The Henry County Board of Commissioners voted at its May 18 regular meeting to amend the county’s comprehensive plan with regard to three specific areas along the East Lake Parkway corridor.
The change is intended to allow the possibility of mixed-use development on the west end of the parkway, at the Stockbridge city limits; on the east end, adjacent to the commercial area at the intersection with Hwy. 155; and at about the midway point, where the parkway intersects with Springdale Road.
The motion by Vivian Thomas stipulated that this action apply only to the isolated areas discussed and not countywide. It passed 5-1 with Johnny Wilson voting in opposition.
In other business, the board approved construction contracts for two major transportation projects. A $1,900,732.85 bid from McLeRoy Inc. was accepted for improvements at the intersection of Hwy. 20 and Turner Church Road, as well as a $325,000 bid from GTG Traffic Signals for improvements at the intersection of Hwy. 155 and Greenwood Parkway. Both projects are funded by the county’s special-purpose local option sales tax.
Also approved was a $274,435 contract with the Georgia Department of Human Services Community Services Block Grant program to help Henry County Senior Services initiatives. It requires no local match. The funds will be used to provide case management, nutrition, and supportive services to low-income senior adults.
The commissioners voted to approve the purchase of simulation firearm equipment under an annually renewable agreement with $53,251 to be paid the first year and $45,831 each of the four successive years. Also approved was the demolition and removal of a house on the property of the public safety firing range on Stroud Road, due to concerns that it is uninhabitable and not safe to use for any training purposes. A resolution was approved accepting $1,500.00 from the U.S. Secret Service Cyber Forensics Task Force/Digital Evidence Forensics Lab (CFTF/DEFL) for participation in the Electronic Crimes Task Force.
A contract in the amount of $797,170 will allow the Henry County Fire Department to add direct source vehicle exhaust capturing systems at all 16 of its fire stations. The county will provide $72,527 of this funding from its capital projects fund as a local match, with the remaining $725,272 coming from an Assistance to Firefighters Grant through the U.S. Department of Homeland Security.
The commissioners voted to accept a $3,000 grant from the Georgia Emergency Management Agency to help maintain the K-9 unit at the Henry County Sheriff’s Office.
