The Henry County Update - Newsletter

January 17, 2020

Board of

BOC Recognizes Long-Time County Employees

Commissioners Regular Meetings January 21st, 6:30 p.m.

February 4th, 9:00 a.m.

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.

Long time Henry County employees were recognized and received ‘Years of Service’ Awards at the Board of Commissioners meeting on Tuesday, January 7.

Employees who were recognized for 20 years of service include Audrey Thomas, Johnny Holland, Sally Horne, James Mann, Jodey Powell, Charlotte Allen, Jeffery Maddox, Angela Laslay, Michelle Rolley, Harold Hogan, Sharon Mitchell, Patricia Delk-Bogue, Kenneth Turner, Kent Bateman, Ronald Patten, Thomas McClain, Tonya Head-Gamble, Michelle Lunsford, Michael Hobgood, Felicia Henley, Jeffrey Poole, Stefini Smith, Paula Wainwright, Barbara Harrison, Jennifer Bryan, Sharon Grunau, Carolyn Morgan, Rhonda Ricci, Steven Frugoli, Keith Shoemate and Johnny Barkely.

Employees who were recognized for 25 years include Joseph Smith, Terri Taylor, Susan Howington, Mark Henley, John Harper, Michael Cone, Pamela Taylor, Fred Leonard, Jr., Michael Kehoe, Diana Reed, Amelia Ash, Richard LeCroy, Don Ash, Michael Cash, Angela Sorrow, Jason Bolton, Vince Farrah and Mark Amerman.

Employees recognized for 30 years of service include Lynn Toman, Rena Cochran, George Padgett, Harry Sherwood, Barry Cooper, Thomas Scott, Jeff Chatfield, Continued on page 7

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January 17, 2020 Published by Henry County Communications & Public Information Department Henry County Government

Editor Melissa Robinson

Graphic Designer Meredith Butler

Layout Designer Melissa Robinson Meredith Butler

Contributors Melissa Robinson Erika Richards

Adult Softball Registration is Open

The Henry County Parks and Recreation Department is registering players who want to participate in its Adult Spring Softball program.

Registration is open from Monday, January 13 through Friday, February 14 from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. at Heritage Park Recreation Center or online at hcprd. org. The registration fee per team is $475 with a $25 insurance fee for the season.

The season begins on March 2 and all games will be played at Heritage Park.

For more information on adult spring softball leagues, contact Peggy Hesselbach at 770-288-7294 or visit hcprd.org.

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Board Approves Emergency Packages for Public Safety Vehicles

Henry County Public Safety teams are another step closer to finalizing their Emergency Response Packages after the approval from the Henry County Board of Commissioners at the January 7 Commission meeting.

Phase two of the original Board approved purchase of 57 special support and pursuit utility vehicles for the fire and police departments include the installment of lights, radios, mounted bumpers and grills along with other support equipment.

The Commission awarded West Chatham Warning Devices for the purchase and installation of the packages in the total amount of $524,914.16.

Capital funds will be used to make these purchases.

For more information on Public Safety, visit henrycounty-ga.com.

Extension Office to Hold Walk-aWeigh Program

Want to learn best practices for being healthy in the new year and make a life-style change? Join Henry County’s Extension Office for its Walk-a-Weigh program to better understand your eating habits and learn ways on how to prevent or reduce risks for chronic diseases.

The Walk-a-Weigh, eight-week long program, cost $15 to participate and each session includes a short presentation, a taste test of a low calorie recipe and time to exercise.

The program will begin on Monday, February 3 from 6 to 7 p.m. at the Extension Office. The remaining meeting dates include February 10, 17 and 24 and March 2, 9, 16 and 23.

Registration is required and the deadline is January 31.

The Extension Office is located at 97 Lake Dow Rd. in McDonough.

For more information or to register, please call Melissa Souther, FACS Program Assistant or Susan Howington, FACS Agent at 770-288-8421.

Building & Plan Review Director Speaks at Council for Quality Growth Luncheon

Henry County Building and Plan Review Director George Patterson spoke this week at the monthly Council for Quality Growth luncheon at the Henry County Administration Building, sharing information about the department and the importance of being responsive to citizens and customers. He also spoke about the building permit process and collaboration

with other government agencies: building inspections, electronic plan review; certificates of occupancy; and specific projects.

County manager Cheri Hobson-Matthews and Deputy County Manager Brad Johnson were also on hand to welcome those in attendance.

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January 17, 2020 Henry County to Break Ground on Panola Mountain Greenway Trail PATH Project Project will bring connectivity and quality of life benefits to the county

The Henry County Board of Commissioners are celebrating the much-anticipated Panola Mountain Greenway Trail PATH project and will hold a groundbreaking ceremony on Thursday, January 23, 2020 at 11 a.m. The ceremony will be held at the edge of the construction site in Panola Mountain State Park, located at 2620 Highway 155 SW, Stockbridge, GA 30281.

The PATH project is the Henry County tie-in to the trail network located on the east side of S.R. 155 at Panola Mountain State Park. In October, Commissioners approved an award bid to Lewallen Construction in the amount of $2,724, 673 to construct the project.

The Georgia Department of Transportation (GDOT) approved the bid award in November and a final agreement between GDOT and the County was executed last month. The Notice to Proceed was given to the contractor on January 6.

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District V Commissioner Bruce Holmes, in whose district the trail will be constructed, lauded the County and its partners for making the project a reality.

“I’m very excited that this partnership between the BOC and PATH is now in the construction phase.

We’ve gone through a number of ups and downs with this project over the past 8 years. There have been times where I’ve had my doubts, however we’re finally here and this very important quality of life initiative is moving forward,” said Holmes. “Kudos to the BOC, staff, BOE and PATH Foundation on the coordinated effort to see this project through and bringing it into reality.”

The County will receive more than $2.7 million in federal funding for this project and will provide a 20 percent match in the amount of $544,935. Funding was made possible through a Transportation Enhancement Grant and a Transportation Alternatives Program Grant.

Holmes’ Town Hall Addressed Issue of Human Trafficking in Metro-Atlanta

Henry County District V Commissioner Bruce Holmes held a town hall meeting last Saturday at New Hope Christian Ministries in Stockbridge on the topic of human trafficking in metro-Atlanta. Guests speakers were Pastor Richard Leaphart; Major Richard Harned and Sgt. Steven Rotella with the Henry County Police Department; Kimberly Crawford with the Power PanelPink Bootz; and Georgia State Trooper Will Dawson

If you would like more information from the Henry County Police Department or to have a public safety representative speak to your church or civic group, please contact Sgt. Steve Rotella with the Special Victims Unit at 770-288-8269 or srotella@ co.henry.ga.us.

For more information on the Power Panel Pink Bootz on the Ground, call 404-545-4601.

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January 17, 2020 County Recognizes Recent Retirements

Tommy Dobson and Ray Russell were in attendance at the January 7 Commission meeting to be recognized for their years of service.

Pictured in the front row (l. to r.) District IV Commissioner Vivian Thomas; District II Commissioner Dee Clemmons; Tommy Dobson; Ray Russell; and Chair June Wood. Second row (l. to r.) District V Commissioner Bruce Holmes; District I Commissioner Johnny Wilson; District III Commissioner Gary Barham; and Deputy County Manager Brad Johnson.

The Henry County Board of Commissioners recognized five employees at the January 7 Commission meeting on their recent retirements.

Deputy County Manager Brad Johnson made the presentation and thanked employees for their dedication to the citizens of Henry County. Employees recognized were: • Stephen Copeland for 29 years with the Henry County Fire Department • William Wickson for 26 years with the Henry County Sheriff’s Office • Tommy Dobson for 16 years with the Building

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Department • Rebecca Russell for 12 years with the Tax Commissioner’s Office • Ray B. Russell for 10 years with the District Attorney’s Office (previously a career with public safety)

“It’s always great to recognize our team members. Everything we do every day would not be possible without our staff,” said Johnson.

Chair June Wood thanked the retired employees for their years of dedicated service to the citizens.

Employees - continued from page 1 Marc Spradlin, Calvin McClendon, Ernest Duffey, Jeffery Norman and Bobby Elrod, Denise McBroom,

Larry Miller and David Foster were recognized for 35 years of service to the county.

SEE CLICK FIX henrycounty-ga.com/SeeClickFix

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January 17, 2020 Board Supports Resolution for Locally-Established Building Design Standards

The Henry County Board of Commissioners are collectively in support of and approved a resolution that allows local governments to regulate building design standards for residential dwelling units. The action came at the January 7 Commission meeting.

The approved resolution is in response to the proposed House Bill 302 that came out of last year’s General Assembly which prohibits local governments from enacting design standards for single or multifamily residential structures.

District IV Commissioner Vivian Thomas shared her sentiments regarding the subject.

“We don’t want to give someone in Savannah permission to tell us how to build houses here in Henry County. Our needs are different, our infrastructure is different and our communities are different,” said Thomas. “This is a very strong message that we have to send to the Capitol to stop this bill. This is a very heavy movement and it can be very costly to the growth

and development here in Henry County.”

Chair June Wood echoed Thomas and explained to citizens that Home Rule, a legal embodiment of the idea that the more local the government is, the more responsive it is to be to its citizens, and said that should be valued.

“At the ACCG legislative conference, this was a very hot topic that many counties throughout the state were concerned about and they are very concerned about the elimination of Home Rule for building designs for their communities,” said Wood. “We don’t want any violation of Home Rule as it pertains to our local design standards. No one knows more about the community than we do locally. This message has been elevated at all levels and will continue to be elevated.”

County Attorney Patrick Jaugstetter, who presented the item, said that the county will transmit the resolution to the General Assembly.

County Holds 2020 Census Committee Meeting

The Henry County 2020 Census Committee, led by EMA Director Don Ash, met earlier this week and discussed several topics including the importance of participating in the Census and how to get Henry County citizens involved.

County and city leadership, along with county stakeholders were in attendance including Commission Chair June Wood who stressed the importance of counting every county resident.

“Every person counted in the Census equates to $2,450 per person and over a ten-year period that equals $240,000,” said Wood. “This is an opportunity for Henry County to shine. Want to have a 100 percent

participation, everyone counted.”

County Manager Cheri Hobson-Matthews expressed to the committee that the county will make sure resources are available.

“We want to have one committee, one source to reach everyone, especially those hard to count populations like the homeless and immigrant populations,” said Matthews.

The 2020 Census is a procedure that records the number of all people living in the United States.

This count affects the funding of public resources and will determine the reapportionment of Congress and how much funding goes to federal programs.

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Census - continued from page 8

For more information on the 2020 Census, please visit 2020census.gov.

If you would like to participate and join the Henry

County 2020 Census Committee, please contact Don Ash at dash@co.henry.ga.us.

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January 17, 2020 Eddie Ausband Joins the Henry County Development Authority Board

In 2009, Ausband acquired a SERVPRO® franchise, a leader in the area of fire and water cleanup and restoration. He saw this as a natural alliance that would complement his insurance endeavors and in 2017, he acquired a second franchise.

Locally, Ausband chairs the Finance Committee for the First Baptist Church of McDonough, is a Past Chairman of the Henry County Chamber of Commerce, and serves on the Atlanta Regional Commission, and as Co-chairman of the Atlanta Regional Workforce Development Board. He also serves on the board of the Henry County Education Foundation, UGA Terry College Alumni Board, Innvision Hospitality, Inc., as well as an Advisory Board member of Heritage Bank.

Join us in welcoming Ausband to the Henry County Development Authority Board of Directors! The

Meet HCDA’s newest board member, Eddie Choose Henry team looks forward to working with him Ausband! Ausband was officially sworn in at the to bring new business opportunities and investment to Authority’s January meeting by Judge Kelley Powell, Henry County.

Henry County Probate Court. Ausband, appointed by About the Henry County Development Authority Henry County Commissioner Gary Barham, will serve The Henry County Development Authority is as the District 3 representative on the board. the lead economic development agency for Henry

Ausband began his career in insurance by County, Georgia. The Authority works to help retain starting a new agency in 1991 representing Nationwide local companies and to foster new relationships and Insurance. He now heads up The Ausband Agency on opportunities with companies looking to relocate or Macon Street in McDonough. The Ausband Agency, grow their operations into Henry County. For more Inc. currently has six offices and employs 18 associates. information, visit www.ChooseHenry.com.

Follow us on Facebook: facebook.com/HenryCountyBOC

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