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Events
May 25: Memorial Day, County offices closed
Animal Shelter
May 9: Star 94's Woofstock at Suwanee Town Center Park in Suwanee from 12 p.m. to 7 p.m.; Admission is free
May 16: Rabies Clinic at Jaemor Farms; 10 a.m. to 1 p.m.; $10 for a rabies shot, $20 for microchipping or $25 for both
Fire Services
May 1: Burn ban goes into effect
Parks & Leisure
May 28: Registration deadline for the 2015 Multi-Sport Camp, an opportunity to learn the basic rules and fundamentals of multiple sports through interactive play; Camp dates are June 8-11 at North Hall Park; Ages 5-12; Cost: $40; www.hallcountysports.com for more
**Find more Hall County Parks & Leisure events and activities here.
Purchasing
May 20: Hall County Vendor Conference, 10 a.m., Commission Meeting Room of the Hall County Government Center; Registration form can be downloaded here.
Government
770-535-8288
Board of Commissioners
Work session: May 11 and May 26 at 3 p.m. in the 2nd floor Commission Meeting Room at the Hall County Government Center, 2875 Browns Bridge Road, Gainesville
Meeting: May 14 at 3 p.m. and May 28 at 6 p.m. in the 2nd floor Commission Meeting Room at the Hall County Government Center, 2875 Browns Bridge Road, Gainesville
Planning Commission
May 4 and May 18 at the Hall County Government Center, 2nd Floor Meeting Room, 2875 Browns Bridge Road, Gainesville at 5:15 p.m.
Board of Assessors
May 6 and May 20 at 4 p.m. in the HR training room on the 2nd floor of the Hall County Government Center located at 2875 Browns Bridge Road, Gainesville
Watch Board of Commissioners meetings on TV18 at 4 p.m. and 8 p.m. the week following the meeting, or anytime at www.tv18online.org.
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See this month's budget update, a detailed look at department spending and county revenue.
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Newsletters for county government, parks, fire, and animal shelter.
 
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Butterfly release caps off Hall County's Victims' Rights Week
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Butterflies are released at the annual event on Friday, April 24 at Kenyon Plaza in downtown Gainesville.
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The Hall County Solicitor and District Attorney's offices concluded National Crime Victims' Rights Week with a special ceremony on April 24 by honoring a local agency that provides hope to victims of sexual abuse.
The sixth annual Victims' Rights Butterfly Release was held at 11 a.m. at Keyon Plaza next to the Hall County Courthouse. As a part of the program, Solicitor Stephanie Woodard gave special recognition to the Edmonson-Telford Center for Children and the work that the organization has done since its founding in 1997.
"The Edmonson-Telford Center for Children is an invaluable resource in our community when it comes to the effective prosecution of child abuse and child molestation cases," Woodard said. "They provide a safe environment for children, giving them an opportunity to work toward healing after unimaginable trauma."
Read more here.
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Hall Co. Fire Services welcomes most diverse recruit class
On Friday, April 17, Hall County Fire Services welcomed 24 new recruits to the ranks of firefighter. The group also holds the distinction of the most diverse recruit class in the department's history.
Hall County Recruit Class #40 endured 16 grueling weeks of physical training, vehicle extrication, live fire training, hazardous materials response and fire safety education, just to name a few. They started as recruits and graduated as Georgia certified firefighters and Hazardous Materials Technicians. While five of the graduates will report directly to their stations for active duty, the others will report to Advanced Emergency Medical Technician School.
This latest class brings Fire Services staffing to 353 personnel.
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Sheriff Couch honored at Edmonson-Telford Center's garden dedication
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Sheriff Couch and his wife Sharon unveil the monument of Austin Sparks at the garden dedication on April 20.
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Hall County Sheriff Gerald Couch was honored for his work on a horrific child abuse case in Hall County in 1996 during the dedication of a garden named in the child's memory last month.
Couch received the commendation during the dedication of the Austin Sparks Garden at the Edmonson-Telford Center for Children. The Edmonson-Telford Center was created following the death of 19-month-old Sparks, the Hall County toddler who died at the hands of his abusers and whose death sparked outrage and action in the Gainesville-Hall County community.
"Child abuse can be prevented, and we want the community to know that we all have an important part in making that happen," Couch said at the dedication on April 20. "When we work together to promote nurturing parent-child interations, teach discipline that is safe and age-appropriate and foster early learning opportunities, we can actually support child development and healthy relationships, which will help prevent child abuse and neglect."
Watch the entire garden dedication here.
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New equipment to extend landfill's life, increase revenue
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The Kleeman MS15Z at work in the Hall County Landfill is pictured above.
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The Hall County Board of Commissioners voted last month to purchase a piece of heavy equipment that is expected to extend the life of the Candler Road Landfill by as much as five years and will generate $11 million in additional revenue for the County.
The piece of equipment (a Kleemann MS15Z) is able to receive trash that is currently in the landfill from an excavator and separate that garbage from the dirt in the landfill, allowing the trash to be reburied more compactly. The cost of the equipment is $220,000.
In addition to the benefits of using the new equipment on Phase I of the Candler Road Landfill listed above, the County can also regain 23 percent net airspace or about 50,000 tons of waste capacity. The net worth of the waste capacity at $40 per ton is $2 million. The machine will also recoup another 100,000 cubic yards of soil once it has been separated from the trash, which is worth approximately $800,000. The work done by the Kleemann MS 15Z will also postone construction of the next cell of the landfill by several years. |
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TV 18: Spotlight on South Hall
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| | Hall County Connection - Spotlight On South Hall - May 2015 |
South Hall County has seen an overwhelming amount of growth in recent years as metro Atlanta's reach creeps northward. On this episode of Hall County Connection, we'll talk to the South Hall representative on the Hall County Board of Commissioners. We'll also learn what the County has done (and will do) to prepare for continued growth in this region. And we'll explore the area's newest park, Cherokee Bluffs. Watch the entire episode by clicking here or on the image above.
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Chairman Mecum to lead committee on public safety and courts policy
 Hall County Board of Commissioners Chairman Richard Mecum was recently named as the 2015-2016 Chairman of the Public Safety and the Courts Policy Committee for ACCG, Georgia's county association.
The appointment was made by ACCG President and Gwinnett County Chairman Charlotte Nash during the 2015 ACCG Annual Conference held at the Savannah International Trade & Convention Center. Read more here.
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Hall Co. purchasing procedures to be reviewed at vendor conference
Providers of goods and services who are interested in working with Hall County Government are invited to attend the Purchasing Division's Vendor Conference on May 20. Topics to be covered include the County's procurement procedures and writing a Request for Proposal (RFP).
"Hall County is a large and consistent buyer," said Purchasing Manager Tim Sims. "We're a stable consumer for businesses, buying many different kinds of goods and services, and we want to make sure we are doing our due diligence in making the purchasing process clear and effective."
The conference will begin at 10 a.m.in the Commission Meeting Room of the Hall County Government Center, located at 2875 Browns Bridge Road in Gainesville. County officials will first discuss how to do business with the County and will then lead a session on construction and capital projects for those who would like to learn more about Hall County's RFP process. Read more here.
Hall County Vendor Conference Registration Form |
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Animal Shelter puppies provide stress relief to Brenau students
 The Hall County Animal Shelter teamed up with Brenau University once again last month to provide some stress relief to students during finals week.
Cindy Langman, program coordinator for the Hall County Animal Shelter, brought puppies from the shelter to campus April 20- 21 to give the students a quick pick-me-up.
"Taking the puppies to campus serves as a stress reliever for the students, and it gives the puppies a chance to socialize," she said.
Langman said she's also hopeful the interaction will encourage students to volunteer at the shelter, located at 1688 Barber Road in Gainesville. Learn more about the shelter here.
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Burn ban goes into effect
Beginning May 1, the Georgia Environmental Protection Division (EPD) prohibits burning in 54 area counties in order to reduce pollutants that create ground-level ozone. The burn ban is an important part of the EPD's plan to improve air quality during smog season.
Why is the burn ban needed? In Atlanta, during the summer months, the ozone in the air we breathe can reach unhealthy levels. "Ozone is formed when volatile organic compounds and nitrogen oxides coming from manmade and natural sources react in the presence of sunlight.
A major source of these pollutants is the burning of fuels and other combustible materials. The Georgia EPD has identified open burning as a significant contributor of the pollutants that form ozone. Therefore, open burning in metro Atlanta and the surrounding areas must be restricted during the summer months."
Where and when does the Burn Ban Apply? The ban covers the 54 counties that comprise the Atlanta Ozone Non-Attainment Area. These counties subject to the ban are: Banks, Barrow, Bartow, Bibb, Butts, Carroll, Catoosa, Chattooga, Cherokee, Clarke, Clayton, Cobb, Columbia, Coweta, Crawford, Dawson, Dekalb, Douglas, Fayette, Floyd, Forsyth, Fulton, Gordon, Gwinnett, Hall, Haralson, Heard, Henry, Houston, Jackson, Jasper, Jones, Lamar, Lumpkin, Madison, Meriwether, Monroe, Morgan, Newton, Oconee, Paulding, Peach, Pickens, Pike, Polk, Putnam, Richmond, Rockdale, Spalding, Troup, Twiggs, Upson, Walton, and Walker.
The burn ban is in effect from May 1 through September 30 each year.
Citizens can get more information on the open burning ban by calling the EPD District Office in your area: Northeast District Office (706) 369-6376 or Hall County Fire Services (770) 531-6838
What happens if I burn anyway? If citizens burn their yard waste during the burn ban without a permit they will be issued a citation and can face fines up to $1,000.00 and thirty days in jail. Although the jail time is usually suspended (meaning you do not spend time in jail) the fine is implemented and must be paid within a thirty day time limit.
Who do I call for a permit? Residential permits (for burning leaves and small tree limbs) call (770) 536-2442 Land Clearing (clearing land or trees) call (770) 531-6838 Monday-Friday 8AM-5PM
* Information furnished by Georgia Department of Natural Resources, Environmental Protection Division and the Hall County Fire Marshal's Office.
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Hall Co. Fire Services team excels at stair climb for charity
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A group of Hall Co. firefighters compete in the Fight for Air Climb Atlanta
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On April 18, Hall County Fire Services sent a team of six firefighters to climb up 51 floors of an Atlanta skyscraper as part of the American Lung Association's 2015 Fight For Air Climb Atlanta. The event took place at 191 Peachtree Tower in downtown Atlanta. The stair-climbing event raises awareness for the 35 million Americans who suffer from asthma and other lung diseases. Firefighters competed in full structural firefighting gear, including boots, pants, and coat (with liners intact), helmet and gloves.
The Hall County team took home two first place trophies and two second place trophies for their appropriate age categories.
All funds raised at the event stay in Georgia and go to benefit research, education and advocacy to clean the air we breathe and help fight lung disease.
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Hall Co. Sheriff's Office offers W.H.A.L.E. safety kit for carseats
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Josheph Ibarra (pictured above) received his W.H.A.L.E. kit during a carseat safety check in April.
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Members of the Hall County Sheriff's Office are doing their part to ensure that children are as safe as possible in the event of an automobile accident.
The department conducts a number of car seat checks throughout the year to make sure parents and/or guardians are safely installing the seats in their cars. As a part of the program, parents are also given W.H.A.L.E. kits.
W.H.A.L.E. is an acronym for "We Have A Little Emergency." In an accident, if the adult in the vehicle is seriously injured or unable to talk, those responding to the emergency have no easy way of identifying the child. The W.H.A.L.E.™ Program is intended to give parents (or other caregivers) the voice and tools to help emergency rescue efforts go more smoothly.
W.H.A.L.E.™ stickers are placed on both rear side windows of the car and on both sides of the child safety seat so that emergency personnel will know immediately that there is vital information pertaining to the child on the back of the car seat. The W.H.A.L.E.™ car sticker contains the child's name, medical history, names and telephone numbers of two guardians and up to three other emergency names and telephone numbers.
With Summer vacation season on the horizon, the sheriff's office is offering free car seat checks at the Law Enforcement Center in Gainesville (LEC - 610 Main Street SW, Gainesville, GA 30501) and at the Hall County Sheriff's Office South Precinct (7345 Cody Drive, Flowery Branch, GA 30542). Call ahead to make sure a Community Service Officer is available during normal business hours, Monday - Friday, at (770)531-6900.
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Free mulch available at the Hall Co. Recycling Center
Did you know that the Hall County Recycling Center offers FREE mulch to residents? The mulch is a product of debris cleared from right-of-ways by the Hall County Road Maintenance Division. The free mulch is available Monday through Friday from 8 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. at the Hall County Recycling Center, located at 1008 Chestnut Street in Gainesville. The mulch can be loaded by hand by the resident or it can be loaded into a pickup or trailer using heavy equipment operated by Resource Recovery personnel. Anyone with any questions is asked to contact Hall County Resource Recovery at 770-535-8284.
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Hall Co. Animal Shelter holding Rabies Clinic on May 16
The Hall County Animal Shelter will be hosting a Rabies Clinic on May 16 from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. at Jaemor Farms. The cost for a rabies shot is $10, microchipping is $20 or pet owners can pay $25 for both services.
For more information about the Rabies Clinic or to find out more about the Hall County Animal Shelter, including donation opportunities and adoption services, please call 678-450-1587.
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Story of lifesaving dog shared for 'Adopt A Shelter Pet Day'
In recognition of April 30
as "National Adopt A Shelter Pet Day," the Hall County Animal Shelter recognized a shelter dog whose heroic actions saved the life of another shelter pet.
A 2-year-old pit bull mix named Star gave birth to a litter of puppies at the shelter recently, but officials say she began hemorrhaging from her uterus shortly after giving birth.
"She was very close to death unless we did something," Shelter Veterinarian Dr. Meghan Seabolt said. "So we decided to take a chance and give her a blood transfusion and spay her to remove the uterus."
Before that could take place, Dr. Seabolt had to find a suitable donor. After looking over the Shelter's current inventory of animals, Veterinarian Technician Sammie Dalton chose Murphy, a sweet, healthy, 1-year-old Labrador/Great Dane mix.
"We needed an animal that was strong and healthy and well behaved," Dr. Seabolt said. "Murphy is certainly all of those things and more."
Star needed two separate blood transfusions, so blood was drawn from Murphy's neck twice, producing 60 milliliters of blood each time.
Read the entire story here.
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Animal Shelter to participate in Star 94's Woofstock
The Hall County Animal Shelter is doing everything they can to help animals find loving homes! The shelter will be participating in Star 94 FM's "Woofstock" Pet in the Park event on May 9 from 12 p.m. to 7 p.m. The event takes place at Suwanee Town Center Park in Suwanee and will include over 50 non-profit rescue groups, pet adoptions, vendors, contests, food trucks, live music and more! Admission is free. More information can be found at star94.com.
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Hall Co. 911 Operator honored as Employee of the Year
A Hall County 911 Operator was honored as Employee of the Year during National Public Safety Telecommunicator Week, April 12- 18. Hanes is a retired veteran, serving 23 years in the Navy. He began his career with Hall County Central Communications/9-1-1 on July 30, 2007 as a Calltaker.
"John is a prime example of an excellent employee and deserves this recognition," said Hall County Central Communications D Shift Supervisor Linda Nichols.
On February 2, Hanes' training and life experiences were an asset when he took a call from a barricaded gunman. John talked the caller into surrendering peacefully to law enforcement only minutes after the caller had fired shots at officers on the scene, ultimately saving lives.
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