Henry County Update - Newsletter

May 22, 2015

BOARD OF COMMISSIONERS

Memorial Day Service Set for May 25

Called Meeting May 27th at 9:00 AM Regular Meetings June 2nd at 9:00 AM June 16th at 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.

Veterans lay a memorial wreath at the Wall of Honor during last year’s Memorial Day service.

The annual Memorial Day Service will be held at the Veterans Wall of Honor on Monday, May 25, 2015 at 11 a.m., to honor and remember the men and women in our military who have paid the ultimate price for America’s freedom.

The Keynote Speaker will be Rev. William Bert Neal, III, LTC, U.S. Army (Retired) who served more than 20 years as an Army Officer, rising to the rank of Lieutenant Colonel. He served as

an Airborne Ranger, Logistics Specialist, Strategic Planner, and Inspector General.

After retiring from the Army, Pastor Neal held several positions in the Atlanta area, including as Deputy Executive Director of the Atlanta Housing Authority. He was also the Chief Executive Officer of the ALICE Group, which is a strategic planning and management service company for churches, and held management positions with the Department of Commerce and the Continued on Page 3

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May 22, 2015 Hobson-Matthews Named Interim County Manager

Cheri Hobson-Matthews was appointed Interim County Manager after an executive session, held at the end of the May 13, 2015 budget hearing.

Hobson-Matthews has been the Assistant County Manager for close to a year and has been employed by the county for 13 years. She began her career with Henry County in 2002 as a Planner II and

was promoted within the organization to Chief Planner, then to Director of Planning and Zoning and Director of Transportation Planning. Before taking on the role of Assistant County Manager, she served as the Division Director for the Community Development Division in which she supervised the Planning and Zoning, Building, GIS and Community Development Block Grant departments.

In her role as Assistant County Manager she assisted in planning, directing and managing the activities of the county government and provided direct leadership to multiple mission-critical departments.

Additionally, she worked on special projects, strategic planning, project and contract management and budget preparation. She also provided assistance with coordination of intergovernmental, public and private initiatives, as well as issue policy statements and provide management reports. She will continue to provide administrative leadership to Henry County, overseeing the operations of a county government with more than 1,600 employees.

For more information, visit www.henrycounty-ga.org/countymanager.

PUBLIC MEETING NOTICE A Budget meeting will be held Wednesday, May 27th at 9:00 a.m. in the Community Room at the Henry County Administration Building located at 140 Henry Parkway in McDonough.

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Memorial Day from page 1 Department of Juvenile Justice. Appointed as the pastor of Wesley Chapel United Methodist Church (UMC) in McDonough, on June 23, 2013, he previously served and was founding pastor of Sacred Praise United Methodist Church, in Lovejoy, and in his previous appointment, he completed four years as the Associate Pastor at St. James UMC in Alpharetta, Georgia.

The Memorial Day service will also include various musical interludes provided by bagpiper David Gregory, Ralph Guthrie, Rev. Joey Seabolt and Jim

Houston, with Bugles Across America, who will close the service with Taps. There will also be a laying of the memorial wreath and an appropriately themed reading, honoring those lost.

The Veterans Wall of Honor is located in Heritage Park at 101 Lake Dow Rd. in McDonough.

For more information, please contact Jim Joyce with Henry County Parks and Recreation at 770-2887300 or visit www.hcprd.org.

Holiday Schedule

The Henry County Administration offices along with the Recycling Center will be closed on Monday, May 25th in observance of the Memorial Day holiday and will reopen on Tuesday, May 26th at 8:00 a.m.

Stormwater Ok’d to Purchase Excavator

The Henry County Stormwater Department received approval from the Board of Commissioners to purchase a Kubota KX080-4R3 Excavator, and in the process was able to utilize the Henry First Initiative by purchasing the piece of equipment from a Henry County-based company. The action came at the May 19, 2015 Commission meeting.

The excavator purchase was put out to bid through the Henry County Purchasing Department and posted on the county website, Team Georgia Marketplace and ACCG/GLGA. Nine qualified bidders

met the bid; however Mason Tractor & Equipment Co. Inc. was able to take advantage of the Henry First Initiative, which enables local companies to match the lowest submitted quote if their own quote comes within five percent of the lowest bid and they meet all other requirements.

Commissioners approved the purchase of the excavator in the amount of $80,948 and funds are available in the Stormwater Department’s capital equipment account.

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May 22, 2015 County Breaks Ground on Harris Dr. SPLOST Project

Henry County District 1 Commissioner Bo Moss and Chairman Tommy Smith help break ground on a SPLOST IV project at Harris Dr. and S. Bethany Rd. Pictured (l. to r.) SPLOST Construction Project Manager Bert Bivins, SPLOST Construction Coordinator Micheal Hill, Henry County Communications Director Melissa Robinson, SPLOST Transportation Director Roque Romero, Commissioner Bo Moss, Chairman Tommy Smith, Henry County Clerk Stephanie Braun, Jason Peters with Southeastern Site Development and Chae Yi, SPLOST Engineer.

Henry County officials ceremoniously broke ground May 13, 2015 on the latest SPLOST project in District 1, a road improvement project for Harris Drive near S. Bethany Road in Locust Grove.

Improvements to the roadway include repaving a 1.25 mile stretch of dirt road and will cost $1,668,188. Work is being performed by Southeastern Site Development and the project is budgeted under

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SPLOST IV.

“This is just one more improvement under our dedicated SPLOST program,” said District I Commissioner Bo Moss. “Thanks to our citizens for approving the SPLOST referendum, we are able to complete much-needed projects, just like this one.”

For more information on any SPLOST project, visit www.henrycounty-ga.org/splost.

Public Safety Agencies Hold Police Week Memorial Service

Public Safety officials from the Henry County Police Department, the Henry County Sheriff’s Department and the District Attorney’s Office participated in the National Police Week Memorial Service, held at the Henry County Public Safety Building, to honor those officers who have been lost in the line of duty.

Many public safety personnel were in attendance along with friends and family of the fallen officers,

while Henry County Police Chief Keith Nichols, Henry County Sheriff Keith McBrayer and District Attorney Jim Wright offered words of support, encouragement and remembrance.

Henry County officers honored and remembered during the ceremony included Sergeant Jimmy Gilbert, Officer Chuck Haist, Deputy Marvin Scarlett, Officer Jimmy Carter and Officer Elgin Daniel.

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May 22, 2015 Henry County Commissioners Recognize Emergency Medical Services Week

Chairman Tommy Smith presents Fire Chief Bill Lacy with the EMS Week proclamation at the May 19 Commission meeting, surrounded by members of the Henry County Fire Department and the Henry County Board of Commissioners.

The Henry County Board of Commissioners recognized the contributions of Emergency Medical Service (EMS) providers by issuing a proclamation at the May 19, 2015 regular Commission meeting, establishing the week of May 18 through 22 as EMS Week, to coincide with the national observance.

The proclamation read in part, “The members of the Henry County Fire Department engage in thousands of hours of specialized training and continuing education in order to enhance their lifesaving skills…It is appropriate to recognize the value and the accomplishments of emergency medical services providers by designating the observance of

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Emergency Medical Services Week.”

Henry County Fire Chief Bill Lacy was on hand to accept the proclamation and thank the Commissioners for their support.

“I’d like to take this opportunity to thank the Board for their support of EMS in our community,” said Lacy. “As you know, the Henry County Fire Department provides emergency 911 services for our community and more than 18,000 times each and every year you see our ambulances out servicing the citizens of Henry County in their times of need. So I want to thank you for your support.”

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May 22, 2015 Henry County Libraries to Host Annual Summer Reading Program

The Henry County Library System is once again offering its annual Vacation Reading Program and what better way to keep young minds sharp over the lazy days of summer than to sign them up for this popular program. This year’s theme is “Every Hero Has a Story.”

The goal of the summer reading program is to encourage children to read and maintain their skills during summer vacation. Last summer, there were more than 4,000 children and teens registered for the summer program, and over 6,300 who attended programs and activities, reading more than 27,000 books.

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Registration for the Vacation Reading Program runs from June 1 through June 30, and the programs and activities start June 1 and continue through July 30. All children and teens living in Henry County are eligible to register and attend programs, and all five Henry County branches will offer activities for children.

There is no charge for any of these activities.

During the last week of May, a schedule of activities will be distributed in The Henry County Times, and copies will be available in all library branches, as well as on the library website at www.henry.public.lib.ga.us.

In addition to the Vacation Reading Program, this marks the third year for the Library Goes to Camp program, which is a partnership between the Henry County Library System and Henry County Parks and Recreation Department in which library staff visits each day camp weekly. Library staff members conduct a short program and leave a bin of books for campers to enjoy during the week. Each week a new bin of books will be made available for the campers, and the program runs from June 1 until July 30.

This program has been funded by Central Georgia EMC for the third year in a row.

Fire Department Announces New Promotions

Henry County Fire Chief Bill Lacy administers the oath to the newly promoted captains.

Henry County Fire Chief Bill Lacy promoted twenty-nine fire officers at a pinning ceremony held on May 19, 2015 at the Fire Department Training Facility located on Ronnie Stewart Rd. in McDonough

Those promoted as Battalion Shift Commanders include Stephen Copeland, Tom Gardner and Chris Sherwood. Battalion Chief promotions include Jonathan Burnette, Brian Dees, James Lewis, Luther Phillips, Jeffery Sheffield and Damion Vaughan. Those promoted to the rank of Captain are Chuck Carter, Robert English, Lucas Harmsen, Danny Lankford, William Phillips, Janet Slagle, Mark Spradlin, Shane Thompson and Barry Tilton. Newly promoted lieutenants include Brenton Cochran, Jeremiah Booher, Brian Gibson, Drew Hand, Ben Leverett, Richard Lecroy, Christopher Lunsford, Kyle Prince, Chad Schaefer, Stewart Smith and John Turner.

Lacy said that the Henry County Fire Department is proud to promote all of these individuals and would like to thank them for their dedicated service, and thank

their families for their unwavering support. He extends congratulations to all of the promoted members and wishes them the best in their new assignments, recognizing how fortunate Henry County is for having such a committed group of people working to keep the community safe.

“I am confident that their depth of experience, shared values and strong commitment will continue to be a tremendous asset as they take on a new level of leadership,� said Lacy.

In addition to family, friends and co-workers, also in attendance were Deputy Chief Brad Johnson, Division Chief/Training Ike McConnell, Division Chief/ Prevention Joe Kelley, Henry County Commission Chairman Tommy Smith, District 1 Commissioner Bo Moss, District 3 Commissioner Gary Barham and Interim County Manager Cheri Hobson-Matthews.

The promoted officers will begin their new assignments on May 25.

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May 22, 2015 Henry County 4-H Closes Year with Annual Program

Earlier this month, the Henry County Extension Office 4-H program celebrated another successful year with its 58th Annual Awards Ceremony that shined a light on the dedicated students, staff, parents and volunteers who make the 4-H program a success.

The theme of this year’s dinner and recognition ceremony was “Go Wild with 4-H” and officials recognized the efforts of the many volunteers, staff and participants. Guests were treated to a delicious meal, live entertainment by 4-H students, and an awards presentation that showcased some of the best and brightest young people in Henry County.

State Representative Brian Strickland, Henry

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County Commission Chairman Tommy Smith and District 3 Commissioner Gary Barham assisted with the presentations that recognized several categories of winners and participants, including special 4-H Awards, Project Achievement, Special Event Awards, Specialty Club Recognition and Volunteer Recognition.

The Henry County 4-H program is administered through the Henry County Extension Office under the leadership of County Extension Coordinator Susan Howington, and her staff who includes Frank Hancock, Laura Garrett, Tracy Gauge, Amy Smith, Rebecca Heard, Melissa Souther, Colleen Currie and Diane Oetting.

Henry County 4-H Closes Year with Annual Program

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May 22, 2015 Public Safety was Among Topics at District 4 Town Hall

District 4 Commissioner Blake Prince answers questions from residents at his May town hall meeting.

Henry County District 4 Commissioner Blake Prince held his first Town Hall Meeting on Saturday, May 16, 2015 at the J. P. Moseley Recreation Center in Stockbridge.

Projects in District 4 and public safety were the topics of discussion and Captain Scott Gray, with the Henry County Police Department’s North Precinct, gave an overview and presentation on public safety

matters in the area. Prince also updated residents on the various SPLOST projects on tap for the district, including the Bud Kelley Park, which is expected to break ground this summer.

For more information about Commissioner Prince, log on to www.henrycounty-ga.org. For more information on SPLOST, please visit www.henrycounty-ga.org/splost.

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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Henry County Finance Department Awarded Certificate of Achievement for Excellence in Financial Reporting

The Henry County Finance Department was recently awarded Certificates of Achievement for Excellence in Financial Reporting from the Government Finance Officers Association of the United States and Canada (GFOA) for the fiscal year 2014 Comprehensive Annual Financial Report.

According to a statement issued by the Government Finance Officers Association, “the Certificate of Achievement is the highest form of recognition in the area of governmental accounting and financial reporting and its attainment represents a significant accomplishment by a government and its management.”

This is the tenth consecutive year that Henry

County has earned the Certificate of Achievement in Financial Reporting, having been judged and evaluated by an impartial panel, meeting high standards and demonstrating a spirit of full disclosure to clearly communicate Henry County’s financial story.

The GFOAis a nonprofit, professional association dedicated to the sound management of government financial resources, which serves approximately 17,500 government finance professionals.

The Comprehensive Annual Financial Report for the fiscal year ended in June 2014 is available online at www.henrycounty-ga.org under the Finance Department.

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May 22, 2015 County Breaks Ground on Banks and Rock Quarry SPLOST Project

Henry County District IV Commissioner Blake Prince, along with members of the Henry County SPLOST Department, broke ground on the latest SPLOST project in the district, located at the intersection of Banks and Rock Quarry roads in Stockbridge, this past Thursday, May 21, 2015.

The SPLOST IV intersection improvement project will widen the intersection, allowing for dedicated turn lanes. McGee Partners did the design and Matriarch Construction Company is completing the work on the improvements. Prince said the intersection has been the site of several accidents and he is pleased

to see the work started.

“These intersection improvements are muchneeded and long awaited. The improvements to this intersection will greatly enhance public safety on this busy roadway,� said Prince.

Total cost of construction is $462,749.69 and the project is expected to be completed by September, 2015.

For more information on SPLOST, please visit www.henrycounty-ga.org/splost.

Official break ground on Banks and Rock Quarry Rd. SPLOST project. Pictured (l. to r.) David Lynch, SPLOST Construction Inspector, Luke Taylor, Engineer with McGee Partners, District IV Commissioner Blake Prince, SPLOST Construction Project Manager Bert Bivins, SPLOST Transportation Director Roque Romero and Chae Yi, SPLOST Engineer.

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