BOARD OF COMMISSIONERS

Regular MeetingsJanuary 15th at 6:30 p.m.

February 5 at 9 a.m.

Meetings held at: Administration Building

Community Room140 Henry Parkway

McDonough, GA 30253

Commission meetings will air on Henry TV Channel 14, at

9 a.m., 2 p.m., & 7 p.m. on these days:

Monday Meetings:Wed, Fri, & Sun

Tuesday Meetings:Thurs, Sat, & Mon

1the henry county update

January 11, 2013

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At the first meeting of the year, theHenry County Board of Commissionerstook the opportunity to make severalappointments and reappointments in whatwas an organizational meeting for the new board.

Newly installed Chairman TommySmith took the first few minutes of themeeting to present currentCommissioners and introduce himself andnew members, District I CommissionerWilliam “Bo” Moss and District IIICommissioner Gary Barham, to those inattendance. Due to technical difficultieswith audio, sound was not available duringthe live broadcast, however re-airings havesound accompaniment from a backupsound system.

After a unanimous decision toappoint District IV Commissioner ReidBowman as Vice Chairman of the Boardand reappoint Shay Mathis as CountyClerk, Commissioners approved severalother board appointments.

Appointments to the RecreationBoard are as follows: District I- Robert T.Mitchell, Jr., District III-David Wilkerson,District IV-Terry Sanders and District V-Eugene Edwards.

Appointments to the Henry CountyWater and Sewerage Authority are asfollows: District I- Michael Barr, District III-Jimmy Carter, District IV-Harold Jenkinsand District V-Carlotta Harrell.

Henry County Board of Commissioners Makes Several Appointments

The First Meeting of the Henry County Board of Commissioners in 2013

2January 11, 2013www.henrycounty-ga.org

Henry County Releases Its Annual Financial Reports The Henry County Finance Department has released its Popular Annual

Financial Report (PAFR) and Comprehensive Annual Financial Report (CAFR)for FY2011-12. The documents both detail the finances of Henry County forthe year, though the PAFR presents the information in an easy to understandformat, making it readable and accessible to all citizens. They are availableon the County’s website for review at www.henrycounty-ga.org/Finance.

Reports for previous years have been recognized by the GovernmentFinance Officers Association of the United States and Canada (GFOA) forachieving the highest standards in government accounting and financialreporting. In fact, the FY 2010-11 report marked the sixth year that HenryCounty has received the Certificates of Achievement for Excellence inFinancial Reporting for its CAFR, and the fifth year for the PAFR. TheFY2011-12 reports have been submitted for review by the GFOA andnotification of any awards will be announced this summer.

The financial information contained in the CAFR is audited by Mauldin& Jenkins CPA. Both reports are compiled internally by Finance Departmentstaff, spearheaded by Connie Mitchell, Assistant Director of Finance. TheCommunications Department assists with the writing, design and layout ofthe PAFR.The FY 2011-12 Popular Annual Financial Report is now

available for review at www.henrycounty-ga.org/finance

Every five years, Henry County, along with everyother state and local government entity, is required underthe Disaster Mitigation Act of 2000, to submit for FEMA(Federal Emergency Management Agency) approval acurrent Hazard Mitigation Plan. Henry County’s plan, lastupdated in 2008, is up for renewal this year, which is whythe Henry County Emergency Management Agency hascontracted with the Atlanta-based engineering andconsulting firm, Atkins, for emergency managementconsultant services.

A Hazard Mitigation Plan outlines the types ofnatural and technological (man-made) hazards for which acommunity is most at risk, as well as a community’s hazardhistory. The Plan then assesses how the community canbest mitigate the effects of these hazards and protectcitizens through prevention, resource protection, structuralprojects, emergency services and public outreachprograms.

According to Henry County’s 2008 Hazard MitigationPlan, there are seven natural and two technological hazardsfor which Henry County is particularly vulnerable. Thenatural threats are severe thunderstorms, winter storms,tornadoes, drought, earthquakes, flooding and wildfires.Technological threats include hazardous materials releasesand dam failures.

Our biggest natural threats are always going to beweather-related,” explained Don Ash, Henry CountyEmergency Management Agency Director. “While thegreatest Technological Threat is always going to be ahazardous materials spill due to the number of industries wehave in our community which deal with hazardouschemicals, and the number of interstates, highways andrails criss-crossing our community, carrying thousands oftons of hazardous materials every day.”

Other than having in place a pre-determinedresponse for handling these types of emergencies,

Henry County to Update Hazard Mitigation Plan Public Input Sought to Develop the 5-Year Plan

3January 11, 2013www.henrycounty-ga.org

Appointments to the Zoning Advisory Board are asfollows: District I-Alton L. Head, District II-Edward Toney,District III-Jim Risher, District IV-Vikkie McReynolds,District V-Delander Nelson and the Chairman appointment isLarry Babb.

Appointments to the Henry County DevelopmentAuthority are as follows: District I- Geoffrey Cauble, DistrictII-John Bozeman and District III-Charles Mobley.

Appointments made to the Library Board are asfollows: District I-Marianne Morfoot, District III-SandyMcGarity and the Chairman’s appointee is Janice Lowe.

For the Council on Aging, appointments are asfollows: District II-Geraldine Tanner and Carolyn Floyd andDistrict III-Janie McGarity, Charlie Tomlinson and Judy Gilbert.

During the meeting, Smith also informed citizensthat to enhance transparency in Henry County Government,

from now on the Board will announce the category of theissue or issues that will be discussed in Executive Session.He also announced that the Board will work on a way toallow citizens an opportunity for public comment before anissue is voted on during a meeting.

“We’re going to try diligently to come up with asystem to allow citizens to speak during the course of anissue,” said Smith. He added that throughout the course ofthe year, he will update citizens on happenings anddiscussions taking place within County government.

The next regular meeting of the Henry County Boardof Commissioners will be held on Tuesday, January 15 at6:30 p.m. in the Community Room of the AdministrationBuilding.

County Commission meetings can be seen at 9 a.m.,2 p.m. and 7 p.m. daily on Charter Cable Channel 14 or ondemand at www.henrycounty-ga.org.

APPOINTMENTS From Page 1

maintaining a current Hazard Mitigation Plan has one veryimportant benefit: it ensures funding eligibility.

“If the County maintains its Hazard Mitigation Plan,it will maintain eligibility for disaster grant funding and bringmoney back to the community,” explained Margaret M.Walton, Project Manager, Atkins Emergency Management.“This will ensure that the County maintains disasterpreparedness, response, and recovery.”

To develop the Plan, the Henry County EmergencyManagement Agency has assembled a committeecomprised of stakeholders in public safety, public works,stormwater management, public health, planning andcommunications/public relations, among others.

As part of the process, Atkins is seeking public inputto assess Henry County’s hazards. Citizen participation isextremely critical, as it will help the County to better assessthe hazards for which we are at risk, and more effectivelymitigate those hazards. Citizens who live in Henry Countyare asked to go online to www.henrycounty-ga.org/EMA andcomplete the short Hazard Mitigation Public ParticipationSurvey, found on the right hand side. Completed surveysshould be sent no later than January 31, 2013 via email tomargaret.walton@atkinsglobal.com or by U.S. Mail toMargaret Walton, Atkins, P.O. Box 31100, Savannah, GA31410.

HAZARD From Page 2

In each edition of Inside Out, we will take time to answer

your questions about Henry County government. If your

question is pertinent to citizens in general throughout the

county, we’ll answer it on the air, or use it to develop topics

for future episodes of Inside Out. Scan the QR code or visit:

www.henrycounty-ga.org/InsideOut

The Henry CountyEmergency Management Agencyis offering Storm Spotter classesto facilitate the education ofindividuals who live throughoutthe county to be the eyes and earsfor the National Weather Service,and assist them in spotting storms

when they occur. Participants will have their choice of twoclasses on February 19th,, the first at 2pm and the secondat 7pm. Both classes will be held at the EmergencyOperations Center.

The classes will be led by Barry Goodman from theNational Weather Service (NWS). The informative class willfocus on how to spot dangerous weather, particularlytornadoes and hurricane conditions. Participants will learnwhat a severe storm is, the structure of a severe storm, howit develops, and how to inform the NWS of severe weather.

The Emergency Operations Center is located at 526Industrial Boulevard in McDonough. Classes are free, butparticipants must pre-register. Those interested inattending one of the classes should contact ShelitaBroomfield at 770.288.7865 orsbroomfield@co.henry.ga.us to reserve a space.

Storm Spotter Classes Teach Citizens to Spot Dangerous Weather

4January 11, 2013www.henrycounty-ga.org

February 4-8, 2013, is "SEVERE WEATHERAWARENESS WEEK" in Georgia, and the Henry CountyEmergency Management Agency is encouraging citizens ofall ages to become more aware of severe weather safetymeasures by holding a variety of contests.

One of Henry County Emergency ManagementAgency's (HCEMA) most important goals is to educateresidents and make sure they are prepared should theyever face a disaster. HCEMA targets the entire HenryCounty population, including children and teens, who areoften the most eager to learn and can find creative ways toget prepared and then share that enthusiasm with theirpeers. Consequently, this year during Severe WeatherAwareness Week (February 4-8) HCEMA is encouragingHenry County elementary, middle and high schools tobecome involved by participating in one of several severeweather awareness contests:- A Poster Contest will be open to all elementary schoolstudents in Henry County and must address why it'simportant to plan for severe weather. - An Essay Contest will be open to all middle schoolstudents, in which the writer must share why it’s importantto prepare for severe weather. - A Public Service Announcement Video Contest will beopen to all high school students. Students may formteams of up to four people to script and produce a publicservice announcement illustrating why it's important to

plan for severe weather, ways to plan for severe weatherand include a safety message.

Posters and essays must be dropped off or mailedto the HCEMA office no later than January 28, 2013. PSAsmust be submitted in DVD form no later than February 28,2013. Contest winners will be interviewed at the schoolcampus by Henry TV 14 for the Update News program,and recognized at the Henry County Board ofCommissioners meeting along with other prizes. Thewinning Public Service Announcement will air on TV14 forone month.

Contest Entries can be mailed to: Henry CountyEmergency Management Agency, Attn: Shelita D.Broomfield, 526 Industrial Blvd, McDonough, GA 30253Essays may also be emailed to:sbroomfield@co.henry.ga.us. The poster and PSA must bemailed or hand-delivered.

Adults also have an opportunity to get in on the funand win a NOAA weather radio! For your chance to win,simply submit a brief essay, 200 words or less, on whyyou want a NOAA weather radio by Thursday, February 9th.It’s that simple. HCEMA is giving away two NOAA weatherradios. You must be 18 or older to enter or have parentalconsent, and live in Henry County. No purchase isnecessary.

For complete rules and details, please visitwww.henrycounty-ga.org/911.

New Student Contests Announced for Severe Weather Awareness Week

5January 11, 2013www.henrycounty-ga.org

It is kitty season once again and because no one thought to get mymom and dad sterilized, I am here at the shelter, lonely, and withouta home. I am one of the many kitties here at the shelter in need ofa lifetime companion that will give me the love that I so deserve. Ifyou would like to meet me, you can visit me here at the shelter orcall my friends at (770) 288-PETS. My ID# 8/28-2800 is and Ihope to see you soon.Lost and stray animals are held at the Henry County Animal Careand Control Shelter for four (4) calendar days (excluding Sundaysand county holidays) in order to give their owners a chance toreclaim them. After that time period, adoptable animals are held aslong as space allows.

Henry County Police Department Announces 2012-2013 HEAT Grant The Henry County Police Department (HCPD) is

once again proud to announce the award of a matchingfunds grant from the Georgia Governor's Office of HighwaySafety (GOHS) for $53,900.00 to be part of the “Metro-Atlanta Multi Jurisdictional DUI Task Force." The purpose ofthe H.E.A.T. unit is to enforce D.U.I., Speeding, andAggressive Driving laws and to educate the importance ofOccupant Safety (Seat belts and Child Restraints) to thecitizens and visitors of Henry County. By maintaining thisvaluable state-wide collaborative program, the HenryCounty Police Department hopes to encourage continuedsupport of the citizens in the department's tireless pursuit ofsafer roadways for area motorists and their families.

The grant from GOHS will fund 40% of the salariesfor one officer and a sergeant, and Henry County will beresponsible for 60% of their pay as well as 100% of twoadditional in-kind officers. HCPD has enjoyed a long-timepartnership with GOHS in enforcing speeding, safetyrestraint, and DUI laws on the county’s local, state route,and interstate roadways. Unit officers also heavily promoteeducational awareness for motorists through safety road

checks, school and community support visits, and asinstructors in HCPD’s Citizen’s Police Academy.

The grant began on October 1, 2012 and runsthrough September 30, 2013. The Officers involved in thisproject are Sergeant Scott Cumbie, and veteran OfficersKelly Horne, T.R. Williams, and Robert Butera. 100% of theirtime is devoted to making the roadways of Henry Countysafer for citizens, employees, and visitors. Their time-in-service is designed to maximize motorists’ safetyassurances through saturated patrols, road checks, andpriority patrol in areas noted for injuries and fatalities.

The Henry County Police Department is pleased toannounce this opportunity to maintain our statewidepartnership with the Governor's Office of Highway Safetyand other Local Law Enforcement agencies in ourcontinuing effort to save lives and reduce injuries andfatalities on Henry County and Georgia highways.

Should you need additional information regardingthe H.E.A.T. unit, please contact Kimberly Monast, HCPDResearch & Development Specialist at (770) 288-8133 or770-889-7411.

It is kitty season once again and because no one thought to getmy mom and dad sterilized, I am here at the shelter, lonely, andwithout a home. I am one of the many kitties here at the shelterin need of a lifetime companion that will give me the love that Iso deserve. If you would like to meet me, you can visit me hereat the shelter or call my friends at (770) 288-PETS. My ID#8/28-2800 is and I hope to see you soon.Lost and stray animals are held at the Henry County Animal Careand Control Shelter for four (4) calendar days (excludingSundays and county holidays) in order to give their owners achance to reclaim them. After that time period, adoptable animalsare held as long as space allows.