[0:00] Heat. Heat. [music]

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[0:23] Heat. Heat.

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[1:24] » Heat. Heat. [music]

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[2:06] » Hey,

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[2:20] [music] hey, hey.

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[3:28] » Hey,

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[3:40] hey, hey.

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[3:43] Heat. Heat.

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[6:13] » Hey.

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[6:55] » Heat. Heat.

[7:04] Heat. Heat. [music]

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[9:15] » Hey. Hey. Hey.

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[10:49] » Hey, [music]

[10:55] [music]

[11:00] [music]

[11:01] hey, hey.

[11:04] Heat. Heat.

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[12:29] » Heat. Hey, Heat.

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[12:49] Heat. Heat.

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[13:23] » Heat. Heat.

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[14:42] » Heat. Hey, Heat.

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[15:05] Heat. Heat.

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[16:16] » Everything. [music]

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[18:10] » Hey,

[18:13] hey,

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[18:22] hey.

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[18:54] » Heat.

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[19:35] » Hey,

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[19:47] hey, hey.

[20:00] Hey, [music]

[20:12] hey, hey.

[20:16] Heat. Heat. [music]

[20:24] [music]

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[20:43] » [music]

[20:55] » Everybody.

[21:00] Hey

[21:14] » [music]

[21:20] [music]

[21:25] [music]

[21:29] » Heat. Heat.

[21:32] [music]

[21:47] [music]

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[22:01] [music]

[22:02] » Happy

[22:10] [music]

[22:19] birthday. [music]

[22:31] » [music]

[22:33] » Hey,

[22:37] [music]

[22:45] hey, hey.

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[23:27] » Heat. Heat.

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[23:51] [music]

[23:51] » Hey,

[23:53] hey, hey.

[24:06] » [music]

[24:12] [music]

[24:15] » Thank you everybody for being here. This

[24:17] is the Tuesday, September 1st, 2020,

[24:20] 2026

[24:22] uh meeting of the Cammy County Board of

[24:24] Commissioners. We're going to begin

[24:26] opening ceremonies with a invocation by

[24:28] Commissioner Goodman, followed by the

[24:29] pledge of allegiance.

[24:31] Gentlemen, remove your covers, please.

[24:33] Let us stand as you're able.

[24:37] Let us pray.

[24:39] Our Father and our God in heaven, we

[24:41] come to thee humbling ourselves in

[24:44] prayer, asking for your guidance

[24:47] tonight. Father, there's sickness in

[24:50] this community and we want to hold up

[24:53] one of your servants,

[24:55] Sydney, who is in Jacksonville, Sydney

[24:59] Howell

[25:00] and his family. We don't question your

[25:04] will. We ask that you comfort them, be

[25:06] with them. We ask also that you be with

[25:09] your servant, our fellow commissioner

[25:12] Martin Turner, as he performs

[25:15] ministerial dut duties.

[25:18] We ask for things to be done according

[25:21] to your will. Father, we ask always for

[25:24] your protection for those who serve us

[25:27] in uniform both here and abroad. pray.

[25:30] We pray for their safety that they will

[25:33] go home at the end of their shift to

[25:36] their families.

[25:37] All of these things, Father, we ask in

[25:39] thy name. Amen.

[25:43] » Pledge allegiance to the flag of the

[25:45] United States of America and to the

[25:48] republic for which it stands, one nation

[25:51] under God, indivisible, with liberty and

[25:54] justice for all.

[25:59] Okay, roll call.

[26:02] » Commissioner Turner is absent.

[26:04] » Yeah, Commissioner Turner is not here.

[26:05] He's ministering to the Howell family,

[26:07] so he won't attend tonight. Moving on to

[26:10] the uh

[26:12] amendments to the agenda. I think we

[26:14] have one item to add under executive

[26:17] session to litigation. We have personnel

[26:19] and real estate already listed. We want

[26:22] to add litigation to that. So, um, I'll

[26:27] make a motion we adopt the agenda as

[26:28] amended to add litigation to the

[26:31] executive session.

[26:32] » Um,

[26:34] well, we have a motion. I have one more

[26:36] item I'd like to

[26:37] » I'm sorry.

[26:37] » I have one more amendment I'd like to

[26:39] make, but you have a motion.

[26:40] » I'm sorry.

[26:40] » I have one more amendment I'd like to

[26:42] make, but you have a motion.

[26:43] » You want to amend the motion?

[26:44] » Uh, I want to amend the agenda.

[26:47] » We have a motion on the floor to adopt

[26:50] the agenda as amended.

[26:51] » Correct. There was one more amendment

[26:52] I'd like to make. You were a little

[26:53] quick on the draw. Nobody else could get

[26:55] a word out.

[26:57] » I don't I can't hear you.

[26:59] » I'd like to remove item eight from the

[27:01] agenda. Um Commissioner Commissioner

[27:04] Turner

[27:04] » Um which item

[27:06] » Had some things he wanted to discuss

[27:07] with us and and since he can't be here,

[27:10] » I wanted to to possibly remove that.

[27:12] It's a consideration of bid award for

[27:14] janitorial services.

[27:17] » Okay. So you want to amend the motion to

[27:20] remove

[27:25] » I wanted to move amend the agenda but

[27:26] you made a motion

[27:27] » You want to move the first reading of

[27:28] the parks and wreck from the agenda.

[27:30] » No number eight consideration of bid

[27:33] award for janitorial services contract.

[27:35] » Okay I resend my motion. I'll let you

[27:38] make the motion.

[27:39] » Well I I would just like to add the

[27:40] amendment to remove that off the

[27:42] » Handle in two separate actions.

[27:44] » Yeah.

[27:45] » Right. two separate actions.

[27:48] » So you made a motion to remove correct

[27:50] » The parks.

[27:51] » Yes,

[27:52] » No

[27:54] add.

[27:54] » The motion on the floor add litigation

[27:57] to executive session session. Yes,

[27:59] » That's it.

[28:00] » Second, Mr. Chairman.

[28:04] » It's seconded now. Okay.

[28:06] » We have a motion and a second to add

[28:08] executive session to the litigation to

[28:12] the executive session.

[28:13] » That is the motion. Right. We have a

[28:14] motion and a second. All in favor?

[28:17] Finally got that one. Now, let's move on

[28:19] to the next one.

[28:20] » Yes. Uh I I would like as I would like I

[28:23] would move to amend the agenda to remove

[28:25] item number eight uh until Commissioner

[28:27] Turner could be with us to discuss that.

[28:29] He had some things he wanted to

[28:30] » Okay.

[28:31] » To address.

[28:32] » Okay. So, we have a motion to uh remove

[28:36] item number eight from the agenda.

[28:38] » Second.

[28:39] » We have a motion and a second. All in

[28:41] favor?

[28:43] Anybody opposed?

[28:49] Okay, now we've got that straight. Let's

[28:51] move on.

[28:53] Uh move on to the approval of the

[28:54] minutes for the August 18th, 2026

[28:57] regular meeting in executive session.

[29:00] Entertain a motion to approve.

[29:02] » Make a motion to approve the agenda

[29:04] items uh the minute items as specified.

[29:08] » Uh second.

[29:10] » We have a motion and a second. All in

[29:12] favor?

[29:14] Motion carries.

[29:16] Okay, we have a couple of presentations

[29:18] before us tonight. Uh first one is

[29:23] uh recognition of the month of September

[29:25] as suicide prevention month.

[29:27] » Good evening, gentlemen. Uh tonight

[29:30] we're going to present a proclamation

[29:32] for the Camd County Board of

[29:33] Commissioners to recognize the month of

[29:35] September 2026 as suicide prevention

[29:38] awareness month. And this is just an

[29:40] excerpt from the proclamation. Uh

[29:43] whereas September is recognized across

[29:45] the United States as National Suicide

[29:47] Prevention Awareness Month, a time

[29:49] dedicated to increasing awareness of the

[29:52] resources and support available to

[29:54] individuals in crisis and to

[29:56] highlighting the importance of mental

[29:58] health and emotional well-being. And

[30:01] whereas September 10th is nationally and

[30:03] internationally recognized as World

[30:05] Suicide Prevention Day, providing an

[30:08] important opportunity to educate our

[30:10] community about the warning signs of

[30:12] emotional distress and actions we can

[30:14] take to support those most at risk. And

[30:17] whereas the Camden Suicide Prevention

[30:19] Coalition serves as a leader in local

[30:22] efforts to promote awareness and

[30:24] prevention practices representing a

[30:26] collaborative partnership of

[30:28] organizations, agencies, businesses, and

[30:31] residents united in a shared mission to

[30:33] foster hope, promote safety, and

[30:36] strengthen our community's ability to

[30:37] recognize and respond to signs of

[30:40] depression and suicide risk.

[30:43] And whereas hope, help, and healing are

[30:46] possible and crisis intervention

[30:48] resources are available in Camden

[30:50] County, including the suicide and crisis

[30:52] lifeline at 988,

[30:55] offering free and confidential support

[30:58] 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. And now

[31:01] therefore, it be it proclaimed that the

[31:03] Camden County Board of Commissioners

[31:05] hereby declares the month of September

[31:07] 2026 as Suicide Prevention Awareness

[31:10] Month and Thursday, September 10, 2026

[31:13] as Suicide Prevention Day throughout

[31:15] Camden County. And this is proclaimed

[31:17] the first day of September 2026. And we

[31:20] do have a couple of representatives from

[31:22] the Camden Suicide Prevention Coalition

[31:24] to receive the proclamation and to

[31:26] excuse me, join you for a picture.

[31:56] The front row stays exactly where they

[31:58] are and the back row takes one step this

[31:59] way.

[32:18] And just as a special reminder with

[32:20] that, um the Camden Suicide Prevention

[32:22] Coalition has been very active lately.

[32:25] Um later this month on the 17th, there's

[32:27] going to be Voices of Hope. It's a forum

[32:29] on mental health and wellness. Uh it's

[32:32] going to be at 6 PM at the Camdi County

[32:34] High School Lecture Hall and we're going

[32:36] to have panelists including our own

[32:38] commissioners Turner and Smith. They're

[32:39] going to speak to participants and we're

[32:41] also going to have representatives from

[32:42] local government, education,

[32:44] faith-based, military and veterans, and

[32:46] our mental health practitioners

[32:48] represented for that forum on the 17th.

[32:50] The coalition's also uh participating in

[32:52] more events in September. They're going

[32:54] to be at the Blues and Barbecue Festival

[32:56] and also the hospital's health fair. um

[32:59] recent events. They just recently had a

[33:01] screening uh mental health screening at

[33:03] the College of Coastal Georgia Camden

[33:05] Center. And in November, we're going to

[33:07] have the Walt to Remember. It's for

[33:09] International Survivors of Suicide Loss

[33:11] Day. So, the co um coalition is very

[33:14] active with those items on your behalf.

[33:17] Well, in addition to the work we do, our

[33:20] second proclamation tonight is going to

[33:22] be uh recognizing the month of September

[33:24] 2026 as library card signup month. And

[33:28] this is another excerpt from the

[33:30] proclamation. Uh whereas libraries

[33:32] inspire creativity, fuel imagination,

[33:34] and support lifelong learning for all

[33:36] Georgians, offering a space where

[33:38] individuals of all ages can explore new

[33:41] ideas and be drawn to new possibilities.

[33:45] And whereas libraries serve as vibrant

[33:48] community hubs connecting people with

[33:50] knowledge, technology, and resources

[33:52] while fostering civic engagement,

[33:54] critical thinking, and lifelong

[33:56] learning. And whereas libraries provide

[33:59] free book access, excuse me, free access

[34:02] to books, digital tools, and innovative

[34:05] programming, ensuring that all

[34:06] individuals have the support they need

[34:08] to learn, connect, and thrive. And

[34:11] whereas dedicated librarians and library

[34:14] workers foster welcoming spaces that

[34:16] encourage discovery, collaboration, and

[34:19] creativity for all.

[34:22] And now, therefore, be it proclaimed

[34:23] that the Camden County Board of

[34:25] Commissioners declare September 2026 as

[34:28] library card signup month. During this

[34:30] month, all residents are encouraged to

[34:32] visit their library, sign up or renew

[34:34] their card, explore its resources, and

[34:36] celebrate all the ways that the library

[34:38] brings us together as a community.

[34:40] Proclaim this first day of September,

[34:42] 2026. And we have some representatives

[34:44] from the library here, too.

[35:16] And as a reminder, we do have three

[35:18] libraries in Camden County. One in St.

[35:20] Mary's, one in Kingsland, the Camden

[35:22] County Library, and the one in Woodbine,

[35:24] who recently was very gracious to host

[35:26] one of our summer town hall meetings.

[35:28] So, thank you.

[35:31] » Thanks, Claire.

[35:34] Mr. Coughlin.

[35:49] You hear me? Okay now. Okay. Sorry about

[35:51] that. Do I need the clicker or do I just

[35:53] need to ask you all to click?

[36:14] » All right. Can y'all hear me now?

[36:16] » Yes.

[36:17] » Okay. Great. Thanks for having me. I'm

[36:19] James Coughlin with the Camden County

[36:20] Joint Development Authority and I'm here

[36:23] u as I do every quarter for our

[36:25] quarterly update just uh to let you know

[36:27] what the JDA has going on, give you the

[36:29] opportunity to ask questions.

[36:34] All right. So, as a reminder, um our our

[36:37] purpose, our mission statement is to

[36:39] promote and stimulate economic

[36:40] development throughout Camden County. Uh

[36:43] the JDA operates under the Georgia

[36:45] Development Authorities Law that governs

[36:47] everything we can be involved with um

[36:50] for industrial and economic development

[36:52] authorities around the country, excuse

[36:53] me, around the state. So um you know,

[36:55] obviously uh we we adhere to that pretty

[36:58] strictly. Um these are our FY27

[37:02] strategic priorities. We follow the same

[37:04] fiscal year that the county does, uh

[37:05] started in July. Uh the first priority

[37:08] is to redevelop the former Gilman

[37:10] property that we refer to as the North

[37:11] River property. Uh to deliver the first

[37:15] phase of the Coastal Georgia Commerce

[37:17] Park.

[37:18] » Just move the mic closer to your mouth.

[37:20] » Move Move the mic closer. Got it. Thank

[37:23] you, Shannon.

[37:24] uh to deliver the first phase of the

[37:26] coastal Georgia Commerce Park to advance

[37:28] the Georgia Florida sports park project

[37:31] and to continue with countywide support

[37:33] and collaboration.

[37:36] This is that uh those same priorities

[37:39] that are shown in a different way. This

[37:40] is our strategic roadmap for the year.

[37:43] So again, the North River project, uh,

[37:45] the redevelopment strategy there

[37:46] involves, um, a broker-led process. Um,

[37:49] I'll go into that in more detail in just

[37:51] a minute. Um, and then selecting a

[37:53] master developer with the Coastal

[37:55] Georgia Commerce Park, completing the,

[37:57] uh, Georgia DOT permits, going out to

[37:59] bid for the infrastructure, and and

[38:01] hopefully moving toward a January

[38:03] groundbreaking.

[38:04] um the Georgia Florida Sports Park.

[38:06] We're finalizing that agreement and

[38:08] we'll move to the approval phase uh soon

[38:11] and then continuing the uh the

[38:13] countywide collaborative uh support that

[38:15] we have uh with the cities and the

[38:17] county.

[38:20] All right, looking specifically at the

[38:22] former Gilman property, the North River

[38:24] property. Just as a reminder, in January

[38:27] uh January 13th of this year, we took

[38:29] possession of the property after

[38:31] foreclosing on the uh the former

[38:33] developer that was involved. Uh just

[38:35] last month, after a very lengthy RFP

[38:38] process, very thorough RFP process, we

[38:41] engage CBRE to be our global developer.

[38:44] Um in late September or early October

[38:47] this year, they will release an RFP on

[38:49] of their own to the global market. That

[38:51] draft is already underway. We've seen a

[38:53] couple uh renditions of what that that

[38:56] document will look like and the target

[38:58] is in December to bring in uh master

[39:01] developer candidates and and hopefully

[39:03] begin that that selection process. Um

[39:06] lower down on that slide uh the numbered

[39:09] uh sections there. Just want to make

[39:11] sure everybody is okay or or understands

[39:14] that uh we're putting a portion of this

[39:16] property into a conservation easement.

[39:18] We've had a lot of concerned citizens

[39:20] reach out to us and reach out to the

[39:21] city of St. Mary's wanting to make sure

[39:24] that that Woodstok rrookery and and the

[39:26] rrookery that protects the Rosett spoon

[39:28] bills um is protected. Just as a an

[39:31] aside there, for years we've referred to

[39:33] it as the Woodsto Rookery. It's actually

[39:36] the largest uh rrookery or nesting area

[39:38] for Rosia spoon bills in the state of

[39:40] Georgia. Uh so I'm not sure why we all

[39:42] call it the Woodsto Rookery, but anyway,

[39:45] um that will continue to be protected.

[39:47] Uh we're we're we've had a conservation

[39:49] easement uh drawn up for that. Um and

[39:52] we're partnering with with the Navy on

[39:53] that. Um as needed, uh if necessary, we

[39:57] will break off some of the parcels on

[39:59] the periphery of the property. We've had

[40:00] developers express interest in that. Our

[40:03] intent is to go to market with this as

[40:05] one contiguous uh parcel, but if

[40:07] necessary, we we will sell off uh some

[40:10] of the periphery of the property. Um and

[40:13] then CBRE, of course, is going to market

[40:15] with that RFP, mainly focusing on the

[40:17] waterfront opportunity. Um, and they're

[40:20] going to the global market on that.

[40:22] Notes down there at the bottom. I want

[40:24] to make sure everybody remembers the

[40:25] landfills that are associated with that

[40:27] former mill site remain the property of

[40:29] Jacobe Development. Those are not the

[40:30] property nor the responsibility of the

[40:33] JDA, the city of St. Mary's or Camden

[40:35] County. Uh, CBRE uh, their success fee,

[40:39] which you know, I think most of us would

[40:40] would think of as a commission involved

[40:42] with this, is based on the value of the

[40:45] proposed development, and that is to be

[40:46] paid by the master developer. That's

[40:49] pretty standard with large developments

[40:51] like this and that development community

[40:53] is is accustomed to that model.

[40:57] The Coastal Georgia Commerce Park. Um

[40:59] this is in in my mind the biggest and

[41:02] and probably most important thing that

[41:04] the JDA has done in my time here. Um the

[41:08] day I loaded up my truck to move down

[41:10] from northwest Georgia down to Camden

[41:12] County and stopped in Atlanta to meet

[41:14] with the Department of Community Affairs

[41:15] and the Department of Economic

[41:16] Development. Uh the first thing they

[41:18] told me is Camden doesn't have product.

[41:22] Camden doesn't have product. Meaning

[41:24] that for large projects who are looking

[41:27] around the state of Georgia, Camden

[41:29] wasn't even on their radar. They we just

[41:31] never had the product uh that was needed

[41:34] to to qualify for some of those

[41:35] projects. That has continued to be the

[41:37] case. Um and we this will be the finally

[41:40] our opportunity to change that. Um, so

[41:42] the path to groundbreaking on this, uh,

[41:45] this month and next, we're finalizing

[41:47] the the DOT approvals. This is for the

[41:50] improvements to be made on Highway 17

[41:52] there at the intersection with Harriet

[41:53] Bluff Road. Uh, there'll be deceler

[41:56] deceleration lanes added, turn lanes

[41:58] added, an intersection added, um, rail

[42:01] crossing for the for the rail line that

[42:04] runs just west of there. Um, and once

[42:07] those permits are completed, we'll go

[42:08] out to bid hopefully in in mid to late

[42:11] October. uh for the infrastructure uh

[42:13] construction for the road, the water and

[42:15] the sewer package. Um the target would

[42:18] be to um actually select a general

[42:21] contractor by uh December and then to

[42:24] actually have a groundbreaking uh in

[42:26] January of 2027.

[42:28] Um this property has been and is now

[42:31] what's called grad certified or Georgia

[42:34] ready for accelerated development. Um,

[42:37] and right now we're in the process of

[42:39] moving toward to the highest level of

[42:41] readiness designation by the state,

[42:43] which is grad select. That process is

[42:45] almost complete. And I want to thank

[42:47] some of the people in this room, Chief

[42:48] Smith, Sheriff Cheney, um, and and

[42:51] others who have been a part of that

[42:52] process. They've all had to go on the

[42:54] record on their letterhead and sign and

[42:57] provide documents to the state

[42:58] indicating that they are the covering

[43:00] agency for this property. So there's no

[43:02] question later when a big project wants

[43:04] to come, they don't have to ask, hey, do

[43:06] we have this? Do we have that? These

[43:08] have all been worked out. And that also

[43:09] includes local utilities, um, city of

[43:12] Kingsland, things like that. So all

[43:14] that's been documented ahead of time. So

[43:15] thank you for your help with that.

[43:20] All right, looking at the Georgia Sports

[43:21] Park, moving this from agreement to

[43:24] execution.

[43:26] Um the development agreement has gone

[43:28] back and forth now between the the

[43:30] developer, their attorney, the staff

[43:32] level, the city of Kingsland and the JDA

[43:35] now for about a year. Actually, it was a

[43:37] little about 11 months now. Um that is

[43:40] now finally in what what we consider to

[43:43] be I'm using air quotes final draft

[43:45] because we all know the attorneys are

[43:46] going to u make some suggestions and

[43:49] some comments back and forth. Um, the

[43:51] next step would be for us to get those

[43:53] to the city attorney, JDA attorney, and

[43:55] the county attorney for consideration,

[43:57] and then hopefully bring those to city

[43:59] council, JDA board, and and the county.

[44:02] Um, phase one of that, the private

[44:06] investment is the first hotel, the

[44:08] accompanying restaurant, uh, the RV park

[44:11] associated with that, and down in the

[44:13] southwest corner of the development, uh,

[44:15] there's a single family residential

[44:17] development. You might say, why what

[44:19] does a single family residential

[44:20] development have to do with a sports

[44:21] park? Um, truth is, it's just a a

[44:24] convenient place for a for a single

[44:26] family residential community, and it's

[44:28] in the TAD. It's in the tax allocation

[44:30] district that helps to to fund this for

[44:33] the city of Kingsland. So, uh, we

[44:35] consider it part of of the overall

[44:37] development. On the public side, the

[44:40] water, sewer, and road improvements

[44:42] along May Creek Road. So just for

[44:44] everybody's reference, that's the road

[44:45] that runs beside Cracker Barrel and and

[44:48] back there to where the technical

[44:49] college is. So those water sewer road

[44:52] improvements, the first cluster of

[44:54] fields uh that are right there up

[44:56] against May Creek Road, and then the

[44:57] supporting infrastructure, the

[44:59] sidewalks, the lighting, the fencing,

[45:01] all of that. Um so that first phase of

[45:03] public investment will be splass 9. um 3

[45:07] million of that will be associated with

[45:09] the infrastructure and 7 million of that

[45:11] will be associated with the uh actual

[45:13] construction of the sports fields

[45:14] themselves. It'll be very important that

[45:16] this is a this is a coordinated public

[45:19] private launch that these um are ready

[45:21] to come out of the ground at the same

[45:22] time so neither party gets gets ahead of

[45:25] the other.

[45:28] » You said 3 million was infrastructure

[45:30] for water and 7 million was for the

[45:33] fields

[45:33] » Road water and and sewer improvements

[45:35] along May Creek Road. Yes, sir.

[45:40] All right. Our next uh strategic

[45:42] initiative and and this remains the same

[45:44] as last year and probably will remain

[45:46] the same next year is supporting our

[45:48] local collaboration. Uh we love uh what

[45:51] we've been doing with the quarterly

[45:53] collaborative meetings with

[45:54] representatives from all three cities,

[45:56] uh the county staff, the school system,

[45:58] Kings Bay Naval Base, and of course our

[46:00] staff uh to get together on a quarterly

[46:02] basis, review projects, review where

[46:05] infrastructure um projects are are close

[46:08] to each other, where we need to be aware

[46:09] of of traffic concerns that might be

[46:12] caused by one project in in St. Mary's

[46:14] or Kingsland or or in the county.

[46:17] um make sure that everybody's working

[46:18] together and on the same page to have

[46:20] the base co there uh to have the school

[46:23] uh represented to make sure that that

[46:25] they understand what we're doing we

[46:27] understand what what they're doing uh so

[46:29] we'll continue to do that uh working

[46:31] with uh the county St. areas in

[46:33] Kingsland on several infrastructure

[46:35] projects uh several priv private

[46:37] projects. We'll continue to uh to do

[46:39] that as well.

[46:43] [sighs and gasps] All right. One of the

[46:44] thing things I was asked to do is uh

[46:46] look back on the JDA and and demonstrate

[46:49] or or at least uh share a little bit

[46:51] about the return on investment in the

[46:53] time that I've been here. Um, so I

[46:56] arrived in FY uh 15 and the funding

[46:58] since then has totaled 9 about $9.5

[47:02] million, $9.47 million in that amount of

[47:05] time. Just looking back over the last 5

[47:08] years, uh the the increase in fair

[47:11] market value for the real property for

[47:14] projects we've been involved with has

[47:16] increased from 6.3 million to over $34

[47:19] million in that 5year period.

[47:22] um the assessed growth, so the actual

[47:24] tax value growth of that same real

[47:27] property that we've been involved with

[47:29] uh during that time has increased from

[47:30] $2.5 million to $14 million or 13.9 to

[47:34] be exact. Um and then if you include the

[47:38] machinery and equipment, which is the

[47:40] real and personal assessed growth in

[47:42] that same time period, the value of that

[47:44] property has increased from $8 million

[47:46] to $145 million. So, uh, significant

[47:50] growth. Um, the the bar graphs there

[47:53] demonstrate that as well. Same

[47:55] calculations. I'll point out the two

[47:57] notes on the bottom. Um, that total

[47:59] funding calculation there at the top

[48:01] where it says 9.47 million, that

[48:03] includes a deduction of 750 million.

[48:06] None of the current commissioners were

[48:08] were on commission at that time, but the

[48:10] JD JDA was asked in FY15 to uh give back

[48:15] $750,000 of funding to help pay for the

[48:19] um spaceport um environmental assessment

[48:22] that was done at that time and and we

[48:24] did that. So that that includes uh

[48:26] deducting that uh from back in FY15.

[48:29] Also, that return on investment does not

[48:32] include the secondary impact of

[48:34] companies and workers spending their

[48:35] dollars here in Camden County. So,

[48:37] that's, you know, companies who hire

[48:39] local contract contractors to work on on

[48:41] their site. Uh workers who spend their

[48:44] money in local shops and restaurants,

[48:46] stay in our hotels, um rent apartments,

[48:49] buy property, etc. So, it doesn't

[48:51] include any of that. This is strictly

[48:52] the the real estate uh impact.

[48:58] Also, I want to take just a minute

[48:59] because I I think sometimes I I sound uh

[49:02] maybe not as as appreciative as I should

[49:05] be about the Camden County Industrial

[49:07] Park. 30 years ago, uh the JDA uh took a

[49:11] bold step uh to create the Camden County

[49:14] Industrial Park. So, in 1996, they did

[49:17] that. They purchased 164 acres for

[49:20] $625,000

[49:22] or an average of $3,800

[49:24] an acre. Um, now that did include some

[49:27] wetlands and and things like that. Um,

[49:30] but that that was the value of it back

[49:32] in in 1996. They divided that up into a

[49:36] lot of little pieces and and marketed

[49:38] that. We've had um a lot of success in

[49:41] just the last you five or six years in

[49:44] selling uh that property to several

[49:47] different companies. Uh currently the

[49:50] real property value just in that

[49:52] industrial park of the land and

[49:54] buildings alone is uh almost $7.5

[49:56] million and the total tax value

[49:59] including the machinery and equipment is

[50:02] over $107 million. A large part of that

[50:05] is plug power. Um of course they came to

[50:07] town on a tax abatement schedule. That's

[50:09] a normal incentive uh when you're

[50:11] competing with other communities. Uh but

[50:13] this year they'll be paying 60% of their

[50:16] uh the tax assessment that that is due

[50:18] to them which is still u millions of

[50:20] dollars. So anyway, I want to take time

[50:23] to to recognize that because that was a

[50:25] bold move and now we're taking the next

[50:28] step um with the Coastal Georgia

[50:30] Commerce Park. Down there at the bottom,

[50:32] those are the companies that are located

[50:34] uh in the Camden County Industrial Park

[50:36] currently. We've got one more to come

[50:38] that I'm under an NDA with. I can't uh

[50:40] share just yet, but we've got another

[50:42] small company that'll be moving in

[50:44] there. I say small, they've got about 40

[50:46] employees, which is which is great. Um

[50:49] anyway, so um hopefully once that gets

[50:52] done, uh that'll represent the final

[50:54] piece of property in the Camden County

[50:56] Industrial Park.

[51:00] » Did you say Plug pays a million dollars

[51:01] in property tax?

[51:03] Um, so they are they've they're a

[51:06] development worth about $130

[51:09] million total. Um, so 40% of that times

[51:13] our millage rate. Uh, you can do that

[51:15] math. That's that's pretty significant.

[51:23] » Commissioner Smith, I wanted to comment

[51:24] on your uh outfit tonight. I did not

[51:26] coordinate that with you or watch you

[51:28] leave the house. I promise.

[51:29] » Uh, suic [laughter] suicide um

[51:31] prevention awareness. Oh, nice. Okay.

[51:34] » Made you aware.

[51:35] » Any questions on any of that?

[51:38] » I had a couple.

[51:42] » Uh, so the RFP going to market for the

[51:44] North River Gilman property, right?

[51:46] » Was there any kind of criteria? I know

[51:48] sometimes you see when bids go out, we

[51:49] have benchmarks we'd like people to

[51:52] incorporate in their proposals or

[51:55] » Yeah. Um, there was. Um, so our criteria

[51:58] when we're looking for a master

[52:00] developer on that site is to to fit the

[52:02] current zoning model that's that's there

[52:05] work with the city. It's a what we call

[52:07] live, work, play model. It's a mixeduse

[52:10] model. Um, it does allow for light

[52:12] industrial. Uh, so there is some uh

[52:15] place on the property. If you're

[52:16] familiar with the property coming in off

[52:18] the Finley Gate, there's the opportunity

[52:20] to incorporate some light industrial

[52:21] there. Um, but we're asking de

[52:24] developers to submit a proposal for that

[52:26] mixeduse uh type model. We're also

[52:29] asking them to incorporate the marina as

[52:31] currently permitted or to to redesign

[52:34] the marina, which would require a

[52:36] modified permit with DNR. Uh, but if you

[52:39] remember, we we did uh achieve a marina

[52:41] permit there.

[52:42] » But so in a perfect world, we're looking

[52:44] for like a Whole Foods with some

[52:46] condominiums on the top and a parking

[52:48] [laughter] area. Did you say a Whole

[52:50] Foods with with Yeah. Some some retail,

[52:53] some residential um in in the town

[52:56] center area. So the the intersection of

[52:58] meeting and Meeting Street in Osborne

[53:00] there, that's what we refer to as the

[53:01] town center. Um retail, uh residential

[53:04] in that area, hotel,

[53:07] um condos, town homes, that that kind of

[53:10] thing. So that would be on the south end

[53:11] of the property and a little further

[53:12] north is an opportunity for some light

[53:14] industrial

[53:15] » On the does did anybody did anybody else

[53:18] have any other questions before I just

[53:20] keep going on I don't want to be rude on

[53:22] the Georgia Florida sports park for the

[53:24] 3 million versus 7 million 3 million's

[53:25] for utility improvements 7 million's

[53:28] going towards the construction of the

[53:30] fields

[53:30] » Who will ultimately end up owning the

[53:32] fields

[53:33] » Good question so um what's currently

[53:36] contemplated in the agreement I know you

[53:37] haven't seen it yet but is the KDA Uh,

[53:40] so the Kingsland Development Authority

[53:41] would be the owner of the fields. They

[53:43] need to be publicly owned. Um, and

[53:47] rather than having the the the JDA own

[53:49] them and having to constantly coordinate

[53:51] with the city of Kingsland for

[53:53] maintenance, etc., um, they'll be owned

[53:55] by the KDA, but then contracted out for

[53:58] private management. Oh, so so a private

[54:00] group would take care of organizing and

[54:02] scheduling tournaments, staffing,

[54:04] maintenance, insurance, all of that. But

[54:08] the 10 million allocated was a

[54:09] countywide

[54:11] project. Correct.

[54:12] » Right. That is correct.

[54:13] » Not a not a Kingsland project.

[54:15] » Well, I mean it's Yeah, that's right. It

[54:17] the the money will flow through the city

[54:19] of Kingsland.

[54:22] » Okay. Ownership of fields. When is your

[54:24] next collaborative meeting? I know you

[54:25] said you do them quarterly.

[54:26] » We do them quarterly. September 17th, I

[54:30] think. I think. Yeah, 17th. I'm the day

[54:32] after my birthday. Um, and just and I'm

[54:35] just going to throw this out there as a

[54:37] general rule. Um, I don't mean to be

[54:40] rude. We don't invite elected officials.

[54:42] Um, that's how I I'm sorry. Um, yeah.

[54:45] When I when I got the base co, for

[54:46] example, to come or or the the

[54:48] superintendent just to encourage

[54:52] um

[54:54] open dialogue, you know, for us to

[54:56] really, you know, share frustrations and

[54:58] and that kind of thing. We we don't ask

[55:00] invited uh we don't invite elected

[55:02] officials to come. We did have a couple

[55:04] meetings early on where some schoolboard

[55:06] members came and then it it clicked that

[55:08] oh yeah they're elected officials as

[55:09] well. Uh so we had to tell them to to

[55:12] stand down as well.

[55:14] » I'm highly offended.

[55:16] » I I apologize. We'll set up a separate

[55:18] meeting for you.

[55:19] » Oh, thank you very much.

[55:22] » Any other questions?

[55:24] » Uh no. I just want to uh you know

[55:26] applaud the work you're doing as far as

[55:28] turning around the the image of the JDA.

[55:30] Ben, I know since you've become

[55:31] chairman, we've seen some positive

[55:33] things. So, thank you both.

[55:34] » Thank you. I appreciate it.

[55:39] » Thanks, James.

[55:41] Okay, moving forward, we're going to

[55:43] move into the p first public comment

[55:45] section. Uh these this section is for

[55:49] any item on the agenda. Limit your

[55:51] comments to three minutes.

[55:54] Um, state your name.

[55:57] Anybody sign up?

[55:59] » Yes. The first is Mr. Steve Gross.

[56:01] » Mr. Gross.

[56:11] » Good evening everyone. I'm sad that uh

[56:13] Mr. Coughlin has left. I was hoping he

[56:15] would stay for this. I had a meeting

[56:16] with Mr. Coughlin and Mr. Turner and Mr.

[56:19] John Wjic about 3 months ago, two and a

[56:23] half months ago. And that's the purpose

[56:25] of the presentation he gave tonight that

[56:28] was spurred on by that meeting that we

[56:29] had. And I don't know if any of you

[56:31] noticed, but there are some glaring

[56:33] emissions to that uh financial statement

[56:35] that he made. The biggest one is that

[56:37] there's no mention of the financial

[56:38] costs of the Gilman property whatsoever

[56:41] in any of his So that return on

[56:43] investment is just not true. It's not

[56:45] even close.

[56:47] Uh, I think you should question him on

[56:49] that as soon as possible and see where

[56:51] is this coming from because there's

[56:52] that's $10 million or more of taxpayer

[56:55] money. I wanted to ask him tonight um,

[56:58] what is the monthly note for that

[57:02] property. There was also no mention of

[57:05] Spaceport and I can't help but not but

[57:07] notice that JDA always disavows

[57:09] Spaceport, but JDA began Spaceport. JDA

[57:13] got Spaceport rolling and then passed

[57:15] that on to us. and there's a huge tax

[57:17] burden there and I asked him to include

[57:20] that in the costs and of course he did

[57:22] not um plug industries plug power. He

[57:27] spoke highly of them. My understanding

[57:30] is that their grants have run out and

[57:32] they may not be here in another year or

[57:34] so that they are on very shaky ground

[57:36] with the change of administration that

[57:38] we have. So I don't think they're in

[57:40] good shape. I don't think we're going to

[57:41] see the return on our tax

[57:46] [clears throat] break that we gave them.

[57:48] And I think the people of Camden County

[57:50] deserve better than just what they got

[57:53] tonight. I think the people of Cam

[57:55] Camden County deserve a referendum. And

[57:57] I think they deserve a full accounting

[58:01] of what's gone on in the last 15 years

[58:03] with our JDA. And I think if you look at

[58:05] it very carefully, you will find that

[58:09] they are not nearly as prosperous for us

[58:12] or creating the prosperity for us that

[58:15] they are claiming to. Um I think it's

[58:18] time that we have a referendum on the

[58:20] direction that they go. I'm not sure

[58:23] that our county wants a bigger

[58:24] industrial park. I'm pretty sure they

[58:26] don't want the asphalt plant that the

[58:29] JDA is bringing in that's going to bring

[58:32] hundreds and hundreds of trucks to our

[58:34] roads during a I95 construction project

[58:37] over the next few years. Um, I'm not

[58:41] sure that the collaboration between

[58:46] the commissioners and the JDA

[58:49] is what we want to see happening the way

[58:51] it is. Especially when I hear things

[58:52] like, "Well, you're not invited to this

[58:54] meeting." No one is invited to their

[58:56] meetings. In fact, I've gone to several

[58:58] of their meetings, and if I sit there

[59:00] for the 10 minutes at the beginning of

[59:02] the meeting, they have no question

[59:04] answer period, and then they go into

[59:05] executive session. Can't get any

[59:08] information out of them. Um, I've spoken

[59:10] with Mr. Turner at length uh at to find

[59:14] out what is the avenue for

[59:17] eliminating our JDA, which many other

[59:19] counties have done. and he said, 'I have

[59:21] to go through Mr. Sains. I have

[59:23] repeatedly called and texted Mr. Sains.

[59:25] I stopped in his office in St. Mary's

[59:28] and lo and behold, when I stopped in his

[59:30] office in St. Mary's, a Mr. Yadv greets

[59:33] me purporting to represent Mr. Sains.

[59:37] Mr. Yadv is a board member on the JDA

[59:42] and purports in that office to represent

[59:44] Mr. Sains. In fact, he promised me that

[59:46] he would get me a face to face with Mr.

[59:48] Sains. haven't heard back from him. So,

[59:50] I think you have a uh a little thing

[59:53] going on here that needs some serious

[59:55] attention to determine exactly what our

[59:58] JDA is doing for us and whether our

[1:00:01] people, not not our businesses, not the

[1:00:04] businesses in our town, but the

[1:00:06] constituents, everyone in our town is

[1:00:09] looking for a larger industrial park,

[1:00:11] more industry in this town, or do we

[1:00:13] want to pursue a different avenue in

[1:00:16] order to try and maintain our taxes at a

[1:00:18] lower rate? because right now I think

[1:00:21] we're looking at a tax increase that's

[1:00:23] going to hurt everyone substantially.

[1:00:25] Thank you for your time.

[1:00:27] » Thank you.

[1:00:29] » Anybody else?

[1:00:30] » Mr. Steve Winkle.

[1:00:39] » Thank you. Steve Winkle, Harriet Bluff.

[1:00:43] Looking over the agenda tonight, I would

[1:00:45] like to talk about 10 items. I can't get

[1:00:47] it done in the time that y'all are going

[1:00:50] to tolerate me. Uh I'd like to address

[1:00:54] as my highest point items 45 6 7

[1:01:04] 4 5 6 and 7. I ran the numbers

[1:01:08] and I'm just wondering because in

[1:01:12] reading the boilerplate,

[1:01:16] the full package, which is not presented

[1:01:19] to the public, but is available online

[1:01:22] if you look for it.

[1:01:24] And it looks to me like

[1:01:29] the purchase of all that equipment is

[1:01:31] dependent on doing work

[1:01:34] on Kings Bay Naval Submarine Base and

[1:01:37] being paid by the Navy or some party

[1:01:40] which isn't elaborated here for the work

[1:01:43] which is only producing a profit to the

[1:01:46] county of 7.8%.

[1:01:51] And at that basis, the work that's

[1:01:53] outlined in your request tonight only

[1:01:57] requires

[1:01:58] 10 more projects to produce the income

[1:02:02] to provide the money

[1:02:05] that would be needed to buy the

[1:02:07] excavator, which would appears to be the

[1:02:10] deal here is that the profit from each

[1:02:13] of these transactions appears to be used

[1:02:16] to purchase the excavator. It's not

[1:02:18] clear in what's presented to the board

[1:02:20] or to the public. And so I think tonight

[1:02:23] we need to have a very very detailed

[1:02:25] elaboration

[1:02:27] on how the purchase of the excavator and

[1:02:30] commitment to the excavator is going to

[1:02:33] be paid until those future projects come

[1:02:36] from the Navy.

[1:02:38] because the projects have been approved

[1:02:41] would have to total about $200 million

[1:02:47] at the current rate.

[1:02:50] I take that back. I'm sorry, $2 million

[1:02:53] at the current rates that they're

[1:02:55] earning in order to provide enough to

[1:02:58] buy that excavator. And we have never

[1:03:00] heard a public explanation

[1:03:03] of how the excavator was burned up a

[1:03:06] couple of months ago.

[1:03:08] can't seem to get a square answer on

[1:03:10] that.

[1:03:12] We've heard a justification for what

[1:03:15] happened, but we haven't heard how we're

[1:03:18] going to prevent burning up the next

[1:03:20] machine there.

[1:03:22] We haven't heard what happened,

[1:03:25] who was responsible or what was

[1:03:26] responsible.

[1:03:28] If it was a lightning strike, we should

[1:03:32] know that. if it was caused by lack of

[1:03:36] maintenance, we need to know what

[1:03:37] maintenance is being done now to protect

[1:03:40] all of the equipment that the county

[1:03:42] owns. And so, the fact of the matter is

[1:03:45] there's a lot of open questions. JDA's

[1:03:48] got open questions.

[1:03:50] Public works has open questions on

[1:03:52] several different projects. You'll hear

[1:03:54] about more tonight from others. And the

[1:03:57] fact is is that I think that y'all are

[1:04:01] not getting enough information to make

[1:04:03] good decisions anyway. All you're

[1:04:06] getting is biased information

[1:04:09] which furthers

[1:04:12] the direction that the

[1:04:17] departments want to proceed or are

[1:04:20] desperate to proceed to create their own

[1:04:23] value.

[1:04:25] What really irritates me is to see the

[1:04:28] item on the agenda tonight.

[1:04:31] Number three,

[1:04:33] that has to do with the new official

[1:04:37] document for the parks and recreation

[1:04:42] managed by the county. It's been four

[1:04:45] years since I was promised in a public

[1:04:48] meeting by commissioners who were

[1:04:51] present at the meeting that we would

[1:04:54] have a swing set

[1:04:57] at Herit's Bluff Park. No swing set.

[1:05:01] They hung a couple of children's baby

[1:05:04] swings too high off the ground for kids

[1:05:08] to use by themselves

[1:05:10] on three- foot long chains

[1:05:13] on a piece of existing equipment that

[1:05:15] was never designed for that

[1:05:18] and that the kids can't manage

[1:05:20] themselves too high off the ground for

[1:05:22] them to reach.

[1:05:24] We don't even have swings and haven't

[1:05:26] had swings for the last five years. And

[1:05:29] here we are spending time documenting

[1:05:33] how y'all are going to control us in the

[1:05:35] parks

[1:05:38] instead of the taxpayer getting their

[1:05:40] money's worth after 20 years

[1:05:44] of failure by the county to manage its

[1:05:47] own.

[1:05:48] » Got one more minute. Okay.

[1:05:49] » Well, thank you very much. Okay.

[1:05:53] The problem that we have is it's gotten

[1:05:56] worse at Harriet's Bluff Park. We also

[1:05:58] don't have a tennis court or pickle ball

[1:06:01] court

[1:06:03] because the net was damaged and the post

[1:06:07] supporting the net were removed. They

[1:06:09] were cut off an inch and a half above

[1:06:12] ground level. And now they pose a hazard

[1:06:15] because there's a 4-in diameter hole

[1:06:16] with steel pipes sticking up an inch and

[1:06:19] a half above them exposed and kids are

[1:06:22] playing on that. And there's plenty of

[1:06:23] evidence of that from footprints and

[1:06:26] bike tracks and everything that are on

[1:06:27] the tennis courts at Heritage Park which

[1:06:30] can't be used for tennis.

[1:06:33] And so there's all kinds of issues. The

[1:06:36] barbecue grill I mentioned here a year

[1:06:40] and a half ago. No barbecue grill. We

[1:06:43] have a county park without a barbecue

[1:06:46] grill or a swing set.

[1:06:49] It sounds to me like maybe people who

[1:06:52] want to do business here look and see

[1:06:54] how well we're treating the people who

[1:06:56] already live here first before they

[1:06:59] decide to move here or move their

[1:07:01] companies here. And I think that could

[1:07:04] very well be a problem that we're always

[1:07:06] hearing from department people. Thank

[1:07:09] you.

[1:07:12] » Anybody else?

[1:07:13] » Ben Golf,

[1:07:24] Ben Goff from Heritage Fluff.

[1:07:30] And I want to state right up front that

[1:07:32] I miss Mr. Robert Bower

[1:07:37] and attended his uh celebration of life

[1:07:44] on Sunday afternoon.

[1:07:46] We're going to miss that

[1:07:50] man from his stance on parts and ditches

[1:07:53] and so on and so forth.

[1:07:57] So this is not a permanent thing, but

[1:08:02] for when I'm speaking I'm speaking in

[1:08:04] Mr. Bob Bower's house.

[1:08:07] [cough]

[1:08:08] Amazingly enough,

[1:08:11] [snorts]

[1:08:12] the addition requested for the items to

[1:08:15] the county codes seems to have been

[1:08:18] constructed in a more timely manner than

[1:08:20] the moratorum on the data centers and

[1:08:23] other items. And at first read seems to

[1:08:26] be inclusive of pretty much everything

[1:08:28] needed.

[1:08:29] [snorts]

[1:08:30] [cough and clears throat]

[1:08:32] And I'm referring to the uh

[1:08:36] items for the parks to be added to the

[1:08:39] uh

[1:08:42] county codes.

[1:08:44] Prior to Mr. Joey Kase's arrival at the

[1:08:47] PSA. [clears throat]

[1:08:49] I believe there were deposits required

[1:08:51] but no rental fee charged for pavilions.

[1:08:55] I believe it was instituted under his

[1:08:57] watch and I disagreed with it then and I

[1:09:01] still do.

[1:09:03] I dare say that anyone desiring to

[1:09:05] utilize one of one of the pavilions is a

[1:09:08] taxpayer to some degree or and some of

[1:09:11] those taxes go to support the parks and

[1:09:13] pavilions

[1:09:15] without an additional fee added.

[1:09:20] We're proposing

[1:09:24] $15 per hour or $150 per day for a

[1:09:27] pavilion

[1:09:29] and a deposit of $100 per day.

[1:09:33] I believe that both are excessive in

[1:09:36] light of it being public property and I

[1:09:38] hope the five of you will consider this

[1:09:40] to be an unnecessary expense for a

[1:09:43] taxpayer.

[1:09:44] Thank you very much.

[1:09:47] » Thank you, sir. Anybody

[1:09:52] else?

[1:10:00] » Oh, Miss Cessums.

[1:10:02] » Ma'am, this is this is about sweet

[1:10:04] water. This is about sweet water.

[1:10:07] » I was going to call on the next public

[1:10:09] com. This is about the agenda.

[1:10:12] » Oh, yeah.

[1:10:13] » Okay, [laughter]

[1:10:14] that's okay. I didn't expect to be up

[1:10:17] here at this time anyway. I just saw

[1:10:18] what was going on. Shirley Cesum, St.

[1:10:20] Mary's, Georgia.

[1:10:23] The gentleman that spoke on the um

[1:10:27] Georgia Florida Sport Park and he spoke

[1:10:31] on the Gilman North River

[1:10:34] um

[1:10:37] renovation.

[1:10:39] I think the last time I was here, I had

[1:10:41] asked you all um I don't know if he was

[1:10:44] here about it was something about this

[1:10:46] was on the agenda then and I asked had

[1:10:49] anyone did a

[1:10:52] um what impact

[1:10:55] of North River would this have on the

[1:10:57] current residence? There's about a 30 or

[1:11:00] maybe 50 people that currently live out

[1:11:03] there at North River and Finley Street

[1:11:06] run right straight down in the middle of

[1:11:07] the North River to the gates way he the

[1:11:10] park that he's talking and nobody never

[1:11:12] did get back with me and ask me what

[1:11:14] impact was this going to have on those

[1:11:16] residents. You know, I I know the

[1:11:18] project sound good and all of this and

[1:11:20] stuff like that, but you still there's

[1:11:22] no one out there at um North River know

[1:11:26] anything about all this.

[1:11:28] So,

[1:11:30] that need to be considered. The impact

[1:11:32] you having on the residents, okay? When

[1:11:35] you're making up making up these uh

[1:11:37] projects,

[1:11:38] that need to be considered.

[1:11:41] And another thing about the Georgia

[1:11:44] Florida park

[1:11:46] sports park, I only have a couple of

[1:11:48] things on that is it wanted to know what

[1:11:51] impact does this have on the regular

[1:11:53] parks here and the um in the county in

[1:11:58] the county for this big park you talking

[1:12:01] about to make and about um

[1:12:06] you know the it sounds good. It sounds

[1:12:09] good, but I just want to know the

[1:12:12] current park, the use of the current

[1:12:14] parks in the county. What impact this

[1:12:17] great big new development is going to

[1:12:20] have on the usage of these smaller parks

[1:12:23] that you're going to have around in the

[1:12:25] county? What's going to happen with them

[1:12:27] if you got this big developments coming?

[1:12:31] And that is about it.

[1:12:34] And I will say with the Georgia Park

[1:12:38] status, I don't see where Kings will

[1:12:40] need any more hotels and rest um

[1:12:42] restaurants. Okay. Thank you.

[1:12:45] » Thank you, ma'am.

[1:12:47] Anybody else?

[1:12:51] Okay, we move before we move into the uh

[1:12:55] the public hearing section, I'll make a

[1:12:57] motion that we take a five minute break.

[1:13:00] » Second.

[1:13:01] » Have a motion to second. All in favor?

[1:13:04] We'd be back in five.

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[1:13:36] » Hey,

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[1:13:40] down.

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[1:14:03] » Hey,

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[1:14:19] hey, hey.

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[1:14:31] » Heat. Heat.

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[1:17:28] » Hey,

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[1:17:40] hey, hey.

[1:17:43] » [music]

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[1:18:26] » I found a warm water in the men's room.

[1:18:28] I started to stay in.

[1:18:29] » I know. It's a lot warmer in there,

[1:18:30] isn't it?

[1:18:33] Okay, moving on. Um, entertain a motion

[1:18:36] to adjourn the regular meeting and enter

[1:18:38] a public hearing.

[1:18:40] » Move.

[1:18:41] » Second.

[1:18:42] » Have a motion and a second. All in

[1:18:44] favor?

[1:18:46] Okay. Now, we're going to enter the

[1:18:48] public hearing phase. Uh the first item

[1:18:50] is the first reading of the addition of

[1:18:51] chapter 12 parks and recreation

[1:18:54] facilities to the official code of

[1:18:56] Camden County.

[1:18:58] Uh does anybody in the audience wish to

[1:19:00] speak on this item?

[1:19:08] » Seeing none.

[1:19:13] Good evening, commissioners. Um, so I'm

[1:19:15] in front of you tonight to present the

[1:19:17] first reading for the addition of

[1:19:19] chapter 12 uh parks and recreation

[1:19:21] facilities to the official code of

[1:19:23] Camden County, Georgia.

[1:19:26] Um, we are considering, you know, we

[1:19:28] would offer to consider to wave the the

[1:19:31] first reading of the entire document.

[1:19:33] Um, there are no current, just a

[1:19:35] history, there are no currently there

[1:19:37] are not currently any ordinances in the

[1:19:39] county's official code pertaining to

[1:19:40] county owned parks and recreational

[1:19:42] facilities. Um, through years and years

[1:19:46] through the PSA, we've relied on the PSA

[1:19:48] to hold the those rules and regulations

[1:19:50] in the parks. Um, when we took over the

[1:19:52] parks on January 1st, we found a a hole,

[1:19:56] right? We needed to fill that void with

[1:19:58] having rules and regulations for our

[1:20:00] county parks. Um, so this ordinance

[1:20:03] establishes rules for the use,

[1:20:04] operation, and management of parks,

[1:20:06] historic sites, and recreational areas

[1:20:08] managed by the Camd County Board of

[1:20:10] Commissioners. The establishment of a

[1:20:12] park use ordinance for county-owned

[1:20:14] parks and recreational facilities will

[1:20:16] ensure the protection of public health

[1:20:18] and safety while also ensuring the

[1:20:20] stewardship of county assets and

[1:20:21] operations. This ordinance also

[1:20:23] establishes rules and regulations for

[1:20:25] park pavilion rentals, special event

[1:20:28] permits, and con uh concessionary uh

[1:20:31] authorization permits. Um so your

[1:20:34] options are to to wave the first reading

[1:20:36] of the addition of uh of the chapter 12.

[1:20:39] Um you can obviously have me read the

[1:20:42] entire thing. Um you can deny the item

[1:20:45] or or table the item. Um and our

[1:20:48] recommendation is uh you know to go

[1:20:50] ahead and wave the first reading.

[1:20:52] Thanks.

[1:20:52] » I bet that would be your recommendation.

[1:20:55] » I move to have him read the whole thing.

[1:20:57] » Okay.

[1:20:57] » Line by line.

[1:21:00] » Well, we're in a public hearing right

[1:21:01] now. That'll be in a few minutes.

[1:21:04] » Okay.

[1:21:07] [clears throat]

[1:21:08] » Anybody else?

[1:21:12] Moving on.

[1:21:13] » Yes.

[1:21:14] » Cassie, thank you.

[1:21:28] Good evening, commissioners. Can you

[1:21:30] hear me? All right.

[1:21:33] So, up first, we have a request to

[1:21:35] reszone approximately uh I'm sorry, we

[1:21:40] have a reszone request to uh

[1:21:44] let me start over. The applicant is

[1:21:46] requesting to reszone approximately two

[1:21:48] acres from agricultural forestry to

[1:21:52] agricultural residential.

[1:21:55] The applicant is requesting the

[1:21:57] reasonzoning in order to subdivide 2

[1:21:59] acres from a 9.7 acre tract. The minimum

[1:22:03] acreage for AF is 3 acres and AR is 2

[1:22:06] acres.

[1:22:09] This is the uh parcel highlighted in

[1:22:12] blue here.

[1:22:13] Here

[1:22:16] it is without the zoning.

[1:22:20] And here is what the track will look

[1:22:23] like once it's subdivided. Uh you can

[1:22:26] see in red there is the 2 acre track

[1:22:29] that we are reszoning and subdividing

[1:22:32] and the remaining acreage will be 7.78

[1:22:35] acres.

[1:22:38] Uh planning commission does recommend

[1:22:40] approval on this item.

[1:22:45] Okay. Does anybody in the audience want

[1:22:47] to speak for this item?

[1:22:52] » Does anybody want to speak against the

[1:22:53] item?

[1:22:57] » Seeing none, we'll move on to the next

[1:22:59] guessing.

[1:23:03] Up next, we have a special use request

[1:23:05] to amend the conditions placed on this

[1:23:08] parcel during reszoning by the board of

[1:23:10] commissioners on September 3rd, 2024.

[1:23:14] Um the be the board of commissioners

[1:23:17] approved to reszone the parcel with the

[1:23:19] condition that a 20 foot wide

[1:23:22] undisturbed natural buffer followed by a

[1:23:25] 10-ft high solid wood fence be installed

[1:23:28] between parcels 073A

[1:23:31] 034 and 073A 043A.

[1:23:37] [snorts] The project's request is to

[1:23:39] reduce the 20 foot wide buffer by three

[1:23:42] foot, making the buffer 17 foot in order

[1:23:45] to avoid disturbing a large tree, and to

[1:23:48] amend the type of material for the

[1:23:50] fencing from solid wood to a 29 gauge

[1:23:54] aggregated metal panel with a faux wood

[1:23:56] finish.

[1:23:58] Here's the parcel currently zoned

[1:24:00] commercial general.

[1:24:04] Here it is without the zoning.

[1:24:08] This is the approximate location of the

[1:24:11] tree they are trying to save.

[1:24:16] This is just a speck of the type of

[1:24:19] metal that they are requesting

[1:24:22] the 29 gauge a metal panel.

[1:24:27] Uh and this is what it will look like

[1:24:29] once it's completed.

[1:24:33] So, the planning commission has

[1:24:35] recommended approval with the condition

[1:24:38] that the three-foot setback reduction

[1:24:40] only be for the location of the tree

[1:24:42] they are trying to save and that the

[1:24:44] fence material must remain as solid

[1:24:46] wood.

[1:24:50] » Okay, thank you. Anybody wish to speak

[1:24:53] for this item?

[1:24:54] » Yes, sure. Well,

[1:24:56] » Junior, come up to the podium there. Uh,

[1:24:59] just give your name and your address.

[1:25:03] » What?

[1:25:03] » Your name and your address.

[1:25:06] » Name's uh L Boyd. They call me Junior

[1:25:09] Boyd. The address is 235 Granny's Place,

[1:25:12] Waverly, Georgia. 31565.

[1:25:16] We proposed to use the metal fence.

[1:25:18] [snorts] I didn't know they were looking

[1:25:20] for a sound decimal. I didn't come with

[1:25:22] much ammunition for it because a sound

[1:25:25] decimal on metal is 03. Sound decimal

[1:25:29] for half inch board for a privacy fence

[1:25:32] is 333. So you get a little more sound

[1:25:36] decimal. You're talking fractions of

[1:25:38] thousands

[1:25:40] out of the solid wood versus the metal.

[1:25:43] But the wood will be warped and

[1:25:46] deteriorated in 3 years and laying on

[1:25:49] the ground. The metal will be there the

[1:25:52] next 20 years. You got steel post versus

[1:25:56] wooden post set in concrete

[1:25:59] and the metal withstand winds up to 120

[1:26:02] mph. Wood will not.

[1:26:06] That's why we asked for the variance to

[1:26:09] put metal up instead of wood. And we

[1:26:11] tried to pick out a good metal. It's not

[1:26:13] cheap. It's going to run probably

[1:26:16] between 10 and $12,000 more to put up

[1:26:19] the metal fence versus the wood. But the

[1:26:22] wood is a maintenance nightmare

[1:26:25] and we didn't want that and it don't

[1:26:28] look that good in two years. So that's

[1:26:30] the only argument I got for it. I don't

[1:26:33] have no ammunition for sound.

[1:26:36] our what we what we produce over there,

[1:26:39] what we manufacture or produce or

[1:26:41] whatever you want to call it, it's not

[1:26:43] noisy.

[1:26:45] » I mean, there's no noise.

[1:26:48] Our radio is probably louder than our

[1:26:50] material.

[1:26:53] » Thanks, Junior.

[1:26:55] » Chairman, I do have a comment to read

[1:26:57] for someone in the audience as well.

[1:26:59] » Yes, this is a pro.

[1:27:00] » Yes.

[1:27:00] » Yes, ma'am.

[1:27:02] » So, this is um Miss Mimsy Winsky. She is

[1:27:05] here in the audience tonight and I'm

[1:27:07] going to be reading her comment. My

[1:27:08] husband and I own 252 Horse Stamp Church

[1:27:11] Road. We wish to show our support of

[1:27:13] what the planning and zoning commission

[1:27:16] decided for amending the special use,

[1:27:18] allowing the extra space to save the

[1:27:20] large tree and keeping the fence wood to

[1:27:23] help absorb the sound from the work in

[1:27:25] their shops, protecting the piece of our

[1:27:28] tenants as well as our property. My

[1:27:30] husband is unable to attend because of

[1:27:32] work and due to a brain injury, I have a

[1:27:34] hard time speaking. Please consider our

[1:27:36] comments for your decision.

[1:27:38] » Okay. Thank you.

[1:27:42] Anybody wish to speak against the item.

[1:27:47] So Cassie, what's the issue with the

[1:27:50] planning commission more go with wood

[1:27:53] rather than the metal? There was a

[1:27:55] question as to whether or not uh wood or

[1:27:58] whether or not metal would absorb as

[1:28:00] much sound as wood. Um so they

[1:28:02] ultimately decided that it should remain

[1:28:04] as solid wood since they didn't have a

[1:28:07] um a test one way or another.

[1:28:11] » Okay.

[1:28:15] Any other questions?

[1:28:16] » Can we ask questions?

[1:28:18] » Yes. Uh you said when discussing this

[1:28:21] particular item that the board had

[1:28:22] previously approved it with those

[1:28:24] conditions originally the 20ft buffer

[1:28:27] and the solid wood fence.

[1:28:28] » Yes.

[1:28:29] » What was the reasoning behind those

[1:28:31] being the conditions then? I mean not

[1:28:32] necessarily the setback but the wood

[1:28:34] fence. It's a noise issue, right?

[1:28:36] » Um it so they're going to be doing

[1:28:38] manufacturing. So it was to block

[1:28:40] there's a residential property.

[1:28:46] So, um, right

[1:28:49] » That doesn't sound much noisy.

[1:28:51] » Um, well,

[1:28:54] sorry. So, right there, uh, the property

[1:28:56] lined in blue, the one right next to it,

[1:28:59] there's a home there. So, that's to

[1:29:00] protect that house is why they placed

[1:29:02] the conditions on there.

[1:29:03] » That's 252, right?

[1:29:05] » Yes. 252 Horstamp Church Road.

[1:29:07] » Okay. And that's the homeowner. That's

[1:29:10] the the people that live where you just

[1:29:13] read the comment from, correct?

[1:29:14] » Yes. and and they would prefer to keep

[1:29:17] it solid wood versus metal. Okay,

[1:29:21] » Those are the only questions I had.

[1:29:23] Thank you.

[1:29:27] » Anybody else?

[1:29:29] » If I could just ask for what what are

[1:29:32] what's being fabricated there?

[1:29:34] » Uh metal buildings. They're um they're

[1:29:36] going to be just putting them together.

[1:29:38] » Okay. So,

[1:29:39] » Yeah, there's no

[1:29:42] you'll be putting the buildings

[1:29:43] together. There's no sawing. I mean,

[1:29:45] other than the general day-to-day stuff,

[1:29:47] I mean,

[1:29:49] » Yeah,

[1:29:53] » Fabric,

[1:29:55] » Right? Okay.

[1:29:56] » The buildings don't go together

[1:29:59] on a truck, go wherever

[1:30:04] it

[1:30:06] is. Not there's not a lot of noise.

[1:30:09] Backup alarm at Ocean makes us put on

[1:30:12] the forklift louder than anything we do.

[1:30:16] » Okay.

[1:30:19] » All right. Anything else?

[1:30:22] » Our building also will be sprayful.

[1:30:32] » Okay.

[1:30:34] Okay. Seeing nothing else, uh, make a

[1:30:38] motion to adjourn the public hearing and

[1:30:40] reconvene the regular meeting.

[1:30:41] » Second, Mr. Chairman.

[1:30:43] » Have a motion in a second. All in favor?

[1:30:47] » Now moving to the regular meeting.

[1:30:48] Cassie.

[1:30:49] » Okay. We have a request to reszone

[1:30:51] approximately 2 acres from a 9.7 acre

[1:30:54] track located at 6522 Bailey Mill Road.

[1:30:58] The reszone is going to be from

[1:31:00] agricultural forestry to agricultural

[1:31:02] res residential and planning commission

[1:31:04] recommends approval.

[1:31:08] » Okay.

[1:31:09] Having heard, you entertain a motion.

[1:31:13] » Mr. Chairman, I'll move to approve uh

[1:31:17] the zoning map amendment for RZN 26

[1:31:20] triple07.

[1:31:22] » I'll second.

[1:31:24] We have a motion and a second for

[1:31:26] approval. All in favor?

[1:31:29] Motion carries. Next item.

[1:31:32] » Next up, we have a special use request

[1:31:34] to amend the conditions placed on this

[1:31:36] parcel during reasonzoning by the board

[1:31:38] of commissioners. Uh the [clears throat]

[1:31:40] request is to reduce the 20 foot wide

[1:31:43] buffer by 3 ft, making the buffer 17 ft,

[1:31:47] and to amend the type of material for

[1:31:49] fencing from solid wood to a 29 gauge

[1:31:52] aggregated metal panel with a faux wood

[1:31:54] finish. Planning Commission recommends

[1:31:56] approval with the condition that the

[1:31:58] three-foot setback reduction only be for

[1:32:01] the location of the tree they are trying

[1:32:02] to save and the fence material must

[1:32:05] remain solid wood.

[1:32:09] Okay. I'll make a motion that we approve

[1:32:11] the three-foot setback reduction to save

[1:32:14] the tree,

[1:32:16] but I'd also like to

[1:32:20] uh have in the motion that we allow the

[1:32:22] use of the metal fencing rather than the

[1:32:24] wood.

[1:32:25] I'll second that.

[1:32:27] » We have a motion and a second.

[1:32:30] » All in favor?

[1:32:34] » All opposed?

[1:32:36] » Thank you.

[1:32:37] » Thank you, ma'am.

[1:32:57] Okay, moving on to item three.

[1:33:00] » All right, gentlemen. I'm back again. Um

[1:33:03] again for the first reading of the

[1:33:04] addition of chapter 12 parks and recck

[1:33:06] facilities to the official code of

[1:33:07] Camden County, Georgia. Uh again, there

[1:33:11] was no or there are currently no

[1:33:13] ordinances in the county official code

[1:33:15] pertaining to county owned parks and rec

[1:33:16] facilities. Um, and this will establish

[1:33:19] the use, operation, and management of

[1:33:21] the parks and recreational areas managed

[1:33:23] by the county. Um, and this will also

[1:33:26] help uh ensure the protection of public

[1:33:28] health and safety while also ensuring

[1:33:30] the stewardship of county assets and

[1:33:32] operations.

[1:33:33] » Okay,

[1:33:34] » Mr. Chairman, I move to wave the first

[1:33:36] reading of this ordinance, but I would

[1:33:39] like uh Jared to answer some questions

[1:33:41] regarding the ordinance.

[1:33:44] » Okay, we have a motion to uh wave the

[1:33:46] first reading. I'll second. Open for

[1:33:48] discussion.

[1:33:50] » I guess I'll just ask my questions now.

[1:33:53] Um, so has our legal council had a

[1:33:56] chance to review the ordinance?

[1:33:57] » Yes.

[1:34:00] » Is that better, Jim? Thank you. Uh,

[1:34:02] okay. So, I had some questions about

[1:34:04] some of the verbiage here. So, on the

[1:34:06] first page, under authorized

[1:34:07] representative, it says Camden County

[1:34:09] Sheriff's Department. Um, legally, it's

[1:34:12] the the the sheriff's office is a

[1:34:14] constitutional office. So, I want to

[1:34:15] make sure we correct that from

[1:34:16] department to office.

[1:34:18] » Okay.

[1:34:19] » Um, it says that those authorized

[1:34:22] representatives will be assigned in

[1:34:25] writing. Um, and I was just wondering

[1:34:28] where we're going to be keeping a list

[1:34:30] of authorized representatives. So, like

[1:34:32] if I'm at a park enjoying myself and

[1:34:34] someone approaches me and says that they

[1:34:36] are

[1:34:39] I'm with the county and you got to

[1:34:40] leave, how how can I verify that they're

[1:34:42] an authorized representative? Where are

[1:34:43] those going to be kept in writing at?

[1:34:47] » Um, I would assume that at at this time

[1:34:49] I I don't have that. I I I I would

[1:34:51] assume that the administration is going

[1:34:53] to keep a running u role of who what

[1:34:56] departments have that uh ability to to

[1:34:59] enforce these ordinances.

[1:35:01] » Okay.

[1:35:01] » I would take that as something similar

[1:35:02] to the way we we we swear in an animal

[1:35:05] control officer. I would think that that

[1:35:06] would be a s a similar program or code

[1:35:08] enforcement that these people have

[1:35:10] authority to

[1:35:12] um address that if that that's

[1:35:14] addressing your concerns who was has

[1:35:15] authority within the county.

[1:35:16] » So the sheriff's office will need

[1:35:18] separate written authorization to be an

[1:35:19] authorized representative.

[1:35:22] » No, no, no, no, no, no. Authorized means

[1:35:24] the sheriff's office,

[1:35:26] a member of public works, or if we

[1:35:28] designate another, let's say we allowed

[1:35:31] code enforcement to to do something

[1:35:34] within there that they would be listed

[1:35:35] as an authorized person.

[1:35:36] » Okay. Yeah, I think I'm seeing it.

[1:35:38] » But but code enforcement already would

[1:35:39] be because they already are sworn in,

[1:35:41] right? So So that that that's where that

[1:35:43] is. So the main the main group is

[1:35:46] obviously um the custodial of the

[1:35:48] day-to-day is on the park is public

[1:35:50] works. We're going to use uh the county

[1:35:53] sheriff as assistance to enforce any

[1:35:55] rules, anybody that's, you know, not

[1:35:57] abiding by our ordinances. Um and then

[1:35:59] any other administration as needed, um

[1:36:02] you know, that's designated as as that

[1:36:04] role.

[1:36:05] » Okay. Um

[1:36:08] uh so under section

[1:36:12] on the very top of the third page, that

[1:36:15] section be there, it shall be unlawful

[1:36:17] for any person. That's that item there

[1:36:19] says any person violating the subsection

[1:36:21] shall be punished by a fine up to 500 or

[1:36:23] imprisoned up to 30 days or both. My

[1:36:26] question is this a jailable offense.

[1:36:29] » Uh so like an authorized representative

[1:36:32] says you have to leave and you don't

[1:36:34] uh and they're subject to these things.

[1:36:37] If it's arrestable, I guess it would

[1:36:38] have to have a bond or else someone's

[1:36:39] sitting in jail until that that's the

[1:36:43] challenge we have right now with law

[1:36:44] enforcement trying to enforce our

[1:36:46] ordinances is someone would be sitting

[1:36:48] in jail until it's heard in court.

[1:36:50] » That's a separate issue. Uh,

[1:36:51] Commissioner, as far as a a bond, um,

[1:36:55] depending on the nature of the offense

[1:36:56] is either heard by the magistrate court

[1:36:58] who uh does first appearance hearings or

[1:37:01] given a certain level of offense is

[1:37:03] heard by the superior court to set

[1:37:04] bonds. these kinds of offenses um either

[1:37:08] many times may have a schedule that

[1:37:10] allows somebody to bond out

[1:37:13] » Quite quite quickly

[1:37:15] » Like the way probate court does with

[1:37:17] some of the um county offenses or um if

[1:37:22] they're going before the magistrate has

[1:37:24] a bond set. Now, as far as somebody

[1:37:26] getting out at that point, that's, you

[1:37:27] know, there's issues with, you know,

[1:37:29] bonding agencies, but getting in front

[1:37:31] of a judge for this level of offense is

[1:37:33] different than something that a superior

[1:37:35] court judge may be handling.

[1:37:36] » Okay. So,

[1:37:36] » And it also is determinative of the

[1:37:38] district attorney's office, and that's a

[1:37:39] different issue.

[1:37:40] » Okay. So, people aren't going to be held

[1:37:41] in jail in

[1:37:43] » For for vi for violating a park.

[1:37:45] » No. And and the punishment particularly

[1:37:47] with this is at a sentencing stage. That

[1:37:49] that's what that's really referencing.

[1:37:51] » Okay. Also, if you look at that as any

[1:37:54] prohibited area, that's like if somebody

[1:37:56] got out there in the middle of a

[1:37:58] baseball field with a four-wheel drive

[1:38:00] truck and they tore the field up,

[1:38:02] » Right? Well, I'm also thinking about

[1:38:03] Howard People's Park. People, you know,

[1:38:05] we have all that. It's kind of blocked

[1:38:07] off, but people set up in the back

[1:38:08] behind the ball fields over by the

[1:38:10] Frisbee golf. I just don't want people

[1:38:12] to be trying to enjoy the park harmless

[1:38:15] harmlessly and then all of a sudden

[1:38:16] they're

[1:38:17] » Well and there's a different and I think

[1:38:19] that that that might be getting a little

[1:38:20] bit into the weeds here because I think

[1:38:21] that it's ultimately determinative of a

[1:38:23] court if there was to be an offense

[1:38:24] issued and that's also up to law

[1:38:26] enforcement as to what what is being

[1:38:28] enforced and how it's being enforced.

[1:38:31] » Uh

[1:38:34] one, two, three, four. So on the fifth

[1:38:36] page, um hours of public access to

[1:38:39] parks, historic sites, and recreational

[1:38:41] area, it says county parks, historic

[1:38:44] sites, recreational areas will be open

[1:38:46] for use of the public between sunrise

[1:38:47] and sunset or at times designated by

[1:38:50] county supervised activity.

[1:38:53] My question is what constitutes a county

[1:38:55] supervised activity? I know we have at

[1:38:57] Howard People's Park, for example, the

[1:38:59] I'm glad you asked people playing pickle

[1:39:01] ball into the night. So one so one of

[1:39:03] them would be that would be one. Another

[1:39:06] one would be um we have a a portion of

[1:39:09] the uh county that is looking to do a

[1:39:12] special um

[1:39:14] like themed event at Sugar Mill and it's

[1:39:17] at dusk. They're going to have it candle

[1:39:18] lit. They're going to have people in

[1:39:20] person um actors that are portraying um

[1:39:23] people of that that era that you will be

[1:39:25] able to basically go through that park

[1:39:27] and have an experience of the Sugarmill

[1:39:29] Ruins. So that would be an example of a

[1:39:31] a county hosted event that is going to

[1:39:33] occur uh after sunset. So it' be things

[1:39:36] like that. It'd be at the county's

[1:39:38] discretion if we're authorizing things

[1:39:40] to continue after sunset in the parks.

[1:39:42] Obviously, if it's a a basketball court

[1:39:44] that's lighted, a pickle ball court

[1:39:46] that's lighted, those are designated to

[1:39:49] uh be used. Uh what we don't want is say

[1:39:52] a park like um Howard uh not Howard

[1:39:54] People's uh Harriet's Bluff Park that

[1:39:56] isn't lit up. We don't need to have

[1:39:58] people that are just, you know, um doing

[1:40:01] activities in that park that isn't lit.

[1:40:03] Um are become more of a liability issue

[1:40:06] of, you know, them being injured on

[1:40:08] something. They can't see what they're

[1:40:09] doing because it's, you know, a dimly uh

[1:40:12] dim park, things those of that nature.

[1:40:14] I'm

[1:40:14] » Not trying to target pickle ball in

[1:40:16] particular, but I just think that's the

[1:40:17] most prevalent example I can think of.

[1:40:20] Will those be extended hours that are

[1:40:22] set or is it just when people are done

[1:40:25] playing pickle ball? cuz the lights kind

[1:40:26] of stay on all

[1:40:27] » The lights stay on to a point. So,

[1:40:29] that's something that we're going to

[1:40:30] move towards as a as a community and a

[1:40:33] county. Um we're going to have more and

[1:40:35] more lighted the the goal is to have

[1:40:36] more and more lighted um facilities and

[1:40:39] then at that point we'll then determine

[1:40:41] okay do the timers go off automatically

[1:40:44] at 10:00 and that and that's the the

[1:40:46] time that the that the hook is pulled

[1:40:48] right and and everyone needs to leave

[1:40:49] the park. Uh we'll we'll go through that

[1:40:52] as we update and and add to these parks

[1:40:55] uh these amenities.

[1:40:56] » Okay. Uh public works uh department

[1:40:59] shall formulate rules and regulations

[1:41:01] covering these particular activities

[1:41:03] mentioned here on the next page. Uh it

[1:41:05] says rules and regulations not become

[1:41:06] effective until approved by the board.

[1:41:08] My question is are those going to be

[1:41:11] published and maintained somewhere? Um,

[1:41:14] I want to make sure people that are are

[1:41:16] enjoying a county park are aware of the

[1:41:18] rules that they're going to be subject

[1:41:19] to or could be questioned on by a county

[1:41:22] representative. So, um, I guess are all

[1:41:25] the rules we're going to hold people

[1:41:26] accountable to, will those be posted at

[1:41:28] the park?

[1:41:30] » They would likely be accessible. So, I

[1:41:32] don't think we're going to post a whole

[1:41:33] copy of this ordinance, but Oh, yeah.

[1:41:35] Not this.

[1:41:35] » But notice

[1:41:37] to be able to obtain or or say if you

[1:41:40] want to rent this facility, go to blah

[1:41:42] might be way to address that. Um,

[1:41:45] » And and we'll have general signage that

[1:41:47] might say, you know, no um no pets,

[1:41:50] unleash pets beyond this point, no

[1:41:52] vehicles beyond this point. Those will

[1:41:54] all be referencing these code code and

[1:41:56] ordinances.

[1:41:57] » Okay.

[1:41:58] » Right now, we right now we could put

[1:42:00] that sign out, but we have no ordinance

[1:42:02] to right

[1:42:02] » To enforce it based on that's what we're

[1:42:04] trying to establish here.

[1:42:07] And just for te um text uh in just

[1:42:10] context um I I went and took the

[1:42:14] ordinances that are in many surrounding

[1:42:16] communities both uh in Georgia and

[1:42:18] Florida in our neighboring communities

[1:42:21] and and pulled from their established

[1:42:24] ordinances. Um don't need to reinvent

[1:42:26] the wheel on communities that have

[1:42:27] already gone down this path, right? Um

[1:42:29] and then and then tailored it to us. Um,

[1:42:32] so this is kind of a conglomerate of

[1:42:34] what's already being seen around our

[1:42:37] neighboring communities in their own

[1:42:38] parks,

[1:42:39] » Right? I think my two more questions.

[1:42:43] So, uh, cleanup uh, event organizer

[1:42:46] qualifications and timelines. Um, it has

[1:42:49] the provision in here about getting a

[1:42:52] certificate of insurance up to a million

[1:42:54] dollars. My question is, I know in the

[1:42:56] future we're planning on developing some

[1:42:58] sort of adopt a park program where we

[1:43:00] could have organized cleanups. Would

[1:43:02] those groups also be required to obtain

[1:43:04] a certificate of insurance or is this

[1:43:05] for like hosting?

[1:43:07] » No, this would be hosting a festival.

[1:43:09] This would be like an open air

[1:43:11] invitation to let's say Cornelia Jackson

[1:43:14] Park to have a big uh festival that like

[1:43:17] we had this year that just happened at

[1:43:20] that park uh alongside the crawfish

[1:43:23] festival. Well, there was no policing

[1:43:25] that that event. That event was

[1:43:28] unsanctioned by the county, we'll say.

[1:43:30] It was just hosted by people that put up

[1:43:32] on a Facebook account that, hey, anybody

[1:43:34] that wants to come here can do this,

[1:43:36] that, and and and the other. Um, at the

[1:43:39] end of the day, the the park, you know,

[1:43:42] it took us two days to recover that

[1:43:43] park. Um, there was nobody then to go

[1:43:46] back to and say, you know, your event

[1:43:48] caused this damage. The county needs,

[1:43:50] you know, funding to to recover that. So

[1:43:53] that was that portion of this ordinance

[1:43:56] is establishing those rules that we can

[1:43:58] try to regulate and and try to protect

[1:44:00] ourselves and the parks in the liability

[1:44:03] of having these big open air events.

[1:44:05] » So large large organized events, not

[1:44:07] necessarily uh an impromptu family

[1:44:10] reunion. And then prop two, family

[1:44:11] reunion. As long as they're not over

[1:44:14] like we have each event, each um item or

[1:44:17] each pavilion has a set occupancy that

[1:44:20] is normed deemed a a normal event. Might

[1:44:23] be 50, might be 75 people. Now, if

[1:44:26] you're talking over a hundred people,

[1:44:27] now we go into more of a special event.

[1:44:30] Or if it's a um a church that might

[1:44:32] have, say, an open invitation that's

[1:44:35] just out there, they need to go through

[1:44:37] the special event because we just need

[1:44:38] to refine more the their obligations to

[1:44:42] the rental of that pavilion that if

[1:44:44] they're, you know, if they're inviting

[1:44:46] anybody off the street to come to the

[1:44:47] event, they are responsible of what that

[1:44:50] person might

[1:44:51] » And advertised.

[1:44:52] » Yes. whatever that person may do at that

[1:44:54] event, right? Um, so we just got to make

[1:44:56] sure that we do have that that

[1:44:58] organization that is going to be

[1:45:00] responsible at the end of the day.

[1:45:02] » And the last question or probably more

[1:45:03] of a cleanup on the second to last page

[1:45:06] under public safety personnel fees, it

[1:45:09] just says if the department determines.

[1:45:11] I imagine that's your department, but I

[1:45:12] think we might want to specify.

[1:45:19] be

[1:45:21] it's going to be a joint between my

[1:45:22] department and the sheriff's because I'm

[1:45:24] anytime we're going to have a large

[1:45:25] event and I'm going to run it by the

[1:45:27] sheriff office on whether or not they

[1:45:29] feel that the event needs to be staffed

[1:45:31] by a public safety officer.

[1:45:35] » Okay. So again, I think we should be

[1:45:37] specific though if the public works

[1:45:38] department or sheriff's office

[1:45:40] determines, you know, be being

[1:45:42] intentional about being specific about

[1:45:43] who's responsible.

[1:45:47] Okay, good.

[1:45:49] » Thank you.

[1:45:52] » Okay, we have a motion on the floor to

[1:45:53] wave the first reading.

[1:45:56] I have a motion in a second. Any forward

[1:45:58] discussion? All in favor?

[1:46:00] » I got Well, I got one thing. Um, hours

[1:46:02] of public access to parks and historic

[1:46:05] site and recreation area. That doesn't

[1:46:07] include boat ramps, does it?

[1:46:09] » No.

[1:46:09] » Those boat ramps are 24/7.

[1:46:12] » Again. Yes. And again, most of our boat

[1:46:14] ramps are well, yeah, most of them are

[1:46:16] lit up. Yeah,

[1:46:19] » That's all.

[1:46:20] » Anything else? All in favor?

[1:46:24] Motion carries.

[1:46:26] » Thank you.

[1:46:27] » Item number four, Jared,

[1:46:29] » Give me a second. I got too many papers

[1:46:31] here.

[1:46:35] » All right. Um in front of you tonight is

[1:46:37] item agenda four or agenda item four,

[1:46:41] five, and six will all have to do with

[1:46:43] uh projects that were currently co-oping

[1:46:45] on the base um the naval base with. Um

[1:46:48] so the first one is a new generator for

[1:46:50] their communication towers on the base.

[1:46:52] It's for the approval of purchase and

[1:46:54] installation. Uh the revenue on that, so

[1:46:57] the final check we'll get from the

[1:46:59] Department of Defense will be

[1:47:00] $47,811.50.

[1:47:03] The true expense of the project is

[1:47:06] 43,465.

[1:47:09] So that that brings in a you know a

[1:47:11] profit to the county of um $4,346.50.

[1:47:15] And yes, we will hold them to the 50. Um

[1:47:19] so we're just looking for consider the

[1:47:21] approval of the purchase installation of

[1:47:22] the new generator uh for the comm's

[1:47:24] tower on the naval base. Um, as you guys

[1:47:27] know, um, we've gone into a IGSA with

[1:47:30] the the Navy and to and this year to

[1:47:33] help support infrastructure maintenance

[1:47:35] projects and to help bring, um, funding

[1:47:38] to the unincorporated side for capital

[1:47:40] improvements for public works. Um,

[1:47:43] quotes received were two local

[1:47:44] electrical contractors that are cleared

[1:47:46] and certified to perform the

[1:47:47] installation on the naval base. Quotes

[1:47:50] include removal of existing unit,

[1:47:52] purchase and delivery of the new

[1:47:53] generator, installation, and startup. Um

[1:47:55] the estimated delivery is 18 weeks from

[1:47:58] approval. So I will generate a uh

[1:48:00] purchase order for this. They will order

[1:48:02] the unit. Um we will be invoicing the

[1:48:05] base for that that unit and we will

[1:48:07] receive the money um from the base for

[1:48:09] the unit itself before the unit is

[1:48:11] delivered. So we won't be out there um

[1:48:13] with the money uh paying on on this unit

[1:48:16] um for months on end before we get

[1:48:18] payment from the DoD.

[1:48:21] The lowest [snorts and clears throat]

[1:48:21] received quote is for a Generrack SD030

[1:48:24] from Satillaa Air and Electric

[1:48:26] Contractors out of Kingsland. And the

[1:48:28] IGSA includes a fee schedule to cover

[1:48:30] any other additional expenses. Uh and

[1:48:33] the motion um to approve this uh

[1:48:35] purchase and installation um is

[1:48:37] recommended by staff. Uh and just for

[1:48:40] clarification, um I am the only one

[1:48:42] that's doing any work on the base for

[1:48:45] this project and it's more in a uh

[1:48:47] contractor or a general uh foreman for

[1:48:49] the project. Um we're vetting the

[1:48:52] project through um got quotes uh

[1:48:54] solicited uh from different vendors

[1:48:56] quotes. Uh met them on site. Um you

[1:48:59] know, ballpark on the end of this

[1:49:01] project. if I have 25 hours on base um

[1:49:05] invested in this um we're not putting

[1:49:08] any other additional manpower into it

[1:49:10] and and the county is going to bring in,

[1:49:11] you know, $4,300.

[1:49:16] » Mr. Chairman, I move to approve the

[1:49:18] purchase and installation of a generator

[1:49:20] for the communications tower on Naval

[1:49:22] Submarine Base Kings Bay.

[1:49:23] » Second.

[1:49:24] » We have a motion and a second. Any

[1:49:26] discussion? All in favor?

[1:49:30] Motion carries.

[1:49:32] All right. So, items number five and six

[1:49:34] coincide. Um, one is the awarding HVAC

[1:49:38] installation contract for a uh

[1:49:41] installation of a uh cooling unit and

[1:49:44] the uh number six is the purchase of the

[1:49:46] cool cooling unit outright. Um, so

[1:49:48] number five is the ward of HVAC

[1:49:51] installation contract for the child

[1:49:52] development center on the naval

[1:49:54] submarine base, Kings Bay. [snorts]

[1:49:56] Um, quotes received from two local

[1:49:58] commercial heating and cooling

[1:50:00] contractors to install a new Evapco

[1:50:02] cooling tower unit at the CDC. Quotes

[1:50:05] include the removal and disposal of the

[1:50:07] existing unit, installation of the new

[1:50:08] unit, and startup. The lowest quote

[1:50:11] received is from Comfort Systems USA uh,

[1:50:14] incorporated and they are utilizing an

[1:50:16] Omnia Partners cooperative purchasing

[1:50:18] contract. Um, so we're already getting

[1:50:20] competitive pricing on their labor and

[1:50:22] their installation.

[1:50:24] » [cough]

[1:50:25] » Uh motion is to the department

[1:50:27] recommends to approve the installation

[1:50:29] contract for comfort systems USA uh for

[1:50:31] the cooling tower. Um real quick again

[1:50:36] 35,750 is our revenue. 32,500

[1:50:40] um is our expenses. So we're looking at

[1:50:42] uh bringing in u $3,250 for this for

[1:50:46] this process.

[1:50:48] » Okay.

[1:50:50] Do we have a motion?

[1:50:52] » Mr. Chairman, I move to approve the

[1:50:53] award of an HVAC installation contract

[1:50:55] for the child development center on

[1:50:57] Naval Summer Base Kings Bay.

[1:50:59] » I'll second.

[1:51:02] » Have a motion in a second. Any

[1:51:03] discussion?

[1:51:04] » I wanted to ask, so you said about

[1:51:07] $4,000 worth of profit on the previous

[1:51:09] mo and then this one's about $3,000

[1:51:12] worth of profit. It was stated earlier

[1:51:14] during public comment that you would

[1:51:16] need to perform about $2 million worth

[1:51:19] of projects to be able to afford the

[1:51:22] excavator that we have down here on item

[1:51:24] 7.

[1:51:24] » That is correct.

[1:51:25] » So my question is about how many

[1:51:28] millions of dollars or dollars worth of

[1:51:30] projects do you have currently on the

[1:51:32] books with the

[1:51:34] » So these projects um seem minute. Um

[1:51:37] they're really big uh important projects

[1:51:39] on the base. These are projects that are

[1:51:41] being funded mostly at the end of their

[1:51:43] fiscal year. The end of their fiscal

[1:51:44] year ends September 30th. So these are

[1:51:47] projects that they have gotten funding

[1:51:49] last minute that's been said, "All

[1:51:50] right, here's this funding. You know, if

[1:51:53] you have something, you can utilize it."

[1:51:54] So these are items that have been on

[1:51:56] their waiting list for just this thing.

[1:51:58] Um, so a lot of these, they actually

[1:52:00] came to me with like the generator

[1:52:02] already with two quotes, did most of the

[1:52:05] leg work. Um, and they just they know by

[1:52:08] utilizing us and our purchasing policy

[1:52:10] and and the program that we have, we can

[1:52:12] get it done uh and and get them under

[1:52:15] contract before the end of the fiscal

[1:52:17] year. Otherwise, the money would have

[1:52:18] just been lost and given back, lost that

[1:52:20] opportunity to improve something on the

[1:52:22] base before September 30th if they went

[1:52:24] through their normal protocol through

[1:52:25] their own their own systems. So this is

[1:52:28] just a this is actually a big perk for

[1:52:30] them because they're able to get

[1:52:32] projects done on base that would

[1:52:34] probably have just gone to the wayside

[1:52:36] and in the end we're basically on

[1:52:38] average on all these projects we we get

[1:52:40] 10% right off the top. So whatever the

[1:52:43] project you know comes in at we're

[1:52:45] getting 10% on top of that. That 10% is

[1:52:48] coming back to the county.

[1:52:49] » So we're on track to make the $200,000

[1:52:52] you need for the excavator coming up. So

[1:52:54] over the last three years, this will be

[1:52:55] our third year with doing IGSA, we've

[1:52:58] always done $2 million work um in just

[1:53:01] road alone in road improvements. That's

[1:53:03] already being scheduled and already in

[1:53:05] the books. On top of that $2 million,

[1:53:08] they already have well over $9 million

[1:53:11] uh associated and projects that we are

[1:53:12] going to be working on and and doing

[1:53:14] third party uh work on. Be it roofing,

[1:53:17] heating and cooling, railroad track

[1:53:19] crossing repairs, uh specialty equipment

[1:53:21] down on the waterfront base, um repairs

[1:53:24] on underground steam line. Again, these

[1:53:26] are all projects that we are going to be

[1:53:28] the middleman uh the project manager on

[1:53:31] and that we aren't going to be doing um

[1:53:33] any major work on the property

[1:53:35] ourselves. It's all going to be

[1:53:36] thirdparty subcontractors.

[1:53:38] » And you're not doing that just because

[1:53:39] you like extra work. You're doing that

[1:53:40] because we signed an intergovernmental

[1:53:42] service agreement to provide that to the

[1:53:44] base. Correct.

[1:53:44] » And I stepped up at, you know, in in May

[1:53:47] when we talked about the budget and I

[1:53:49] said that we weren't going to utilize

[1:53:51] any capital funds out of the

[1:53:52] unincorporated fund for public works

[1:53:54] this year that we were going to go earn

[1:53:56] it on the base and this is us doing

[1:53:58] that.

[1:53:59] » Absolutely. So, thank you.

[1:54:00] » No problem.

[1:54:03] » We have a motion and a second. Any

[1:54:04] further discussion? All in favor?

[1:54:07] Motion carries.

[1:54:10] » Uh item number six goes along with five.

[1:54:12] So it's the approval to purchase that

[1:54:14] Evapco cooling tower unit uh for the

[1:54:16] child development center on the base. Um

[1:54:18] we're buying this unit directly from the

[1:54:20] manufacturer. Um we looked at two

[1:54:23] different units that could fit on the

[1:54:25] existing foot uh footprint and

[1:54:27] configuration in the building. Um these

[1:54:29] two uh there was two models. Um, one was

[1:54:32] an Evacco unit. One was a um, recaloo

[1:54:36] unit. Um, the evacco unit came in under

[1:54:39] uh, way underpriced compared to the

[1:54:41] other unit and that's the the unit that

[1:54:43] the base wanted to go with. Um, so

[1:54:45] that's what we're looking at. We got

[1:54:46] quotes from the two manufacturers. Um,

[1:54:48] they include purchase and delivery of

[1:54:50] the unit directly from the manufacturer

[1:54:52] and then installation will be performed

[1:54:53] by the the previous agenda item that was

[1:54:56] just approved. Um, lowest quote was on

[1:54:58] that unit. Um, and we're looking to

[1:55:01] approve uh the purchase of this unit

[1:55:03] directly from Heat Transfer Systems of

[1:55:05] Georgia. Um, which again, not only are

[1:55:08] we buying the unit direct, but on both

[1:55:10] sides, both the county and the and the

[1:55:13] federal government are saving on the 7%

[1:55:15] tax that we would have normally paid by

[1:55:17] going through the contractor and buying

[1:55:18] that unit outright.

[1:55:22] » Entertain a motion.

[1:55:23] » Mr. Chairman, I move to purchase the

[1:55:25] Evapco cooling tower unit for the child

[1:55:28] development center on Naval Submarine

[1:55:29] Base Kings Bay.

[1:55:31] » Second.

[1:55:31] » We have a motion and second. Any

[1:55:33] discussion? All in favor?

[1:55:37] » Motion carries.

[1:55:39] » Item seven.

[1:55:40] » All right. So, lastly is uh like we

[1:55:42] talked about is what we're trying to

[1:55:44] bring into the county, right? We're

[1:55:46] trying to use these opportunities of of

[1:55:48] making and bringing some funds from the

[1:55:50] naval base to bring in uh real equipment

[1:55:53] for public works. Uh so we're looking

[1:55:56] for approval of the rental and purchase

[1:55:57] agreement of the link belt 350 X4

[1:56:00] excavator package. Um [clears throat]

[1:56:04] our current the the actual endup price

[1:56:06] would be $196,250.

[1:56:09] It's going to come out of all revenues

[1:56:11] from the the the naval base. Um, our

[1:56:14] current John Deere 200 excavator was

[1:56:16] purchased in 2007 and is scheduled to be

[1:56:18] replaced in fiscal year 2029 at an

[1:56:21] estimated cost of $375,000.

[1:56:24] Public Works has had at least two

[1:56:26] function or we require at least two

[1:56:27] functional excavators to dig and repair

[1:56:29] roads, load materials into dump trucks,

[1:56:31] and perform other tasks for the county,

[1:56:33] especially in um um emergency

[1:56:35] situations. Uh we currently own two

[1:56:38] excavators. We owned a two 2007 John

[1:56:40] Deere 200 series and a 2018 John Deere

[1:56:43] 300 series. The John Deere 200 excavator

[1:56:46] has had multiple breakdowns totaling

[1:56:47] over $45,000 over the past year and it's

[1:56:50] just no longer effective as a frontline

[1:56:52] excavator for our tasks. So, what we're

[1:56:55] looking to do is we're looking to buy

[1:56:56] this uh excavator early, utilize the 200

[1:57:00] and get the last few years out of it,

[1:57:02] but but try to prolong the use of that

[1:57:04] on our own property. Stop moving it

[1:57:06] across the county. stop that wear and

[1:57:08] tear and get some more longevity out of

[1:57:10] the equipment um before we need to

[1:57:12] retire it. Um funding for the public

[1:57:14] works equipment u is approved in that in

[1:57:16] our budget u through the revenues on the

[1:57:19] naval base. Um this specific unit is a

[1:57:22] 2025 link belt excavator. It's a former

[1:57:25] longerterm rental unit with 2,700 hours

[1:57:28] of use and is in actually in great

[1:57:30] working order. uh excavator package

[1:57:33] includes a hydraulic thumb, a 60-in

[1:57:35] bucket, and the remaining of a 5-year

[1:57:38] 5,000 hour warranty. Um that that

[1:57:41] expires uh of January 30th of 2030. So,

[1:57:44] we're we're taking over the warranty

[1:57:45] that is existing on the unit. A new unit

[1:57:48] with the same specs currently retails at

[1:57:50] $356,000.

[1:57:52] Uh and additional quotes were received

[1:57:54] for similar units in the market. Um, and

[1:57:57] what we're going to do is we're going to

[1:57:58] rent this unit at a rate of8 $8,750 per

[1:58:02] month through 2026. And we'll purchase

[1:58:05] the unit outright in January 2027. Uh,

[1:58:08] most of the rental fee will be applied

[1:58:09] to the final cost of the unit. So, in

[1:58:11] the this tax schedule shows that in the

[1:58:14] next 4 months, essentially, we're going

[1:58:15] to pay $4,000 in interest, which is

[1:58:18] essentially paying their note that they

[1:58:19] have on the unit themselves. Um, this

[1:58:21] gives us the opportunity to uh bring in

[1:58:24] all of the work and and and the funding

[1:58:26] from the projects that we're currently

[1:58:28] working on the base to cover the

[1:58:29] purchase of this unit. So, it gives us

[1:58:31] that opportunity for the next 3 to four

[1:58:33] months to bring that money back into the

[1:58:35] b uh into the county coffers from the

[1:58:37] base.

[1:58:40] Okay.

[1:58:41] » Entertain a motion.

[1:58:42] » Mr. Chairman, I move we approve this

[1:58:44] item. Second.

[1:58:46] » Have a motion and a second. Discussion.

[1:58:49] All in favor?

[1:58:51] Motion carries.

[1:58:52] » Thank you, gentlemen.

[1:58:54] » We took item number eight off the

[1:58:55] agenda. Now we're going to item number

[1:58:57] nine, which is the drought study.

[1:59:00] » Good evening, commissioners. This agenda

[1:59:02] item is for your consideration to

[1:59:04] approve the contract with linker for the

[1:59:06] drought study for Camden County. Camden

[1:59:08] County Board of Commissioners approved a

[1:59:10] grant award on June 16th, 2026. For this

[1:59:14] purchasing rece issued an RFP and

[1:59:17] received two responses. Of the two,

[1:59:19] Linker was the most responsive and

[1:59:21] responsible proposer that met all

[1:59:23] requirements. Staff recommends approval

[1:59:26] to award the contract to Linker.

[1:59:30] » Entertain a motion.

[1:59:34] » I'll make a motion to approve.

[1:59:37] » I'll second.

[1:59:42] Did we have a second?

[1:59:43] » Yeah.

[1:59:44] » Have a motion and a second. Discussion.

[1:59:45] Second.

[1:59:46] » Uh, you said we've already approved the

[1:59:48] the acceptance of the grant. How much

[1:59:49] was the grant for?

[1:59:51] » I know it was over about 80,000.

[1:59:54] » So, it's more than the 79,000.

[1:59:56] » Correct.

[1:59:56] » Cool. Thank you.

[1:59:57] » You're welcome. This is within budget,

[2:00:00] so we won't have any funds.

[2:00:02] » Thank you, Mom.

[2:00:02] » You're welcome.

[2:00:03] » A motion in a second. All in favor?

[2:00:07] » Thank you.

[2:00:09] Moving on to item number 10 is the lease

[2:00:11] agreement for the uh Department of

[2:00:13] Juvenile Justice. This is just a

[2:00:15] standard thing we do. Um not much

[2:00:18] explanation necessary. Uh I make a

[2:00:21] motion we approve the lease agreement

[2:00:22] with the Department of Juvenile Justice.

[2:00:25] » Second.

[2:00:26] » Have a motion and a second. Any

[2:00:28] discussion?

[2:00:31] All in favor?

[2:00:33] » Motion carries.

[2:00:36] Moving

[2:00:38] on to [laughter]

[2:00:39] [gasps] the calendar.

[2:00:41] » There's no changes at this time. Uh,

[2:00:44] » County administrator's not here.

[2:00:45] Shannon, do you have any comment?

[2:00:47] » I do. Uh, good afternoon. This is just a

[2:00:50] reminder that um, county administrator

[2:00:52] Yakabachi is away at his CPM um,

[2:00:56] certification courses, so he's not here.

[2:00:58] But we do want to remind you about our

[2:01:00] last town hall, which is next week on

[2:01:02] Thursday, September the 10th. It'll be

[2:01:05] held in Kingsland at 135 Grove

[2:01:08] Boulevard. Um, I mean, I'm sorry, Gross

[2:01:11] Road. I don't know where Grove came

[2:01:13] from. [laughter]

[2:01:14] Sorry. Gross Road uh at 6 PM. It's at

[2:01:18] the Resiliency Center and we would love

[2:01:20] to have as many of you come uh as you

[2:01:23] can. So, that's all I have.

[2:01:25] » Thank you, ma'am. [snorts]

[2:01:27] Okay. Move on to the additional public

[2:01:29] comments section. This is the comments

[2:01:31] from anything. Yes, I do have two people

[2:01:34] registered.

[2:01:35] » I'm sorry.

[2:01:35] » I have two registered.

[2:01:36] » Okay. [snorts]

[2:01:38] » Um the first is Miss Shirley Cessums.

[2:01:52] Shirley Cesum, St. Mary's, Georgia. This

[2:01:55] is Mike Wilson. We are the board. Mike

[2:01:58] Wilson and I, all the board members for

[2:02:01] Swabber is not here tonight. We've been

[2:02:03] going through quite a bit of death and

[2:02:06] hitting our families here in the last

[2:02:08] few days. Um, but we are here in

[2:02:13] reference to requirement that we had to

[2:02:16] meet in order to fall under the county

[2:02:20] far as recreation is concerned. We met

[2:02:24] with um attorney Ftonier on March the

[2:02:27] 29th of this year and she gave she was

[2:02:31] recommending there were certain things

[2:02:32] that we had to meet in order for you all

[2:02:35] to really to even consider and one of

[2:02:38] the main things that we had to do is get

[2:02:40] a lease um agreement. um there was no

[2:02:44] lease that she had anything to use um to

[2:02:48] even consider

[2:02:50] uh us coming up underneath this the um

[2:02:53] the county for recreation. And I redid I

[2:02:58] left the lease.

[2:03:01] I brought the um the deeds to for her to

[2:03:05] go over and so you all can consider

[2:03:09] um having the Sweetwater Branch

[2:03:11] Recreational Park fall under the county.

[2:03:16] As you know, we had already did

[2:03:19] presentations to you all before and we

[2:03:22] didn't feel like that, you know, you

[2:03:23] didn't want to go through all of that

[2:03:24] again. And here's the deeds that we had

[2:03:27] to thank you deeds that we had to get

[2:03:30] straightened out for the ownership of

[2:03:32] the park.

[2:03:34] And um we are asking you all to

[2:03:39] consider and vote on this for

[2:03:43] the next meeting. Maybe we know it's not

[2:03:45] going to happen today, but this is such

[2:03:47] a uh important part uh for the

[2:03:51] Sweetwater Branch part. Currently we

[2:03:54] have we are paying for the lights there.

[2:03:57] We pay for the and the water and we have

[2:04:00] had so many requirement for that park

[2:04:05] and I can't believe that you I didn't

[2:04:08] even know on the PSA that that park was

[2:04:11] utilized as much as it it is being

[2:04:13] trying to be utilized now. In the last

[2:04:16] month, I've had about 12 people call

[2:04:20] trying to book that park and uh within

[2:04:23] this last month and it's every week,

[2:04:25] every weekend, every weekend, someone

[2:04:27] want to book that park. So, please

[2:04:29] consider this. This is um be beneficial

[2:04:33] for everybody in the county. As you all

[2:04:35] know, Sweetwater Branch is like a

[2:04:36] historical park. It was given back to us

[2:04:39] back in um to the blacks back in 1959.

[2:04:43] and the board members back in then we

[2:04:45] believe was all ladies. But um as time

[2:04:48] has passed by that park has been a a

[2:04:52] very very important part to many of you

[2:04:56] all in the county. Many some of you all

[2:04:58] pay play ball out there, football and

[2:05:01] baseball. So, um please consider

[2:05:06] taking this park

[2:05:09] um and we will create a lease with you

[2:05:13] all after then and uh

[2:05:18] the booking and how everything is going

[2:05:20] to be handled. So, please consider um

[2:05:23] bringing Sweetwater Branch underneath

[2:05:25] the county recreational parks. Okay. You

[2:05:29] have anything you want to say, Mike?

[2:05:31] That's it. Thank you.

[2:05:33] Thank you,

[2:05:34] » Mr. Alan Geese. Gis, I apologize if I

[2:05:37] mispronounced your name.

[2:05:39] » You're the first one ever.

[2:05:42] » So, so it's unusual because I'm not here

[2:05:45] to yell at anybody or to uh challenge

[2:05:48] you or anything, but I'm here for

[2:05:51] citizens and for for the staff and of

[2:05:55] course you commissioners. My name's Alan

[2:05:57] Gezy, but the purpose that I'm here for

[2:06:01] is for the uh Earthkeepers Alliance. You

[2:06:07] might have heard of them. They're a

[2:06:09] small nonprofit group and that we want

[2:06:12] to protect this little slice of

[2:06:14] paradise. And one of the ways to do that

[2:06:17] is reducing what actually goes into our

[2:06:22] landfill. So, so a few years ago, we

[2:06:26] created this little booklet and uh and

[2:06:30] it's how to do recycling and proper

[2:06:33] disposal in Camden County, just Camden

[2:06:37] County. But it highlighted the fact that

[2:06:40] we have a lot of items

[2:06:43] that there's no place to properly

[2:06:46] dispose of them here in the county.

[2:06:50] So, our small group has also sponsored

[2:06:54] tours. Uh, some of your staff have went

[2:06:57] to the recycling center down in

[2:07:00] Jacksonville Republic Services. Anything

[2:07:03] that's recycled in the county from a

[2:07:05] curbside actually goes to the recycling

[2:07:08] center in in uh Jacksonville. Uh we also

[2:07:14] uh sponsor uh a collection of

[2:07:17] electronics so that we have a semianual

[2:07:20] collection of uh electronics. We call

[2:07:23] that escrap where we collect those

[2:07:26] things so they don't go in the landfill.

[2:07:30] So I want to ask you today I'm speaking

[2:07:33] about hazardous waste collection.

[2:07:37] What do you do? What do each of you do

[2:07:41] with your household batteries? Your

[2:07:43] little A and double A and what do you do

[2:07:46] with them? What do you do with your

[2:07:49] lithium batteries, the little watch ones

[2:07:51] or the batteries from your power tools?

[2:07:55] What do you do with wet paint? Propane

[2:07:58] tanks, the little ones that you get. Uh

[2:08:01] what do you do with your aerosol cans?

[2:08:03] You spray the bugs.

[2:08:05] Do you throw that in your trash?

[2:08:09] probably if you're like every other

[2:08:12] citizen in the county,

[2:08:14] old style TVs, there's no place to

[2:08:17] dispose of any of that in the county.

[2:08:20] I've worked with Mr. Pitman. Uh he knows

[2:08:23] about this issue. I'm here speaking

[2:08:26] about that. So,

[2:08:29] but pushing this off to a future

[2:08:31] generation

[2:08:33] isn't a great idea,

[2:08:35] but there's another cost. cost that

[2:08:38] maybe you're not aware of. State and

[2:08:41] federal law

[2:08:43] says that we can't put that in our

[2:08:45] landfill.

[2:08:47] So, we may be subject to fines or or

[2:08:51] worse sanctions on our landfill. So, if

[2:08:55] we don't do anything about this, we just

[2:08:57] let it go.

[2:09:00] Uh that's a problem. There's a secondary

[2:09:03] cost. All this stuff going into the

[2:09:06] landfill that shouldn't means the volume

[2:09:08] going into that landfill is more than

[2:09:12] necessary. So, this is extending a

[2:09:15] shortening the life of your landfill. I

[2:09:18] don't need to tell you how much a

[2:09:19] landfill is going to cost us 30 years

[2:09:22] down the road, but the difference

[2:09:24] between 30 years and 35 years is

[2:09:28] significant in a rural county like

[2:09:30] Camden. It's going to be a big

[2:09:33] difference. So what I'm asking you to do

[2:09:37] and what I'm saying I and our group and

[2:09:40] some of our members are here is to

[2:09:43] consider putting in a collection point

[2:09:47] for these. There are several contractors

[2:09:50] that collect different types of things.

[2:09:53] Mr. Pitman is working on a grant to get

[2:09:58] that started. But I say to you, I know

[2:10:01] that we just went through that budget

[2:10:03] period. So this is for you to be

[2:10:05] thinking about and discussing before the

[2:10:07] next budget hearing to say what are we

[2:10:11] doing in the future to create this and

[2:10:15] sustain it. Uh

[2:10:19] subject to your questions,

[2:10:22] I don't have anything else.

[2:10:27] » Thanks for the input.

[2:10:28] » Okay. Anybody

[2:10:32] else?

[2:10:34] Nobody else. Uh, down to uh,

[2:10:38] commissioner comments. Anybody have any

[2:10:40] comments?

[2:10:45] » All I wanted to say is I'm freezing to

[2:10:47] death. [laughter]

[2:10:48] » Well, then I'll make this real quick.

[2:10:49] » I'll second that motion.

[2:10:51] » I'll make this real quick. I just wanted

[2:10:53] to recognize uh, Miss Claire who works

[2:10:55] with us here. Uh she gave the

[2:10:57] presentation today for the proclamation

[2:10:59] um recognizing September as suicide

[2:11:01] prevention month. Uh she represents the

[2:11:04] county on the Camden Family Connection.

[2:11:10] » Family connection Camden organization

[2:11:12] which um kind of brings all those

[2:11:13] nonprofit and social services

[2:11:15] organizations together. One of those

[2:11:16] being the suicide prevention

[2:11:18] organization. I just don't think you get

[2:11:20] enough credit for what you do in that

[2:11:21] space. So thank you Claire.

[2:11:28] Nothing else.

[2:11:30] Okay. Entertain a motion to adjourn the

[2:11:31] regular meeting and convene the

[2:11:33] executive session to discuss real estate

[2:11:35] personnel and potential litigation.

[2:11:37] » So moved. Second.

[2:11:39] » All in favor? probably.

[2:41:29] to adjourn the executive session and

[2:41:31] reconvene the regular meeting.

[2:41:33] » Make a motion to adjourn the executive

[2:41:35] session and reconvene the regular

[2:41:36] meeting. Mr. Chairman,

[2:41:38] » Second.

[2:41:39] » Got a motion second. All in favor?

[2:41:41] Motion carries. Okay. We have two action

[2:41:44] items relative to the executive session.

[2:41:47] And item number one is

[2:41:49] » Uh Mr. Chairman, I move to approve the

[2:41:51] resolution and contract for

[2:41:53] representation and fee agreement

[2:41:55] regarding fire apparatus antitrust

[2:41:57] litigation.

[2:41:59] » I'll second.

[2:42:01] We have a motion and a second. All in

[2:42:04] favor? Motion carries. Action item

[2:42:07] number two is the uh I make a motion for

[2:42:09] the approval of professional services

[2:42:11] agreement for the retaining of legal

[2:42:13] services for the county attorney.

[2:42:17] Second.

[2:42:19] » We have a motion in a second. All in

[2:42:21] favor?

[2:42:23] Motion carries.

[2:42:27] » Uh I'm going to abstain.

[2:42:28] » We have uh three and Cody abstained.

[2:42:32] Okay.

[2:42:35] All righty.

[2:42:37] Seeing nothing else. Motion to adjurnn.

[2:42:40] » So moved. Second.

[2:42:42] » All in favor.

[2:42:44] Thank y'all.

Board of Commissioners Regular Meeting - September 1, 2026

Transcript