A rezoning request for a 20-acre tract on East Lake Parkway failed to pass at the March 15 regular meeting of the Henry County Board of Commissioners due to a tie vote.

The applicant was seeking MU (mixed use) zoning for a combination of commercial and multifamily residential use. Vivian Thomas, in whose district the property lies, made a motion to approve with conditions, and Dee Clemmons and Bruce Holmes also voted in favor. But no votes from Dee Anglyn, Carlotta Harrell and Johnny Wilson prevented the motion from passing.

A request for R-3 (single-family residential) zoning for a 30-acre site on Jonesboro Road just west of the Dutchtown school cluster was tabled until the April 5 meeting. That vote was unanimous. Since a public hearing took place at the March 15 meeting, one will not be necessary at the later meeting.

A 12-acre piece of property on Harris Drive just off Old Conyers Road was unanimously approved for a rezoning from R-3 back to RA (residential agricultural).

In other business, the board approved a resolution allowing Henry County Juvenile Court to apply for the Delinquency Prevention Grant offered by the Criminal Justice Coordinating Council to fund evidence-based programs for first-time juvenile offenders. The grant could reach $41,500 in the first year and up to $50,000 each year thereafter for the lifetime of the award. No local match is required.

According to a staff report, the program will be offered to children between the ages of 7-17 who are first-time offenders, diverted from the juvenile justice system, or charged with a status offense and identified as at-risk. The goal is to address delinquent behaviors and lessen a child’s involvement with the justice system.

A resolution was approved authorizing the purchase of wireless internet upgrades at the county’s four senior centers, along with the purchase of five laptops and the purchase of material aids for income-eligible senior adults who currently receive In-Home Services. The total allocation is $28,336.74 and is reimbursable via the Community Services Block Grant (CSBG) program’s CARES funds.

The $37,495 purchase of a used truck was approved for use by the officer assigned to the U.S. Postal Inspectors Narcotics Task Force. The acquisition is from Bellamy Strickland using federal seized funds. The vehicle will be used in an undercover capacity, according to officials.

The board did not object to an annexation request for 5.75 acres on Old Hwy. 3 into the city of Hampton. The property will remain RA-zoned.

A resolution approving a probation service agreement involving Henry County Sentence Enforcement was approved, as well as a supplemental agreement allocating $48,574 in extra funds to the Hwy. 81 widening project due to the Georgia Department of Transportation requiring additional traffic cameras.