Camden County approves intent to seek up to $4 million in ACCG financing for multi‑use sports complex; vote 3‑2

The Camden County Board of Commissioners on Tuesday approved a resolution authorizing the county'administrator to pursue a financial agreement with the Association County Commissioners of Georgia (ACCG) for up to $4,000,000 to renovate what staff described as a "multi‑use complex." The resolution passed 3‑2.

County staff said the ACCG platform would provide tax‑exempt financing that could lower long‑term interest costs compared with a conventional bank loan, and noted a public hearing would be required before any final financing agreement is executed. County staff also said that if the project cost exceeds $4 million the board would consider value engineering or returning to the board for additional approval.

The vote capped more than an hour of discussion about project scope, existing park conditions and how maintenance would be handled after construction. Michael Lake, president of the Camden County Soccer Club, urged commissioners to rehabilitate the soccer fields, saying the current site was "in absolute disrepair to the point to where it's quasi dangerous" and describing holes, broken concession power and ADA access problems.

County staff said the plan is to level and reconfigure existing green space to create fields for multiple sports, including soccer, and to build supporting infrastructure such as parking and circulation. Staff said earlier planning and ARPA work on the site leaves the county with existing designs and planning expenses already incurred.

Several commissioners and residents urged caution. Commissioner Goodwin said he had "heartburn" over removing a par‑3 mini‑golf course and questioned whether some storage or ancillary structures could avoid destroying existing amenities. Other commissioners pressed staff for more precise cost breakdowns and for assurances about how the county would fund ongoing maintenance of a renovated complex.

Staff noted the county earlier set aside funds through ARPA and that state reimbursements tied to other projects may be used to retire debt early, but that those proceeds are not yet available; the county's financial adviser advised that principal and interest must be paid from the general fund until any legislative or state reimbursements become realized.

The resolution authorizes staff to proceed with drafting an ACCG agreement to finance renovation work and to hold the required public hearing before final adoption; it does not obligate the county to enter the financing. The motion passed 3‑2.

Community members said they want assurances the renovated complex will be usable by multiple sports programs — including youth football and lacrosse — and not limited to a single sport. Others focused on the condition of existing fields and urged faster repairs. Commissioners said additional detail on maintenance costs, SPLOST allocations and PSA responsibilities remain to be resolved before construction contracts are awarded.