Affecting District 2 of Henry County Town Hall Meeting Tuesday, June 22, 2010, 7-8 pm

COME TO THIS MEETING TO SEE HOW YOU FEEL THIS WILL AFFECT YOU AND YOUR FAMILIES.

Planning & Zoning Staff


Dutchtown Activity Center

Town Hall Meeting

Tuesday, June 22, 2010, 7-8 pm
 This meeting will be held at Dutchtown High School at 149 Mitchell Road Hampton, GA 30228.

Proposed Dutchtown Area Master Plan

The Planning and Zoning staff would like to hear from you on what you would like to see in the Dutchtown Area. As a result of comments received, staff would like to host a 2nd Informal Meeting, to allow you an opportunity to look at various land use types, and design characteristics, which are a fundamental tool in the development of a Master Plan. This meeting will be held at Dutchtown High School at 149 Mitchell Road Hampton, GA 30228.

The primary purpose of the meeting is to get a better understanding of what we heard as it pertains to the future development and future land use types in the Dutchtown Area. We will also provide visual photos for you to look at and decide if those land uses and design characteristics are appropriate for your area.



What is an “Activity Center”?

• Activity Centers are included on Henry County’s Future Land Use Map within the Comprehensive Plan to be master planned at a later date.

• Master planning means determining where various types of new development can go, including streets, private property, and open space.

• The “master plan” will be enforced by a change in the law called an “overlay district.”

• The “overlay district” will also determine what new construction will look like.

What is a “School Node?”

• A “school node” has been determined to be a particular type of activity center centered around certain schools in Henry County.

• The activity center planned for the Dutchtown area is centered around the Dutchtown school complex and therefore is a “school node.” For an example, please view this PDF.

Why Dutchtown?

It is not just the Dutchtown schools.

• The plan assumes that clustering “new development” around schools will modify people’s driving behavior.

• The assumption is that if new residents live close to their child’s school, they will not have to drive so much.

There are many Henry County schools planned to have activity centers, encouraging “new development” around them.

Hoorah for Mayor Lee Stuart and all of the citizens,scouts and veterans who helped to clean up the Dabney Hunter Simmons Memorial Park

House Representative Steve Davis District 109 Henry County Georgia......THANK YOU SIR

I want to send a big thank you to Steve Davis for standing up and voting NO to the Redevelopment Powers Bill that our board of commissioners pushed so very hard to get passed and place upon the November voter ballot this year. It sure looks like Steve Davis stood alone by his NO vote; he did however show to me and many other citizen voters where his heart and concern for the citizens of Henry County really is. In my opinion he believes in doing the right thing.


No one citizen in this county of ours should vote in favor of this on the November ballot this year. Many citizens have already been adversely affected. There are already several examples of the poorly thought out voting practices that many neighbors in areas such as Winslow at Eagles Landing, the Industrial Warehouse surrounding an entire neighborhood which will store Clorox products and no telling what other chemicals.


Then there is also a subdivision just off Jodeco road that by a 5 to 0 vote by the current board of commissioners, excluding Mr. Roark of course, which has allowed 7 days per week from day light until dark regulation sized league soccer and football fields, in addition to using the 12 acres for recreational recess for a church and school. This property is jammed up against 13 homes, just 20 foot from homeowners property lines.


If you vote in the up coming November election, all I ask is that you keep this in mind. Do you want to give the board of commissioners of this county even more power? Especially redevelopment powers! I ask that you please educate yourselves as to all that will include, do your research. Ask questions. Larry Stanley is very well versed on this issue. The way you vote on this issue will affect you and your family’s way of life if you intend to remain here in Henry County. With that said, the vote of YES or NO is in your hands.


It could be your neighborhood's next that become unbearable places to live, that were once peaceful. It can change in an instant and be turned into an industrial nightmare. Those that voted in favor of these issues turning quiet neighborhoods into now unwanted properties to buyers do not have to live there, otherwise they would not have voted on these matters as they did!


I will vote NO on the ballot on this issue, how will you vote?
THIS IS THE ISSUE, READ THE BILL:
House Bill 1347 authorizes Henry County to exercise all redevelopment and other powers under the state Redevelopment Powers Law, and to provide for a referendum on the issues. It also allows the county to undertake community redevelopment projects, create tax allocation districts, and issue tax allocation bonds.

This is total BULL CRAP from the Henry Herald regarding the Henry County budget for 2011

I took these paragraphs below from the ridiculous article that Mike Bush and the county manager Butch Sanders are talking about. Double talk that is all it boils down to. They not only want to take the SPLOST tax money that is supposed to be spent solely for SPLOST projects but also want the millage rate to go up by 11.75!!!!!!!!!  If this county had managed the tax payers money in a manner that it should have been managed in the first place, then the budget for 2011 would not be such a dramatic affair with taxes being increased because of the current BOC'S management practices.

Read our lips,NO more tax, NO millage rate increase! Have the employee's take furloughs, have the BOC take a pay cut, decrease your retirement accounts, do something good for the citizens for a change. Any way you look at it, your plan is to take the SPLOST money to pay for other things and or raise the citizens taxes one way or another. Why not SELL the 166 plus acres the county purchased from the Abernathy's, Where did the county get FOUR MILLION DOLLARS to pay for that???????? we never needed it, we do not need it now. Where are the BOC'S priorities?

By the way does this millage rate increase include the millage that Big 5 Enterprises was asking for? has that been decided yet? no one has heard any more about that lately.


FROM THE HENRY HERALD:

Fiscal year 2011 begins July 1. The county expects to adopt next year’s budget during its second meeting in June, according to Henry County Manager James “Butch” Sanders.


Under one scenario, the county would raise the millage rate to 11.24 mills, said Mike Bush, county Finance Director. Under the second scenario, the millage rate would be hiked to 11.5 mills, and under the third scenario, the millage rate would be increased to 11.75 mills, Bush said. The current millage rate is 10.969 mills.

Bush said the first two scenarios would require the county to make withdrawals from its fund balance (or reserves), but the third scenario would allow the county to add to it. He said he supports the third alternative. “Any time I can build the fund balance, it adds to the financial health of Henry County,” said Bush.

Also, County Department of Transportation salaries, and expenditures on county-wide paving projects, would be removed from the 2011 budget, and replaced with dollar-savings realized from previous Special Local Option Sales Tax (SPLOST) projects, which cost less than anticipated, said Sanders. The total amount of those two items removed from next year’s budget would amount to a $4,463,553 reduction in expenditures, he said.


Other measures under consideration include: A 15-percent reduction in payments to Helping In His Name Ministries Food Pantry, A Friend’s House, Hands of Hope Clinic, Community Gardens, the Flint Circuit Council on Family Violence, and Prevent Child Abuse, said Sanders. The county may decide to eliminate funding for the Southern Crescent Sexual Assault program, he said.

A call to all Veterans....................the Veterans wall of Honor at Heritage Park in Henry County needs you to march!

Would any Veteran or their family want a dog jumping over their inscribed dedicated veteran bench in Heritage park at the Veterans Wall of Honor?

The county manger can say what ever he wishes, however no one is buying the lame explanations. The few will take there stand very soon and all will become known to the entire arena regarding the Veterans Wall of Honor in Heritage Park. This photo is but one example of the disregard of an area that is sacred to all Veterans past, present,future and all of their families.

It does NOT matter whether the dog was from McDonough Mr. Sanders, McDonough is after all Henry County! This is totally outrageous and deserves a PUBLIC APOLOGY TO ALL VETERAN'S FORTHWITH!

Our Taxing Days By: The Doctor

The nation we live in today is full of what the founding fathers fought to rid themselves of so they could have peace and tranquility. The public knows that a certain amount of taxation must occur to continue the works of the government which is to keep the people safe and free. It is not to make slaves of a populace who works daily for no fruits at the end. Freedom to live with some peace at mind and not have to worry about paying a tax that is far too much not even for your paychecks, but your homes and everything you buy.

We the people deserve far more than just a worry and a grind. This time of life in our society should be far from where we have taken ourselves and should be rested from the government. Conservatism must mean truly conservative ways within those who run our government from the local venue all the way to Washington, D.C. Being conservative does not make one a total monster to the liberal faction of government. What one must understand is that we understand there has to be taxation but on a more conservative level.

The working man and woman in our society must be given a chance to pursue that life, liberty, and happiness that was given to them in the Constitution of the United States of America. Follow the Constitution and those in leadership will find that their job will not be as hard as they have made it. The size of government has become so large that it cannot sustain itself without further taxation. Those in the leadership know this and it must be stopped before it happens. We have future generations to worry about besides ourselves. Can we do something now to curb this run away taxing nation? Yes, we can and if we the people say yes it can be done then it will happen. It might take time, but it will happen.

Thank you for listening.

The Doctor

The Veterans Wall of Honor and It's Meaning to a Veteran, A MUST READ FOR ALL

The Veterans Wall of Honor and It's Meaning to a Vet
By TheDoctor

This article is about what the Veterans Wall of Honor means to a Vet here in  Henry County, GA. The monument rises upon a hill inside of Heritage Park on Lake Dow Road. This grand structure is a fitting tribute of not only those who gave their lives in war for this nation, but for those who have come home to a place of solitude and rememberance.

The Wall of Honor was the vision and idea of a good hearted American who fought for this nation in World War II. He would pass away before it's completion, but the Wall would be an awesome experience for anyone who visits it.

Today the Wall is getting some much needed help from the Veterans Wall of Honor Preservation Committee formed to see that repairs that are needed are done. This group's sole mission is to see to the repairs of the Wall and to make sure that it is cared for in the future.

Time honored traditions of love, honor, and valor to one's nation are seen in the bricks that line the walk up to the monument. All the wars which our nation has been involved have a home on the Wall. To me and other veterans it is a sacred place where we can come and remember the past and look to the future.

YOU HAVE TO WATCH THIS VIDEO

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JVAhr4hZDJEhttp://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JVAhr4hZDJE

EVERYONE NEEDS TO REGISTER AND VOTE THIS NOVEMBER!!!!!!!

Winslow@Eagles Landing,the campground Road extension and The LCI (Livable Centers Initiative)

WELL? what are the BOCHC (Board of Commissioners of Henry County GA) going to do for these citizens with the four lane highway coming through their subdivision? It will cut the club house and pool in half! this is an outrage! Will the BOC meet with the Mayor Lee Stuart of Stockbridge to try and resolve this crisis issue?

"If" there is no other routes to take this corridor through. Will they build a pedestrian bridge over it? Will they build a tunnel underneath this monstrous eye sore and hazardous intersection. It will be a hazard to all the people from noctious fumes and noise! I hope none of these citizens and their children suffer from asthma! and or other conditions that will be exacerbated from all the 20,000 plus cars and commercial traffic per day coming through this area. Though it has been stated that this corridor has been proposed to alleviate traffic congestion. Is it the best idea? Is there a solution that is better for this subdivision and the families living within it? Where is the compassion after all?

A CONTINGENCY "LAWSUIT!" comes to mind for me on this issue. You can also forget any wild life surviving in this entire area of the Jodeco and Hudson bridge area, due to this huge by pass highway and the 13,000 acres proposed for the livable activities center and Bayer properties LCI deal. The deer population are walking around in a daze already through our neighborhoods. No trees for the squirrels to raise young in, no trees for what will have been abundant bird species. Birds eat insects you know. The entire balance of nature will be affected by this massive developing. What has happened to our ruralness?

I for one do not want to live in a clustered environment, it will be to industrial and made up. Furthermore Henry County can not take care of the lands they have acquired now. Parks go lacking, damages go unrepaired.

Definition of LCI: Many different commercial,condominium, government assisted housing,store fronts,assisted living facilites,all clumped together in one area. I do not think there will be any exclusions to what can be built by the private sector.

You can see more about this at this link: http://www.tunspan.com/hudsonbridge/

Citizens need to vote NO on the up coming ballot this year that will ask for tax allocation districting. It is just a play on words, believe me it is all about getting more of our tax dollars to build these habitat killing ventures that some of these officials are seeking.

While you are voting in November of this year, you need to vote out the district 4 and 5 commissioner's to start with. In 2012 the remaining commissioners need to be voted out until we have all new leadership,who honestly show compassion and interest toward their neighbors. That is the only way anything will get better for all of us.

God bless these citizens at Winslow @ Eagles Landing who have stood up against all odds and are still unwaivered in their justful cause. If you need my help just give me a shout! I love all those T-shirts, can I have one? Keep it up, you are in the right on this big time!

A REMINDER FOR THE HENRY COUNTY VOTERS / MORE REASONS TO VOTE THIS NOVEMBER

BULLET AND LAND VIDEO'S:

The real facts about recently retired Henry County Chief of police Russ Abernathy land purchase of over 166 acres by our commissioners.

Fox 5 news uncovered the real story. This is but ONE, how many other land acquisitions have been completed under the guise of ? (whatever they wish to make up)

Our Henry County commissioner's at their finest!

Think about it, can we really afford to keep any of these people in office? when they are responsible for making the huge decision's that affect our hard earned tax dollars?

http://www.myfoxatlanta.com/dpp/news/i-team%3A-bullet-and-land-020810
Reported By: Dale Russell

Edited By: Leigha Baugham

HENRY COUNTY, Ga. (MyFOX ATLANTA) - Henry County officials say a stray bullet from a police firing range was the catalyst for buying land for a new police training facility.

But the bullet incident didn't happen the way the county claimed it did and the land for the police training center was sold by the police chief and his nephew.

A FOX 5 I-Team investigation has examined police records and land deeds in the case of the stray bullet and $4 million land deal.

County leaders and police insist that they needed a new firing range and police training center, after a firearm training accident. But, the police department's own records tell a different story.