County Administrator's Brief July August September 2024

REP. BUDDY CARTER RED CROSS

4

LEADERSHIP AND STRATEGIC PLANNING

6

COMMUNITY PARTNERSHIPS

8 PUBLIC SAFETY

RECRUIT TRAINING RECOVERY

COMMUNITY UPDATES

STAFF HIGHLIGHTS

14 PUBLIC WORKS 16

COMMUNITY UPDATES PERATIONS

22 STAFF HIGHLIGHTS

26 STATISTICAL UPDATES

Board of Commissioners

District 1 Commissioner and Vice-Chair Lannie Brant, District 2 Commissioner

Martin Turner, District 3 Commissioner Trevor Readdick, District 4 Commissioner

Jim Goodman, District 5 Commissioner and Chairman Ben Casey

The mission of Camden County Government is to deliver DEFINED COUNTY SERVICES with EXCEPTIONAL CUSTOMER SERVICE in a FINANCIALLY SUSTAINABLE and TRANSPARENT MANNER.

Team Camden,

I encourage you to spend a few moments reading through our latest County Administrator’s Brief. This quarterly publication aims to provide you with a glimpse into the activities of your county government.

As you review the pages, kindly note the links that direct you to various sections on the Camden County website for additional details about our ongoing efforts.

Sincerely,

Shawn M. Boatright, MPA, CPM

Strategic Plan 2023

Throughout 2023 and 2024, the Camden County Board of Commissioners, in collaboration with the staff, actively worked on implementing policy and management agendas specified in the 2023-2028-2038 Strategic Plan. Additionally, staff made progress in bringing major projects and ongoing management initiatives closer to completion.

Learn more about the 2023-2028-2038 Strategic Plan on the Camden County website at: camdencountyga.gov/StrategicPlan.

Goals 2023-2038

Community Partnerships

In August, the Salvation Army in St. Marys received a new Mobile Canteen Truck, provided by FedEx. To commemorate its commissioning, onsite meals were served at the Resiliency Operations Center to public safety and public works personnel from both the county and cities.

The rapid response vehicle can provide approximately 800 meals, 550 bottles of water, up to six gallons of coffee, and other essential supplies such as hygiene kits, tarps, and cleaning kits into disaster areas as determined by the Camden County Emergency Management Agency.

"The Salvation Army has always been a go-to organization in times of disaster for Camden County, and the new Mobile Canteen is a welcome addition to their unique capabilities," stated

Emergency Management Director Chuck White.

PUBLIC

CAMDEN COUNTY FIRE RESCUE, EMERGENCY MANAGEMENT

1,040

New Additions Serving the

In July, Camden County Fire Rescue held Push-In Ceremonies for two new engines. Engine 19, based in the Dover Bluff area of northern Camden County, and Engine 11, based in Woodbine, are now serving Camden residents.

The former Engine 19 and Engine 11 are now in reserve status. These engines are available as a backup to one of the front-line apparatus, allowing Camden County Fire Rescue to always be able to serve our county.

Camden County Emergency Management Agency (EMA) recently had the opportunity to deploy the newly arrived Mobile Command Vehicle (MCV), during an Active Shooter Training Exercise. This exercise, supported by Camden County Schools, included participants from the St. Marys Police Department, Camden County Sheriff's Office, St. Marys Fire Department, and Kingsland Police Department.

We are fortunate to add this supplementary resource to our community, said Chairman Ben Casey.

“Allowing our first responders to perform their duties with this added help significantly enhances our emergency management capabilities, enabling us to respond more effectively and efficiently in crisis situations.”

Emergency Response

Camden County Emergency Management Agency (EMA) works year-round to prepare our community for potential natural and manmade disasters.

The 2024 Atlantic Hurricane Season was expected to be highly active. Camden County received impacts from two storms during the 3rd Quarter of 2024, Tropical Storm Debby in August and Hurricane Helene in September.

Camden County received excessive rainfall from Tropical Storm Debby. Winds from Hurricane Helene caused a significant impact to the community. Downed trees led to power outages, with many homes throughout our county being without power for multiple days.

Led by Camden County Emergency Management Agency, our community took proactive steps ahead of both storms, offering sandbag stations across the area and opening a shelter for those in need. Local governments collaborated closely with Camden County Schools and Naval Submarine Base Kings Bay to address community needs. Thanks to the dedicated efforts of Camden County and the cities of Kingsland, St. Marys, and Woodbine, conditions were quickly restored to normal.

Camden County truly came together! A special thanks to the American Red Cross volunteers who supported shelters during the storm, as well as the Camden County Chamber of Commerce, M&A’s Seafood, and Sonny’s for generously providing meals to staff at the Emergency Operations Center throughout Hurricane Helene. Our community really looks out for each other!

FLEET SERVICES, ROADS & BRIDGES, MOSQUITO CONTROL

Blade Miles of Road Graded

Brush Clearing Miles

Public Works personnel spend hours each month maintaining 127 miles of unpaved and 173 miles of paved public roads in unincorporated Camden County.

Following the excessive rainfall during Tropical Storm Debby, Public Works crews repaired multiple washouts and returned roads to prestorm conditions.

COMMUNITY UPDATES

CAMDEN COUNTY, GEORGIA GOVERNMENT

Community Progress

Since breaking ground in April, the new Camden County Department of Health building has made impressive strides. The early site-clearing efforts are shown in the top left image, while the aboveright image highlights the framing progress. The bottom photos showcase the building's current state in Fall 2024, with full completion anticipated in early 2025.

Work continues on a new cell at the Municipal Solid Waste (MSW) Landfill, a complex process designed to safely contain waste. This specialized construction includes multiple protective layers and liners, which effectively shield groundwater from contamination. The project is expected to be complete by the end of 2024.

Grant Updates

In September, the Camden County Board of Commissioners accepted three grants from the Georgia Emergency Management and Homeland Security Agency (GEMA/HS) totaling $399,649.40. These funds, part of the Hazard Mitigation Grant Program (HMGP), will support critical projects aimed at reducing long-term risks posed by natural disasters.

The grants will fund three key projects:

$245,011.50 for a comprehensive stormwater management plan for unincorporated Camden County, to be developed by a consultant.

$67,070.00 to elevate a repetitive loss property located in a Special Flood Hazard Area.

$87,567.90 for the purchase and installation of a generator at the Camden County Recreation Center (PSA), ensuring the facility can provide essential services during a disaster.

In August, the Camden County Board of Commissioners accepted a $210,000 Community Wildfire Defense Program grant to fund the creation of a Community Wildfire Protection Plan (CWPP) for Camden County. This funding is through the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Forest Service and managed by the Georgia Forestry Commission.

Resiliency Operations Center

In August, Representative Buddy Carter toured Camden County's nearly completed Resiliency Operations Center (ROC) in Kingsland and had the opportunity to explore the new Mobile Command Vehicle (MCV).

Once complete, the ROC will serve as the central hub for Planning & Development, GIS, Flood Protection, and Emergency Management, enhancing county resilience and response capabilities.

We extend our gratitude to Representative Carter and his team for their invaluable support in securing the funding for this vital facility.

Stay tuned for details on the upcoming ribbon-cutting celebration at the new ROC!

CAMDEN COUNTY, GEORGIA GOVERNMENT

Staff Recognition

This August, Alex Harrelson stepped into the role of Facilities Maintenance Director. A lifelong Camden County resident, Alex has been part of the county team since 2010, bringing both dedication and local insight to his new leadership position.

Left: Mike Spiers, Vice-Chair Lannie Brant, Amy Peeples, Chairman Ben Casey, Commissioner Martin Turner, Commissioner Trevor Readdick, Commissioner Jim Goodman

Camden County’s Thumbs Up! Employee Recognition Program earned a 2024 Achievement Award from the National Association of Counties (NACo). Led by the Human Resources Department, Senior Director of Human Resources & Risk Management Mike Spiers and Human Resources Generalist Amy Peeples received recognition in August.

Also in August, Caiden Boner, Nekari Jones, Curtis Lampert, Christen Patterson, Bailey Pierce, Brett Smith, Jerome Telfair, and Anthony Wall graduated Recruit Class 2024-19.

The ten-week program included both classroom and practical skills training to prepare firefighter recruits for earning state certification. Instructors recognized during the graduation ceremony include: Training Captain James Marr, Captain Keith Brown, Captain Chris Goebel, Lieutenant Mark Hammitt, Lieutenant Garrett Tanner, FF/ EMT Zip Amerine, FF Jeremy Griffin, and FF Aaron Kadlubowski.

From

In July, County Clerk Katie Bishop (above right) and then County Attorney John Myers spoke about Open Meetings Law to the Georgia Association of Assessing Officials (GAAO) Summer Conference.

Senior Revenue Service Representative Heather Metty (pictured on right with Tax Commissioner Beth Soles) was named Employee of the Quarter. Her multiple nominations sited her positive attitude and ability to deal with difficult situations. Additionally, her willingness to help both coworkers and customers, was mentioned throughout her recommendations.

Congratulations to E-911 team members Madison Daniel, Naomie Eason, Miniya Ellerson, Colton Moliken, Nicole Prescott, Lauren Strickland, Jaret Swiger, Victoria Violette, Dalton Vurnakes, and Alanna Ward on completing the Emergency Fire Dispatcher Training through the International Academies of Emergency Dispatch (IAED). Their dedication to advancing their skills strengthens our emergency response capabilities.

Madison Daniel, Colten Moliken, Nicole Prescott, Jaret Swiger, and Victoria Violette completed Emergency Medical Dispatcher Training through IAED.

STATISTICAL UPDATES

CAMDEN COUNTY, GEORGIA GOVERNMENT

Curbside Collection

Starting July 1, 2022, Meridian Waste, the new curbside collection contractor, began collections for unincorporated residents. Since then, customer complaints related to waste collection issues have significantly decreased compared to the previous waste provider. In the third quarter of 2024, only nine (9) complaints were received.

Curbside Collection serves over 5,300 customers in unincorporated Camden County.

Solid Waste

Camden County's landfills cater to the disposal needs of municipal solid waste (MSW), as well as construction and demolition (C&D) and industrial waste.

The Solid Waste department is working towards an expansion of the MSW Landfill. Construction began during the 2nd quarter of 2024 and progress continues on the new cell.

3rd Quarter Fees by Location

Financials

Hotel Motel Tax, LOST, and SPLOST are all collected one month in arrears.

Hotel Motel Tax collections for July and August 2024 total $13,528.

Local Option Sales Tax (LOST) collections for July and August 2024 total $980,662, and are at 15.5.2% of the FY 2025 budget.

Special Purpose Local Option Sales Tax (SPLOST) VIII collections for July and August 2024 total $2,131,877, and are 16.4% of the FY 2025 Budget. SPLOST VII collections began on July 1, 2019, and will cease on June 30, 2025.

Ad Valorem Tax collections for July through September 2024 total $143,828, and are 0.5% of the adopted FY 2025 budget. From February through November, the county typically does not collect a significant dollar amount on property taxes.

Valorem Tax Revenue

(LOST) Revenue

Financials

Fund Balance

Fund Balance is often referred to as “reserves” or “rainy day” funds, but is defined as the difference between revenues and expenditures of the general fund. At the start of FY 2025, Camden County’s beginning Fund Balance was $17,483,903.

General Fund Expenditures

General Fund expenditures totaled $12,811,581 for July through September 2024. This is 27.07% of the FY 2025 Budget.

General Government includes, but is not limited to, Board of Commissioners, Elections & Registration, Finance & Budget, Human Resources, Information Technology, Insurance, Tax Assessor, and Tax Commissioner.

It is important to note insurances are more than 50% of the General Government total for any fiscal year.

“Awesome range and Awesome staff! All employees willing to help sight in your rig to help you have the most accurate time!“ - Google Review Tuesday - Saturday 9:00 a.m. - 5:00 p.m.

Two Rivers Gun Range has a 10% off discount on guest passes for members and 10% off day passes for non-members for certain groups on specific days.

- Military Day* *Active or retired with credentials