October 07, 2016
Board of
Commissioners Regular Meetings October 18 at 6:30 PM November 1 at 9:00 AM
National Night Out to Be Held on October 27
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 will be celebrating National Night Out on October 27 from 5:30pm-8:30pm in the Target parking lot on Jonesboro Rd in McDonough. Sponsored by Target, this free event will feature food and drinks, trunk or treating with associated costume contest, live music, a variety of festival activities, booth displays and law enforcement demonstrations. It is also an opportunity to speak with local police and community leaders. Chief of Police Keith Nichols, Fire Chief Brenda “Nish� Willis, Sheriff Keith McBrayer and E-911 Director Don Ash will all be in attendance. National Night Out is a campaign that promotes community camaraderie and strong police-community partnerships in order to build safer neighborhoods across the nation. The locally organized event provides a positive opportunity for community Continued on page 2
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October 07, 2016 National Night Out 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 Samantha Watson
Contributors Melissa Robinson Samantha Watson
members to engage and interact with law enforcement. National Night Out was initiated by the National Association of Town Watch (NATW) in 1984. NATW is a non-profit organization dedicated to the development and promotion of crime prevention in communities across the nation. The association is comprised of law enforcement agencies, neighborhood watch groups, civic groups, state and regional crime prevention associations and concerned citizens. For more information regarding Henry County’s National Night Out please visit www.henrycounty-ga.org. For more information on NATW please visit www.natw.org.
Commissioners Recognize Citizens for Cleanup Effort
Commissioners presented Bernie Brown and Joe Chapman with certificates of appreciation for their efforts in cleaning up roadways.
The Henry County Board of Commissioners recognized two citizens for their efforts in District 1 to keep county roadways clean and free of debris. Commissioner Bo Moss recognized Bernie Brown and Jack Harrison and presented them with certificates of appreciation at the October 4 regular Commission meeting. Moss said he was grateful to these citizens for taking time to assist with keeping areas of the county clean and helping with beautification efforts. henrycounty-ga.org
HCPD Approved for Equipment Purchase The Police Department was approved to purchase needed equipment and approved to accept federal grant funding at the October 4 Commission meeting. The department will purchase 33 Glock 17LE Generation Four handguns, 15 Glock 19LE Generation Four handguns and six Glock 26LE Generation Four handguns all with engraving to meet the operational needs for the replacement of the older model .40 caliber handguns. The total for the purchase will not exceed $22,626 and will complete the department’s transition to 9mm handguns. A budget amendment transferring the purchase funds from the General Funds account to the Police Department line item for Small Equipment was also approved during the regular meeting. The department will also purchase outfitting equipment for the recent procurement of 30 Dodge Chargers. Uniform Patrol Division vehicles will receive emergency equipment for 20 vehicles from the GA Department of Public Safety Excess Property Program for $157,131.60, mobile camera systems from Computech International for $100,400, mobile radios from Loudoun Communications, Inc. for $111,285, computers from CDW-G for $81,470.82 and graphics
for all vehicles in an amount not to exceed $4,100. Criminal Investigation Division vehicles will receive emergency equipment for ten vehicles from the GA Department of Public Safety Excess Property Program for $40,445.10 and window tinting for all vehicles in an amount not to exceed $1,450. The total cost to equip 30 Dodge Chargers with the items listed above equals $1,196,760. Commissioners also approved a budget amendment transferring $496,283 from the General Fund account to the Police Department line items Capital Outlay/ Equipment and General Supplies. The Henry County Police Department was awarded federal funding through the Edward Byrne Memorial Justice Assistance Grant in the amount of $26,351 for the Criminal Apprehension and Gang Enforcement unit. The grant funds will provide a fresh upgrade in surveillance vehicles and personal technology that will enable the unit to continue operations in high-risk neighborhoods. The grant requires no match by the County. For more information on the Henry County Police Department visit www.henrycounty-ga.org/police.
Fall Community Day Set for October 22 Henry County Parks and Recreation will be hosting Fall Community Day on October 22 from noon to 2:30 p.m. at the J.P. Moseley Recreation Center located at 1041 Miller’s Mill Road in Stockbridge. Community Day is a free event open to citizens of all ages. The afternoon will be filled with games, activities, music, free class demos, facility tours, prize and membership giveaways and much more.
The interactive event is meant to encourage community-unity as well as act as a platform for citizens to experience all the services and programs that Henry County Parks and Recreation has to offer. To learn more about Community Day or to learn more about what Parks and Rec can offer you, please visit www.hcprd.org.
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October 07, 2016
Wayfair’s New E-Commerce Facility to Create More Than 150 Jobs and Drive Investment in Henry County The Georgia Department of Economic Development (GDEcD) recently announced that Wayfair, one of the world’s largest e-commerce destinations for home furnishings and décor, will locate their newest distribution center in a recently completed spec building in Henry County, generating more than 150 new jobs and driving significant investment over the next two years. “Wayfair’s decision to create jobs and invest in Henry County speaks to Georgia’s thriving commercial infrastructure and expansive distribution resources, both of which are key components for growing companies,” said Gov. Nathan Deal. “By utilizing Georgia’s logistics framework and skilled workforce, Wayfair will continue its considerable growth and further affirm Georgia’s reputation as a top state for business and economic ingenuity.” Wayfair’s new operation will service the southeastern U.S. The company will create jobs in logistics and fulfillment and lease the Trammell Crow Building at 130 Distribution Drive in McDonough. “We look forward to expanding our team in Henry County as we build our distribution network to keep pace with Wayfair’s rapid growth,” said James Savarese, chief operations officer, Wayfair. “The state of Georgia has been a tremendous partner in welcoming us to the state, and we are excited to join the local community and begin hiring for our open roles.” Headquartered in Boston, Massachusetts and founded in 2002, Wayfair offers shoppers a selection of home goods across all styles and price points, customer service and the convenience of online shopping. Currently, Wayfair’s vast selection of home furnishings and décor includes more than 7 million products from over 7,000 suppliers across five henrycounty-ga.org
distinct brands: Wayfair.com, AllModern, Birch Lane, DwellStudio and Joss & Main. The company employs more than 5,300 personnel and has operations throughout North America and Europe. “Henry County’s access to the Atlanta market and the Port of Savannah continues to attract investment from growing companies like Wayfair,” said Henry County Development Authority executive director Charlie Moseley. “We are thrilled to welcome them to our community and look forward to working together for their continued success. We also appreciate all the work from our partners on this project, including the Georgia Department of Economic Development, Georgia Power, and the Metro Atlanta Chamber.” “Wayfair is a leader in the e-commerce industry, and we are pleased to welcome such a great brand to Metro Atlanta,” said Hala Moddelmog, president and CEO of the Metro Atlanta Chamber. “Their expansion into our region confirms our position as a transportation hub and as an emerging epicenter for innovation-based companies.” GDEcD Project Manager Josh Stephens represented the Global Commerce Division in partnership with the Henry County Development Authority, the Georgia Ports Authority, the Metro Atlanta Chamber, Georgia Power and Transwestern. “Wayfair’s decision to locate their new e-commerce distribution center in Henry County is further verification of the strong business climate that exists in the region,” said GDEcD Commissioner Chris Carr. “Georgia has a world-class logistics network that will help Wayfair better serve a growing customer base, and we look forward to working with our local partners to ensure their operation is filled with Georgia’s highlyskilled talent.”
Fire Prevention Week Highlights Ten Year Smoke Alarm Replacement
Early voting for the November 8 General Election/Special Elections will begin October 17 at the following locations and times: Elections & Voter Registration Main Office: October 17th – 21st: 8:00 am – 5:00 pm October 22nd: 9:00 am – 4:00 pm October 24th – 28th: 7:00 am – 7:00 pm October 29th: 9:00 am – 4:00 pm October 30th: 1:00 pm – 5:00 pm October 31st – November 4th : 7:00 am – 7:00 pm Merle Manders Conference Center: October 24th – 28th: 7:00 am – 7:00 pm October 29th: 9:00 am – 4:00 pm October 30th: 1:00 pm – 5:00 pm October 31st – November 4th : 7:00 am – 7:00 pm Fairview Library: October 31st – November 4th: 7:00 am – 7:00 pm Fortson (Hampton) Library: October 31st – November 4th : 7:00 am – 7:00 pm Locust Grove Library: October 31st – November 4th : 7:00 am – 7:00 pm Polls will be open Election Day from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. at your local precinct. For further information or to request an absentee ballot, call 770-288-6448. The Elections Office is located at 40 Atlanta Street in McDonough.
The National Fire Protection Association (NFPA) has declared, “Don’t Wait – Check the Date! Replace Smoke Alarms Every 10 Years,” to be the theme for Fire Prevention Week 2016. The observance of Fire Prevention Week is the longest running public health and safety observance on record, and commemorates the Great Chicago Fire of 1871. There are many misconceptions about smoke alarms that put the public at increased risk in the event of a house fire. For example, the NFPA conducted a national survey asking the question, “How often should you replace your smoke alarms?” The answers were alarming, and showed that ninety percent of respondents did not know that their smoke alarms should be replaced every ten years; which is the typical life expectancy of the devices sensors. Therefore, this year’s Fire Prevention Week campaign addresses the replacement of smoke alarms, with a focus on three key messages according to the National Fire Protection Association: Smoke alarms should be replaced every 10 years. Make sure you know how old all the smoke alarms are in your home. To find out how old a smoke alarm is, look at the date of manufacture on the back of the alarm; the alarm should be replaced 10 years from that date. The Henry County Fire Department in partnership with the NFPA is encouraging citizens to check the date on all their smoke alarms. For more information on smoke alarm installation and replacement visit http://www.nfpa.org/ public-education/by-topic/smoke-alarms/installingand-maintaining-smoke-alarms or contact the Fire Departments Community Risk Reduction at 770-288-6619.
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October 07, 2016
Youth Basketball Registration Extended to October 28 for 12u, 14u and 17u Youth It’s that time of year again! Dribble and dunk your way into youth basketball registration with the Henry County Parks and Recreation Department (HCPRD), which is now open until October 28 for 12u, 14u and 17u youth. Registration requires a copy of the child’s birth certificate and costs $85 for the first registered child of a Henry County household and $75 for each additional child. Out of county registration is $115. Registration will take place at the Heritage Park Recreation Office, the J.P. Moseley Recreation Center, the Locust Grove Recreation Center, the Fairview Recreation Center and online at www.hcprd.org. Sibling tags are guaranteed for those who reside in the same household and are in the same age group. Car rider tags or any other tags are not guaranteed. Fairview teams will practice at the Fairview Rec. Center, Stockbridge teams will practice at the J.P. Moseley Rec. Center or elementary schools in Stockbridge and McDonough teams will practice at
elementary schools in McDonough, Locust Grove, Hampton or Ola. For more information on the HCPRD basketball program and to apply, visit www.hcprd.org or call 770-288-7300.
Two basketball players playing competitively at a Henry County Parks and Recreation facility equipped with a full court.
Bids Awarded for SPLOST Projects Two bids were awarded for the purchase of necessary emergency equipment for three new pumper fire trucks using SPLOST IV funds at the October 4 Commission meeting. A bid for fire truck emergency equipment was awarded to Municipal Emergency Services in the amount of $134,566.45 and a bid for fire hoses and thermal imaging cameras was awarded to NAFECO in the amount of $80,968. All of the equipment is needed to meet ISO requirements. The $215,534.45 needed to complete this purchase is available in the SPLOST IV Calendar henrycounty-ga.org
Year 2016 Fire Stations Capital Equipment account. In related SPLOST news, a bid for the construction of Frog Road was awarded to McCoy Grading, Inc. in the amount of $2,081,691.29. The subsequent budget amendment moving $722,651 from District I Lester Mill Road account, $15,025 from District I Resurfacing FY14 account and $148,050 from District I South Bethany Road account was also approved to cover the cost of construction and utility relocation expenses. To keep up with these and other SPLOST IV projects, visit www.henrycounty-ga.org/splost.