Newton County Strategic Plan 2019-2022

Completed Items

Actions and steps taken to achieve strategy 

• Commit to a transparent government

  • Bring Development Service permitting software public portal online – DEVELOPMENT SERVICES
  • Conduct Newton County Table Talk Department Head meetings – PUBLIC INFORMATION OFFICE
  • Conduct bi-monthly meetings with department heads to keep website updated – PUBLIC INFORMATION OFFICE
  • Post legal notices on county website regarding Logic & Accuracy Testing of voting equipment, early tabulation and changes to precincts – ELECTIONS AND REGISTRATION
  • Animals posted for adoption on website https://ncboc.com/387/Adopt-A-Pet - ANIMAL SERVICES
  • Monthly financial updates provided to BOC - FINANCE
  • Citizen Budget workshops held at the beginning of each budget cycle - FINANCE
  • Implemented Open Finance Transparency module on website https://newtoncountyga.finance.socrata.com/#!/dashboard - FINANCE
  • Created and utilize social media platform to notify citizens on seasons, leagues and events, including Facebook page and Instagram page.- PARKS AND RECREATION 
  • Produced video overviews of each departments on department pages of website - PUBLIC INFORMATION 

• Cultivate a culture of two-way free-flowing information between Newton County, Municipalities, Chamber of Commerce, Board of Education and State agencies

  • Collaborate with municipalities and GEFA on multi-jurisdictional Waterfirst application process – KEEP NEWTON BEAUTIFUL
  • Work with the Georgia Environmental Protection Division (EPD) and the cities of Covington, Oxford and Porterdale to provide Stormwater Education training. - KEEP NEWTON BEAUTIFUL
  • Partner with municipalities and the school system to celebrate Newton County's Bicentennial - BOC OFFICE

• Ensure county staff has adequate training, equipment, and BOC support to provide for the needs of the stakeholders

  • Have a senior staff member complete Georgia Election Officials Certification – ELECTIONS AND REGISTRATION
  • A new GIS Analyst was hired in March 2020 - GEOGRAPHIC INFORMATION SERVICES
  • All Animal Services Field Officers now have tablets or laptops for use in the field - ANIMAL SERVICES

• Promote accomplishments achieved within the community

  • Video series created for YouTube, Facebook and our website - PUBLIC INFORMATION
  • Videos shared via the City of Covington's Public Access Television. - PUBLIC INFORMATION
  • Accomplishments posted to website and social media in timely fashion - PUBLIC INFORMATION 

• Promote opportunities for Newton County internships 

  • GIS department hired college interns in 2019 and 2021-22. No interns were hired in 2020 due to the COVID-19 pandemic. - GEORGRAPHIC INFORMATION SERVICES
  • Human Resources hired an intern during the summer of 2022. - HUMAN RESOURCES

• Promote volunteerism and civic engagement

  • Work with community partners to request and engage volunteers in cleanup events, including the Great American Cleanup, Rivers Alive, Bicentennial Cleanups, Community Cleanups and Adopt-a-Mile Cleanups. - KEEP NEWTON BEAUTIFUL

• Create a multi-disciplinary approach to addressing unsafe environments in existing parts of the community

  • Update and enforce Property Maintenance, Solid Waste Management and Nuisance Abatement Ordinance – DEVELOPMENT SERVICES
  • Keep well maintained, safe and clean facilities for our employees as well as our citizens – BUILDING SERVICES
  • Provide non-traditional programming options for family and youth such as health and nutrition classes, yoga, pickleball and boot camps – PARKS AND RECREATION
  • Host youth engagement activities in various parks throughout the County such as Kids Wildlife Day, Fun Days and Youth Skills and Drills – PARKS AND RECREATION

• Complete a transit study to determine the feasibility of public transportation in Newton County

  • Transit study completed and presented to Board of Commissioners - PUBLIC WORKS

• Collaborate on a Parks and Recreation Master Plan

  • Parks and Recreation Master Plan completed and presented to Board of Commissioners - PARKS AND RECREATION 
  • Parks and Recreation activities and events promoted through Social Media - PUBLIC INFORMATION 

• Encourage stakeholder initiatives toward the implementation of the Trail Network Plan

  • Work with Newton Trails on cleanup and beautification projects including The Great American Cleanup – KEEP NEWTON BEAUTIFUL
  • GIS department works closely with Newton Trails on near-monthly basis concerning trails/greenway planning. - GEORGRAPHIC INFORMATION SERVICES
  • GIS department worked closely with Lose Design in 2021 on compilation of the County's 10-year park master plan. - GEORGRAPHIC INFORMATION SERVICES

• Support activities and programs for seniors

  • Aided in the expansion of the Senior Services Center SPLOST project - BUILDING SERVICES
  • Promoted activities and programs of Senior Services on website and social media - PUBLIC INFORMATION
  • Perform Detective Seymore Green & Buster Clean the Bases puppet show at Senior Services - KEEP NEWTON BEAUTIFUL 

• Update and realign ordinances, regulations, policies and enforcement of codes to ensure best quality of growth

  • Reviewed code enforcement penalties for non-compliance – DEVELOPMENT SERVICES
  • Hired Transportation Engineer to assist with development review and inspections – PUBLIC WORKS
  • Assist developers and engineers to help streamline their permit processing – PUBLIC WORKS
  • Work with Development Services to update Newton County's litter ordinance - KEEP NEWTON BEAUTIFUL 

• Establish and utilize partnerships to enhance economic development

  • Conduct Hazard Analysis upon request of local business owners to promote preparedness for natural and man-made disasters as well as hazards within the plant/corporation – EMERGENCY MANAGEMENT
  • Conduct evaluations of local factories of Hazardous Material spill drills involving all Public Safety agencies – EMERGENCY MANAGEMENT
  • Provide guidance to local industries to form a Local Emergency Planning Committee to better prepare for potential disasters within our County – EMERGENCY MANAGEMENT

• Advocate for post-secondary education institutions and job readiness programs

  • Serve as a resource to participate in Career Days at elementary schools and round table discussions and forums at high schools and Career Academy – KEEP NEWTON BEAUTIFUL

• Implement the short-term components of the Comprehensive Transportation Plan

  • Update the Short-Term Work program as these projects are completed – DEVELOPMENT SERVICES

• Develop short term, intermediate and long term implementation plans for County facilities

  • Hired a part-time custodial staff member as part of the short-, intermediate- and long-term maintenance plans for County facilities – BUILDING SERVICES
  • Emergency Power System in the Administration Building being implemented. - INFORMATION SERVICES
  • Work with project manager and department heads to conduct round-breaking and ribbon cutting ceremonies for new buildings and infrastructure. - PUBLIC INFORMATION 
  • Completed addition and renovation to Animal Services Building - ANIMAL SERVICES
  • Added surgery suite to sterilize pets adopted from the shelter in-house - ANIMAL SERVICES
  • Move into a more suitable and efficient office space for department at the Old Cousins School building - KEEP NEWTON BEAUTIFUL 

• Commit to pave or resurface a minimum of 20 miles of County roads annually

  • Paved 22 miles of roadways – PUBLIC WORKS

• Built a fire station on the North side of the County - FIRE SERVICES
• Built a fire station on the Eastern side of the County - FIRE SERVICES
• Implementing the Next Gen 911 project.- FIRE SERVICES
• Held first free Pet Vaccination Clinic on March 2022; second coming on Oct. 15, 2022 - ANIMAL SERVICES