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Here's the news you need to know and the details that cover it
all in Hall!
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Public safety personnel, new marine rescue boat credited for saving missing kayaker
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| | Col. Wayne Mock shakes the hands of his rescuers at Hall County Fire Station 8. |
A Hall County man is recovering after being saved on the banks of Lake Lanier with the help of quick-thinking public safety personnel and Hall County Fire Services' new marine rescue boat.
Hall County 911 was contacted on the evening of Feb. 15 by Pam Mock, stating her husband Wayne had not returned from his afternoon kayak ride. With subfreezing temperatures and the threat of winter weather in the hours ahead, the 911 dispatcher immediately sprang into action, notifying the marine rescue team and the 911 supervisor of the situation. "The call taker obtained Mr. Mock's phone number and service provider. We then called Sprint and had them ping his phone, and the GPS coordinates they gave us were right on target," said Hall County 911 Director Gail Lane. "We had the coordinates by the time the marine rescue boat hit the water." Read more here.
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Work begins on portion of McEver Road in South Hall
Work to completely overhaul a portion of McEver Road began last month. Crews began the full depth reclamation project, which stretches from the city limits of Buford to the city limits of Oakwood, on Feb. 11. "The project will include replacing the asphalt from just south of McEver Road's intersection with Rafe Banks Drive to Buford," said Hall County Engineer Kevin McInturff. Read more here. |
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Hall County 911 Center upgraded with new flooring, work stations
Employees at Hall County's 911 Center have moved back into their upgraded space after spending the past several months in another portion of the County's Emergency Services Complex while work was taking place on the 911 Center. The new 911 Center is now outfitted with 15 new work stations and a new, raised floor, allowing wiring and duct work for heating and air to run underneath the Center. Read more here. |
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Hall County, Commissioner Powell recognized by Hall Co. Green Alliance
A number of Hall County projects, as well as a Hall County elected official, were honored last month at the Hall County Green Alliance's annual awards ceremony.
Hall County Resource Recovery received the Project/Initiative of the Year Award for Public Education and Outreach for their "Caught GREEN Handed" program.
In addition to that award, Hall County and the City of Gainesville were recognized for the purchase and installation of the Flat Creek Bandalong Litter Trap, a device purchased, operated and maintained by the two entities through an intergovernmental agreement signed in 2015. The Hall County Green Alliance also honored Hall County for their part in the I-985 Exit 17 Park and Ride Lot/Sidewalk Initiative.
Finally, District 2 Commissioner Billy Powell was honored as the 2015 Elected Official of the Year. Powell was lauded by the Alliance for his continuing push for a more efficient government and better service to citizens in Hall County's day-to-day operations. Read more here.
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Hall Co. Clerk of Court to offer notary public training workshops
The Hall County Clerk of Court's Office is offering two free notary public training workshops for the public this month. Working in conjunction with the Georgia Superior Court Clerks' Cooperative Authority, the Hall County Clerk of Court's Office will be hosting training workshops on Thursday, March 10 at the Hall County Government Center, located at 2875 Browns Bridge Road, Gainesville, Georgia 30504. There will be two sessions available, 10:30 a.m. to noon and 2 p.m. to 3:30 p.m. "We look forward to offering this valuable service to our community," said Hall County Clerk of Courts Charles Baker. "I sincerely encourage anyone who is interested to attend." Participants are required to register with the Hall County Clerk's Office prior to attending and can do so by calling 770-531-7025 or by sending an email to charles.baker@gsccca.org. |
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Grand opening held for new Hall County C.I.
A grand opening was held for the new Hall County Correctional Institution (C.I.) on Friday, Feb. 12. The new facility replaces the old Hall County C.I., which is 53 years old.
"We are honored to be able to provide the citizens of Hall County with a more secure, efficient facility, which will meet the needs of our correctional system for years to come," said Hall County Warden Walt Davis.
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Deadline for Taxpayer Returns of Real & Personal Property, other exemptions is April 1
Jan. 1 - April 1 is the time period for Hall County property owners to file a Taxpayer Return of Real Estate, Personal Property Reporting Form or file for Homestead Exemptions and Conservation Use with the Hall County Board of Assessors Office. Reasons to file a Real Property Tax Return or Personal Property Reporting Form are as follows:
Reasons to file a Taxpayer Return of Real Property or Personal Property Reporting Form:
* To request a review of your real estate property appraisal
* To report additions or deletions of buildings on your real estate property
* To report new acquisitions of personal property, such as business equipment, boats or aircraft
* To make sure existing personal property is depreciated properly
* To report that you've sold your boat, business, or aircraft to keep from getting erroneously taxed
* To report new acquisitions to avoid a 10 percent non-filing penalty (for business, boats and aircraft personal property only)
Read more about filing a Taxpayer Return of Real Estate, Personal Property Reporting Form or file for Homestead Exemptions and Conservation Use by clicking here.
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Unpaid property tax bills to incur 10 percent penalty March 1
March 1 is the last day to pay property tax in full before incurring the state-mandated 10 percent penalty on 2015 property tax. On March 2, the 10 percent penalty will be added to any unpaid principle amount. Additionally, state statute also adds 1 percent interest on unpaid principle starting on the due date (Dec. 1) and continues monthly until property tax is paid in full. Read more here.
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HCSO Safe Driving Tip: What to do and who has the right-of-way at an intersection
The law under O.C.G.A. 40-6-72(b), tells us "where to stop" at an intersection. Except when directed to proceed by a police officer, every driver of a vehicle approaching a stop sign or intersection shall stop at a clearly marked stop line or, if there is no stop line, before entering the crosswalk on the near side of the intersection or, if there is no crosswalk, at the point nearest the intersecting roadway before entering it.
Under 40-6-72(c), any driver approaching a yield sign at an intersection, in obedience to such sign, shall slow down to a speed reasonable for the existing conditions, and if required for safety to stop, and shall yield the right of way to ALL traffic before continuing. And finally, under 40-6-70(a), there is an answer to our question about what to do at an intersection involving two or more stop signs. When two vehicles approach an intersection from different highways at approximately the same time, the driver of the vehicle on the left shall yield the right of way to the vehicle on the right. Also, 40-6-70(a) covers what to do when a traffic light or signal is not operating or is on "flash." When two or more approach an intersection with an inoperative traffic light, the driver of each vehicle is required to stop in the same manner as if a stop sign were facing in each direction of travel at the intersection. When drivers approach a flashing traffic signal, a driver should stop for a flashing red signal and can pass, with caution, through a flashing yellow signal.
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Join the Animal Shelter for Mutts on Main on March 26
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News from Hall County Fire Services
- On Feb. 2, Hall County Fire Services was recognized at the 44th Annual Firefighters Recognition Day at the state capitol. HCFS was awarded second place for its donation to the Georgia Firefighters Burn Foundation - Boot Drive. In 2015, the department was successful in raising $60,529.26 for this outstanding organization whose mission "is to partner with the fire service and burn care community to provide fire safety and prevention education, support medical facilities and assist burn survivors in their recovery."
- Through Center Point Mentoring Georgia, members of Hall County Fire Services at Station 5 C-shift have teamed up with Martin Elementary School to mentor students on their lunch breaks and provide positive role models for the kids. The group looks forward to ongoing mentorship opportunities and to providing a positive experience in the lives of youth.
- Several members of Hall County Fire Services recently provided a CPR safety course at Chestatee Middle School. Each class was instructed with a CPR presentation and was then divided into groups to practice performing CPR on mannequins. The students were also shown the AED and LUCAS devices.
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On Feb. 18, Hall County Fire Services held its 2nd Annual Awards Ceremony. The ceremony serves to recognize those employees who have saved a life or performed tasks that go above and beyond the call of duty in 2015. Included in this year's ceremony, Fire Chief Jeff Hood and Sheriff Gerald Couch recognized 9-year-old Yvonne Correa with a Civilian Valor Award and Life Saving Medal for her heroic actions that saved her siblings from a burning home.
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News from the Hall County Sheriff's Office
The Hall County Sheriff's Office Dive Team (pictured left) participated in the 2016 Polar Plunge. This event is the largest fundraising effort benefiting Special Olympics of Georgia. Participants collected pledges from citizens of Hall County, their friends and family members then jumped into the icy waters of Lake Lanier last month. All proceeds collected by the Dive Team and other "plunging partners" will benefit the 26,702 athletes of Special Olympics Georgia.
The Lake Ranch Estates neighborhood (pictured right) is the latest group to join the Hall County Sheriff's Office's Neighborhood Watch Program. If you would like to create a neighborhood watch group in your neighborhood, call the Hall County Sheriff's Office at (770)533-7659.
Hall County Sheriff's Office employees are going the extra mile in watching out for children in the community. Throughout the month of February, Sheriff's Office personnel underwent "Stewards of Children" training to further prevent and recognize the signs of child sexual abuse. The Sheriff's Office partnered with the Edmondson-Telford Center for Children and other local agencies in Hall County to reduce the opportunities for child abuse and hold those who partake in abusive acts accountable for their actions.
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View the latest SPLOST revenue and expenditure reports
Hall County voters approved Special Purpose Local Option Sales Tax (SPLOST) VII in March of 2015. SPLOST revenue must be used for specific capital outlays (operations and maintenance expenditures are not authorized) such as courthouses, jails, roads, and bridges. Projects financed by SPLOST are intended to benefit the county as a whole, either standing alone or in combination with other county capital outlay projects or municipal capital outlay projects. View the latest reports regarding revenues and expenditures for SPLOST by clicking the links below: SPLOST Expenditure Status Updates
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TV-18 features new Hall County Correctional Institution
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| | Hall County Connection - The New Hall County Correctional Institution - March 2016 |
For the first time since 1963, Hall County has opened the doors to a new Correctional Institution. While that is a feat unto itself, the new facility will also help facilitate a number of different rehabilitation programs for inmates while also providing an inmate labor force to the county, its cities and other government agencies at a significant savings. On this episode of Hall County Connection, Walt Davis, warden of the Hall County Correctional Institution, shares how the County saved millions of dollars on this particular project. Click here to watch the complete episode of Hall County Connection.
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Hall Co. Sheriff's Office to host job fair on March 5
The Hall County Sheriff's Office is hosting a job fair on March 5 from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. in the courtyard of the Hall County Courthouse. All interested parties are encouraged to attend. |
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Hall Co. Fire Services offering free CPR classes to the public
Do you know how to save a life? Hall County Fire Services is now offering free monthly CPR (cardiopulmonary resuscitation) classes to citizens interested in learning this life-saving skill. Classes will be held at 6 p.m. on the third Monday of every month at the Hall County Emergency Services Complex, located at 470 Crescent Drive in Gainesville. Space is limited. To sign up, call 770-531-6838.
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Hall Co. Sheriff's Office Crime Tip
Are you an easy target for thieves who use the cover of night to go driveway to driveway, and car to car?
The Hall County Sheriff Office Criminal Investigations Division urges residents to take a few precautions to ensure the safekeeping of valuables:
1. Lock the doors of your vehicle. 2. Remove your valuables from plain sight.
3. Provide sufficient lighting for your home's exterior.
4. Keep shrubbery and trees trimmed back.
5. Don't ignore the barking dog.
6. Most importantly, if something seems suspicious report it to non-emergency dispatch at (770)536-8812. You can also remain anonymous by calling our tip line at (770)503-3232.
You know your neighborhood better than we do. Whenever you see something that seems out of place, say something. You might be providing the missing piece to an ongoing puzzle! |
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2016 Government Scholars' Academy to begin March 15
The 2016 Hall County Government Scholars' Academy is set to begin Tuesday, March 15 and will run through Tuesday, May 10. Each of the nine sessions will focus on a different aspect of local government and will include tours of many facilities. Participants should be ready for an interesting, interactive experience! The class has reached maximum capacity but interested citizens can sign up for the waitlist here.
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Katie Crumley | Hall County Government | 770.297.5504 | kcrumley@hallcounty.org |
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