Henry County Update - Newsletter

September 18, 2015

Board of

Commissioners

Fifth Annual Gold Star Family Day to Honor Local Fallen Heroes

Regular Meetings October 6 at 9:00 AM October 20 at 6:30 PM 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.

A family takes a moment with the picture of their lost soldier before having it placed on the Memorial Wall, during last year’s Goldstar Family Day in Henry County.

The Henry County Recreation Department and the Heritage Park Veterans Museum, in conjunction with the Department of Army Survivor Outreach Services, will host the fifth annual Henry County Gold Star Family Day for the families of fallen soldiers who live in and around Henry County. The ceremony will be held on Saturday, September 26 at the Veterans Wall of Honor and the Veterans Museum, both located at Heritage Park in McDonough. The event will begin with a public ceremony at the Veterans Wall of Honor starting at 1 p.m. This ceremony will allow the public to come out and support the local Gold Star families, as well as honor our fallen service members. Following the public ceremony, the families will convene at the Heritage Park Veterans Museum for a private ceremony.

At that time, families will have a chance to pay tribute to and share stories of their fallen heroes and to find fellowship and support by joining with others who have experienced a similar loss. Families will also have an opportunity to honor their Continued on page 2

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September 18, 2015 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 Samantha Watson Melissa Robinson Kevin Williams

Fire Department Purchases Medical Grade Oxygen and Uniforms

The Henry County Fire Department was approved to purchase medical grade oxygen and staff uniforms at the September 15, 2015 Commission meeting.

The medical grade oxygen will be purchased from Airgas USA, LLC and delivered twice a week for $4.24 for “D” size cylinders and $7.00 for “M” sized cylinders. The oxygen will be used for emergency medical treatment of citizens and transients of Henry County. Fire personnel uniforms will be purchased under an annual contract with T&T Uniforms at a cost of $145,000. henrycounty-ga.org

Gold Star from page 1 soldiers by placing a photo on the Wall of Honor inside the museum.

On behalf of the Heritage Park Veterans Museum staff and the Department of the Army Survivor Outreach Services Program, the public is invited to attend and show their support to the families and to remember those soldiers who we have lost in service to our country.

The Veterans Museum is located in Heritage Park, at 101 Lake Dow Rd. in McDonough. For more information, contact Jim Joyce at 404-831-9740 or jjoyce@co.henry.ga.us, or contact Melissa McKenzie, Support Coordinator for Survivor Outreach Services at 478-284-2766 or melissa.n.mckenzie.ctr@mail.mil.

Commissioners Honor the Henry County Haven House

At the Sept. 15 Commission meeting, the board presented a proclamation extending thanks to the Henry County Haven House for their dedication to helping victims of domestic abuse in Henry County for the last 25 years.

Haven House is a domestic violence shelter and program that serves victims of family violence in Henry, Jasper, Butts and Lamar Counties. The staff and volunteers at Have House help abused women, men and their children find peace and security through safe shelter, legal advocacy and other services.

Marjorie Lacy, Director of Haven House and Board President Pandora Palmer, accepted the proclamation. Lacy extended thanks to the citizens of Henry County “for the strong support that they have shown our agency over the years. We have been blessed with help from the commission and the

community and we appreciate it.�

For more information on the Henry County Haven House, log on to www.henryhavenhouse.org.

Henry County Haven House Board President Pandora Palmer accepts a proclamation from Chairman Tommy Smith alongside the Board of Commissioners, Director of Henry County Haven House Marjorie Lacy, and other staff members of the non-profit organization.

I-75 Southbound Lane Closures Scheduled as Express Lanes Project Moves Forward Drivers can expect heavy congestion over the next few days

Construction continues to progress on the new Georgia Express Lanes on Interstate 75 through Henry County and motorists should expect heavy congestion throughout the entire 12-mile project work zone over the next several days.

From now through Monday morning, September 21, the contractor will be working on Interstate 75 southbound at locations between Hudson Bridge Road and Jonesboro Road. Weather permitting, work will be performed within 2 mile increments of installed lane closures and drivers are urged to slow down and proceed cautiously throughout these work zones.

Motorists should expect heavy congestion.

Alternate routes are available and should be considered.

Tuesday, September 15 through Monday morning, September 21: Lane closure near Jonesboro Road for Mount Carmel Road bridge demolition. Single lane closure, 9 p.m. until 10 p.m. Double lane closure, 10 p.m. until 5 a.m.

Tuesday night, September 15 through Monday morning, September 21: Lane closures near Jodeco Road for paving operations. Single lane closure, 9 p.m. until 7 a.m., Tuesday, September 15 through Friday morning. Continuous single lane closure, 9 p.m.

Friday, September 18 through 7 a.m. Monday morning, September 21.

Motorists are advised to slow down and proceed with caution through this area as workers and heavy equipment will be in close proximity to the roadway.

Work will occur as follows on I-75 Southbound:

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September 18, 2015

SPLOST Officials Present Update

Officials from Henry County’s SPLOST Department presented Commissioners with a quarterly update on SPLOST activities over the last several months, detailing which projects are in progress and which projects have been completed.

Transportation Director Roque Romero and Capital Projects Director Ron Burckhalter made the Power Point presentation during the September 15, 2015 regular Commission meeting where they gave an update on countywide and district specific projects, including infrastructure repairs, transportation studies, progress on new fire stations and public safety equipment and vehicles, jail repairs and DOT construction equipment.

Burckhalter told Commissioners that 13 of the 17 county-wide projects for this year are either in progress or have been completed.

SPLOST IV (Special Purpose Local Option Sales Tax) was approved by voter referendum in November of 2013 and is expected to collect approximately $190,000,000 over a six-year period.

Voter-approved SPLOST projects include public safety buildings, equipment, transportation enhancements, road improvements and park construction, just to name a few.

For a copy of the presentation or for more information on SPLOST, please visit www.henrycounty-ga.org/splost.

Commissioners Proclaim October As Fire Prevention Month

The Henry County Board of Commissioners recognized the week of October 4 through 10 as Fire Prevention Week, and the month of October as Fire Prevention Month, to coincide with the national observance of Fire Prevention Month, by issuing a proclamation at the September 15, 2015 Commission meeting.

This year’s theme for Fire Prevention Month is “Hear the Beep Where You Sleep. Every Bedroom Needs a Working Smoke Alarm!” and residents are urged to protect their homes and families by heeding the important safety messages of Fire Prevention Month, and supporting the many public safety efforts of Henry County’s Fire Department.

For more information on the Henry County Fire Department, visit www.henrycounty-ga.org/fire. henrycounty-ga.org

Henry County Division Chief of Prevention Joe Kelley accepts a proclamation from Henry County Commission Chairman Tommy Smith, surrounded by members of the Henry County Fire Department and the Henry County Board of Commissioners.

Commissioners Recognize Constitution Week

In honor of the 226th study of the historical events anniversary of the framing of which led to the framing of the Constitution of the United the Constitution.

States of America by the The proclamation was Constitutional Convention, accepted by Helen Busbin, the Henry County Board the Resent of the Andrew of Commissioners issued McBride Chapter of DAR and a proclamation celebrating Recording Secretary, Amy Constitution Week at the Penn. Busbin thanked the Sept. 15 board for their support and Commission meeting.

Helen Busbin, Regent for the Andrew McBride Chapter of the announced that her chapter

Constitution Week Daughters of the American Revolution, accepts a proclamation is hosting, in partnership recognizing Constitution Week, from Henry County Commission was founded in 1955 by the Chairman Tommy Smith. Pictured (l. to r.) District V with the Henry County Parks Daughters of the American Commissioner Bruce Holmes, District III Commissioner Gary and Recreation Department, Barham, Smith, District II Commissioner Bryan Preston, Revolution (DAR), a non- Busbin, District I Commissioner Bo Moss, Recording Secretary a memorial for Vietnam profit organization dedicated for the Andrew McBride Chapter Amy Penn and District IV Veterans on Sept. 19 at 11 Commissioner Blake Prince. to promoting patriotism, a.m. at the Veterans Wall of preserving American history and securing America’s Honor in Heritage Park. future through better education for children.

For more information on Constitution Week and

The aims of Constitution Week are to emphasize the Daughters of the American Revolution, visit www. citizens’ responsibilities for protecting and defending dar.org. For more information on the Vietnam Veterans the Constitution, inform people that the Constitution is ceremony on Sept. 19, visit www.henrycounty-ga.org. the basis for America’s heritage, and encourage the

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September 18, 2015 Henry County Public Safety takes a moment of silence for 9/11

The Henry County Police Department, Fire Department and the Henry County Sheriff’s Office commemorated the 14th anniversary of the terrorist attacks of September 11, 2001, with a traffic stop and moment of silence at an intersection on SR 20/81 in McDonough.

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 henrycounty-ga.org