A True One Henry

A True One Henry
November 21, 2005

Governing and managing growth has been the single largest challenge faced by our cities and the county commission. Citizens support varied angles on how things should be done and elect people they think will represent their positions. Mayors and councils have wanted to control and often expand their own borders. County officials have their agendas and have often clashed with the cities. From the outside we see money, personalities and politics ruling the day. It is not easy for the best intentioned officials to balance the needs, wants and influences they face.

The One Henry initiative was announced in January 2005 as a means to coordinate growth between the county and our cities. The new planning effort includes a county-wide Comprehensive Plan, Transportation Plan and Land Use Map. It also involves state requirements to avoid overlapping and unnecessary competition and duplication of service delivery. This requires no small effort because the rights and desires of the cities and the county must be agreed upon. One Henry is the best approach yet to avoid annexation challenges, incompatible land uses, managing growth and provide benefit to the entire county. It has not been accepted by Locust Grove or Stockbridge.

Recent city elections brought out the usual clash of development interests and neighborhood activists. All in all the campaigns were clean and citizens clearly saw the issues and the candidates. In Hampton slow growth with focus on infrastructure won the day. In McDonough the mayor-elect promised to “develop our own Comprehensive Land Plan in conjunction with the Henry County Plan.” For the first time ever, a majority of the county commission and officials in two cities stand firmly on the same ground and share the same vision.

Now is the time for officials to focus on people, issues and the true reasons they were elected. Citizens must put aside conflicts of the campaigns and support an agenda of good government. Together we can make sure the four cities and the county comes together. Independent thinkers and logical approaches can till the fertile ground to produce the best Henry can be.

For so long we have seen land uses dictated by forces that seemed out of control. The commissioners, city officials and staff I have spoken with all agree they must guide and manage the rules - that is why we elected them. They are dedicated to forging lasting relationships and formalizing a true One Henry.

Folks, remember that hard problems reveal the best and worst in all of us. The process cannot be made into personal agendas. While money, personalities and politics will never be removed from the public arena, we need solutions and policy direction. Please pray for, and work with Mayors-elect Coley and Copeland. Help the new Hampton and McDonough council members to serve us. They know the importance of earned trust; we know we must all work together. We can have a true One Henry.

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