McDonough City Hall will soon be known as the Rodney C. Heard Municipal Complex, in memory of the city’s longtime community development director who died suddenly August 10.

  The announcement was made by Mayor Billy Copeland at the September 21 regular meeting of the McDonough City Council. A number of presentations were made to Heard’s family and a time of remembrance was set aside on the meeting agenda to honor Heard.

  Copeland called Heard’s passing “an immeasurable loss” to the city and noted that his work was “not merely a job, but his passion.”

  City clerk Janis Price read a proclamation presented on behalf of Copeland and the council.

  “Rodney worked hard, and played hard – enjoying working out at the gym, trout fishing, digging in the dirt at his Alabama farm or planting a hydrangea bush in his back yard, and he had an awareness and love for God’s creation; Rodney was loved not only by his family, but by friends, and his City Hall family, and we give thanks for Rodney’s life, and he was a gift to all who knew him and he will be deeply missed.”

  Among the other attendees who spoke about Heard’s service was state Rep. Andy Welch, also a local attorney who routinely represents area interests working with the city.

  “Rodney Heard, as the chief planner for the city of McDonough, fashioned and implemented one of the most impressive visions of community for our city,” said Welch. “Rodney’s integration of architectural designs, landscaping, accommodations for pedestrians, and vehicular circulation reflected his brilliant understanding that development must be a reflection of the community and cater to its humanity while caring for its environment. Generations who call McDonough home owe a debt of gratitude for the common sense of place that Rodney helped the City Council develop over the last two decades. While he has departed our world, his work has left a beautiful and indelible mark on McDonough.”

  Copeland said that regarding the name change at City Hall, officials would soon be erecting appropriated signage and a portrait of Heard along with information about his contributions to the city during his time of service, “on permanent display honoring him as he so richly deserves for his years of dedication and professionalism.”

  The tribute was concluded by city administrator Preston Dorsey’s presentation to the Heard family of the flag which flew over City Hall on the day of Heard’s death. He called it “a symbol of appreciation for Rodney’s honorable service and his dedication to the City.”

  In other city business at the council meeting, an ordinance with which Heard was involved before the COVID-19 shutdown was approved. It allows his successor to grant administrative variances when roadways, structures and signs no longer meet existing setback requirements because of roads being widened. City attorney Jim Elliott said this will eliminate the need for such measures to come back before the council and delay the process.

  Three expenditures were covered under the meeting’s consent agenda that was approved: a total of $16,824 for work at the city’s wastewater treatment plant; engineering and design costs of up to $70,000 and inspection fees of up to $20,000 for the Turner Church raw sewage pump station; and $52,634.56 in annual fees for incode accounting models, public safety records management systems, and related maintenance.