Get Full Government Meeting Transcripts, Videos, & Alerts Forever!
Get email alerts on the Land Use Annexation topic
No spam. Unsubscribe anytime.
Henry County commissioners deny City of McDonough annexation over EMS, public-safety concerns
Summary
The Henry County Board of Commissioners voted to deny a City of McDonough request to annex about 11.84 acres south of McGarity Road, citing concerns about EMS service impacts and noting the city did not provide information on effects to county emergency services.
The Henry County Board of Commissioners on Feb. 4 voted to deny a request from the City of McDonough to annex approximately 11.84 acres south of McGarity (Tomlinson Street area), citing concerns about impacts to county EMS and public safety.
County planning staff presented the annexation request and a concurrent rezoning notice from McDonough to R-75/R-85 to match surrounding properties. The presenter said the parcel is currently zoned RA in unincorporated Henry County and is adjacent to areas inside McDonough and to unincorporated county property. The staff recommendation noted the annexation would not create a significant change in surrounding land uses and referenced an earlier, related annexation of 4.61 acres heard by the county in October.
Commissioners pressed the presenter and the City of McDonough’s filing about emergency-service coverage. Commissioner Ewing said the board’s primary concern was the lack of information about the annexation’s impact on EMS and public safety and moved to deny the annexation. The motion was seconded and the board voted in favor of the denial. The county record shows no documentation provided by the city about EMS impacts.
The county discussion noted that McDonough provides its own fire and police services but currently relies on county EMS resources; commissioners said the board had not received material from the city explaining how EMS needs would be handled after annexation. The planning presentation also described the proposed development as detached residential lots (roughly 26,000-square-foot lots were shown on the site plan).
The denial leaves the property under Henry County zoning and will keep EMS responsibilities as currently arranged unless the city and county reach a separate agreement. County staff said the annexation ties to the October filing and indicated that, in that earlier matter, the county raised no objection.
The board made no further action on rezoning at this meeting; staff did not provide a detailed timeline for any follow-up with the city.
