Henry County commissioners embarrassed about lobbyist hiring vote

HENRY COUNTY, Ga. - Some Henry County commissioners say they are embarrassed about their own vote to hire a transportation lobbyist to help secure road projects from the Georgia Department of Transportation.

The reason: a FOX 5 I-Team investigation found that the lobbyist was business partners with the DOT’s planning director, Jay Roberts.

In August, the Henry county Commission voted to pay lobbyist William Woodall's company, On Point Strategies, $2000 a month to help convince the DOT to build or widen roads in Henry County. Chairman Tommy Smith voted no.

An internal DOT document, obtained by the I-Team, showed DOT planning director, Jay Roberts, approved a $72 million dollar widening of Ga Highway 155 in Henry County, just 7 days after the vote to hire Woodall.

Our  FOX 5 I-Team investigation found Roberts and Woodall are not only good friends, but business partners in an online hunting and fishing company called dirtroadtv.

And, company records show Robert’s wife was the organizer and registered agent of Woodall's lobbying company - On Point Strategies. The contact information was Jay Robert’s personal email.

Roberts told me he and Woodall originally used the company for the hunting show, but he and his wife are no longer involved in it.

“I can assure you,” Roberts said, “I've never received anything nor has my wife received anything from that (company)”

Henry county Commission chairman, Tommy Smith, told me:  “It’s embarrassing not only for the Commission, but Henry County. It appears we don't know what we're doing we don't do a thorough check.”

Commissioner Bruce Holmes agreed, saying the whole story is embarrassing.

Commissioner Gary Barham, who pushed for the hiring of William Woodall, said he’s not embarrassed but he had no idea about the business relationship.

Commissioner Barham told me two days after we questioned Jay Roberts, William Woodall sent him an email saying "I would not be executing”… “the agreement.” Woodall had never signed the August 2nd contract mailed to him.