Georgia-2011-SR1007-Enrolled

Senate Resolution 1007

By: Senators Tolleson of the 20th and Bulloch of the 11th

Recognizing and commending the Decatur County Forestry Unit on being named the Georgia Forestry Commission 2011 Southern Unit of the Year; and for other purposes.

WHEREAS, the mission of the Georgia Forestry Commission is "To provide leadership, service, and education in the protection and conservation of Georgia's forest resources"; and

WHEREAS, each year one forestry unit is selected as Georgia Forestry Commission's Southern Unit of the Year based on various measures of accomplishments that are weighed and voted upon by the Georgia Forestry Commission's leadership; and

WHEREAS, the Decatur County Forestry Unit's most notable achievements include assisting on 2,148 acres of prescribed burning, plowing over 1,136 miles of firebreaks, serving on multiple incidents with 79 days of deployments throughout the record-breaking 2011 fire season and the April 2011 tornadoes, leading eight building projects throughout the Flint District, resulting in considerable savings to the Agency and State of Georgia, serving as an integral part of Decatur County's Tree City USA program and Rural Fire Defense program, coordinating with Decatur County Fire and Rescue to obtain a boat for wildfire suppression around rivers and lakes, acquiring support from Decatur County for the mitigation specialist position which provides a valuable service to the unit's operations, completing a Community Wildfire Protection Plan (CWPP) for Decatur County which will be instrumental in protecting local homes from wildfires, volunteering time to bring wildfire prevention messages to county parades, and attending numerous training courses which will result in the unit's ability to provide enhanced services to the citizens of Georgia; and

WHEREAS, in addition, the Decatur County Forestry Unit maintained outstanding wildfire protection of Decatur County's 188,865 forested acres during a wildfire season that resulted in the damage or loss in Georgia of over $19.8 million worth of personal property and threatened an additional $461.3 million worth of personal property; and

WHEREAS, due to the outstanding accomplishments of the Decatur County Forestry Unit in 2011, the unit was selected as Georgia Forestry Commission's Southern Unit of the Year; and

WHEREAS, the forestry unit consists of dedicated GFC professionals First Ranger Van Smith, First Ranger Bryan Cottles, First Ranger Johnny Barwick, and Mitigation Specialist Tina Nix serving under the leadership of Chief Ranger Rodney Heard; and

WHEREAS, the accomplishments of the Decatur County Forestry Unit are a clear indication of the dedication and teamwork present at the unit, the ability of the unit to establish and maintain mutually beneficial relationships with local partners, and the consistently high level of forestry services provided by the unit over the course of many years; and

WHEREAS, the Decatur County Forestry Unit brings great pride to the citizens of Decatur County, the Flint District, the Georgia Forestry Commission, and the entire State of Georgia.

NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED BY THE SENATE that the members of this body commend the Decatur County Forestry Unit for being named the 2011 Southern Unit of the Year.

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the Secretary of the Senate is authorized and directed to transmit an appropriate copy of this resolution to Chief Ranger Rodney Heard.