The Henry County Board of Commissioners accepted two federal grants that will provide for full-time victim advocates working under the direction of the District Attorney’s Office. The vote came at the board’s November 27 meeting.
The total amount of federal funds allocated for an early notification victim advocate and a victim compensation advocate is $106,502 with matching funds of $26,626 through in-kind volunteers at $12 per hour. The money comes from the Prosecuting Attorneys Council of Georgia and the Criminal Justice Coordinating Council and is earmarked for the expansion of victim witness assistance programs throughout Georgia. The grants are for the 2018-2019 federal fiscal year, which began October 1.
In other business, the board designated $99,021 from its fund balance to the Henry County Sheriff’s Office to cover the remaining cost of the emergency replacement of an air-conditioning unit at the county jail. The HCSO replaced a non-operational Carrier Chiller while also resolving recurring issues with the water flow and pump issues which caused failures to the existing 410A Carrier Chiller, according to a staff report. To take care of the emergency situation, the HCSO utilized HVAC experts for the removal of the existing chiller and installation of one new chiller, and all parts associated, at a total cost of $214,020.52. Since $115,000 was available in the HCSO budget to complete the purchase, they requested the additional money to cover the cost.
A total of $308,362 in SPLOST funds was reallocated from other projects to be designated for District 5 road resurfacing, widening or surface treatment. Some of the money was taken from four other projects that are already complete, including improvements to Cochran Park and bridges over Big Cotton Indian Creek on Stagecoach Road and Old Conyers Road. The bulk of the funding – $253,804 – is coming from the East Atlanta Road/Thurman Road/Flat Rock Road improvement project, which is still in the design phase. The board also approved a budget amendment to complete a right-of-way condemnation settlement for the improvement of the Blackhall Road bridge over Rum Creek. Both votes were 6-0.
