Henry County Update - Newsletter

October 9, 2017

Board of

Commissioners

County Cuts Ribbon on New Fire Station in Locust Grove

Regular Meetings Oct. 17, 2017 6:30 PM Nov. 7, 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 Charter Channel 180 and AT&T U-Verse Channel 99, at 9 a.m. & 7 p.m.

Henry County officials cut the ribbon on Fire Station No. 14 in Locust Grove.

Although dreary skies and a steady rain pushed the ceremony indoors, District II Commissioner Dee Clemmons, District I Commissioner Johnny Wilson, District IV Commissioner Blake Prince and Chair June Wood, joined by County Manager Cheri Matthews, Assistant County Manager Brad Johnson, Fire Chief Nish Willis and other fire department and SPLOST officials, braved the weather to celebrate the opening of Fire Station No. 14 in Locust Grove with a ribbon-cutting ceremony.

County officials and members of the public were able to tour the new, 9,500 square foot, three-bay fire station, which is located at 1875 Hampton Locust Grove Rd. on 1.6 acres in District II. It features sleeping quarters for 12, a kitchen, laundry and common living areas, a fitness room, staff offices and a battalion chief’s quarters.

Clemmons and Wilson shared the ribbon-cutting honors as the station will serve residents in both districts.

“Our fire department and our staff have taken the necessary steps in weighing fire assessments and making sure that District II and District I have what they need to make sure fire prevention is top-notch in this county,” said Clemmons. “I am very thankful, so my hats off to the fire department today. We will continue to work with the fire department to make sure we are providing the things that are necessary for fire Continued on page 2

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October 9, 2017 Ribbon Cutting Continued from page 1

Published by Henry County Communications & Public Information Department Henry County Government

Editor Melissa Robinson

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Layout Designer Melissa Robinson Meredith Butler

Contributors Melissa Robinson Erika Richards Kevin Williams

prevention in Henry County. I am excited to be here for Station 14, and I tell these guys, stay safe, we’re proud of you, thank you and we are always here for you.”

Wilson, a retired firefighter, also expressed his gratitude for the new station.

“This is a great opportunity to have the fire service in the community. We’ve been needing this for a long time. It is going to benefit District I as well as District II and other parts of the county,” said Wilson.

Chief Joe Kelley, Assistant Chief of Prevention said that the new station will have a positive effect on many residents ISO ratings. With this new fire station, the community will see their ISO rating go from a 10 to a 4 if they are outside the five-mile radius from a fire station. If they are inside five miles, their rating is currently a 4,” said Kelley. “In this area, we had a lot of homes outside of the five miles from a fire station.”

Henry County’s newest fire station was designed by the Howell Group and constructed by Tommy Gibson Builders of Warner Robbins. The new fire is a SPLOST IV project with a budget of $2,235,000.

Locust Grove Senior Center approved for new kitchen Commissioners approved a budget amendment and awarded the state contract for new, full-service and catering kitchen for the Locust Grove Senior/Event Center. The action came at the October 3 Commission meeting.

Commissioners approved use of the NJPA EZIQ contract in the amount of $558,799. The scope of work includes all design, labor, materials, supervision, equipment, insurance, taxes and overhead and all other services necessary to construct a new, full-service kitchen and catering kitchen and equipment.

District I Commissioner Johnny Wilson noted that the seniors have been patiently waiting and inquired when the project would be finished.

SPLOST Capital Projects Director Ron Burckhalter said the project is expected to be completed in March, 2018. The project is being funded under SPLOST IV which was approved by voters in 2013.

henrycounty-ga.org

Early Voting Begins for General and Special Elections The General and Hampton City Special Elections is scheduled for November 7, 2017 with polls open from 7 a.m. until 7 p.m. The last day to register to be eligible to vote in the General Election/ Special Election is October 10, 2017.

Early voting in Henry County begins October 16 and will continue through November 3 at various locations. Early voting hours for October 16 through October 20 and October 23 through Friday, October 27 will be Monday through Friday from 8 a.m. until 5 p.m., at the Henry County Elections and Registration Building, located at 40 Atlanta Street in McDonough.

From Monday, October 30 through Friday, November 3, early voting will be available from 7

a.m. to 7 p.m. at the Elections and Registration Office on Atlanta Street in McDonough, as well the Merle Manders Conference Center, located at 111 Davis Road in Stockbridge, the Fortson Library, located at 61 McDonough Street in Hampton and the Locust Grove Library, located at 115 MLK Jr. Boulevard in Locust Grove.

As an added convenience, citizens may also cast their early votes on Saturday, October 21 and 28 or on Sunday, October 29. Saturday voters will need to come between the hours of 8 a.m. and 2 p.m. at the main Atlanta Street office or the Merle Manders Conference Center. Sunday voters will need come between the hours of 1 p.m. and 5 p.m. and can choose between the same two locations.

For more information or to request an absentee ballot, visit: http://www.co.henry.ga.us/Departments/ D-L/ElectionsRegistration/Voting.aspx or call 770-288-6448.

Connecting Henry Collaborative Meeting Sees Large Turnout

Connecting Henry had more than 50 people turnout at the September 26 Community Collaborative Meeting, which was held at Shiloh Baptist Church in McDonough.

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

The next Collaborative Meeting will be held on November 28, 2017. The time and location will be determined at a later date.

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October 9, 2017

henrycounty-ga.org

BOC approves HCFD Increase in Ambulance Transport

The Board of Commissioners approved an increase in ambulance transport rates for the Henry County Fire Department at the regular Commission meeting.

The current rates for ambulance transport is $500 for Basic Life Support, $600 for Advanced Life Support I and $725 for Advanced Life Support II with a mileage at $10. The adjusted rate for Basic Life Support is $800 and Advanced Life Support I and II is $1100 with a mileage at $13.

Henry County Fire Department requested an increase in transport rates because the demand

for service and transport has increased nearly twenty percent since 2012.

“We have seen significant increases in our equipment that we use. Henry County EMS is one of the top rated EMS services in the area, we have a 16 percent save rate from cardiac arrest in the county and that is unheard of,” said Deputy Fire Chief Chris Sherwood. “We have that save rate because of the new equipment that we have on board of our ambulances.”

Sherwood said that Medicare and Medicaid patients would not see an increase as these are set rates.

BOC Approves Construction for Two Intersection Improvement Projects The Henry County Board of Commissioners approved the award for construction of the Old Jackson Road at South Bethany Road intersection improvement project.

The action came at the October 3 Commission meeting.

Construction for this SPLOST funded project will be managed by Pittman Construction Company

and will cost $802,272.48

A budget amendment and award for construction of the Mill Road at State Route 81 intersection improvement was also approved at the Commission meeting.

McCoy Grading will be responsible for construction and the project will cost $956,518.50.

Both projects will be funded through SPLOST IV which was approved by voters in 2013.

For more information on any SPLOST project, visit henrycounty-ga.com/splost.aspx.

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October 9, 2017 BOC Recognizes Fire Prevention Month and Week

The Board of Commissioners recognized October as Fire Prevention Month and the week of October 8 through 14 as Fire Prevention Week with a proclamation at the scheduled Commission meeting.

Fire Prevention Month and Week is recognized in Henry County to bring awareness and ensure the safety of residents from home fire situations.

The proclamation read in part, “WHEREAS, Henry County is committed to ensuring the safety and security of all those living in and visiting our county,

and urge everyone to have a home fire escape plan in order to quickly and safely escape a home fire situation, including having two exits from every room in the home; a path to the outside from each exit; smoke alarms in all required locations; and a meeting place outside where everyone in the home will meet upon exiting.”

For more information on fire safety, please visit www.co.henry.ga.us/portals/0/Fire/index.shtml.

15th Annual Storytelling Fall Festival to be Held on October 27

With cooler temperatures and colorful leaves falling off trees, the fall season has begun, which means it’s time for the Henry County Library System’s 15th Annual Fall Storytelling Festival that will be held at the McDonough Public Library on October 27 from 7 p.m. to 9 p.m. henrycounty-ga.org

The festival will include a decorated pumpkin display, game booths, a selfie station, face painting, crafts for children, light refreshments and spooky storytelling performed by Tersi Bendiburg.

The event is free of charge and is sponsored by the Henry Arts Alliance, Inc., Ortho Atlanta, Piedmont Henry Medical Center and the Henry County Library System.

The McDonough Public Library is located at 1001 Florence McGarity Boulevard in McDonough.

For more information on the Henry County Library System and its programs, please visit www. henry.public.lib.ga.us.

HCFD Participates in Hazmat Training

Members of the Henry County Fire Department participated in hazmat training Wednesday morning at the United States Cold Storage facility in McDonough.

First level hazmat responders learned the fundamental pieces of identifying hazardous chemicals and studied specific safety measures and procedures when dealing with accidental releases.

While in training, firefighters were able to tour the United States Cold Storage facility where they experienced zero degree temperatures in a refrigeration area that reached over seven million cubic feet in order to maintain correct levels for hazardous materials.

Battalion Chief Lucas Harmsen believes hazmat training is essential for both the fire department

and businesses in the county to partake in.

“Henry County Fire Department is very active in the community and works with other companies, training them to detect ammonia and other hazardous chemicals that will ensure the safety of all individuals in those types of situations,� said Harmsen.

The Henry County Fire Department has been participating in hazmat training events for over ten years and visits hazmat facilities once a year to remain updated with all types of safety precautions.

For more information on the Henry County Fire Department or hazmat training events, please visit www.co.henry.ga.us/portals/0/Fire/index.shtml or lepc. co.henry.ga.us/.

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October 9, 2017

henrycounty-ga.org