March 27, 2014

BOARD OFCOMMISSIONERS

Regular MeetingsApril 1st - 9:00 AMApril 15th - 6:30 PM

Meetings held at:Administration Building

Community Room140 Henry Parkway

McDonough, GA 30253

Regular Commissionmeetings will air Fridays,Saturdays, Mondays and

Wednesdays onHenry TV Channel 14 and

AT&T U-Verse Channel 99,at 9 a.m. & 7 p.m.

The Henry County Board of Commissioners appointed James “Jim” Walker to the position of County Manager, to begin serving on March 31. The action happened at a called meeting held March 25, after commissioners reconvened from executive session. Walker, who is from Orange Beach, AL, earned a Bachelor’s in Business Administration from Austin Peay State University and a Master’s of Public Administration from the University of Oklahoma. With 16 years of experience in government, he most recently served as a State Liaison for the Gulf Coast Claims Facility for Alabama and Mississippi in the aftermath of the BP Gulf Coast oil spill. He was the first appointed Director of Homeland Security for the State of Alabama serving for several years, and worked previously as

a Strategic Consultant for Public-Private Strategies, Inc. He served in the United States Army from 1981 to 2002 where he was an Infantry Lieutenant Colonel and Airborne Ranger. The Henry County Board of Commissioners contracted with the Carl Vinson Institute of Government at the

University of Georgia, for the county manager search which initially attracted more than 50 candidates for the position. That pool of applicants was pared down and the top tier candidates were then interviewed over the course of several days in February. On Monday, March 3, 2014, the names of the three finalists were publicized. The three candidates

under consideration were Lyndon L. Bonner, Michael C. Harris and James “Jim” Walker, Jr.

1the henry county update

Commissioners Appoint New County Manager

Continued on Page 3

The Henry County Board of Com-missioners appointed Jim Walker as County Manager at a called meeting held March 25.

032714.indd 1 3/27/2014 2:05:00 PM

henrycounty-ga.org

HCPD Officers Lauded by FBI

March 27, 2014

Several Henry County Police Officers were recognized at the March 18 regular Commission meeting by Police Chief Keith Nichols, who read a letter from the Federal Bureau of Investigation, commending the officers for their assistance in the apprehension and extradition of a wanted fugitive, who was arrested in Henry County on February 4, 2014. Sergeant Dan Blythe and officers Erin Combs, Nick Jackson and John Gleason were all mentioned in a letter sent by Agent Ricky Maxwell with the Atlanta Division of the FBI, thanking them for their assistance in helping to locate and arrest Torrance Johnson, a fugitive being sought by the FBI and the Colorado Department of Corrections in connection to a 1999 parole violation. The letter read in part, “All of the officers should be commended for the immediate assistance they provided which directly led to the arrest of a fugitive on the lam for more than 15 years. We thank you

for the professionalism and hard work displayed by your department. Sergeant Dan Blythe, officers Erin Combs, Nick Jackson and John Gleason’s outstanding and exemplary actions in this matter reflect great credit upon themselves and the Henry County Police Department.” Chief Nichols said he wanted to publicly recognize the officers involved, for their outstanding police work. “I’m very proud of these guys and what they do. They do an excellent job keeping our community safe,” said Nichols. “I wanted to share with you and the county what an exceptional job they do each and every day.” For more information on the Henry County Police Department, see them on Facebook orvisit www.henrycounty-ga.org/police.

The Henry County Board of Commissioners, Police Chief Keith Nichols and police officials recognized Sergeant Dan Blythe and officers Erin Combs, Nick Jackson and John Gleason, all of whom were acknowledged by the FBI for their assistance with the apprehension of a fugitive, on the run for more than 15 years.

032714.indd 2 3/27/2014 2:05:03 PM

3

Earlier this month, it was announced that Interim County Manager Michael Harris was taking the position of city administrator with the city of Stockbridge. Harris has been serving as interim county manager since August

2013, when former county manager, Fred Auletta, shifted to the role of Henry County Government’s finance director.

County Manager from page 1

Free Storm Spotter Classes Rescheduled for April 8

The free Storm Spotter class that was originally scheduled for February 11 but was cancelled due to inclement weather has now been rescheduled for Tuesday, April 8, 2014. So if you are a weather enthusiast and are interested in a unique opportunity to serve your community, there is a still a chance to reserve your spot in the Henry County Emergency Management Agency’s Storm Spotter Class, to be held at the Henry County Emergency Operations Center in McDonough. In conjunction with the Henry County Emergency Management Agency, the National Weather Service Office in Peachtree City is offering two Basic Storm Spotter Classes on Tuesday, April 8, 2014 at 2:00 p.m. and 7:00 p.m. The training is free but space is limited, and registration is currently being taken. Weather spotters have served as the “eyes” of the National Weather Service for more than 60 years,

assisting in the process to warn their communities of potentially hazardous weather. Although the National Weather Service utilizes cutting edge technology, such as Doppler radar and hi-resolution satellite imagery,

nothing has proven more effective than the human eye to observe and report adverse

weather. The training session will focus on preparing individuals to report severe weather, including funnel clouds, tornadoes, hail, damaging winds and flooding rainfall. In addition, the importance of

weather safety, when observing and reporting critical weather, will be

discussed. The Henry County Emergency

Operations Center is located at 526 Industrial Boulevard in McDonough. Those interested in attending one of the classes should contact EMA Officer Shelita Broomfield at sbroomfield@co.henry.ga.us to reserve a space, and please indicate a time slot preference.

032714.indd 3 3/27/2014 2:05:05 PM

henrycounty-ga.org

March 27, 2014

Commissioners Recognize Outstanding E911 Employees

The Henry County Board of Commissioners recognized several employees with the E911 Center, as well as a local resident, all of whom were lauded for outstanding work. Emergency Management Agency Director, Don Ash, presented the awards before the Board of Commissioners at the March 18 regular Commission meeting. Ash said the awards were officially presented by the Georgia Emergency Communications Conference sponsored by the Georgia Chapters of APCO (Association of Public-Safety Communications) and NENA (National Emergency Number Association), held in Athens, GA earlier this month.

The Henry County E911 Day Watch Team earned the Communications Team Award for their quick action, intuitiveness and teamwork during a child recovery action in an Amber Alert situation that occurred on August 14th, 2013. Members of the Day Watch Team stayed with the call, confirming that Henry County Police units were in pursuit and saw the incident through until the end when the driver was arrested and the baby in the car was safely rescued. Christy Berry, Henry County E911 Communication System Technician, was recognized with the Leadership in Service Award. Berry has been with Henry County E911 department since 2003 and

Continued on Page 7

Employees with the Henry County E911 Center were recognized at the March 18 BOC meeting. Pictured in the first row (l. to r.) Andy Talbert, Laloni Smith, Aimee Chutro, Vicki Smith, Chairman Tommy Smith, Michelle Grice and Christy Berry; second row (l. to r.) Mi-chelle Doyal, Amanda Maddox, District V Commissioner Bruce Holmes and Emergency Management Agency Director Don Ash; back row (l. to r.) District II Commissioner Brian Preston, District IV Commissioner Reid Bowman, District III Commissioner Gary Barham and District I Commissioner Bo Moss

032714.indd 4 3/27/2014 2:05:07 PM

5

Congressman David Scott to Host Job Fair This Friday at the GICC

Congressman David Scott will host the 11th Annual 13th Congressional District Jobs Fair tomorrow, Friday, March 28, 2014, from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. at the Georgia International Convention Center (GICC). This year’s employers are looking to fill 4,207 positions and include: AFLAC; Atlanta Fire & Rescue; Albany Police Department; Atlanta VA Medical Center; Art Institute of Atlanta; AT&T; Clayton County; Cobb County; Comcast; Douglas County EMS; Federal Air Marshals; Georgia Power; GLOCK; Home Depot; Hyatt Regency Atlanta; JB Hunt Transport; Kaiser Permanente; Kroger; Lowe’s; MARTA; New York Life; Randstad; SunTrust; Tyco Fire Protection; United Distributors; UPS; Regions Bank; Waffle House; Wal-Mart; Wells Fargo; WorldPay; and more. Additionally, Congressman Scott’s Jobs Fair is partnering with HomeSafe Georgia and key banks to deliver mortgage aid and foreclosure prevention resources to homeowners facing unemployment or

underemployment while they seek new work. HomeSafe counselors and bank representatives will be available on site to provide direct counseling. Participating banks and counselors include: Bank of America, BB&T, Citi Mortgage, D&E Group, Fannie Mae, Federal Housing Administration, Georgia Department of Community Affairs, HSBC, HUD, M&T Bank, NID, Ocwen, Regions, State Home Mortgage, SunTrust, U.S. Bank, VA and Wells Fargo, among others. Attendees are encouraged to take MARTA to Airport station and board the free ATL SkyTrain to the Convention Center or take MARTA to College Park station and board a special MARTA bus shuttle to the event. The Georgia International Convention Center is located at 2000 Convention Center Concourse, College Park, GA 30337. For more information, please call 770-432-5405 or visit www.house.gov/davidscott.

032714.indd 5 3/27/2014 2:05:07 PM

henrycounty-ga.org

March 27, 2014

Crime Victims’ Rights Week To be Observed April 6 through 12

Each year, the Henry County District Attorney’s Office, along with the Henry County Solicitor’s Office and other Henry County agencies join together to host activities in recognition of National Crime Victims’ Rights Week. This year, the Henry County Board of Commissioners will recognize the 2014 National Crime Victims’ Rights Week with a proclamation at the first regular Commission meeting of April, to be held on April 1, 2014 at 9 a.m. Crime Victim’s Rights Week will be observed throughout the County and the nation during the week of April 6 through April 12 and there are several events planned to recognize crime victims, their families and friends, and various law enforcement agencies. On Monday, April 7, 2014, the 5th annual Statewide Multi-Agency Ceremony and Open House will be held at the Department of Corrections, State Offices South at Tift Campus/Roberts Chapel, located

at 300 Patrol Road in Forsyth, GA. The ceremony starts at 10:00 a.m. and the Open House begins at 12:00 noon. On Thursday, April 10, 2014, the 12th annual Memorial Service honoring and remembering victims of crime and their families, and recognizing outstanding services to victims of crime by law enforcement and other public servants, will be held at Shiloh Baptist Church in McDonough. Preceding the service, a Community Awareness and Networking Event will be held from 6:30-7:00 p.m. Shiloh Baptist Church is located at 262 Macon St., McDonough, GA. Please R.S.V.P. to 770.288.6351. For more information on Victims Services, contact Lorraine Bunn, Victim Services Director with the Henry County District Attorney’s Office, at lbunn@co.henry.ga.us.

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

032714.indd 6 3/27/2014 2:05:08 PM

7

started as a front desk secretary for alarm system registration and billing. She has worked her way up through the department and in 2013, she became the Communication System Technician. Ash said she has become instrumental in the operations of the center and is not only courteous and kind, but always willing to help in any situation. Known as a team player, she frequently goes above and beyond her job description and is a shining example for others. Chris Holmes, a 14 year-old Henry County

resident was recognized with the Georgia Peach Award for his bravery during a home invasion on July 23, 2013, when two intruders broke into his home. He was able to call 911 from a bedroom closet, and even after being confronted by the intruders, he remained composed under extremely dangerous and stressful conditions. Ash said that the young man did an excellent job in providing clear and calm communication to the 911 operator in relaying information about what was going on at the scene.

Outstanding Employees pg. 4

032714.indd 7 3/27/2014 2:05:09 PM

henrycounty-ga.org

March 27, 2014

Henry County Parks and Recreation Offers Spring Break Camp

The Henry County Parks and Recreation Department is offering a Spring Break Camp from April 7 through 11 during the week of spring break for Henry County schools. The cost for the camp is $100 per child, with a sibling discount for each additional child, and camp hours are from 7:30 a.m. until 6:00 p.m. for ages 5 to 12. Camps will be held at the Fairview Recreation Center in Stockbridge, Heritage Park in McDonough and the J. P. Moseley Recreation Center in Stockbridge. Additional camps will be held at the Locust Grove Recreation Center and Nash Farm Park if the two locations have at least 10 campers registered. As always, there will be fun games and activities, arts and crafts, and this year includes a great field trip to Fun Junction (formerly Dixieland Fun Park)

located in Fayetteville. According to Tina Fuss, Recreation Specialist, Henry County Parks and Recreation strives to offer the children a break camp program that meets their educational, physical and social needs. A great deal of planning goes into making sure that the camps not only provide structure for the children, but also provide an experience that will benefit them in other areas of their lives. Registration will be held Monday through Friday, beginning now through April 4, from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. at Heritage Park or any of the recreation centers mentioned above. Campers may also register online at www.hcprd.org. Hurry, because space is limited. For more information, call Henry County Parks and Recreation at 770.288.7311.

032714.indd 8 3/27/2014 2:05:10 PM

9

The Cubihatcha Outdoor Education Center will be hosting its first fishing tournament fundraiser on Saturday March 29, from 7:00 a.m. to 12:00 noon, at the Long Branch/Rowland Reservoir. Proceeds from the event will benefit the Henry County Outdoor Education Partnership, a program established in 2003 by the Henry County Water Authority (HCWA), the Henry County Board of Education, the Henry County Board of Commissioners, and several other public and private organizations, to provide outdoor education programming for students and adults. The adult/youth fishing tournament will test the skill of local anglers fishing for bass and crappie on the 277-acre lake, which is one of five reservoirs within the network of HCWA water resources used for drinking water production. The fishing tournament is open to Henry County residents and property owners, as well as Water Authority customers. A team entering the tournament must consist of one child, between the ages of 6 and 17, and an adult. The cost of the event is $50 dollars

per team, with first, second, and third place prizes being awarded for the largest catches of the day. All teams must fish from boats, since no fishing from the reservoir banks will be permitted during the tournament. The Cubihatcha Center, which the HCWA opened in 1999, encompasses 1,000 acres of land designated as protected green space and wetlands mitigation. “Cubihatcha” – meaning “the land between the lakes” – is appropriately named, as the Center is located between the Authority’s Long Branch and Towaliga Reservoirs. The Cubihatcha Center welcomes thousands of visitors each year for opportunities of recreation and outdoor education, enhanced by amenities that include two walking trails, outdoor pavilions for group outings and field trips, as well as the Reservoirs Office of Henry County Water. For more information on the fishing tournament, including applications for entry, anglers can contact the Cubihatcha Center at 678-583-3930 or email Jeff Scott at jeffrey.scott@hcwsa.com.

Cubihatcha to Host Fishing Tournament Fundraiser

Fire Hydrant ServicingHenry County Firefighters began servicing

fire hydrants on March 1, 2014 and will continue through the month.

032714.indd 9 3/27/2014 2:05:11 PM