A considerable amount of interest was shown by the public in advance of a Henry County Board of Commissioners meeting regarding some items at Heritage Park that are being considered for removal.

The board voted to table a recommendation from county staff that the train engine at the park be declared surplus along with a silo and a road scraper. Staff reported at the meeting that there are safety issues because some of the items are in disrepair and children occasionally climb on them when visiting the park.

It was noted that the train is actually a replica of one involved in the well-known 1900 crash near McDonough and holds no significant historic value in and of itself. It was brought to Henry County from Pennsylvania nearly 20 years ago.

Officials also pointed out that there has been a problem with vandalism in the area at times and a few repots of minor injuries related to the silo and scraper. Both of those items are “rusted and unsightly,” according to reports.

Commissioner Bruce Holmes said he had heard that some members of the McDonough City Council expressed interest in the train, and he asked if it would be possible to donate it to the city. It was not conclusively stated at the meeting whether that could be done without first declaring it as surplus, but county officials agreed that should such an agreement be reached, the city would need to be responsible for its removal.

Commissioner Johnny Wilson stated plainly that he would not be in favor of removing any of the items from the park, saying that they were a large part of the “heritage” that gave the park its name. It was pointed out that several other features of the park, such as the Veterans Wall of Honor, also qualified in that category.

Commissioner Greg Cannon made the motion to table the matter so that more information could be gathered. That motion was seconded by board chair Carlotta Harrell and passed unanimously.