STATE OF GEORGIA
COUNTY OF HENRY
The Henry County Board of Commissioners held a Regular Meeting at 9:00 a.m., on Tuesday, August 1, 2017, in the Community Room, County Administration Building, at 140 Henry Parkway, McDonough, Georgia. Notice of this meeting was posted in the entrance foyer of the County Administration Building. The Daily Herald was notified of this meeting. Those present were:
June Wood, Chair
Johnny Wilson, District I Commissioner
Dee Clemmons, District II Commissioner
Gary Barham, District III Commissioner
Blake Prince, District IV Commissioner
Bruce Holmes, District V Commissioner
Also attending was: Cheri Hobson-Matthews, County Manager; Brad Johnson, Assistant County Manager; Patrick Jaugstetter, Attorney for the County; and Stephanie Braun, County Clerk.
INVOCATION
The Invocation was given by Don Ash, E-911/EMA Director.
PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE
The Pledge of Allegiance is recited.
CALL TO ORDER
June Wood, Chair, called the Regular Meeting of the Henry County Board of Commissioners for 9:00 a.m., Tuesday, August 1, 2017, to order. Chair Wood recognized Stacey Jordan-Rudeseal, Chief Planner, as he had an announcement to make to the citizens and attendees of the meeting. Mr. Jordan-Rudeseal explained that Planning & Zoning had originally scheduled an appeal of Leslie Morrison at 648 Ward Road, to be heard this morning. This is rescheduled to be heard on September 19, 2017, at 6:30 p.m.
and will not be heard this morning.
ACCEPTANCE OF THE AGENDA
Chair Wood advised that prior to accepting the Agenda; the following item was to be changed: Removing XIV. COUNTY MANAGER (B.) Resolution approving the ERP contract with Tyler Solutions.
Gary Barham, District III Commissioner, made a motion to accept the Agenda, as amended; Johnny Wilson, District I Commissioner, seconded the motion. The motion was carried unanimously
AUGUST 1, 2017
PROCLAMATIONS
T.C. Carter
Melissa Robinson, Communications Director, read Proclamations regarding a Camp Creek train wreck, which occurred June 23, 1900. The first was recognizing T.C. Carter, a Pullman porter, for his bravery during the train wreck, and was read aloud as follows:
WHEREAS, On the night of June 23, 1900, while the sleeper car of Southern Engine No. 7 lay in the rushing waters of Camp Creek not far from the blazing inferno that was once the forward cars; and WHEREAS, T.C. Carter, an African American Pullman porter, injured in the horrific No. 7 crash, challenged by his own need for safety and desire to live, heard the cries of surviving passengers within the wreckage; and
WHEREAS, Despite his painful hip and other injuries, T.C. Carter’s concern for the safety and well- being of others transcended his own need; and
WHEREAS, T.C. Carter’s bravery showed not only the men and women of his day, but also us today, that heroism knows no race, gender, religion, orientation, nationality or creed; and
WHEREAS, In memory and recognition of this heroic act, and the sense of community which emerged from the Camp Creek tragedy, the Henry County Sheriff’s Department, Police Department, Fire Department, and Department of Emergency Management in conjunction with public safety from the City of McDonough participated in the T.C. Carter Safety Day, an event sponsored by Councilwoman Sandra Vincent of McDonough, the McDonough Mainstreet Program, Commissioner Gary Barham, volunteers Barbara and Joe Frazier, and John and Holly Quinn; and
WHEREAS, the memory of T.C. Carter is memorialized in the writings of Georgia Historian and Professor Jeffrey C. Wells’ book “In Atlanta or In Hell”; and
WHEREAS, the spirit and sense of community which emerged from the Historic Camp Creek train wreck is permanently engrafted in the fiber of Henry County.
NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT PROCLAIMED by the Henry County Board of Commissioners that T.C. Carter be remembered and honored as a true Henry County hero for his bravery and compassion in saving the lives of others during the Camp Creek Train Wreck.
This 1st Day of August, 2017, signed by Chair, June Wood, and attested by Stephanie Braun, County Clerk.
J.J. Quinlan
Ms. Robinson then read the Proclamation recognizing J.J. Quinlan, a flagman, for his bravery during the train wreck which occurred on June 23, 1900, and was read aloud as follows:
WHEREAS, On the night of June 23, 1900, the train of Southern Engine No. 7 caught fire near McDonough after crashing into the stormy waters of Camp Creek. Departing from Macon and traveling north to Atlanta, Engine No. 7 began crossing over the Camp Creek trestle but it had been compromised due to a severe rain storm; and
WHEREAS, The devastating wreck resulted in 39 souls lost with just seven survivors, and among the seven surviving passengers, J.J. Quinlan, flagman struggled to climb a 50 foot muddy bank to seek help, and after finally reaching the top, Quinlan ran two miles to the McDonough train depot to warn and stop an oncoming freight train from disaster, likely saving hundreds of lives; and WHEREAS, Despite his injuries, Quinlan’s concern was for the safety of those yet to reach McDonough; and
WHEREAS, The spirit of J.J. Quinlan’s bravery in the face of terror should continue to live throughout our communities in Henry County, as his heroic acts to save the lives of others while dealing with his own personal injuries, should be an example to all; and WHEREAS, the memory of J.J. Quinlan has been memorialized in the annual “Quinlan’s 5K Run”, an initiative started by McDonough Councilwoman Sandra Vincent, Barbara Frazier, Jeff Wells, Caprice Walker and John Quinn.
NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT PROCLAIMED by the Henry County Board of Commissioners that J. J. Quinlan be remembered and honored as a true Henry County hero for his bravery and compassion in saving the lives of others during the Camp Creek Train Wreck.
This 1st Day of August, 2017, signed by Chair, June Wood, and attested by Stephanie Braun, County Clerk.
PHOTOGRAPHS WERE TAKEN
HENRY COUNTY- August 1, 2017— The Board of Commissioners recognized the contributions of T.C. Carter and J.J. Quinlan each with a proclamation on August 1, at the regular Commission meeting.
Carter and Quinlan were both a part of the June 23, 1900 devastating Southern Engine No. 7 Camp Creek train wreck where 39 souls were lost and only seven survived.
The train caught fire near McDonough after crashing into the waters of Camp Creek. Carter and Quinlan’s bravery helped save the lives of many others on that fateful night nearly 100 years ago.
The proclamations read in part, “WHEREAS, T.C. Carter’s bravery showed not only the men and women of his day, but also us today, that heroism knows no race, gender, religion, orientation, nationality or creed…and WHEREAS, The spirit of J.J. Quinlan’s bravery in the face of terror should continue to live throughout our communities in Henry County.”
