http://www.hallcounty.org/ Top 10 News Items from Hall County Government - Gainesville, Georgia Hall County Government - Gainesville, Georgia This is a reminder that Hall County's administrative offices, courts, community centers and libraries will be closed Monday, May 27, for Memorial Day. Essential public safety and public works personnel will continue service as usual during the holiday. The landfill and compactor sites will remain open. Many county services are always available online: residents can renew a vehicle tag, find a new pet, pay taxes, and more at hallcounty.org. http://www.hallcounty.org/news/full.asp?ID=2303 Hall County Animal Control officers impounded 69 animals from a home in north Hall County last week. According to Hall County Animal Services Director Mike Ledford, Animal Control officers responded on Thursday, May 16 following a citizen complaint about the animals. When they arrived at the Bogus Road home, they discovered 67 dogs running loose and two guinea pigs. The owners of the animals were charged with animal hoarding and loose animal violations. They surrendered all but one of the animals to the Hall County Animal Shelter. Shelter officials are working hard to find a safe home for these animals, fifteen of which have already been adopted. Ledford said the Humane Society of Northeast Georgia and the Atlanta Humane Society have partnered with the shelter to help house some of the animals as well. The Hall County Animal Shelter takes in roughly 60 stray and/or neglected pets every day. The shelter is located at 1688 Barber Road, Gainesville and is open 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Tuesday through Saturday. For more information on the Hall County Animal Shelter, log on to hallcounty.org. http://www.hallcounty.org/news/full.asp?ID=2302 The Hall County Tax Commissioner's Office is launching a renewed effort to actively monitor tax payments on mobile homes in the County. To show that they are in compliance with the Tax Commissioner's Office, owners of mobile homes are given a decal to display on their mobile home in a location visible from the roadway. All taxes must be paid in full before the decal is obtained. The Hall County Tax Commissioner's Office is working with the Hall County Marshal's Office to issue citations to mobile home owners in Hall County who are not properly displaying this decal. Hall County Tax Commissioner Darla Eden, who took office Jan. 1, 2013, said her office takes these noncompliances seriously as a part of this renewed effort and mobile home owners should do the same. ''This citation has a $25 noncompliance fee, and if a Magistrate Court appearance is required, the maximum fine is $1,000 and/or 60 days in jail per citation,'' she said. In the event of further noncompliance with the Mobile Home Application and Reporting Ordinance of Hall County, Eden said the mobile home may be advertised in the local newspaper and sold under Georgia ad valorem tax laws. Eden and her staff are working to educate citizens about this ordinance. They are also sending letters to citizens who have not paid taxes on their mobile home, notifying them of the consequences and encouraging them to come to the Hall County Government Center to meet with an associate of the Hall County Tax Commissioner's Office. Mobile homes that are temporarily located in the county and are owned by a business that is not located in the county should notify the Board of Tax Assessors of their presence to avoid being cited for failure to apply for the location permit. ''We want to make sure citizens receive the best level of service possible from Hall County Government, and we hope this effort ensures that level of service by making sure every citizen is held accountable,'' said Eden. As a reminder to citizens, the Hall County Tax Commissioner's Office has relocated from its former location in the Joint Administration Building in downtown Gainesville to the first floor of the Hall County Government Center, located at 2875 Browns Bridge Road, Gainesville. http://www.hallcounty.org/news/full.asp?ID=2301 In light of the devastating tornados in Oklahoma this week and the severe flooding experienced in South Hall over the weekend, Hall County officials are encouraging residents to sign-up for the County's Citizen's Alert System, which could be life-saving in the event of a natural disaster in their neighborhood. With the Hall County Citizen's Alert System, County officials are able to alert residents about severe weather, fires, floods, toxic environmental issues and in-process violent crimes. Messages can be sent to individuals using a variety of contact mechanisms- cell phone, landline, email, text messaging, pager, and more - ensuring that residents and Hall County staff receive life-saving emergency information and important public service announcements in minutes. Citizens listed in the County's 9-1-1 database have been automatically subscribed to alerts by landline, though any individual may self-register, provide additional contact information or opt out by logging on to hallcounty.org and clicking on the Citizen's Alert icon. ''The ability to reach all residents quickly during an emergency like the ones we've seen first-hand and in the news this week is critical to our efforts,'' said Hall County Emergency Management Director David Kimbrell. ''The Citizen's Alert System ensures Hall County first responders will be able to react quickly and efficiently to reach each individual in the case of an emergency.'' Hall County uses the Citizen's Alert System to notify residents about other important activities, such as road closures and water utility maintenance. In fact, the alert system was utilized this weekend to notify residents of the boil water advisory for customers in South Hall. ''Natural disasters on any scale are unfortunate, but we think their impact can be lessened if citizens are notified as quickly as possible, and this system allows us to do that,'' said Kimbrell. Again, any citizen can sign up to receive the emergency alerts and customize them to their specific needs by logging on to hallcounty.org and clicking on the Citizen's Alert icon. http://www.hallcounty.org/news/full.asp?ID=2300 The Hall County Parks and Leisure Services Board has canceled its meeting scheduled for Monday, May 20 at 5 p.m. The board will reconvene at its next meeting on June 17 at the Hall County Government Center. The Parks and Leisure Services Board advises the Board of Commissioners on the development of parks in Hall County. Each Commissioner appoints one member of the board. The Parks Board has public meetings at 5 p.m. on the third Monday of the month at the Hall County Government Center, 2nd Floor Meeting Room, 2875 Browns Bridge Road, Gainesville, Georgia. http://www.hallcounty.org/news/full.asp?ID=2299 Flowery Branch water customers are under a boil water advisory until 9 p.m. Monday due to a loss of water pressure during Sunday's heavy rains. Residents are advised to bring all water to a rolling boil for at least three minutes and let it cool before using or use bottled water. Boiled or bottled water should be used for drinking, making ice, brushing teeth, washing dishes and food preparation until 9 p.m. Monday. Boiling kills bacteria and other organisms in the water. Flowery Branch authorities say all stored water or ice made recently from this supply should be discarded. Anyone with questions about the boil water advisory is asked to call the City of Flowery Branch offices at 770-967-6371. http://www.hallcounty.org/news/full.asp?ID=2298 Hall County Board of Commissioners Chairman Dick Mecum has issued a declaration of local emergency for the southern end of Hall County affected by heavy rains and road closures Sunday. Mecum issued the formal declaration following notice from the Hall County Emergency Management Agency that emergency circumstances exist in Flowery Branch and south Hall County requiring extraordinary and immediate corrective actions for the protection of the health, safety and welfare of the citizens of Hall County. The formal declaration activates the Hall County Emergency Operations Plan and gives the Chairman emergency authority to use County employees to assist within jurisdictions where an emergency exists and gives them the authority to close affected roadways. Auhorities strongly encourage residents in the affected area to use caution if outdoors. We also encourage citizens to have a heightened awareness of road closures which will likely result in longer commute times Monday morning. Hall County Road Maintenance crews responded to the Flowery Branch area early Sunday morning as a result of the significant weather event. Approximately 7.5 inches of rain fell in the area within six hours. As a result of the heavy rains, portions of Atlanta Highway, McEver Road, Stephens Road, Trudy Drive, Flowery Way, Spring Street and Cove Creek Road have all been closed, according to officials on scene. Hall County Road Maintenance crews as well as an emergency contractor are working diligently to make repairs and construct temporary roads as needed. In addition, a boil water advisory has been issued for South Hall and Flowery Branch residents south of Highway 53 until further notice. Heavy rains have caused a water main to rupture, leading to the advisory. Every effort is underway to have the problem resolved by midnight. Hall County emergency crews mobilized immediately early Sunday morning to assist citizens and secure the flooded areas. Hall County's Citizen's Alert System has been activated to notify residents affected by the closures, and members of the Hall County Marshal's Office were also on hand to assist citizens in the area. Anyone needing assistance as a result of these road closures is asked to contact Hall County's Emergency Operations Center at 770-718-5737. http://www.hallcounty.org/news/full.asp?ID=2297 Hall County Road Maintenance crews are responding to several road closures in the Flowery Branch area Sunday afternoon as a result of a significant weather event. Approximately 7.5 inches of rain fell in the area within six hours. As a result of the heavy rains, portions of Atlanta Highway, McEver Road, Stephens Road, Trudy Drive, Flowery Way, Spring Street and Cove Creek Road have all been closed, according to officials on scene. Hall County Road Maintenance crews as well as an emergency contractor are working diligently to make repairs and construct temporary roads as needed. In addition, a boil water advisory has been issued for South Hall and Flowery Branch residents until further notice. Heavy rains have caused a water main to rupture, leading to the advisory. Every effort is underway to have the problem resolved by midnight. Hall County emergency crews mobilized immediately early Sunday morning to assist citizens and secure the flooded areas. Hall County's Citizen's Alert System has been activated to notify residents affected by the closures, and members of the Hall County Marshal's Office were also on hand to assist citizens in the area. Anyone needing assistance as a result of these road closures is asked to contact Hall County's Emergency Operations Center at 770-718-5737. http://www.hallcounty.org/news/full.asp?ID=2296 Hall County Parks and Leisure Services will close Laurel Park's public boat ramp Saturday for Hawgin' on Lanier events. The two-day festival consists of a Friday night concert at the Laurel Park amphitheater, featuring the Jimmy Buffet tribute band Pirates of the Opry and benefiting the Hall County Animal Shelter's Adoption Programs. The concert begins at 7:30 p.m. Tickets for the event are $15 and can be purchased at the venue or in advance by calling 770-297-5504. The boat ramp will remain open all day Friday for that event. The Gainesville Jaycees are hosting the Saturday events, which include the Hawgzilla Mud Run 5K obstacle course, a Year One Muscle Car Parts car show, a KCBS barbecue competition and much more. Proceeds from Saturday's events benefit the Jaycees' Gut Check program and Empty Stocking Fund. To find out more about Saturday's events, log on to www.hawginonlanier.com. The boat ramp will reopen Sunday. http://www.hallcounty.org/news/full.asp?ID=2295 Join us for JAKES (Juniors Acquiring Knowledge, Ethics & Sportsmanship) Day on Saturday, May 25 2013 at Chicopee Woods Agricultural Center from 10 a.m.-3 p.m. This FREE event is sponsored by the Foothills Chapter of the National Wild Turkey Federation and Hall County Parks and Leisure. Attendees will have the opportunity to participate in activities such as skeet shooting, archery, sling shot, hatchet throwing, and much more! This FREE event is open to all ages. Register on site. For more information, contact 770-965-7140 or 770-531-6855. Chicopee Woods Ag Center is located at 1855 Calvary Church Road in Gainesville. http://www.hallcounty.org/news/full.asp?ID=2294 At approximately 10 a.m. May 15, 2013, Hall County Central Communications/E9-1-1 will conduct an audible test of the severe weather warning system. This will only be a test. The sirens will sound for about three minutes. Sound tests will not be conducted if there is a severe weather watch or warning in effect for Hall County. The tornado sirens are tested using the wail alert tone once every three months. Other than these previously announced tests, all sirens should be considered to be an actual tornado warning. Hall County's Warning System is tested silently every morning at 9 a.m. Meanwhile, Hall County officials will also test their emergency mass notification system Wednesday morning. The Hall County Citizen's Alert System notifies residents about severe weather, fires, floods, toxic environmental issues and in-process violent crimes within minutes. Messages can be sent to individuals using a variety of contact mechanisms - cell phone, landline, email, text messaging, fax, pager, and more - ensuring that residents and Hall County staff receive life-saving emergency information and important public service announcements in minutes. Citizens listed in the County's 9-1-1 database will be automatically subscribed to alerts by landline, though any individual may self-register, provide additional contact information or opt out. To sign up or learn more, click on the Hall County Citizen's Alert icon on the homepage of this website. Please direct any questions or concerns to the administrative offices of Hall County Central Communications/E9-1-1 at 770-531-6765. http://www.hallcounty.org/news/full.asp?ID=2293