June 26, 2014

BOARD OFCOMMISSIONERS

Regular Meetings July 15th - 6:30 PM

August 5th - 9:00 AM

Meetings held at:Administration Building

Community Room140 Henry Parkway

McDonough, GA 30253

Regular Commissionmeetings will air Fridays,Saturdays, Mondays and

Wednesdays onHenry TV Channel 180 andAT&T U-Verse Channel 99,

at 9 a.m. & 7 p.m.

1the henry county update

Beat the Heat with Tips from Henry County EMA and Ready Georgia

Summer in Georgia is a time for camping trips, cookouts and afternoons by the pool. However, it’s also a time to be aware of the dangers that soaring temperatures can bring. Extreme heat is the No. 1 weather-related killer in the U.S, claiming more than 650 lives across the nation each year, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Henry County Emergency Management Agency (EMA) urges Henry County residents to take steps now to beat the heat. “People most at risk for heat-related illness are seniors, infants and people with circulation problems, but staying indoors and drinking plenty of water will help you stay cool and hydrated when temperatures rise,” said Henry County EMA Director Don Ash. Henry County and Ready Georgia give these ten tips to ensure a safe summer for every family:

1. Never leave children or pets alone in closed vehicles. 2. Fluids are lost through perspiration, so it’s important to stay well hydrated. Drink plenty of water, even when you’re not thirsty. 3. Stay indoors in air-conditioned spaces as much as possible and limit exposure to the sun. 4. Dress in loose-fitting, lightweight and light-colored clothes that cover as much skin as possible. 5. Avoid strenuous work during the warmest part of the day. Drink two to four cups of water every hour when you are working outside. 6. Check on elderly neighbors and family and friends who do not have air conditioning. 7. Make sure pets have plenty of water and shade, be careful to not over-exercise them, and keep them indoors when it’s extremely hot. 8. Familiarize yourself with the symptoms of heat exhaustion and heat stroke. Heat exhaustion symptoms are heavy sweating, fatigue, muscle cramps, confusion, cold, pale and clammy skin, a weak rapid pulse, and possible fainting and vomiting. Heat stroke is a severe medical

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henrycounty-ga.org

June 26, 2014

Commissioner Bruce Holmes Honored by the Atlanta Business League as a Man of Influence Henry County District V Commissioner Bruce Holmes joins a prestigious list of men having recently been named to the Atlanta Business Leagues’ 2014 Men of Influence and will be honored on July 1, 2014 at the Hyatt Regency in Atlanta during the 8th annual Reception and Induction Ceremony. Commissioner Holmes will join the ranks of several esteemed leaders in the metro Atlanta area and will be recognized for his accomplishments during the annual program. Past inductees include Atlanta Mayor Kasim Reed, 11 Alive’s Chesley McNeil and many other influential men. Civil Rights leaders Andrew Young, Joseph Lowry and John Lewis have also been honored in years past as Hall of Fame Inductees. The Atlanta Business League selects notable African American men who have been a driving force in making a difference in the community. The list of honorees in previous years include noted politicians, judges, doctors, leaders in business, professional athletes and respected educators who have reached senior level positions within their professions, are leading entrepreneurs in their industry or have attained the ability to greatly influence politically. The Men of Influence have also demonstrated their commitment to the citizens through their involvement and participation in community and civic activities. Commissioner Holmes said he was honored and surprised to receive the call telling him he had been chosen for inclusion in the ABL’s Men of Influence. “It was so unexpected, but to be named as a Man of Influence, along with so many other distinguished gentlemen, is quite humbling,” said Holmes. “It was a proud moment for me and an honor that I will cherish and continue to live up to.” Commissioner Holmes has been Henry County’s District V Commissioner since 2011 and is the past

recipient of several distinguished honors, being named Commissioner of the Year in 2012 by the Georgia Minority Business Awards (GMBA) and in 2013, was honored by the Henry County Chapter of the NAACP at its 2013 Freedom Fund Banquet, where he was presented with the President’s Award. In his role as Commissioner for Henry County, he has impacted the lives of countless young people through his mentoring programs and athletic leagues and has been a driving force in the economic revitalization of District 5 in Henry County. For more information on Commissioner Bruce Holmes visit www.henrycounty-ga.org. For more information on the Atlanta Business Leagues ’s (Men of Influence), log on to www.atlantabusinessleague.org.

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emergency that occurs when the body temperature reaches 106° F. or higher. Symptoms include hot dry skin, rapid and strong pulse, and possible unconsciousness. Summon immediate emergency medical assistance. 9. Insulate your home by installing weather stripping around your doors and windowsills to keep the cool air inside. 10. Closely monitor a local radio station, TV station or NOAA Weather Radio or download the Ready Georgia app for the latest information on excessive heat watches and warnings. To help Georgians prepare, Ready Georgia, a statewide emergency preparedness campaign created by the Georgia Emergency Management Agency/Homeland Security, offers the tools needed to make an emergency supply kit, develop a communications plan and stay informed about potential threats. Visitors to Ready Georgia’s website can create an online profile to receive a tailored plan for the entire family that includes the specific amount of supplies to put in their household Ready kits. In addition, the newly upgraded free Ready

Georgia mobile app provides weather alerts, traffic updates and preparedness information for people on the go. For more information, contact Don Ash County EMA at 770-288-7870 or dash@co.henry.ga.us or visit www.ready.ga.gov. About Ready Georgia Ready Georgia is a statewide campaign designed to educate and empower Georgians to prepare for and respond to natural disasters, pandemic outbreaks, potential terrorist attacks and other large-scale emergencies. The campaign is a project of the Georgia Emergency Management Agency (GEMA) and provides a local dimension to Ready America, a broader national campaign. Ready Georgia aims to prepare citizens for maintaining self-sufficiency for at least 72 hours following an emergency, and uses an interactive website, free mobile app, online community toolkit, broadcast and print advertising and public awareness media messaging to reach its audiences. Ready Georgia is also on Facebook and YouTube.

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henrycounty-ga.org

June 26, 2014

Firecracker Road Race to be Held July 4 The annual Firecracker 5K/10K to benefit Henry County Parks and Recreation’s Special Olympics will be held on Friday, July 4, 2014 at Nash Farm Park in Hampton. The event features a 5K and 10K race, as well as 1 Mile Walk and Tot Trot. Pre-registration for the 5K is $25 or $30 on race day; 10K is $30 and $35 on race day; and the one-mile is $20 or $25 on race day. The Tot Trot is free to ages six and under, and there are discounts available for pre-registered teams of ten or more.

Prizes will be awarded after the race. Registration on-site will take place from 6:45 to 7:45 and the race will begin at 8 a.m. Tot Trot begins at 8:45 a.m. Participants may register online at www.getsetgrow.com Registration forms are also available at the Henry County

Parks and Recreation Department at Heritage Park in McDonough. Checks should be made payable to Henry County Parks and Recreation Special Olympics.

Henry County Receives Dividend to Lower Premium Henry County has received a dividend in the amount of $103,021 from the Association of County Commissioners of Georgia—Interlocal Risk Management Association (ACCG – IRMA). The dividend is Henry County’s share of a $2.5 million dividend, as declared by the Board of Trustees of the ACCG-IRMA. The dividend will be used as a credit toward Henry County’s property and liability insurance premium. “With a concentrated effort on safety, Henry County strives to achieve a safety-first culture,” said Vincent Scott, Henry County’s Risk Management Director. “In the coming years, Henry County looks to increase its dividend award by continuing a proactive approach with safety measures that are already in place.” According to a letter sent by David C. Uhlman, Deputy Director of Insurance Programs for the

ACCG, IRMA has the ability to return dividends to its members because it is a member-owned and non-profit organization. He said the conservative operation of the fund has served its membership well, especially during the current economic conditions, with the ability to return dividends at a time when county government membership needs it the most. The ACCG-IRMA is a non-profit, Georgia county government-owned insurance fund providing property and liability coverage to its members since 1987. The program was established in 1987 and currently has 158 members, comprised of Georgia’s counties and authorities. The assets of the program currently exceed $111 million. The $2.5 million dividend will be returned in the form of premium credit to members that have participated in the program from 2004 to 2005. Total dividends returned to the membership over the span of the program total $20.1 million.

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Fairview Overlay District Adopted The Henry County Board of Commissioners adopted a plan for the Fairview Overlay District into the Unified Land Development Code (ULDC), which will aid in steering future development in the northern end of Henry County. The plan was adopted in a 3-2 vote and the action came at the June 17 regular Commission meeting. The Fairview overlay plan was adopted following a required public hearing held during the June 17 Commission meeting. The hearing came after the culmination of several studies, the formation of a steering committee and various public meetings where

officials heard input from stakeholders. The Henry County Planning & Zoning Department in association with its consultant team, The Collaborative Firm, worked in partnership to develop the Fairview Road Overlay District. The purpose of establishing an overlay district is to create guidelines intended to improve the design quality of residential and business districts in the

Fairview Road Corridor, helping to encourage economic revitalization through the use of development and design standards. To view the complete plan as well as the Unified Land Development Code, visit www.henrycounty-ga.org/planningzoning.

henrycounty-ga.org

Effective July 1, 2014, the Georgia Safe Carry Protection Act will become law. This law was created as HB 60 which provides sweeping changes to Georgia’s concealed weapons carry licenses. To help insure that Henry County religious leaders understand the criteria of this law and the effect it can have on their liability and security, Sheriff Keith McBrayer has expanded his popular “Church Safety and Security” program. This program was first introduced by Sheriff McBrayer in 2009 and has been continuously updated as laws and conditions have changed. The program has been implemented across a wide segment of Henry County places of worship. “This latest change to the concealed weapons law can be misunderstood and seem threatening. We have expanded our program to include information on what the law says about carrying weapons into places of worship and the liabilities that come with it,” said Sheriff McBrayer. The Sheriff is inviting clergy or leaders of the various places of worship in Henry County to attend a non-denominational seminar to discuss Church Security and the new concealed weapons laws. Sheriff McBrayer added, “Violence in places of worship has greatly increased nationwide in the past two years. Our goal is to make religious leaders aware of what is happening in

their environment and what they can do to be prepared to deal with a crisis regardless of the magnitude.” This important part of our community foundation traditionally did not have to deal directly with crime or large scale emergencies. Sheriff McBrayer determined that training programs should be expressly designed to prepare religious leaders and administrators to handle emergencies. This training includes planning for crimes ranging from theft to violent behavior.

The program begins with a group seminar for church leaders and details the reasons a Safety and Security program is needed, identifies the next steps for implementation, provides updates on the new weapons law, and supplies guidelines and documents to help build a successful church safety program. As part of his commitment

to keeping Henry County safe for our families and children, Sheriff McBrayer and his staff have developed this program to help our religious leaders better protect their congregations during worship services. This seminar is being held July 10, 2014 at 7:00 p.m. in the Henry County Sheriff’s Office auditorium. To reserve seats for this seminar, contact Lisa Fincher at 770-288-7127.

June 26, 2014

Sheriff McBrayer Updates Church Security ProgramSeminar set for July 10

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Henry County Sheriff Warns The Green Dot Card Scam Is Back

Once again, there is an epidemic of telephone fraud sweeping the metro-Atlanta area and Henry County residents are being victimized. It starts when residents receive telephone calls from dishonest persons identifying themselves as Law Enforcement Officers or members of a Court System. Be wary, this is an attempt to intimidate their victims into paying them hundreds of dollars. This scam can be run by using a variety of phony scenarios to make the potential victim believe they owe money to the law enforcement agency or court where the scammer pretends to work. They use a method to camouflage their telephone number to look like a local law enforcement number. This is called “spoofing”. They then tell the persons who answer that they were sent a notice in the mail and failed to show up for Jury Duty or pay a traffic ticket. As a result they say there is a warrant out for their arrest for failure to appear. If the victim believes the story they will then be told that the warrant can be dropped if they will pay the fine of $300 to $600. If the victim agrees, the caller then tells them to go to a retailer that sells Green Dot prepaid cards. It could be another prepaid card but this method is preferred because of the ease to transfer funds form one card number to another and the difficulty for the government to track the transfers of the ill-gotten gains. If the potential victim says they can’t get to a Green Dot card outlet, the scammer may then ask for a credit card number. Once the victim puts the money onto a Green Dot card, they call the telephone number given to them by the scammer and tell them the card number of the

card containing the money. The criminal electronically transfers the funds using the card number provided by the victim to a card number they established. Sheriff Keith McBrayer wants residents to understand that the Henry County Sheriff’s Office does NOT solicit payment of fines via telephone and does NOT take payment of fines via Green Dot prepaid cards. The Sheriff is unaware of any other law enforcement agency, court or federal agency that does this form of transaction. If a credit card number was provided, call your credit card company as soon as possible and report this fraudulent transaction. Sheriff McBrayer also advises anyone receiving this type of call to hang up and report it to your local law enforcement agency.

henrycounty-ga.org

June 26, 2014

Commissioner Bruce Holmes To Host Town Hall MeetingFocus will be on Public Safety

Public Information Meeting Regarding Elliot Road Bridge set for Tonight

District V Commissioner Bruce Holmes will hold his monthly Town Hall Meeting on Saturday, June 28, 2014 at 9 a.m. at the Fairview Recreation Center. This month’s meeting will focus on public safety and related issues in Henry County. Special guests include Jim Walker, Henry County’s manager, who will discuss public safety throughout the County, along with Henry County Police Chief Keith Nichols, who will discuss Henry County’s low crime index and how the Henry County Police Department works to keep citizens and visitors safe. The Town Hall Meeting is open to the public and all are encouraged to attend. Fairview Recreation Center is located at 35 Austin Rd. in Stockbridge.

The Henry County SPLOST Department will hold a public information meeting regarding the Elliot Road bridge replacement project today, June 26, 2014 at East Lake Elementary School at 6:30 p.m. The meeting will be “open house” format where people can come to view the plans and ask questions. East Lake Elementary School is located at 199 East Lake Rd. in McDonough, GA 30252. For more information on the SPLOST Department, please visit www.henrycounty-ga.org/splost.

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Henry County Farmers Market in Full Bloom

With ripe, juicy tomatoes, crisp bell peppers and succulent summer squash, now is the time to enjoy the warm weather abundance that is the Henry County Farmer’s Market, hosted by the Henry County Extension Office every Thursday, through the end of August from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. at the Jason T. Harper Event Center. Pick up local, seasonal fruits and vegetables for a perfect summer feast. In addition to farm fresh produce, there are handmade crafts and gifts for sale, as well as homemade baked goods, jams, jellies and other delicious offerings. The Jason T. Harper Event Center is in Heritage Park, located at 97 Lake Dow Rd. in McDonough. For more information, contact the Extension Office at 770-288-8421.