The Henry County Update - May 9th, 2013

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May 9, 2013

BOARD OF COMMISSIONERS

SPLOST Completes Rock Quarry Road Bridge

Regular Meetings May 21st at 6:30 p.m.

Meetings held at: Administration Building Community Room 140 Henry Parkway McDonough, GA 30253 Commission meetings will air Mondays, Thursdays, and Saturdays on Henry TV Channel 14, at 9 a.m., 2 p.m., & 7 p.m.

We are now on AT&T U-Verse Channel 99 & Charter Channel 14

Henry County Commissioners, the Henry County SPLOST Department and Department of Transportation celebrated the completion of the new bridge over Rock Quarry Road on Tuesday. Joining them for the ceremony were members of the Stockbridge City Council, representatives with McGee Partners, and numerous businesses located near the bridge.

The Henry County Board of Commissioners, together with the SPLOST Department, celebrated the completion of Rock Quarry Road Bridge in Stockbridge with a ribbon-cutting ceremony on Tuesday.

Though a SPLOST III project, the bridge would not have been possible were it not for American Recovery &

Reinvestment Act (ARRA) stimulus funds the County received for the Eagles Landing Parkway widening project completed in 2012. In fact, at $22,254,870, the Eagles Landing Parkway project was the second largest single award of ARRA stimulus dollars in metro Atlanta, a major accomplishment that freed SPLOST funds allocated to that project to be shifted to Continued on Page 3 the henry county update

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www.henrycounty-ga.org

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Kelleytown Park Project to Receive Transferred Funds

Commissioners Approve Various Board Appointments

The Henry County Board of Commissioners approved the transfer of funds left over from two previously completed SPLOST projects, to be redirected for improvements to the Kelleytown park project.

The action came at Tuesday’s regular meeting.

According to Ron Burckhalter, Capital Projects director for the SPLOST Department, the Kellytown Park property was purchased with SPLOST III Land Acquisition for Public Use Funds and additional money is needed for improvements to make the park ready for public use. Improvements planned for the park include bike and walking trails, pavilions, parking and fencing.

Excess funds in the amount of $100,046.67 from Moseley Park and $106,575.82 from Fire Station No. 9 will be redirected to Kelleytown Park and used for the improvements.

The Henry County Board of Commissioners approved several board appointments at Tuesday’s regular meeting.

Commissioners approved the reappointment of Pam Attaway and Leah Preston-Frickey to the Board of Assessors, each for three years terms, set to expire in June of 2016. Attaway currently serves as Chair of the Board of Assessors and Preston-Frickey has served on the Board since 2004.

Commissioners approved the reappointment of Robert J. Head to the Henry County Board of the Department of Family and Children’s Services. The term will run through June, 2018.

Commissioners also reappointed Jim Risher to the Georgia Department of Behavioral Health and Developmental Disabilities Regional Planning Board.

Risher was originally appointed to the board in 2010 and is eligible to serve another consecutive three-year term.

To see a complete list of all Henry County Boards and Authorities, visit http://tinyurl.com/8564mz7

Henry County Law Enforcement Agencies Run for Special Olympics The Henry County Police Department and the Henry County Sheriff’s Office will once again participate in the annual Law Enforcement Torch Run for Special Olympics to take place on Wednesday, May 15, 2013. The public is invited to participate in this special run that will take the Special Olympic Torch through Henry County, passing it on to officials in Fayette County.

The State of Georgia began supporting the Law Enforcement Torch Run in 1986, and Henry County’s Law enforcement agencies have been involved for more than ten years, hosting various fundraising events through the year.

Both agencies will be selling Torch Run merchandise such as tee shirts and hats for $12.00, lanyards for $5.00 and embroidered patches for $3.00, with all of the proceeds to benefit Special Olympics Georgia.

There is no cost to join the run, and it’s a great

opportunity to show support for Henry County’s Special Olympics team and law enforcement, by escorting the torch from Henry County to Fayette County, where it will be handed over to representatives from the Fayette County Sheriff’s Office. Participants may run the entire five-mile route or part way, as there will be a bus following the runners to give them a break.

Registration and check–in begins at 7:30 a.m. on the day of the event at the Publix Store located at 2158 Highway 20 West in McDonough, and the run will commence at 8 a.m.

For more information, contact Sgt. Jason Duffey with the Henry County Police Department, at 770-288-8275 or Deputy Stephen Chance, with the Henry County Sheriff’s Office, at 770-288-7141.

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BRIDGE From Page 1

other projects on the SPLOST III Transportation List, stretching those SPLOST dollars even further.

“I cannot say enough about the staff from multiple departments who worked tirelessly behind the scenes to get that done,” explained District 4 Commissioner Reid Bowman. “By doing so, we were able to have certain things happen where we would have extra money to put in other SPLOST projects that we were going to have to put on the back burner.”

The Rock Quarry Road Bridge was one of the projects to which these dollars were shifted. The total cost of the bridge was $6,990,781. The 235 foot bridge features one lane in each direction, though it was built to accommodate four lanes in anticipation of the need to one day widen the roadway. Such planning for future expansion saves the county both time and money because they were able to go ahead and acquire the right-of-way needed for the future at today’s prices, pay only once to move the utilities, and disturb the land at the bridge only once.

Today, the 50 to 60 trains that go through there each day cross under Rock Quarry Road without impeding traffic, which has dramatically improved trip times for citizens and trucks carrying goods produced in the area.

“It opens up a corridor for the northeast end of the county so they can move very quickly to the hospital for much needed services as well as opening up part of the

traffic congestion at Eagles Landing and Hudson Bridge on 75 because you’ll be able to move through here very quickly and get over to 675 without going through the bottleneck on 75, so it’s a huge advantage to the north end of the county, and it helps the other parts of the county by moving some of that traffic off of 75,” explained District 4 Commissioner Reid Bowman.

Perhaps most importantly, emergency response times have been reduced, as neither fire trucks nor ambulances have to worry about being delayed by a train when responding from the new station on Rock Quarry Road, or when transporting patients to the Piedmont Henry Hospital, also on Rock Quarry Road.

“You never know the trains’ schedule, and there have been times when an ambulance has had to turn around and go back around simply because a train was going through,” said Bowman. “This has been promised for over 30 years, and this is a great day for the north end of Henry County and the City of Stockbridge.”

The Rock Quarry Road Bridge was designed by McGee Partners of Tucker, Georgia and constructed by G.P.’s Enterprises of Auburn, Georgia. For more information about this or any other SPLOST project, or to take advantage of special discounts offered by local businesses in celebration of the completion of the bridge, please visit www.henrycounty-ga.org/splost.

www.henrycounty-ga.org

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2013 Tax Assessments Have Mailed Deadline to Appeal Approaching The Henry County Tax Assessor’s Office has completed reassessments on all real property in Henry County, which included 83,135 parcels and, while there will be some property owners who see a vast difference from last year to this year in their property values, Chief Appraiser Charlie Reddoch said for the most part, property values are leveling off.

It was a totally different market between the beginning of 2012 and the end of the year,” said Reddoch.

“Housing prices began to stabilize during the year, and about half of the residential properties even saw a slight uptick in value.”

Tax assessment notices for all real property mailed on April 26 by the Henry County Tax Assessor’s Office.

Property owners have until June 10, 2013 to file an appeal should they question the valuation their property was given.

Similarly, personal property assessment notices are expected to

mail next week, and citizens have until June 28 to file an appeal regarding the value of their personal property, which includes boats, airplanes and business inventory.

Citizens who have not received their 2013 Tax Assessment Notice may go to http://www.qpublic.net/ga/henry/searc h1.html to view and print their statement. Those who have questions are encouraged to call 220.288.7999 and select Option 2 for assistance.

Join Commissioner Bruce Holmes and Henry County Solicitor General Trea Pipkin for a Town Hall Meeting on the Henry County Judicial System Progressive Citizens of Stockbridge will also be on hand to share information about their organization, which works to promote a vibrant community that is safe and economically viable, with good schools, in order to encourage people to bring their families to live and work in the city of Stockbridge.

5365 North Henry Blvd. in Stockbridge • 9am • May 25, 2013

The next SPLOST IV Committee meeting will be held at the Fairview Recreation Center at 35 Austin Road in Stockbridge on Thursday, May 16, 2013 at 6 p.m.

Public input regarding the proposed SPLOST IV program can be submitted here: henrycounty-ga.org/SPLOST/SPLOSTIV_Comments.shtml

www.henrycounty-ga.org

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Memorial Day Service Set for May 27 A Memorial Day Service will be held at the Veterans Wall of Honor on Monday, May 27 at 11 a.m. to honor and remember the men and women in our military who paid the ultimate price for America’s freedom. This year’s service is being hosted by Detachment 1339 Marine Corps League.

The Guest Speaker will be Gunnery Sergeant Hiers, a 10-time recipient of the Navy/Marine Corps Achievement Medal along with numerous other awards and commendations. Throughout his 22-year career, Hiers served as an infantryman for 1st Battalion, 8th Marines, a Radar Technician with Marine Aviation Logistics Squadron 31, and completed numerous deployments to Saudi Arabia and Bosnia- Herzegovina during Operation Desert Storm and Deny Flight/Provide Promise. Gunnery Sergeant Hiers completed his career as a Career Recruiter attached to Recruiting Station Atlanta, having recruited more than 150 individuals and become a member of the United States Marine Corps Centurion Club.

The Memorial Day service will also include a presentation of the colors by the Henry County NJROTC Warhawk Battalion. Senior Vice Commandant Silas Brown

with Detachment 1339 Marine Corps. League will provide the welcome, and the Daughters of the American Revolution will present a proclamation in honor of the 60th anniversary of the Korean War. A wreath will be presented in honor of all veterans by Melvin Hawkins, escorted by members of the Henry County Leathernecks Marine Corp League Detachment 1339. The National Anthem will be sung by Destiny Sierra Sealey and Jesse Pruitt from Detachment 1339 Marine Corps. League will read a poem.

To complement the ceremony, there will be a special display in the Veterans Historical Museum featuring equipment and weapons used in Vietnam, and information about the U.S. Military during the period. The displays will be provided by “Kelly’s Zeroes” an outstanding group from Dahlonega that specializes in impressions from WWI to present.

The Veterans’ Wall of Honor is located at Heritage Park, 101 Lake Dow Road, just off Highway 81 East in McDonough. The Veterans Historical Museum is also located inside the park in the red barn. For more information, visit www.veteranswallofhonor.org

CAMILLE • Chihuahua/Dachshund Mix I am a sweet and loving soul that needs a lifetime companion to give me the home that I deserve. I was picked up as a stray, so my friends here at the shelter do not know anything about my past. If you would like to meet me, then please call my friends at (770) 288-PETS. My I.D. # 4/23-0962 please refer to this number when inquiring about me. Lost and stray animals are held at the Henry County Animal Care and Control Shelter for four (4) calendar days (excluding Sundays and county holidays) in order to give their owners a chance to reclaim them. After that time period, adoptable animals are held as long as space allows.

Henry County Commission District 5 Safety and Protection Night Come Join Your Neighbors and Local Businesses For A Fun Night Out With Your Public Safety Professionals

The Home Depot Parking Lot 65 Fairview Road, Ellenwood, GA 30294

Tuesday, May 28, 2013 5:00 pm — 8:00 pm

FREE FOOD & DRINKS

MU y l i SI m Fa un! Displays DJ C F

Commissioner Bruce Holmes

Meet with Henry County’s Public Safety Professionals and Local Elected Officials To Get to Know Them and Ask Questions To Learn More About the Services They Provide For More Information Contact:

Sgt. Jimmie Spence 770-288-7141 or Sgt. Jason Duffey- 770-288-8275 District 5 Safety Night 4-9-2013