Commission adopts amended strategic plan, adds airport and animal-control facility; approves park contract, vehicle and other items

The Camden County Board of Commissioners voted to adopt an amended strategic plan and approved several procurement and administrative items during its regular meeting.

Commissioners first amended the county’s strategic plan to add an animal control facility as part of the planned Public Safety Complex and then approved a separate amendment to add replacement of the county’s general aviation airport to the policy agenda as a top priority. After discussion, the board voted to adopt the strategic plan as amended.

County staff described the strategic plan as an action agenda that includes management and policy priorities developed with the consultant Lalsamiq and Associates; staff told commissioners the plan lists 12 management and progress items for the year and 20 major projects overall. A staff member confirmed the airport was previously a ranked priority but not a top priority before the amendment.

One commissioner pushed for the airport’s elevation to top priority, citing prior federal and state funding opportunities and the Federal Aviation Administration’s interest. “You don't know what it is, but you've got someone that wants to actually basically give you an airport and you're gonna turn it down. Doesn't make sense to me,” the commissioner said during debate. Other commissioners cautioned that the Joint Development Authority had not identified the airport as its top priority.

In related business, the board approved several agenda items by voice vote (no roll-call tallies were recorded in the transcript). Key approvals included:

Votes at a glance

- Purchase of two replacement fuel tanks for Fire Rescue Headquarters from Guardian Fuel Technologies for $58,665.42; Hopkins Gowen to receive a 5% fee for assistance and maintenance; motion to approve carried.

- Award of the Browntown Wilderness Park recreational enhancement (Saint Mary's Overlook Trail) to CWA Development for $221,400; county to provide signs, benches, trash cans and provide millings for lower trail sections and use remaining grant funds ($64,600) to complete other project elements; motion to award carried.

- Approval for the sheriff’s office to purchase a 2024 Ford Bronco for the Department of Navy mission on Cumberland Island for a total of $57,326 (vehicle and outfitting); staff said the purchase is fully funded by Swiftland/Department of Navy and the county will not expend local funds; motion carried.

- Appointment of Lynn Mitchell to the Coastal Regional Commission Aging Services Council; motion carried.

- Approval to participate in a forensic audit of the District Attorney’s office (Glynn County procuring Baker Tilly advisory group); the total audit cost is estimated at $50,000–$75,000. Using a population-based share, Camden County’s share was estimated at roughly 23%—about $11,000 to $18,000—depending on the final audit cost; motion carried.

Staff recommended the fuel tank purchase and park contract based on received quotes and grant constraints; for the park project staff said only one responsive bid was received and the bidder chose marine-grade treated wood with an estimated 18–20 year lifespan because a longer-lasting composite option would have cost two to three times more and exceeded grant funding limits.

When commissioners approved the Cumberland Island vehicle, staff clarified the $4,000 outfitting includes winches, emergency lighting, LED floodlights and labor; the sheriff’s office finance director said reimbursements from the Swiftland program have been delayed by several months but are expected to arrive.

The strategic-plan amendments and all listed procurement and appointment motions passed by voice vote; the clerk repeatedly announced "motion carries" but did not read roll-call tallies into the public record.