Henry Daily Herald

By Jason A. Smith

jsmith@henryherald.com

McDONOUGH — Henry County voted Monday to accept more than $850,000 in funds for low-income families through a Community Development Block Grant from the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development.

The county became eligible for the funds in July 2011 after exceeding the 200,000 population threshold in the 2010 census, said Michael Harris, planning and zoning services division director.

During a commission meeting Monday, Harris said plans for the grant money specify Henry’s housing and community development needs and priorities. He said the county applied for the funds in June and federal authorities approved it Sept. 14.

Harris did not say when the money will arrive.

Commissioners also voted on funds for road projects. They approved a budget amendment of more than $1 million to transfer funds from the Special Purpose Local Option Sales Tax Program for resurfacing in districts I, II and IV and a $110,000 increase in a construction contract for Hudson Bridge Road in Stockbridge, bringing the total cost of that project to more than $3 million.

The board also authorized a $189,000 supplemental agreement for the design of the Campground Road extension and the Fairview Road widening project, both in Stockbridge.

The county accepted a bid of more than $750,000 for construction on Fairview Road; to transfer funds from SPLOST III accounts for resurfacing in districts I, II and IV; to purchase stream and wetlands mitigation credits for SPLOST III projects and to close and balance a portion of transportation projects in SPLOST II.

Other measures passed by the BOC were:

• A request for proposals for the Communications Department to provide live and on-demand streaming of BOC meetings and other video content through the Internet at a cost of $57,900;

• Authorization to renew a technical service agreement for cardiac monitors for the Henry County Fire Department;

• Approval for the police department to use seized funds for a promotional assessment through the Carl Vinson Institute of Government at the University of Georgia;

• Acceptance of a $4,200 donation to Animal Care and Control from the Pedigree Foundation and Kroger;

• Approval of a contract with the Georgia Department of Transportation to reimburse the county for more than $1 million in resurfacing on 16 miles of roads;

• Bids for on-site waste wood grinding services, pavement marking services and reclamation work on county roads;

• Approval of a Short Term Work Program and Capital Improvements Element Annual Update for 2012-2016;

• An amendment to the Unified Land Development Code for building standards;

• A zoning amendment for the county’s Future Land Use Map and a request for property rezoning, both for future commercial development by Trio Properties in Fayetteville.

The board was scheduled to vote on two administrative appeals for previous denials of sign applications, but those votes were postponed. They also tabled a vote on modifications to zoning conditions for property on Ga. 138 in Stockbridge.

Commissioners proclaimed October as Fire Prevention Month and heard a presentation by the Association of County Commissioners of Georgia. The association will feature Henry in an issue of Georgia County Government Magazine.