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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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Save the date: Highlands to Islands Trail Grand Opening April 23
Save the date for the grand opening of the most recently completed portion of the Highlands to Islands Trail (formerly known as the Central Hall Multi-Use Trail)! The "Chicopee Section" of the trail, which stretches 2.8 miles from Palmour Drive to the Georgia Department of Labor, will celebrate an official grand opening on Saturday, April 23 with a ceremony to begin at 1:30 p.m. near Chicopee Woods Baptist Church. A 5K race and various other activities are also being planned by the Highlands to Islands Trail Alliance, a sub-group of the Greater Hall Chamber of Commerce's Vision 2030 Greenspace Committee. More details will be released at a later date.
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Officials encourage severe weather preparedness in light of deadly tornado's 80th anniversary
In light of the 80th anniversary of the 1936 deadly tornado that devastated downtown Gainesville, Hall County officials are doing their part to make sure citizens are prepared in case such a disaster were to strike the community again. "Extreme tornado outbreaks are rare, but they are becoming more common," Hall County Emergency Management Agency Director David Kimbrell said. "Luckily, we now have modern radar, forecasting capabilities, early warning devices, weather alert radios, outdoor warning sirens and smart phone alert apps, but vigilance and situational awareness should remain our major priorities." Click here to see the list of precautions citizens should take to prepare for severe weather. |
Hall County celebrates National Crime Victims' Rights Week, April 10-16
Hall County Government helps lead the community in their annual observances of National Crime Victims' Rights Week (NCVRW) every April by promoting victims' rights and honoring crime victims and those who advocate on their behalf. This year's National Crime Victims' Rights Week will be held April 10-16, and the theme-- Serving Victims. Building Trust. Restoring Hope.-- presents the opportunity to highlight the importance of providing needed services at the earliest stage of victimization. Hall County will observe National Crime Victims' Rights Week with special events and programs throughout the month of April, including the annual Victims' Rights Ceremony on Friday, April 15 at 11:30 a.m. in Kenyon Plaza. Hall County will also commemorate the advancement of victims' rights at that ceremony by honoring a particular individual, group or agency that has served as a champion in advocating for expanded support and services to victims of crime. Read more here. |
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Gov. Deal appoints Commissioner Cooper to DFCS State Advisory Board
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| | | Kathy Cooper | |
Georgia Governor Nathan Deal has named Hall County District 1 Commissioner Kathy Cooper to the Department of Family and Children Services (DFCS) State Advisory Board.
The advisory board reviews and recommends proposed rules and regulations for DFCS, which is the state agency responsible for protecting the well-being of Georgia's children. "I am honored to have been selected to serve this organization which faces the difficult but necessary task of investigating child abuse, finding foster homes for abused and neglected children and providing numerous support services to help families in need," said Cooper. Read more here.
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Mobile home tax due April 1 this year
Mobile home tax was due on Friday, April 1. The mobile home due date, which is set by state legislation, was due one month earlier than prior years. Mobile home owners are issued year-specific decals to display on their mobile home to show compliance after all taxes have been paid in full. The current year decal must be placed in a location that is visible from the roadway. If a mobile home does not have a current year decal, it may also be subject to citation/fees by the Hall County Marshals' Office for failure to display the mobile home decal. Read more here. |
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Family Treatment Court participates in egg hunt
On March 19, Friends of Recovery sponsored an egg hunt for the participants of the Hall County Family Treatment Court (FTC) and their children. Thirty adults and 50 children attended the event at Laurel Park, where the Hall County Parks and Leisure Department donated the use of the pavilion and hard-boiled eggs for the families to dye and decorate. The teenagers in attendance helped FTC staff hide over 500 prize-filled eggs for the toddlers and children to find. The older kids also played football and corn hole, while the little ones climbed all over the playground equipment. It was a great family outing that allowed some children who are currently in foster care to spend time with their mothers. Everyone had such a good time that another event is being planned for the summer! |
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Location of free mulch pick-up has been changed to Landfill
Hall County citizens have a new location for free mulch pick-up.
The mulch, which was previously provided at the Hall County Recycling Center on Chestnut Street, is now being offered free of charge at the Hall County Landfill, located at 1700 Oakbrook Drive in Gainesville. Mulch is available to the public Monday thru Friday from 8 a.m. to 3 p.m. More information can be found here. |
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Deadline for Taxpayer Returns of Real & Personal Property, other exemptions was April 1
Jan. 1 - April 1 was 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:
* 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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Hall Co. Clerk of Court leads successful notary public training workshops
The Hall County Clerk of Court's Office offered two free notary public training workshops for the public last month.
"I would like to thank Mike Smith and Rachel Rice from the Georgia Superior Court Clerks Corporative Authority who taught two notary training workshops to 136 attendees on March 10 at the Hall County Government Center," said Hall County Clerk of Court Charles Baker. "This training was about laws on how to become a notary and what documents a notary can or cannot notarize."
If you have any questions about becoming a notary public or if you have any questions and are already a notary, please contact the Hall County Clerk's Office at 770-531-7025.
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HCSO Safe Driving Tip: Handicap Parking
There are several laws which affect handicap parking.
The first set of laws are federally mandated whereby the federal government, under the Americans with Disabilities Act, which was enacted in 1990 and amended in 2008, establishes the rights of qualifying individuals with disabilities to have access to public parking spaces and building entrances. Within the Americans with Disabilities Act, the federal government defines the location, the number, and the size of handicap spaces in public and private parking lots.
Every state has established laws regarding the application process for and possession of vehicle plates and placards plus any associated fees. In the State of Georgia, (OCGA 40-6-222) the issuance of both temporary and permanent handicap permits is handled under the Georgia Department of Revenue. Under OCGA 40-6-223, Georgia law states that the Department of Revenue will not charge a fee for the issuance of a handicap tag. The State of Georgia also honors any out-of-state handicap permit/plate. Under OCGA 40-6-227, Georgia law authorizes any certified law enforcement officer to issue citations on both public and private property for handicap violations.
In what may be the most confused portion of the law, OCGA 40-6-226(d), which states that although a vehicle may have a temporary permit or a permanent disabled plate, the disabled person to whom the permit or plate was issued must be the driver of, or passenger of, the vehicle parked in the handicapped parking place.
In addition, to help reiterate the severity of Georgia's handicap violation laws are OCGA 40-6-226(f)(2) and (g), which enable a citation to be issued a fine of no less than $100 or more than $500 and gives a certified law enforcement officer the ability to have the violator's vehicle removed from public or private property at the owner's expense. Let's always remember to leave the handicap parking spaces to those who really need them!
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News from Hall County Fire Services
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Station 5 A-shift attended a technology class demonstration at Davis Middle School on March 18. The class built a robot that is designed to detect and put out a small fire. After the students' demonstration, the HCFS crew showed the class some of the technology firefighters use today; to include a thermal imaging camera and LUCAS device utilized during unmanned CPR.
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The Georgia Association of Emergency Medical Services (GAEMS) hosted its 2nd Annual Directors and Leadership Conference at Lake Lanier Islands Legacy Lodge last month. Hall County Fire Chief Jeff Hood presented on, "The Strategic Plan: What Does Your Future Look Like?" Chief Hood shared his strategic plan, implemented at Hall County Fire Services, and spoke of how this living document has contributed to the department's success in planning for future growth. GAEMS is a statewide membership organization representing over 14,000 EMT's, paramedics, nurses, physicians, and businesses that support emergency medical services.
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A Concerned Citizens of Gainesville & Hall County meeting was held on Tuesday, March 8 at Bethel Church of the Nazarene. Members of Hall County Administration, Hall County Fire Services and the Gainesville Fire Department were invited to address questions and concerns over the relocation of Hall County Fire Station #1 to include the coverage and strategy surrounding this move. Pictured (left to right): HCFS Captain Zach Brackett, Gainesville Fire Chief Jerome Yarborough, HCFS Assistant Chief of Operations Rod Wilson, HCFS Deputy Fire Chief Chad Black, HCFS Chief Jeff Hood, Gainesville FD Lieutenant David Stringer, HCFS Assistant Chief of Administration Jerry Smith, and Hall County Administrator Randy Knighton.
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Several members of Hall County Fire Services graduated from the Georgia Smoke Diver course on March 4. The six-day, 60 hour program included realistic training in self-survival, firefighter rescue, advanced search & rescue, thermal imaging, emergency procedures, teamwork, discipline, team leadership, situational awareness and decision making as well as how to function within the elements of the Incident Command System. Hall County Fire Services Georgia Smoke Divers pictured (left to right) are: Sergeant Seth Satterfield (5C), Firefighter/EMT Chris Spruill (7B), Firefighter/EMT Hank Tiller (4C), Firefighter/EMT Mitch Redmon (7C), Firefighter/EMT Nicholas Thomas (4B), and Sergeant Caleb Waldorf (4B).
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Hall County Fire Services will be conducting a community event at Glory Tabernacle off Floyd Road on the following dates:
April 2,12p.m.- 2 p.m.
April 9,12p.m.- 2 p.m.
April 16, 12p.m.- 2 p.m.
These events will provide free blood pressure checks, installation of smoke alarms where needed and provide fire safety information for the community.
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News from the Hall County Sheriff's Office
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ADVANCE Camp 2015
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- The 2016 Hall County Sheriff's Office's ADVANCE program will open registration on May 14 during an event at Academy Sports in Gainesville from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. Academy Sports is located at 1140 Dawsonville Highway in Gainesville. The 2016 ADVANCE Camp Registration Day includes:
*FREE ADVANCE Summer Youth Camp Registration for 9-12 year olds only. Registration will be on a "first-come, first-serve" basis.
*ADVANCE Camp dates will be June 13-17.
*World Record holder,(HCSO) Sergeant Greg Cochran, will be doing a truck pull for the kids as a fundraiser for the ADVANCE program.
*A specialized vehicle displayed will include the Hall County Sheriff's Office SWAT truck, DIVE Team vehicle and boat.
*The event will also include a job fair for the Hall County Sheriff's Office.
*Pizza and refreshments will be available, while they last...
*Music and entertainment will also be provided!
Click here for more information.
- The Hall County Sheriff's Office would like to thank the community for their continued support of the successful #backthebadge campaign. Pictured right are employees at Gainesville's Honey Baked Ham restaurant, the latest business to show their support for local law enforcement.
- Looking for somewhere to take your used stuffed animals? The Hall County Sheriff's Office accepts the toys and gives them to children who may have been traumatized during emergency situations. Pictured left are two sisters, Jossi and Tessa, who recently dropped off their stuffed animals to go toward the good cause. For more information regarding additional initiatives at the Hall County Sheriff's Office, click here.
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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 Hall County's anti-litter efforts and new EMS structure
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| | Hall County Connection - Talkin' Trash and Tiered Systems - April 2016 |
Hall County Government has made tremendous strides in recent years when it comes to trimming excess and making sure resources are wisely utilized. This episode of TV-18's Hall County Connection highlights what Hall County is doing to trim waste, both literally and figuratively, when it comes to anti-litter efforts and their utilization of ambulance services. Click here to watch the complete episode of Hall County Connection.
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Eat pancakes to support the Animal Shelter!
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Tax Commissioner using new e-payment company
The Hall County Tax Commissioner has switched to a new e-payment company. Value Payment Systems, LLC (VPS) serves government, education, and business clients with a full range of e-payment solutions.
As a result, convenience fees charged to the user by the company have changed.
Before, taxpayers were charged an across-the-board 2.59 percent bank fee when providing payment with a debit/credit card. New rates are 2.49 percent ($1.95 minimum) with use of credit card and 1.50 percent ($1.50 minimum) with use of debit card. Additionally, American Express has been added to the accepted list of cards, which currently includes Visa, MasterCard, and Discover.
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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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Check out the Hall County Animal Shelter's Pets of the Month!
Fore more information, click here.
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Katie Crumley | Hall County Government | 770.297.5504 | kcrumley@hallcounty.org |
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