Hall County Government is proud to have accomplished many things in 2017 through the vision and leadership of the Hall County Board of Commissioners and the coordination of Hall County staff. The following represents a sampling of those achievements; however, it does not capture every success, including the many that were made by individual County employees.
2017 Accomplishments:- Hall County Government completed an update to its Comprehensive Plan, a policy document that presents the community's primary goals for achieving its long-range vision for growth and development in the unincorporated portions of the county.
- Hall County's Service Delivery Strategy, which outlines the process the County and its municipalities will deliver services to citizens, was approved by the Georgia Department of Community Affairs. The new strategy also establishes a modified tax equity payment model and new special service tax districts.
- Fitch Ratings upgraded Hall County's general obligation bond rating from AA- to AA, which translates into a lower interest rate for Hall County and signifies increased stability for investors.
- New Computer Automated Dispatch (or CAD) software installed at the Hall County 911 Center, along with the installation of mobile data terminals in the vehicles of first responders, means faster response times for Hall County's public safety agencies.
- Sewer lines were installed on White Sulphur Road as part of a larger project to expand sewer service to customers along the Ga. 365 corridor.
- Crews constructed a new bridge along Joe Chandler Road, replacing an aging structure using funds from Special Purpose Local Option Sales Tax.
- The Hall County 9-1-1 Center seamlessly transitioned to an expanded radio system, doubling 9-1-1 operators' capacity to communicate with first responders in the field.
- The much anticipated roundabout at the intersection of Sardis Road and Ledan Extension became operational in September, easing congestion in the area.
- The Hall County Correctional Institute opened its first welding shop, a partnership between Hall County Government, Lanier Technical College and WorkSource Georgia, to provide inmates with a skillset that will attract employers and hopefully lessen the probability of an offender returning to prison.
- Hall County Government partnered with the Hall County School System to make school attendance zone data available on the County's Geographic Information System (GIS).
- Hall County received a "clean/unmodified audit opinion" with no audit findings as a part of their Fiscal Year 2017 Audit and Annual Report. Hall County Financial Services was also awarded the Certificate of Achievement for Excellence by the Government Finance Officers Association of the United States and Canada for its Comprehensive Annual Financial Report (CAFR) for Fiscal Year 2016.
- The Hall County Correctional Institute exceeded 100 participants in its Re-entry Accountability
- Hall County staff worked together to provide immediate response and clean-up in the wake of Tropical Storm Irma.
- Online reservations became available for several of Hall County's park facilities.
- Hall County Government saw a smooth transition in leadership as new County administrators joined the organization's management team.
- Four new ambulances, funded by SPLOST VII, went into service in July.
- A new Hall County Sheriff's Office dive boat went into service, replacing a 25-year-old vessel to provide a safer and more effective dive service.
- The Gainesville-Hall Metropolitan Planning Organization (GHMPO) completed a regional freight study, identifying key freight projects for the region to undertake.
- The GHMPO assisted Hall Area Transit with a Transit Development Plan, which includes a 5-year list of recommendations to improve transit service to the area.
- The Sheriff's Office also added a new marine patrol boat to their existing fleet with one officer specifically assigned to coordinate lake patrols and maintain the boat itself.
- The Hall County Animal Shelter debuted its new 'wrapped' trailer, which can transport approximately 12 animals to off-site adoption events while marketing the shelter's services to the community.
- Hall County's Public Works Department received the 2017 American Public Works Association (APWA) - Georgia Chapter SCRC Environmental Project of the Year Award for the Candler Road Landfill Phase 1, Cells 1-4. The department also received the APWA- Georgia Chapter Technical Innovation Award for the Interstate 985 Exit 17 Park and Ride Lot/Sidewalk Initiative, which was a joint project with the City of Oakwood and the University of North Georgia.
- The Hall County Government Center became a venue for public art as local artists participated in the County's first two public art shows at the facility in 2017.
- The Hall County Planning Department implemented a system to track permits issued to customers, assisting more than 2,900 citizens, contractors and business owners over the course of the year.
- An online "Citizen Comment Card" was added to Hall County's website, soliciting feedback from citizens on services they receive from County personnel. Physical comment card boxes were also placed at the Hall County Government Center and at all three of the County's community centers.
- Signing in for jury duty became an easier feat as the Hall County Clerk of Courts Office implemented the use of barcode scanners and iPads. Jury summons are also now printed in-house and contain a barcode for scan during the check-in process.
- Court Transition (REACT) program, which provides an opportunity for Hall and Dawson residents returning to the area from state prison to get intensive programming, educational upgrades, and employment prior to their release on parole or probation.
- A Plans Review Coordinator position was added to the Hall County Planning & Zoning Department. The position assists developers with their navigation of the County's plans review process and helps coordinate the efforts of multiple County departments to ensure County standards are met to bring high-quality residential and commercial development to the area.
- Hall County Financial Services was awarded the Government Finance Officers Association's Distinguished Budget Award for the first time in Hall County history for the FY 2017 budget.
- The Hall County Clerk of Courts Office received a number of new electronic devices for their offices from the Georgia Superior Clerks Cooperative Authority, providing much-needed technology upgrades to the office at no cost to the County. Other technological upgrades for the office include the use of e-filing for civil cases and subsequent pleadings, the development of an online court docket and the use of e-filing for all new plats as of January 2017.
- GHMPO staff met with each of its local jurisdictions to identify transportation planning needs. Staff then applied for and secured additional federal transportation planning funds to conduct the following: Dawsonville Highway-McEver Road Connectivity Study, Gainesville Trail Study, South Hall Trail Study, and Oakwood Citywide Traffic Improvement Study.
- One hundred twenty-nine people graduated from Hall County's Treatment Court programs.
- The Hall County Landfill collected nearly 22 tons of litter picked up as a part of Keep Hall Beautiful's "Team Up to Clean Up" event during the month of April.
- Hall County was re-certified as "StormReady" by the National Weather Service and the Georgia Storm Ready Advisory Board, meaning the County has the communication and safety skills needed to save lives and property before, during and after a significant weather event.
- In May, Healan's-Head's Mill, a pre-Civil War gristmill in north Hall County and a future County park, was fully stabilized after years of neglect. The exterior of the mill was restored and rehabilitated to look like it did in the 1930s when it served as a source of power for many in the community.
- Hall County Fire Station #7 was fully renovated during the 2017 calendar year.
- Hall County staff developed a film ordinance to help protect citizens and to help facilitate the process of shooting movies, television shows and other entertainment-related projects in the area.
- Twenty cats were adopted from the Hall County Animal Shelter during the month of September after an anonymous donor provided funding for 20 free cat adoptions in an effort to spur adoptions at the facility.
Again, this list represents only a few of the County's achievements in 2017. Hall County's elected officials and staff look forward to continuing this legacy of success in 2018. |