of the land, keeping our leaders true to America’s highest ideals and guaranteeing the fundamental rights that make our country a beacon of hope to all people in search of freedom and justice...”
Members of the Daughters the American Revolution, Andrew McBride Chapter, accept a proclamation from the Henry County Board of Commissioners in recognition of Constitution Week. Pictured in the first row (l. to r.) DAR Regent Helen Busbin, Committee Chair Jane Sweeney, Henry County Commission Chairman Tommy N. Smith and District III Commissioner Gary Barham; Second row (l. to r.) District IV Commissioner Reid Bowman, District I Commissioner Bo Moss and District V Commissioner Bruce Holmes.
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September 25, 2014 Georgia-based Company to Bring 450 New Jobs to Henry County Gov. Nathan Deal recently announced that TSYS, a global payments company headquartered in Columbus, GA, will create up to 450 jobs through a new contact center in Henry County. Deal’s office formally released the announcement on September 16, 2014, detailing the expansion of the payments company. “TSYS’s decision to expand in Georgia is a testament to our state’s top-ranked business climate and qualified workforce,” said Deal. “Businesses that choose to locate here are finding it easy to expand here, and I have no doubt that our state will continue to provide this growing company with the necessary resources to remain globally competitive.” The new center is in the former Litton Loan Servicing building, located at 3500 Loop Road in McDonough. The company has already taken occupancy of the building and will begin staffing the facility in the near future. Bob White, Director of the Henry County Development Authority, said the HCDA has been working with the Georgia Department of Economic Development and the site location consultant for the company on this project for more than a year, and it represents one of the largest job creation announcements in recent history in Henry County.
According to the governor’s announcement, the 62,000-square-foot TSYS facility will house a new contact center that will provide back-up capabilities for its existing center in Columbus. This expansion will offer customer service, risk and fraud management, collections, dispute and chargeback servicing, back office support and full call center servicing solutions. The new facility will also provide substantial opportunities to expand TSYS’s services, supporting organic growth and generating business with new and existing clients. “We are excited about the opening of our new center in McDonough,” said Group Executive of TSYS Managed Services David Figgat. “We are confident that we will be able to attract top-notch talent from the market that will help us deliver comprehensive servicing solutions for our clients, while optimizing the overall customer experience.” TSYS supports financial institutions, businesses, governments and consumers worldwide, offering issuer services and merchant payment acceptance for credit, debit, prepaid and healthcare payments. A Georgiabased company, TSYS’s global headquarters has been located in Columbus for the entirety of the company’s 31-year history.
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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Commissioner Holmes and Kappa Alpha Psi Lead Cleanup Effort Henry County District V Commissioner Bruce Holmes, along with his fraternity brothers from Kappa Alpha Psi and the Kappa Leaguers (participants in the fraternity’s mentoring program) volunteered their time on Saturday, September 13 for a community service
project that involved cleaning up portions of Highway 155 in Stockbridge. They spent the better part of the morning beautifying the community while at the same time teaching the younger generation the importance of community involvement and volunteerism.
Commissioner Bruce Holmes and members of his fraternity, Kappa Alpha Psi, help cleanup Highway 155 in Stockbridge.
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September 25, 2014 Commissioner Bruce Holmes To Host Town Hall Meeting Focus will be on education and the new testing standards in Georgia District V Commissioner Bruce Holmes will hold his monthly Town Hall Meeting on Saturday, September 27, 2014 at 9 a.m. at the Fairview Recreation Center. This month’s meeting will focus on education and new testing standards for Georgia students called Georgia Milestones. Toni Davis, Board of Directors of the Henry County Chamber of Commerce Education Committee Chair, will moderate a forum with a panel of education experts featuring Micole Atkins Talley, Education Program Specialist with the Georgia Department of Education.
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Special guests on the panel also include educators Dr. Charnita West and Dr. LaTonya Brown, and Henry County School Board elect members Dr. Donna McBride (District IV) and Annette Edwards (District V). Guests will give an overview of the new testing standards, Georgia Milestones, as well as share their thoughts on education and take questions from the audience. The Town Hall Meeting is open to the public and all are encouraged to attend. The Fairview Recreation Center is located at 35 Austin Rd. in Stockbridge.
Henry County Fire Department Encourages Safe Burning Practices Burn ban to be lifted on October 1, 2014 The metro wide burning ban will be lifted on Wednesday, October 1, 2014. The ban will resume on May 1, 2015, as mandated by the State of Georgia Environmental Protection Division. Although Henry County ordinance no longer requires citizens to obtain a residential burning permit from Henry County Fire Department, it does however require citizens to obtain a daily permit through the Georgia Forestry Commission. The permit may be obtained by calling 1-877-OK2-BURN (1-877-652-2876) or through the online permitting system at www.gatrees.org. For acreage burns, please contact the District Office for a permit, at 770-784-2480. Commercial permits still require a permit from Henry County Fire Department and a fee of $100.00. Residential and commercial burning will be permitted October 1, 2014 through April 30, 2015 and prohibited at all other times. In the event of extreme weather conditions (high winds/prolonged drought), the Fire Department and/or the Forestry Commission may cancel burning in order to provide for the safety of the public. During the time of the ban no residential or commercial burning will be permitted. Violators of the Burning Ordinance are subject to a fine of up $1,000.00 per day, per violation or 60 days in jail, or both (Henry County Code, Section 3-4-113, page 1710.3). The Henry County Fire Department strongly urges citizens to comply with this ordinance. For the safety of all citizens, this ordinance will be strictly enforced due to the growing population, the current drought, and the increase in fires started by careless burning. Although residential burning is permitted, there is a nuisance ordinance that could become a factor in any given area. Persons conducting burning will be expected
to follow all rules of burning. Residential Burning Rules • No burning of stumps or whole trees; • No more than one pile, 6 ft. x 6 ft. and 5 ft. high shall be burned at one time • All burning shall be carried out between the hours of 10 a.m. and 6 p.m. • All fires shall be completely extinguished by 6 p.m. • No burning on Sunday • No burning within 100 feet of any type of structure • All burning shall be located on private property so as not to interfere with any traffic on public streets or sidewalks • During any open burning, a competent person of at least eighteen (18) years of age shall be constantly present to monitor and control such burning • During any open burning, an operational garden hose or fire extinguisher must be present within 50 feet of the fire. The number one cause of wildfires in Georgia is burning debris. “Many of these wildfires could be prevented if everyone would follow the rules for outdoor burning and NEVER leave their fire unattended,” stated Captain Sabrina Puckett. Debris burning is caused by humans and humans can prevent wildfires by using safe practices when burning outdoor debris. *Commercial permits can be obtained at the Henry County Fire Department Headquarters located at 110 South Zack Hinton Parkway in McDonough. For further information, contact the Henry County Fire Department at 770-288-6600.
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