On the agenda: Woodbine meeting — flock camera (Apr 21)

AGENDA
Camden County Board of Commissioners
Government Services Complex, Second Floor, Chambers
200 East Fourth Street, Woodbine, GA 31569
Regular Meeting
Tuesday, April 21, 2026 ~ 6:00 PM
Code of Conduct - Meeting Decorum
To view the meeting live online - Camden BOC - YouTube
Opening Ceremonies

 Invocation delivered by Commissioner Jim Goodman
 Pledge of Allegiance led by Chairman Robbie Cheek
Roll Call
Agenda Amendments
Adoption of Agenda
Approval of Minutes
 April 2, 2026 Special Called Meeting minutes; and April 7, 2026 Regular
Meeting and Public Hearings.

Presentation
 Proclamation recognizing the week of May 6 – 12, 2026 as National
Correction Officers and Employees Week.



Overview of proposed amendments to the Camden County Code of
Ordinances Chapter 14 - Animals presented by Code Enforcement and
Compliance Officer Jerrod Wells.

Public Comments – Comments regarding items featured on the Agenda
Adjourn the Regular Meeting and Convene a Public Hearing
Public Hearing
 To receive comments from the Public regarding amendments to the
Camden County Code of Ordinances, Chapter 27 - Fire Rescue Fire
Prevention and Services.
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Adjourn the Public Hearing and Reconvene the Regular Meeting
Regular Meeting
Camden County Fire Rescue Captain Chris Goebel
1.

Second Reading and Adoption of the amendments to the Camden
County Code of Ordinances, Chapter 27 - Fire Rescue Fire Prevention
and Services.

Finance Director Janice Beckham
2.

Approval of the Six (6) Remnant Defendants’ Settlement from the new
national opioid settlement.

Adjourn the Regular Meeting and Convene the Solid Waste Authority
(SWA) Meeting
SWA Agenda Amendments
Adoption of SWA Agenda
SWA Approval of Minutes
 March 17, 2026 SWA meeting minutes
SWA Public Comments - Comments regarding items featured on the
SWA Agenda
SWA Agenda
Solid Waste Director John Pittman
1.

Task order that authorizes and directs Atlantic Coast Consulting to
proceed with assisting in providing Environmental Monitoring at the
three (3) landfills: SR 110 C/D/I Landfill, SR 110 MSW Landfill, and
Vacuna Road Landfill.

Additional SWA Public Comments
Adjourn the SWA Meeting and Reconvene the Regular Meeting
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Regular Agenda
Solid Waste Director John Pittman
3.

Task order that authorizes and directs Atlantic Coast Consulting to
proceed with assisting in providing Environmental Monitoring at the
three (3) landfills: SR 110 C/D/I Landfill, SR 110 MSW Landfill, and
Vacuna Road Landfill.

Reports
 Calendar – April & May 2026
 County Administrator Comments
Additional Public Comments
Adjourn the Regular Meeting and Convene an Executive Session – for
discussion regarding Litigation.

Adjourn the Executive Session and Reconvene the Regular Meeting
Adjournment

As set forth in the Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990, Camden
County does not discriminate on the basis of disability, and will assist
citizens with special needs, given proper notice. Please contact the
Office of the County Clerk for assistance prior to the given meeting.
We can be reached at (912) 576 – 5651.

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Chapter 2
ADMINISTRATION
ARTICLE II. BOARD OF COMMISSIONERS
Sec. 2-33 Code of Conduct
(1)

Commissioners. Each Commissioner shall conduct themselves in a
professional and respectful manner during all meetings, work sessions and
public hearings. The Commissioners will treat one another, staff, and
members of the audience with courtesy and respect. Inappropriate,
offensive, insulting or malicious remarks will not be used. Commissioners will
refrain from engaging in any type of behavior that disrupts the orderly flow
of the meeting. During the open, public portion of a meeting,
Commissioners will refrain from making personal remarks that challenge
the integrity or competency of any staff member. Commissioners will
direct all remarks to the Chair and not to individual Commissioners, staff or
members of the audience, unless otherwise granted by the Chair.

(2)

Members of the audience. All members of the audience are expected to
comply with the Code of Conduct established for the Commissioners.
Vocal, boisterous or other disruptive demonstrations that disrupt the
orderly flow of the meeting will not be allowed.

(3)

Enforcement of the Code of Conduct. The Sheriff, or such member of the
Sheriff’s Office as he/she may designate, shall be sergeant at arms of the
Commissioners’ meetings. Said sergeant at arms shall carry out all orders
and instructions given by the Chair for the purpose of maintaining order
and decorum during the Board of Commissioners meeting. Upon
instruction of the Chair, it shall be the duty of the sergeant at arms to
place any person who violates the order and decorum of the meeting
under arrest and remove such person from the building in which the
meeting is being conducted.

Sec. 2-34 Rules Governing Public Participation
Public participation in the Board of Commissioners meetings shall be permitted in
accordance with the following provisions:
(a)

Speaker Request Form. The Speaker Request From can be requested
in advance from the County Clerk, obtained from the county
website, or obtained at any Board of Commissioners regular
meeting. The form may be completed and submitted to the Clerk
prior to any meeting by hand delivery, regular mail or email.

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(b)

Public Comment(s) Section. Persons wishing to address the Board
during the Public Comments Section of the agenda should do so in
the following manner:

(1)

Clarification of two (2) public comment sections. The first public comment
section shall be featured at the beginning of the meeting and will be
dedicated to comments related to items featured on the agenda. The
second public comment section will be featured prior to the close of the
agenda and will be for any items the public wishes to address.

(2)

Complete a Speaker Request Form (Form) and submit it to the County
Clerk at least five (5) minutes before the start of the meeting. Failure to
complete and submit the Form will not preclude anyone from addressing
the Board during Public Comments section of the meeting. However,
individuals who complete and submit the Form shall be heard first, and any
other person wishing to make a comment shall subsequently be heard in
the order in which they come forward.

(3)

The Chair will open the floor to public comments and individually call each
speaker forward to address the Board.

(4)

The speaker should begin his/her remarks by stating his/her name and
address.

(5)

All comments should be directed to the Chair. Discussions or debates with
any individual Commissioner, staff members or members of the audience
will not be permitted unless otherwise granted by the Chair.

(6)

Comments should be kept pertinent to the speaker’s chosen subject
matter, and the speaker will refrain from making personal remarks that
challenge the integrity or competency of any staff member. The speaker
will avoid being repetitive, and refrain using inappropriate, offensive or
vulgar language.

(7)

Each speaker will be allowed a reasonable amount of time to speak as
determined by the Chair.

(8)

Before closing the floor to public comments, the Chair will inquire if there
are any additional public comments.

(c)

Public Hearings. Persons wishing to address the Board during a duly
advertised public hearing will be heard in the order in which they come
forward. Speakers will begin his/her remarks by stating his/her name and
address. Comments are to be kept pertinent to the subject matter of the
hearing, and the speaker will avoid being repetitive or using inappropriate,
offensive or vulgar language. Each speaker will be allowed a reasonable
amount of time to speak as determined by the Chair.

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CAMDEN COUNTY, GEORGIA
BOARD OF COUNTY COMMISSIONERS
SPECIAL CALLED MEETING
APRIL 2, 2026, 6:00 PM
A Special Called Meeting of the Camden County Board of County
Commissioners was held at 6:00 p.m. on Thursday, April 2, 2026, in the Board
of County Commissioners’ Meeting Chambers of the Government Services
Building, Woodbine, Georgia.
Commissioner Cheek called the meeting to order at 6:00 p.m.
Present:
Chairman Robbie Cheek; Vice-Chairman Martin Turner
Commissioner Ben Casey; Commissioner Cody Smith; Commissioner Jim
Goodman;; County Attorney Jaqueline Fortier; Interim County Administrator
Joey Yacobacci; Interim Deputy County Administrator Shannon Nettles;
County Clerk Kathryn A. Bishop and Deputy County Clerk Shekia Robinson.

Adoption of the Special Called Agenda
Commissioner Casey made a motion, seconded by Vice-Chairman Turner to
adopt the agenda as presented.
The motion carried unanimously.

Public Comments
No comments were offered from the Public during this time.

Special Called Agenda
Vice-Chairman Turner made a motion, seconded by Chairman Cheek to
adjourn the regular meeting and convene an Executive Session for the
purpose of discussing items exempt under O.C.G.A. § 50-14-3(b)(4)
(Information Technology related) at 6:04 PM.
The motion carried unanimously.
Chairman Cheek convened the Executive Session for the purpose of
discussing Litigation and Personnel at 6:04 PM.

RESOLUTION OF THE CAMDEN COUNTY
BOARD OF COMMISSIONERS
BE IT RESOLVED by the Camden County Board of Commissioners as follows:
At the meeting held on the 2nd day of April, 2026, with the following
Commissioners being present Chairman Robbie Cheek; Vice-Chairman
Martin Turner; Commissioner Cody Smith; Commissioner Ben Casey and
Commissioner Jim Goodman the Board of Commissioners entered into
closed session for the purpose of discussing items exempt under O.C.G.A. §
50-14-3(b)(4) (Information Technology related).
At the close of the
discussions on this subject, the Board did agree to reconvene into open
session and herewith takes the following action in open session:
Also present were County Clerk Katie Bishop; Interim County Administrator
Joey Yacobacci; Interim Deputy County Administrator Shannon Nettles;
Chief Information Officer Willie Chain; Systems Administrator Kayla Oliver
and County Attorney Jaqueline Fortier.
(1) The actions of the Board and the discussion of the same regarding the
matter set forth for closed session purposes are hereby ratified.
(2) Each member of this body does hereby confirm to the best of their
knowledge, based upon the advice of the County Attorney, was devoted
to matters within the exceptions provided by law and the specific relevant
exception is the subject matter as set forth above.
(3) The Chairman of this Board, or the presiding officer, is hereby authorized
and directed and pursuant to the Resolution shall execute an affidavit, in
full support of the members of this Board, in order to comply with O.C.G.A. §
50-14-4(b).
(4) The affidavit shall be included and filed with the official minutes of the
meeting and shall be in a form as required by the statute, which shall be
substantially as follows:
AFFIDAVIT AS REQUIRED UNDER O.C.G.A. § 50-14-4(b)
Personally appeared before the undersigned attesting officer duly
authorized to administer oaths, Chairman Cheek, who, after being duly
sworn, deposes and on oath states the following:
(1) I was the chairperson/presiding officer of a meeting of the Camden
County Board of Commissioners held on the 2nd day of April, 2026.
(2) The subject matter of the closed portion of the meeting which was closed
for the purposes of discussing items exempt under O.C.G.A. § 50-14-3(b)(4)
(Information Technology related) and was devoted to matters within those
exceptions and as provided by law.

(3) This affidavit is being executed for the purpose of complying with the
mandate of O.C.G.A. § 50-14-4-(b) that such an affidavit be executed.
This 2nd day of April, 2026
Commissioner Smith made a motion, seconded by Commissioner Goodman
to adjourn the Executive Session and reconvene the regular meeting at 7:09
PM.
The motion carried unanimously.
Commissioner Goodman made a motion, seconded by Commissioner Casey
to approve the purchase of computer hardware in the amount of $60,161.96.
The motion carried unanimously.

Additional Public Comments
No additional public comments were offered during this time.

Adjourn Special Called Meeting
Commissioner Casey made a motion, seconded by Vice-Chairman Turner to
adjourn the April 2, 2026 Special Called Meeting at 7:10 PM.
The motion carried unanimously.

BY: __________________________________________
ROBBIE CHEEK, CHAIRMAN
CAMDEN COUNTY BOARD OF COMMISSIONERS
ATTEST: ______________________________________
KATIE BISHOP, COUNTY CLERK

CAMDEN COUNTY, GEORGIA
BOARD OF COUNTY COMMISSIONERS
REGULAR MEETING AND PUBLIC HEARING
APRIL 7, 2026, 6:00 PM
Present: Chairman Robbie Cheek; Vice-Chairman Martin Turner; Commissioner Ben
Casey; Commissioner Jim Goodman; Commissioner Cody Smith; Interim County
Administrator Joey Yacobacci; Interim Deputy County Administrator Shannon
Nettles; County Clerk Katie Bishop; ; and County Attorney Jacqueline Fortier.
Chairman Cheek called the meeting to order at 6:00 p.m.
Commissioner Jim Goodman delivered the invocation.
Vice-Chairman Turner led the Pledge of Allegiance.

Agenda Amendments:
Addition of Item 14 under the Regular agenda and renumber the agenda
accordingly.
14.

Approval to submit for the LMIG Safety Action Plan (SAP) Administration
Fund to the Georgia Department of Transportation (GDOT).

Chairman Cheek made a motion, seconded by Commissioner Smith to approve
the agenda amendments as presented.
The motion carried unanimously.

Motion to Adopt the Agenda
Commissioner Smith made a motion, seconded by Commissioner Smith to adopt
the agenda as amended.
The motion carried unanimously,

Approval of the Minutes
 March 17, 2026 Regular Meeting and Public Hearing minutes.
Commissioner Goodman made a motion, seconded by Chairman Cheek to
approve the March 17, 2026 Regular Meeting and Public Hearing minutes.
The motion carried unanimously.
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Presentations
 Proclamation recognizing the week of April 12 – 18, 2026 as National
Public Safety Telecommunicators Week.
Senior Director of HR & Risk Management Mike Spiers presented the
Proclamation recognizing the week of April 12 – 18, 2026 as National Public
Safety Telecommunicators Week.

Proclamation
of the Camden County Board of Commissioners
recognizing the week of April 12 – 18, 2026 as
National Public Safety Telecommunicators Week
WHEREAS, emergencies can occur at any time that require deputies, fire or emergency
medical services; and
WHEREAS, when an emergency occurs the prompt response of deputies, firefighters and
paramedics is critical to the protection of life and preservation of property; and
WHEREAS, the safety of our deputies, firefighters and paramedics is dependent upon the
quality and accuracy of information obtained from citizens who telephone the Camden County
emergency communications center; and
WHEREAS, Public Safety Telecommunicators are the first and most critical contact our
citizens have with emergency services; and
WHEREAS, Public Safety Telecommunicators are the single vital link for our deputies,
firefighters and paramedics by monitoring their activities by radio, providing them information
and ensuring their safety; and
WHEREAS, Public Safety Telecommunicators of the Camden County 911 have
contributed substantially to the apprehension of criminals, suppression of fires and treatment of
patients; and
WHEREAS, each dispatcher has exhibited compassion,
professionalism during the performance of their job in the past year; and

understanding

and

NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT PROCLAIMED, by the Camden County Board of Commissioners
the week of April 12 - 18, 2026, to be recognized as:
NATIONAL PUBLIC SAFETY TELECOMMUNICATORS WEEK
in Camden County, in honor of the men and women whose diligence and professionalism keep our
city and citizens safe.
PROCLAIMED this 7th day of April, 2026.
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 Proclamation recognizing the week of April 12 – 18, 2026 as National
Animal Control Officer Appreciation Week.
Senior Director of HR & Risk Management Mike Spiers presented the
Proclamation recognizing the week of April 12 – 18, 2026 as National Animal
Control Officer Appreciation Week.

Proclamation
of the Camden County Board of Commissioners
recognizing the week of April 12 – 18, 2026 as
National Animal Control Officer Appreciation Week
WHEREAS, the National Animal Care & Control Association has designated April 1218, 2026 as National Animal Control Officer Appreciation Week; and
WHEREAS, various federal, state, and local government officials throughout the country
take this time to recognize, thank and commend all Animal Control Officers for the dedicated
service they provide to the citizens, public safety, domestic animals, livestock and wildlife across
the nation; and
WHEREAS, every day, Animal Control Officers put themselves in potentially dangerous
situations to protect the health and welfare of animals and the public; and
WHEREAS, the Camden County Board of Commissioners recognizes and commends the
work done by the officers of Camden County Animal Control on a daily basis to the citizens of
our community; and
WHEREAS, Camden County recognizes the Animal Control Officers who answer calls
for assistance, capturing roaming and potentially dangerous animals, rescue animals in distress,
investigate reports of animal cruelty and neglect, and provide education for pet guardians about
responsible pet care; and
NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT PROCLAIMED, by the Camden County Board of Commissioners
the week of April 12 - 18, 2026, to be recognized as:
NATIONAL ANIMAL CONTROL OFFICER APPRECIATION WEEK
throughout Camden County and encourage all citizens to express their appreciation for the service
of these officers.
PROCLAIMED this 7th day of April, 2026.

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 Proclamation recognizing the month of April as National County
Government Month.
Senior Director of HR & Risk Management Mike Spiers presented the Proclamation
recognizing the month of April as National County Government Month.

Proclamation
of the Camden County Board of Commissioners
recognizing the month of April 2026 as
National County Government Month
WHEREAS, the nation’s 3,069 counties serving more than 330 million Americans provide
essential services to create healthy, safe and vibrant communities; and
WHEREAS, counties fulfill a vast range of responsibilities and deliver services that touch
nearly every aspect of our residents’ lives; and
WHEREAS, counties as intergovernmental partners enact local, state and federal
programs to address the needs of all residents; and
WHEREAS, Camden County and all counties take pride in our responsibility to protect
and enhance the health, wellbeing and safety of our residents in efficient and cost-effective ways;
and
WHEREAS, the nation is celebrating 250 years of independence this year and counties
have a long and rich history of serving residents; and
WHEREAS, each year since 1991 the National Association of Counties has encouraged
counties across the country to elevate awareness of county responsibilities, programs and services;
and
NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT PROCLAIMED, by the Camden County Board of
Commissioners that the month of April is recognized as:
NATIONAL COUNTY GOVERNMENT MONTH
and encourage all residents, elected officials, and community organizations to join in recognizing
and encourage all county officials, employees, schools and residents to participate in county
government celebration activities.
PROCLAIMED this 7th day of April, 2026.

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 Presentation regarding the Adopt a Park Program presented by Public
Works Director Jared Beaudoin.
Interim Deputy County Administrator Shannon Nettles
Public Works Director Jared Beadoin and I are here to present the Adopt-a-Park
program proposal. You might remember that Commissioner Smith brought up
something like this maybe a month ago or so, and we have worked together to
provide this proposal. You have in front of you a resolution, just a proposed
resolution. You also have an Adopt-a-Park agreement, and you also have a very
small handbook in front of you. So I'm just going to go through this quick presentation
and get some ideas. We'd like some input from the commissioners to see how to
move forward with this project. There we go. All right, so this Adopt-a-Park program
establishes the structured partnership between Camden County and community
participants to assist in maintaining and enhancing and preserving public parks. It's
a good partnership with different groups that we have in our area. What we're
looking at is volunteers to participate in the program to help strengthen the civic
pride, promote stewardship, take ownership of some of these individual parks in the
sense that they can help support these facilities and make them a little bit better for
everyone to enjoy. Okay, beautiful and clean parks are essential to building stronger
communities in Camden County. I really believe this. I have a background many,
many, many years ago in parks and recreation, and I like this idea of Adopt-a-Park,
and it does bring communities together and it engages our different local groups,
faith-based groups and Boy Scouts, civic organizations, etc. to do some nice things
for our park, our park system. Eligibility, like I just mentioned, here's some individual
or here's some groups that we're looking at that could possibly be a volunteer group
to adopt a park. So civic organizations, scout troops, schools, youth groups, faithbased organizations, neighborhood associations, maybe HOAs, nonprofit
organizations, and local businesses in good standing. These are the parks that
Camden County currently maintains. A lot of opportunities for partnerships, yeah.
Your commitment and activities. So this is a one-year commitment. What we're
looking at is a minimum of four cleanups per year. Submit a cleanup activity report
within ten days following the event, that way we can keep a closer eye on what's
going on at the location. Some of the approved activities would include the litter
and debris cleanup, sweeping sidewalks, weeding, minor beautification projects.
That would be with written approval, and reporting any vandalism or hazards,
anything they see at their particular park that they've taken ownership of that might
need a little love. These groups would be recognized in a variety of ways. Our county
website and on social media. Also, the parks in the next slide, I think I'm going to
show a sample of some signage, but we'd like to put out flyers at the different park
locations in a variety of different areas, encouraging groups to contact us to be a
part of this Adopt-a-Park program, and obviously we'd have things on our website
and through social media as well. The groups that are interested in this particular
program and adopting the park, commissioners, you have in front of you the
handbook and you also have in front of you the agreement. We would need to
work on a liability, a waiver, and we also have specific guidelines for the groups.
When they come out to us, and the bigger groups would have to have insurance
as well, but you know, we do recommend only like six people, if there's youth
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involved, just six children with one adult present. And we would encourage them to
set daylight hours only, not to work at night. There's a variety of things that are listed
in the agreement that we would pass along to them and have them sign off on. So
it's an affordable, I think, signage. The signage is going to be the most expensive
thing, and really I think Jared said less than $400 for eight (8) signs. It would be a
little bit more than that because we have a few more parks than that involved, but
a good way to incorporate civic organization and groups with us to do something
better for the county. This program, so we have to have it overseen by somebody.
The Public Works Department would oversee this in addition to myself as well right
now, but the groups would contact and the phone number would be for the Public
Works Office and that would be our program coordinator. That's what we're thinking
of right now, but we are certainly open to suggestions and ideas from the
commissioners to move forward with this. I know there's a difference, you know,
between adopting a park and adopting a road. Those are kind of different
programs, but we have done some things like that before here in the county in the
past, a long time ago, with different organizations. That's what we wanted to
present after Commissioner Smith had talked about that, and just see what you all
think about it.
Chairman Cheek
Well I think it's a great idea. I'm not sure about some of the other parks, but I know
now we already have groups, Cornelia Jackson, Maple Ford, Mary B. Smart, they're
already community groups kind of doing this. I think this sticks to another level,
where it's a little bit more structured and they could get recognition. We're better
protected and they get recognized for what they're doing. So we've got a good
core group already in those three parks. I know there's other parks too, but I think it's
a great idea.
Commissioner Goodman
This wouldn't interfere with groups that are already doing this?
Interim Deputy County Administrator Shannon Nettles
if there are groups at certain parks that are already kind of doing the same thing
that this talks about, let's get them pointed to the right person so that they can talk
about making this official.
Chairman Cheek
Maple Ford, for example, the North Camden Association already kind of does that,
so they're already an organized group. That'd be an easy fit. Some of the others,
we've got to work it out, but yeah. It wouldn't get in the way of what anybody else
is doing. It just makes it a more solid program.
Commissioner Goodman
It's also worth pointing out that there are at least a couple of guys in here who've
already done this, and they're sitting on the front row on each side, and we should
say to them we appreciate the efforts you've undertaken in the past and hope this
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formalizes the process so that you don't have to do it by yourselves again in the
future. And with that, I am in favor of this.
Commissioner Smith
Me personally, I'm excited to see this much positivity about the program, absolutely.
It's been a little bit more than a month ago. It's actually since the beginning of 2024,
I believe. I was pushing for an adopt-a-park program, so I think there's a lot of value
in what you're doing as far as creating the structure for something that can really
grow into something nice.
Commissioner Goodman
And thank you, Cody, for doing it.
Commissioner Smith
Oh, I don't want to take all the credit. Like you said, a lot of people were involved,
including county staff, on putting this together, so thank you.

 Presentation regarding Self-Insurance presented by Senior Human
Resources and Risk Management Director Mike Spiers.
Senior Director of HR & Risk Management Mike Spiers
We were asked to just kind of do a presentation, and we've done this periodically
before just to show that the fact that the county is self-funded for our medical
programs is still the best way for us to go. It's a cost savings for Camden County. I
have with me tonight Ms. Ashley Tillman. She's a principal and senior account
executive for Palmer and Kay out of Savannah. They are our broker for health
insurance, medical stop-loss, ancillary policies, vision, and dental, and all that kind
of stuff. So she's just here with me if there are questions or things that she feels like I
might need to add here. So, just to start here, Camden County's medical program
consists of a couple of four different things, actually. We have a self-funded medical
program with Aetna. Aetna is our TPA, or a third-party administrator. We use Aetna
to have pre-negotiated rates for doctor appointments and medical procedures,
and then to be part of their network of doctors. Aetna is one of the biggest networks
that's out there. They basically handle our claims for us, that when you go to the
doctor's office, you present your Aetna card, they file the claim, but then it comes
to us to pay the claim. So they just are a third-party administrator for that. We offer
four medical plan options. We've got two that are traditional co-pay plans, where
you pay more premium to then only have to pay a 20 or 30 or maybe up to $40 copay to go see a doctor, have a prescription filled, and then we have two plans with
different levels of deductibles that are called high-deductible health plans. And
about 80 percent of our folks that are enrolled in our health insurance plans are in
one of the two high-deductible health plans, and that's a miniature version of the
county being self-insured. Those folks are picking the plan with the higher deductible
so that they can keep their money and only have to spend it if they have to, and
that's the principle of self-insurance for the county. Okay, we also have an
integrated pharmacy contract, what's called a PBM, a pharmacy benefit manager
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with a company called Vital One, and they're able to offer us lots of big discounts
on prescription costs and methods for folks that can't afford their medication to be
able to afford them. And then lastly, as you all know, we have the on-site medical
clinic that's available for all employees of Camden County and for the dependents
of employees that carry our medical insurance plans, and the clinic is set up for cost
avoidance. The goal of the clinic is to try to bring folks in, and if we can identify
people that are pre-hypertensive or pre-diabetic, maybe pre-high cholesterol, and
we can address those issues now, we've saved a ton of money on the back end if
we've presented somebody from having a heart attack or having, you know, issues
that go along with diabetes and high cholesterol. That's why our wellness programs
have folks come in and do an annual physical each year so that we can get that
information to try to keep our folks as healthy as possible. So just to kind of explain
the difference between fully insured and self-funded, right, so a fully insured plan is
one where we pay money, a health insurance premium, to an insurance carrier, an
insurance company. What I want to point out is I want you to remember that
insurance companies are for-profit businesses, and they make a lot of profit, right?
So we want to be able to hold that money as opposed to pay it to them if we can.
That's the underlying thing here. Fully insured plans also, the rates that the employees
would pay and the county would pay would be based on trend and pooled risk, so
that would be based, insurance is based off the law of averages. You've got maybe
some older folks at the top end that need more medical assistance, and then you've
got young folks at the other end that maybe don't, you know, need to see doctors
as much and they kind of weigh what your population looks like, and then your rates
would be based on that. Fully insured also, all services and vendors are controlled
by that insurer or carrier, which means that we have to go with who they want us to
use for pharmacy benefit and that type of thing. And then for fully insured, that
insurer maintains and reserves and keeps all unspent portions of the reserves. And
you're going to see here in a minute, it would cost the county about seven million
dollars if we were fully insured, and on average we're somewhere four and a half to
five million dollars in our medical spend. If we were fully insured, the insurance
company would get to keep that other couple million dollars as opposed to us
being able to hold it and then only using it if we needed to. Opposed that to if you're
a self-funded group like we are, the employer now assumes the risk up to, and this is
important, the individual stop-loss deductible. So we are what's called self-funded,
but really what that means is we have a really high deductible. Camden County
assumes the risk of the first 125 to 150 thousand dollars of any medical claim, and
then the insurance company picks up and pays anything after that. Does that make
sense? So we essentially have a high deductible on our plans is what we are. The
rates are based on claims experience for groups, that's how we determine what the
cost is going to be for employers. For self-funded plans, the employer gets to choose
the TPA, so we get to choose whether it's going to be Aetna or whether it's going to
be Humana or something like that, whichever best suits our needs, and then we
have control over the policy design. We can decide what we want to have covered
and what we don't want to have covered, and then we can manage the care
providers, specifically the pharmacy benefit manager. We can carve that out,
which we'll talk a little bit more about in a second. And then lastly for self-funded,
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and this is the most important part, this is the brass tacks of the whole thing. When
you're self-funded, the employer gets to maintain the reserves of unspent portions,
that money gets to be kept by the employer as opposed to paid to an insurance
company that's making a ton of money. All right, moving on here to just some of the
cost comparisons relative to self-funded plans. Again, a fully insured plan, if you see
there, includes about a three to eight percent profit margin for the insurance
company. You know, they're going to make their money, they're a for-profit business,
and when you're self-funded you eliminate that profit margin completely off the top.
Any surplus money gets to stay with the employer, with the county, so that's about
a three to eight percent savings. When you have a fully insured plan, you have to
pay a state premium tax on that too to the state of Georgia, which when you're selffunded, you're exempt from the state premium taxes. The cash flow here, so a fixed
monthly premium, if you're fully insured, you have to pay that, you know, up to seven
million dollars. There's a chance, depending on who that company is, you may have
to pay that seven million dollars on July 1st for the whole year, or you might get lucky
and pay three and a half million in July and three and a half million in January if you
pay it twice a year. So that, you know, takes a whole lot of money out of the coffers
right away. So being self-funded, we eliminate that too. If you're self-funded, those
claims are paid as they're incurred, so we, you know, pay that stuff monthly. The
employers can keep and invest any of the reserves until they're needed. The plan
design and management, it's with a self or a fully insured plan, the limited flexibility
with a preset plan options for the insurance carrier as opposed to self-funded. We
have that flexibility to customize the benefits to what works best for our employees,
and we get that pharmacy benefit part. And this is big here too, the last one, claims
history data. If we're fully insured, the insurance company owns all the claim data.
We don't get information on are we seeing more claims for folks having cancer,
more claims for folks going to the emergency room, or more, you know, we get
information on where the money is being spent when we're self-funded, whereas if
we're fully insured, you don't get any of that information. And that, again, is how
the clinic operates, is by being able to find out where we're spending those claims
dollars, the clinic can focus on those areas to try to reduce the medical need for
those folks.
Commissioner Smith
Can I ask two questions before we get too far into this? So when the employer retains
the earnings, and this is kind of what prompted me to even ask you to bring this up.
So I see for like an employee, $20,000 is allocated in health coverage, but if
someone only goes to the doctor once or twice, you retain, not you, the county.
Senior Director of HR & Risk Management Mike Spiers
The county, that's exactly correct.
Commissioner Smith
So, I mean if the money is not spent, then the, you know, the budget comes in under
budget and that money can be used for anything else.
9

Senior Director of HR & Risk Management Mike Spiers
Potentially, you know, but with a self-funded plan, you know, the goal is to, you
know, keep the dollars in there so that you might have years where you don't spend
a whole lot of money, you don't have a whole lot of medical spend. If you remember
a few years ago we had an employee with dependence that had some pretty
severe medical issues, which caused the spend to be a little bit higher, significantly
higher actually for that year, but we were able to absorb it because we had we
had the money in the account in the coffer for the self-funded insurance plans. Now
as I understand it, that money can be invested while it's not being used, and that's
what's done with it as I understand it. That's a finance question, but that's how that
works. Does that make sense? I don't know if I explained that properly.
Commissioner Smith
And I have a further question about the $4.5 to $7 million in medical spend, as
opposed to what?
Senior Director of HR & Risk Management Mike Spiers
We have 307 employees out of our 450 employees that take medical insurance from
us. 307 employees equates to about 650 covered lives, because each employee
that's covered generally has a spouse or children. And so the quote for us to be fully
insured for the next year would be 6.948 million, based on our population and the
ages of our employees. So currently we pay the self-funded administration fee, that
is what we pay Aetna for them to be our TPA, our third-party administrator, for them
to process the claims for us. And then we have the stop-loss insurance, and that's
the policy that pays any claim that goes above $150,000, so that's $845,000 a year.
And then the clinic operating cost, the budget for the clinic is about $547,000. And
then our claims cost per year, what we actually pay out in medical claims for
medical and pharmacy claims for the last fiscal year was $5,063,239. So the total
program cost there is compared to the fully insured estimate, which would have
been that 6.9, so it's a $329,000 savings just in the last fiscal year. And I will tell you,
the spend was a little bit higher that year, we're trending better this year than we
were in the last fiscal year. I also want to point out though that our clinic does so well
that the cities of St. Mary's, Kingsland, and the PSA all now participate in the clinic.
So, of that clinic operating cost, the City of Kingsland pays us $92,000 a year of that,
the City of St. Mary's pays $110,000 of that, and the PSA's pays $19,000 of that. So
you actually could add $225,000 more onto the annual net saving, so it's closer to
about half a million dollars, $550,000 a year that we save, vice what it would be if
we were fully insured. And then the last thing here is just the pharmacy contract.
This is substantial as well. Our PBM, our Pharmacy Benefit Manager, and because
we're self-insured or self-funded, we're able to carve out the pharmacy benefit
management. So if we were fully insured, we had an Aetna card, you would use
your Aetna card at the doctor and at the pharmacy. But because we're selffunded, we can have a separate Pharmacy Benefit Manager, so right now our folks
would use an Aetna card to go to the doctor and a Vita One card to have their
prescriptions filled. And then Camden now, because we've moved with them, has
an auditable guaranteed contract where they can guarantee a savings over the
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next three years in excess of $800,000 in prescription costs because they are able to
do substantial cost savings with power buying, and we're paying wholesale costs for
medication instead of retail. Vita One has also, just in the first quarter of this year
already, they've saved us $50,922 in programs available to employees to save on
prescriptions. We're spending a ton of money on the GLP-1s and those things that
are kind of all the rage now, and Vita One has been able to help us find cost savings
for all of those medications. And then lastly, this is just kind of the conclusion, selffunding does involve greater administrative responsibility, right, because we are, my
office is overseeing claims costs as they come through and we're reviewing records
and trying to direct care where it's needed most, there's financial risk. However, we
mitigate that risk by using the third-party administrator and by having that stop-loss
insurance that covers us on any claim that's over $150,000. Finally, the superior
control of the plan design, the cash flow, and cost containment strategies, make it
a better, more strategic option for employers capable of managing that kind of
inherent volatility. I will tell you that self-funding is what companies want to get to,
and Camden County has been self-funded since the fiscal year 2013, so back in
July of 2012 was when Camden County went self-funded for their health insurance.
Commissioner Goodman
Just kind of a one-off question, what does the cost containment look like? Because
we're talking about people's medical.
Senior Director of HR & Risk Management Mike Spiers
An example would be if you're going to get an MRI, there are several places where
you can do that and the cost can vary greatly across different facilities. They may
recommend a facility that you can get the same MRI for a lower cost, that would
be an example on the medical side. On the pharmacy side, for example, there are
lots of biosimilar drugs that have come out that are the exact same as some of these
very high dollar expensive ones we see commercials for, so they are reaching out
to members and saying, hey, did you know you could take this drug instead? You
may want to talk to your doctor about switching to this medication that's going to
save the member money on their co-pays and also the plan and the total cost. The
MRIs and the X-rays and things like that, small medical procedures, it varies
incredibly. Like you might go get an MRI at one office and it might be a thousand
dollars, you go get an MRI somewhere else and it might only be six hundred dollars.
So if we can know where those places are and direct those people there, those are
cost containment measures.
Commissioner Goodman
As a former risk manager, I understand the down and dirty nitty-gritty of this. Who in
county government here is keeping their hands on the pulse of this on a daily basis?
Senior Director of HR & Risk Management Mike Spiers
Heather Farrell, in the audience here, is my benefits and wellness specialist for
Camden County. She's the one that's on top of the claims reports that come out
once a month and is watching out for, you know, all the different categories that
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those could come in. We do see historically this year over half of our medical spend
has been on spouses of employees, so that's something that we look at. We also
had something recently where we had, for some reason, we had a large amount of
people that were going to the emergency room for non-emergent issues. We had
folks that were going to the emergency room because they have sore throats and
things like that, and those are the folks we can reach out to and say, hey, you know,
you could have gone to the clinic, and if it's on a Sunday and it's emergent, you
know, that's one thing, but when we see that those numbers spiking, we can jump
in and try to control those and offer other containment measures for them to get
offer options to get the care they need that doesn't cost the county so much
money.
Commissioner Goodman
Well, Heather, thank you very much. Let's give Heather a round of applause. Are
they free to go to a provider of their choice?
Senior Director of HR & Risk Management Mike Spiers
Absolutely, free to go to a provider of their choice, free to use the clinic for what
they want, you know, for what the clinic can do. The clinic can do acute care and
then chronic, what they call chronic disease management, CDM. The clinic isn't
going to put stitches in you or do x-rays and stuff, you know, they're going to
recommend, they're going to send you out somewhere to do that, but anybody
that has county insurance is free to take that Aetna card and go to any doctor that
they want to. Even if it's out of network, there's coverage for that.
Commissioner Goodman
Bottom line is this program saves the county millions of dollars.
Senior Director of HR & Risk Management Mike Spiers
Yes, sir, probably been $20 million dollars since 2012 that it saved. I will tell you as
well, too, that we field calls with some regularity, Heather as well, and the fact that
we have a clinic and a lot of the other counties don't have that, we field calls with
some regularity from other counties within the state and even some of them out of
the state that want to know how we manage our programs because they want to
emulate them. This is something that we're very proud of and I just, I want to, I want
to stress that. Thank you guys, appreciate the time.

Public Comments
Ricky Manning, Bullhead Bluff
I want to touch on a few things real quick that's on the agenda. The license plate
readers. I would like to caution, all this is covered by grant funds, but nowhere can I
find the cause for long-term upkeeps on the systems, who's running the systems or
anything. I did talk to the sheriff and he will be in charge of the systems, so that
12

alleviates one little problem. As you have already seen on several news reports about
flock cameras and other license plate readers and stuff that you're going to have
liabilities for violating constitutional rights. So, with our sheriff, I don't think we're going
to have that problem, but we need to make sure before we go to just willy-nilly and
stuff. I don't see no, nothing about long-term. We always get this little dangling thing
and we just jump right on it, we never ask questions. So, here's the questions you
needed to ask. Long-term costs, make sure Mr. Chaney is involved so that we don't
get liability lawsuits. Data centers, that's pretty much give me. We know we need to
have stipulation on data centers. I've been involved in this for the last couple of years.
They're not environmentally friendly, but it's no problem. Thing is, you're not, nobody's
putting in what needs to be done with them. We can build data centers, we can do
it environmentally friendly and cost-friendly, but the cost has got to go on to the
developers, not us or any other county for that fact or any other people. It can be
done. How many dozens of little reactors we got out there on those ships right there
at Kings Bay? One of those little reactors takes care of that whole system. It's all you
need. I've been preaching that for a while now. It'll take care of all the electrical
needs, the AC needs, everything. Y'all need to look at things. I'm glad y'all bringing
that up. The airport, we already know that thing ain't going to never be selfsupporting. You know that. It's no different than some of these other projects. We
can't run a project in this county. It's a proven thing. It's going to cost the taxpayers.
Let's take those funds and divert those funds to somewhere else for the infrastructure
or for the new jail that we don't have the funds for so we don't have to bar it. I'll touch
on the rest of this later. Thank you.
Steve Weinkle, Harriett’s Bluff
I'm speaking to item 16 now, the airport. As you embarrassingly recently discovered,
20 years hasn't been enough time for county staff to figure out how to qualify for FAA
funding for the replacement airport. The letters from the FAA and Georgia DOT were
grotesque, considering that we've been paying not just this county commission, but
previous county commissions have been paying and the city have been paying for
up to 20 years trying to figure an airport out. And the letters that are posted now on
Camden First and that you'll see attached to the document I gave you should be
grotesquely embarrassing to everyone in an official position in the county. Even
worse, we all know that there's nobody in this room that can operate an airport. The
airport has always been a stretch of the imagination as a public benefit. For instance,
the 2022 airport justification study, and I want to point out that the most recent edition
of that study that is posted today on the county website has the same information in
it, claimed the Camden Airport, which he said would be only 11 miles from White Oak
Conservation's front gate in Yulee, Florida, and would be used by White Oak's clients
who visit and stay in Florida and play golf at White Oak's private Pat Dye golf course.
Camden residents can't even pay for a tour of the place, but we can build an airport
for them. It's ridiculous. The consultants want us all to believe our replacement airport
will play a vital role in supporting economic development at Hyundai's car factory
that's 165 miles from Camden County as the crow flies. We tried to get copies of the
required tax documents for the 17 airplanes consultants implied were located on our
tax rolls, but none of the listed owners had filed their Georgia-required aircraft tax
13

returns, and Camden County has consequently not collected the taxes on those
aircraft that were used to support the need for the airport, but we're expected to
build an airport for those. Airport promoters also counted on long-gone express scripts
and, of course, the Cumberland Inlet project that was supposed to be completed by
next year, and we'll be lucky to have contracts for next year that might or might not
materialize into something real because nothing has turned out good on the
Cumberland Inlet project. And believe me, this is not as embarrassing for you as the
forthcoming damage to Camden's small businesses and our reputation brought on
by former board decisions about Cumberland Island. I want you to understand there's
a momentum outside of the county that's going to put the burden for the problems
that occur on Cumberland Island squarely on the back of the Camden County
government. Now, most of y'all have never had a vote on that. Two weeks ago you
declined to vote on it, but the fact of the matter is it was the Camden County
government and the County Commission that precipitated the situation that's
coming to a head during your term. Now, we're going to fight that at a national level,
and there will be very large organizations like the Nature Conservancy on our side.
Most importantly, taxpayers will not forgive you for spending even one more dollar on
an airport that is simply of no value to 60,000 or more of the 61,000 residents of
Camden County. All the wishful thinking doesn't matter. For instance, in the budget
for the airport, they're claiming that the insurance cost for each of the two employees
at the airport will be $4,000. We just saw a presentation where the cost is $21,501 per
employee, and so if we can't even get the insurance presented to the public right in
the documents that are online today, and that's something that flew within your
control and has nothing to do with consultants' work, then how are we supposed to
believe anything that's in there supporting the benefit of an airport to Camden
County? And so I'm bringing it up because it's on your agenda tonight, which to me,
like y'all are inclined to want to shut that program down. It should have been shut
down years ago, and I'm hoping that's what you'll do tonight. Thank you.
Ben Goff, Harriett’s Bluff
Mr. Chairman, thank you for the addition of the airport continuance to the agenda.
Here's anticipation that it will result in a motion to discontinue the pursuit as it is evident
that we don't have the money. Truthfully, we've been living off SPLOST and AREA and
ARPA funds to purchase the majority of our shiny things in the last few years anyway.
Now most of that is history and we're left to survive off tax funds. I know there's been
a reluctance to poll or to put forth a referendum, so we did ours, did our own. There
were like 1,600 people that viewed a little poll on the internet, on Facebook, and by
and large the vast majority said no. Now we were concerned about bots and so forth
and people out of the county. I went through every name on there, there's no bots
and there's nobody out of the county. I just got a bunch of nos. Again, thank you for
putting that on the agenda.
Tom Bischoff, St. Mary's
I had a question about the Agenda 12, the long-range acoustical device. First of all,
what's the maximum output decibel level for this device? Do we have a set minimum
safe distance when it's going to be operated? Do you have like a use of force
standard set for this? Is there insurance for it for when people are, you know, their
14

hearing gets damaged from it or they have use cases where there's actually
damaged hearing because of these? Because these are usually more like military
devices, I was kind of curious why it was being purchased here in the county. Seemed
a little odd to me that something that's that, you know, 160 decibel devices are going
to be used here in the county because generally that's for crowd control riots and
things like that. I mean they can be used for things like, you know, hurricane warning
and stuff, but there's usually much better uses of sharing that information, so it seems
a bit odd because insurance and liability for damaging using a device with people
that aren't properly trained. Is there a training protocol for who's going to use it and
who's authorized to use it? Because it's more of a military, like I said, riot and crowd
control device than anything else, so I was a little confused why it was being
purchased in the county. Those are my thoughts.
Commissioner Smith made a motion, seconded by Chairman Cheek to adjourn the
Regular Meeting and convene a Public Hearing at 6:54 PM.
The motion carried unanimously.

Public Hearing (1)
 To receive comments from the Public regarding amendments to the
Camden County Code of Ordinances, Chapter 27 - Fire Rescue Fire
Prevention and Services.
No comments were offered during this time.
Commissioner Smith made a motion, seconded by Chairman Cheek to adjourn the
Public Hearing (1) and convene a Public Hearing (2) at 6:57 PM.
The motion carried unanimously.

Public Hearing (2)

To receive comments from the Public regarding the request to rezone
approximately 0.75 acres from Agricultural Forestry (A-F) to Residential
Single-Family (R-1) zoning. Along with this will be a Future Land Use (FLU202603) change from “Commercial” to “Residential”. This parcel is located in
District 1 at 13244 US Hwy 17., Woodbine. Tax Map 078F 001. Cumberland
Land Surveyors, applicant, Michael Luke Jr. owner. Chairman Robbie
Cheek
No comments were offered either in favor or in opposition of this item.

15



To receive comments from the Public regarding the request to rezone
approximately 0.46 acres from Agricultural Forestry (A-F) to Residential
Single-Family (R-1) zoning. Along with this will be a Future Land Use (FLU202604) change from “Rural-Residential” to “Residential”. This parcel is located
in District 1 at US Hwy 17., Woodbine. Tax Map 078F 001A. Cumberland Land
Surveyors, applicant, Michael Luke Jr. owner. Chairman Robbie Cheek

No comments were offered either in favor or in opposition of this item.



To receive comments from the Public regarding the request for a Special
Use approval to allow a second principal residence to be constructed in
a Single-Family Residential (R-1) zoning. This parcel is located in District 5
on Griffin Bluff Rd. Tax Map 108 033L. Kyle Smith, applicant, Maiju Stansel,
owner. Commissioner Ben Casey

Maiju Stansel, Jacksonville, FL
I am the owner of the property. My address that I live at is 11698 Thornapple Drive in
Jacksonville, Florida. I just want to let y'all know this is a generational arrangement.
This is the second dwelling is more of a guest house so my mother can live with us
when she's down here at the six to eight months out of the year that she's in this side
of the country. This was not intended to be a rental property or anything. It is purely
generational aging in place living. I just wanted to make that clear. Thank you.
Commissioner Smith made a motion, seconded by Commissioner Goodman to
adjourn the Public Hearing (2) and reconvene the Regular Meeting at 7:02 PM.
The motion carried unanimously.

Regular Agenda
1.

Request to rezone approximately 0.75 acres from Agricultural Forestry (AF) to Residential Single-Family (R-1) zoning. Along with this will be a Future
Land Use (FLU2026-03) change from “Commercial” to “Residential”. This
parcel is located in District 1 at 13244 US Hwy 17., Woodbine. Tax Map
078F 001. Cumberland Land Surveyors, applicant, Michael Luke Jr.
owner. Chairman Robbie Cheek

Chairman Cheek made a motion, seconded by Commissioner Smith to approve
the request to rezone approximately 0.75 acres from Agricultural Forestry (A-F) to
Residential Single-Family (R-1) zoning. Along with this will be a Future Land Use
(FLU2026-03) change from “Commercial” to “Residential”. This parcel is located
in District 1 at 13244 US Hwy 17., Woodbine. Tax Map 078F 001. Cumberland Land
Surveyors, applicant, Michael Luke Jr. owner.
16

The motion carried unanimously.
2.

Request to rezone approximately 0.46 acres from Agricultural Forestry (AF) to Residential Single-Family (R-1) zoning. Along with this will be a Future
Land Use (FLU2026-04) change from “Rural-Residential” to “Residential”.
This parcel is located in District 1 at US Hwy 17., Woodbine. Tax Map 078F
001A. Cumberland Land Surveyors, applicant, Michael Luke Jr. owner.
Chairman Robbie Cheek

Chairman Cheek made a motion, seconded by Commissioner Smith to approve
the request to rezone approximately 0.46 acres from Agricultural Forestry (A-F) to
Residential Single-Family (R-1) zoning. Along with this will be a Future Land Use
(FLU2026-04) change from “Rural-Residential” to “Residential”. This parcel is
located in District 1 at US Hwy 17., Woodbine. Tax Map 078F 001A. Cumberland
Land Surveyors, applicant, Michael Luke Jr. owner.
The motion carried unanimously.
3.

Request for a Special Use approval to allow a second principal residence
to be constructed in a Single-Family Residential (R-1) zoning. This parcel
is located in District 5 on Griffin Bluff Rd. Tax Map 108 033L. Kyle Smith,
applicant, Maiju Stansel, owner.

Commissioner Casey made a motion, seconded by Commissioner Smith to
approve the request for a Special Use approval to allow a second principal
residence to be constructed in a Single-Family Residential (R-1) zoning. This parcel
is located in District 5 on Griffin Bluff Rd. Tax Map 108 033L. Kyle Smith, applicant,
Maiju Stansel, owner.
The motion carried unanimously.
4.

Memorandum of Understanding between the Board of Regents of the
University of System of Georgia by and on behalf of the University of
Georgia Cooperative Extension.

Commissioner Smith made a motion, seconded by Commissioner Casey to
approve the Memorandum of Understanding between the Board of Regents of
the University of System of Georgia by and on behalf of the University of Georgia
Cooperative Extension.
The motion carried unanimously.

17

5.

First Reading of the amendments to the Camden County Code of
Ordinances, Chapter 27 - Fire Rescue Fire Prevention and Services.

Chairman Cheek made a motion, seconded by Commissioner Smith to waive
the First Reading of the amendments to the Camden County Code of
Ordinances, Chapter 27 - Fire Rescue Fire Prevention and Services.
The motion carried unanimously.
CHAPTER 27
FIRE RESCUE FIRE PREVENTION AND SERVICES ORDINANCE
Sec. 27-1 Fire Rescue Department
Sec. 27-2 Adoption of State Minimum Fire Safety Standards
Sec 27-3 International Fire Code
Sec 27-4 Construction of Codes
See 27-5 Enforcement of Article
Sec 27-6 Penalties for Violation of Article
Sec 27-7 Buildings Owned and/or Operated by Camden County

18

Sec 27-8 Establishment and Duties of the Office of the Fire Marshal
Sec 27-9 Inspections
Sec 27-10 Modifications
Sec 27-11 Variances
Sec 27-12 Appeals
Sec 27-13 Permits
Sec 27-14 New Materials, Processes or Occupancies which May Require Permits
Sec 27-15 Submission of Plans and Specifications Required
Sec 27-16 Revision of Plans
Sec 27-17 Temporary Occupancy
Sec 27-18 Collection of Fees and Issuance of Permits and Approvals
Sec 27-19 Governmental and Religious Organization Facilities Exemptions
Sec. 27-20 Automatic Fire Suppression System Required RESERVED
Sec 27-21 Fire Hydrant and Water System Requirements
Sec 27-22 Building Numbering and Identification for Emergency Response
Sec 27-23 Marking of Utilities
Sec 27-24 Authority at Emergency Incidents
Sec 27-25 Certain Acts Interfering with Firefighting Activities
Sec 27-26 Crossing Fire Hose Prohibited
Sec 27-27 Obstructing a Fire Station or Equipment
Sec 27-28 False Alarms
Sec 27-29 Response to Malfunctioning Fire Alarms
Sec 27-30 Designated Fire Lanes
Sec 27-31 Reporting of Fires
Sec 27-32 Open Burning
Sec 27-33 Authority to enact a Burn Ban
Sec 27-34 KNOX-BOX@ Rapid Entry System
Sec 27-35 Fire Watch
Sec 27-36 Fireworks Displays and Exhibitions
Sec 27-37 Structure and Non-Structure Fires
Sec 27-38 Hazardous Material Incident Response
Sec 27-39 Emergency Medical Services Response

Sec. 27-1 Fire Rescue Department
Camden County Fire Rescue shall have the authority to:
a)
Protect life and property against fire, explosion, hazardous materials, or electrical
hazards;
b)
Detect, prevent and assist in the prosecution of arson;
c)
Administer and enforce the laws of Georgia; the rules and regulations, and any
ordinances and codes that are adopted by the Camden County Board of
Commissioners that are related to the prevention and suppression of fires,
explosions, or injuries from hazardous materials and explosions and the protection
of life and property from such hazards.
d)
Inspect any necessary building, based on the judgment of the Fire Marshal and/or
the Fire Chief, and its construction, protection, and occupancy features necessary
to minimize danger to life from fire, including fumes, smoke, and panic.
e)
Conduct programs of public education in fire prevention and safety;
f)
Conduct emergency medical services and rescue assistance, subject to O.C.G.A.
19

Title 31, Chapter 1l and subject to the approval of the Camden County Board of
Commissioners;
g)
Control and regulate the flow of traffic in areas of existing emergencies, including
rail, highway, water and air traffic; and
h)
Perform all such services of a fire rescue department as may be provided by law
or which necessarily appertain thereto.
Sec. 27-2 Adoption of State Minimum Fire Safety Standards
a) There is hereby adopted by the Camden County Board of Commissioners for the
purpose of prescribing regulations governing conditions hazardous to life and property
from fire or explosion, including smoke, fumes, or panic, those certain codes known as
the Georgia State Minimum Fire Safety Standards, as amended by Chapter 120-3-3 of
the Rules and Regulations of the State of Georgia, under authority of O.C.G.A. 25-2-4,
25-2-12, 50-13-21. The codes are hereby adopted and incorporated as fully as if set out
completely in this article. From the date on which the ordinance from which this article
is derived shall take effect, the provisions thereof shall be controlling within the limits
of the county. If any sections of the Georgia State Minimum Fire Safety Standards
conflict with the requirements listed within the Official Code of Camden County, the
stricter policy shall apply.
Sec 27-3 International Fire Code
a) The International Fire Code is hereby amended by omitting section 109, Board of
Appeals of Chapter 1, Administration and section 109 shall not be adopted by the
County.
b) Appendix D, Fire Apparatus Access Roads, shall be adopted by this County as if set
out fully in this article.
Sec 27-4 Construction of Codes
a) All codes, ordinances, standards, and pamphlets adopted in this article shall be
construed as the standard for fire code compliance among buildings within the county
and shall prevail in matters of life safety over all other local codes, ordinances or
standards which apply to the same building components or systems covered by this
article. Final approving authority for fire code compliance covered in this section
shall be the Camden County Office of the Fire Marshal.
Sec 27-5 Enforcement of Article
a) The provisions of this article shall be enforced by authorized personnel of Camden
County Fire Rescue, or by authorized deputies of Camden County Sheriff’s Office,
within the unincorporated areas of Camden County, and in all jurisdictions with
whom the County has a valid intergovernmental agreement for the provision of fire
protection services.
Sec 27-6 Penalties for Violation of Article
a) Any person who shall violate any of the provisions of this article or the codes adopted
by reference in this article or fail to comply therewith or who shall violate or fail to
comply with any order made pursuant to this article, or who shall build in violation of
any detailed statement of specifications or plans submitted and approved thereunder
and from which no appeal has been taken, or who shall fail to comply with such an
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order as affirmed or modified by the Board of Commissioners within the time set
forth in this article, shall constitute a violation of a county ordinance. Any person
violating this article or any of the codes and/or laws incorporated in this article shall
be deemed guilty of violating a county ordinance and shall be punished by a
predetermined fine and/or imprisonment in the common jail of the county. The
imposition of one penalty shall not excuse the violation nor permit it to continue, and
such persons shall be required to correct or remedy such violations or defects within a
specified time. When not otherwise specified, each day that prohibited conditions are
maintained shall constitute a separate violation of this article.
b) The application of the penalty in subsection (a) of this section shall not be held to
prevent the enforced removal of the prohibited conditions.
c) Upon written notice from the Fire Marshal or his designee, work on any project that is
being performed contrary to the provisions of this article and the codes adopted in this
article, or otherwise being done in a dangerous or unsafe manner, shall cease
immediately. Such notice shall be given to the owner of the property, his agent, or the
person doing the work and shall state the conditions under which the work may be
resumed.
d) Permits or approvals may be revoked by the Fire Marshal or his designee when there
has been any false statement or misrepresentation as to any materials or facts
contained in plans or other information on which the permit or approval has been
based.
e) Whenever any of the officers or inspectors of Camden County Fire Rescue find
conditions which are unsafe and/or in violation of the provisions or intent of the codes
or ordinances enforced by the Office of the Fire Marshal, written notice, which has
been approved by the Fire Marshal, shall be given to the owner, the owner's agent or
the occupant or occupant's representative requiring that any activities impacted by the
conditions shall cease until the condition is corrected.
Sec 27-7 Buildings Owned and/or Operated by Camden County
a) All buildings or portions thereof that are owned and operated or occupied by the
Camden County Board of Commissioners shall be within the jurisdiction of Camden
County Fire Rescue and its inspectors, regardless of location.
b) The Fire Marshal shall oversee:
a. Fire safety inspections of existing county buildings and structures
b. Review plans and specifications for proposed buildings and structures
c. Issue permanent and temporary certificates of occupancy.
c) Nothing in this section shall be construed so as to prohibit fire service personnel of
other fire departments within Camden County from making inspections of any
County owned and operated building or structure for planning or life safety matters.
Sec 27-8 Establishment and Duties of the Office of the Fire Marshal
a) The fire prevention codes adopted herein shall be enforced by the Office of the Fire
Marshal within Camden County Fire Rescue.
b) The Fire Marshal in charge of the Office of the Fire Marshal shall be appointed by the
Fire Chief of Camden County Fire Rescue in accordance with the County personnel
policy.
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c) The Fire Chief of Camden County Fire Rescue may detail such members of the fire

service as inspectors as shall from time to time be necessary. The Fire Chief of
Camden County Fire Rescue shall recommend to the Board of Commissioners the
employment of technical inspectors, who shall be selected in accordance with the
County personnel policy.
d) A report of the Office of the Fire Marshal shall be made annually and transmitted to
the Fire Chief of Camden County Fire Rescue and shall be forwarded to the Board
of Commissioners. It shall contain a report of all activities and inspections undertaken
pursuant to this article, with such statistics as the Fire Chief of Camden County Fire
Rescue may wish to include therein. The Fire Marshal and Fire Chief of Camden
County Fire Rescue shall also recommend any amendments to the code, which in his
or her judgment, shall be desirable.
e) The Office of the Fire Marshal shall be the primary division within Camden County
Fire Rescue in charge of public education, relating to injury, burn and fire prevention.
f) The Office of the Fire Marshal shall be the primary division within Camden County
Fire Rescue in charge of the investigation into all fires deemed necessary by the Fire
Chief of Camden County Fire Rescue. The Office of the Fire Marshal shall be the
primary division within Camden County Fire Rescue to assist with the prosecution
and conviction of any persons involved in incendiary fires within Camden County.
The Office of the Fire Marshal shall have the authority to request, if necessary, the
involvement of any investigator within the Georgia State Fire Marshal's Office to
assist with the investigation of any fire within Camden County.
Sec 27-9 Inspections
a) The Fire Marshal or Fire Chief of Camden County Fire Rescue or his assistants and
inspectors shall inspect or cause to be inspected all premises on a periodic basis for
compliance with the State Minimum Fire Safety Standards, this chapter, rules and
regulations and other fire protection ordinances of the County, and shall make orders
as may be necessary for the enforcement of the laws and ordinances governing the
same.
b) Additionally, upon complaint submitted in writing alleging a failure to comply with
the State Minimum Fire Safety Standards, this chapter, and fire related rules,
regulations, and ordinances, the Fire Marshal or Fire Chief of Camden County Fire
Rescue or his assistants or inspectors may enter in or upon any building or premises
complained of for the purpose of investigating the complaint.
c) Additionally, if the Fire Marshal or Fire Chief of Camden County Fire Rescue or his
assistants or inspectors has been deputized by the state Safety Fire Commissioner
pursuant to O.C.G.A. 25-2-12.1 then that person is further authorized to seek
inspection warrants against non-cooperating parties pursuant to O.C.G.A. 25-2-22.1.
Inspection warrants may be issued by any judge of the superior, state, municipal or
magistrate court upon proper oath or affirmation showing probable cause.
Sec 27-10 Modifications
a) The Fire Marshal, upon approval of the Fire Chief of Camden County Fire Rescue,
shall have power to modify any of the provisions of this Fire Prevention Code upon
application in writing by the owner or lessee, or a duly authorized agent, when there
are serious difficulties in carrying out the strict letter of the code, provided that the
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spirit of the code shall be observed, public safety secured, and substantial justice
done. The particulars of such modification, when granted or allowed, and the
decision of the Fire Marshal and Fire Chief thereon shall be entered upon the
records of the fire department and a signed copy shall be furnished to the applicant.
Sec 27-11 Variances
a) The Fire Marshal and Fire Chief of Camden County Fire Rescue shall have the power
to implement systems, methods, or devices of equivalent or superior quality, strength,
fire resistance, effectiveness, durability, and safety as alternatives to those prescribed
by the codes, provided technical documentation is submitted to the fire departrnent to
demonstrate equivalency, and the system, method, or device is approved for the
intended purpose. The decision of the Fire Marshal and Fire Chief may be appealed to
the Camden County Board of Commissioners within the time constraints of appeals
described in this article.
Sec 27-12 Appeals
a) Whenever the Fire Marshal and/or Fire Chief of Camden County Fire Rescue shall
disapprove an application or refuse to grant a permit when applied for, or when it is
claimed the provisions of the State Minimum Fire Safety Standards, this article, or
other county-related rules, regulations, or ordinances do not apply or that the true
intent and meaning of the same has been misconstrued or improperly applied, the
claimant may appeal the decision, in writing, to the County Administrator within
thirty (30) days from the date of decision. The County Administrator shall retain the
authority to make a judgment on the appeal or forward said appeal to the Camden
County Board of Commissioners. The Board shall retain the authority to make a final
judgment on any appeal submitted.
Sec 27-13 Permits
a) In accordance with requirements as detailed in Section 105 of the International Fire
Code, a permit shall be obtained from the Office of the Fire Marshal to conduct
certain operations described therein, or to store, handle, or use those processes
described therein that are considered to present an extra or unusual fire hazard to life
or property. Before permits may be issued, the Fire Marshal or his assistants or
inspectors shall inspect and approve the receptacles, processes, vehicles, buildings,
storage places or sites to be used for any such purposes. A predetermined processing
fee shall be imposed upon each permit application. The County shall revoke or
suspend an individual or entity's business license for violation of this section.
Violation of this section shall be punished by a predetermined fine and/or
imprisonment in the common jail of the County.
Sec 27-14 New Materials, Processes or Occupancies which May Require Permits
a) The Fire Marshal and Fire Chief of Camden County Fire Rescue shall act as a
committee to determine and specify, after giving affected persons an opportunity to be
heard, any new materials, processes or occupancies, which shall require permits in
addition to those now enumerated in the International Fire Code. The Fire Marshal
shall post the list, if any, in a conspicuous place in his or her office, and distribute
copies thereof to interested persons. The list shall be a rule and regulation of the fire
department and shall be adopted by the Camden County Board of Commissioners and
become effective upon approval, unless otherwise specified.
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Sec 27-15 Submission of Plans and Specifications Required
a) Owners, their agents or designees, of all buildings and tenant spaces covered by this
article are required to submit plans and specifications of the project to the Camden
County Planning and Building Department. The Planning and Building Department
shall forward all plans to the Office of the Fire Marshal for approval prior to
construction. An 80 percent completion inspection, a 100 percent inspection and a
certificate of occupancy shall be obtained from the Office of the Fire Marshal prior to
the occupancy of the facility.
Sec 27-16 Revision of Plans
a)
All drawings, specifications and/or pertinent documents required to bear the
stamp, seal and signature of a registered designer shall be revised by the designer
of record and bear his or her stamp or seal and signature on all revisions and
details. Required revisions to stamped plans are subject to the designer of record's
approval, which shall be in the form of "hardline" drawings. Fax transmittals or
written correspondence may be deemed acceptable alternatives subject to the
approval of the Fire Marshal and/or Fire Chief.
b)
Certain minor corrections to plans, i.e., relocation of exit signs, sprinkler heads,
smoke alarms or change of door swings, etc., may be "redlined" as granted by each
department. Redlined corrections shall be shown on all required sets of plans
and/or specifications and shall bear the name and signature of the individual
submitting the project for code compliance review.
c)
Examples of items not allowed to be redlined are as follows:
(1) Changes to the means of egress as in direction of travel, number of the means
of egress, etc.
(2) Changes to the number of exits.
(3) Changes to features necessary for accessibility for the disabled.
(4) Changes to fire alarm systems except as stated in the above subsection.
(5) Changes to sprinkler systems to include site plans except as stated in the above
subsection.
Sec 27-17 Temporary Occupancy
a) A temporary certificate of occupancy may be issued for a portion or portions of a
facility. The Office of the Fire Marshal shall forward written comments to the
building official of the county allowing or disallowing occupancy of a partially
completed facility.
b) All facilities described in this section shall be equipped with the following minimum
features in order for a temporary certificate of occupancy to be issued:
(1) All required portions of the means of egress shall be complete which does not
include carpet, wallcovering, etc.
(2) All exit signage shall be in place and in proper working order.
(3) All emergency lighting fixtures shall be in place and in proper working order.
(4) All required exits shall be installed and equipped with approved hardware.
(5) All automatic sprinkler systems (if so equipped) shall be installed, tested, and
in proper working order.
(6) All fire barriers shall be installed and properly sealed.
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c) Any facility where a temporary certificate of occupancy has been issued shall be in

compliance with the above features. If necessary, certain portions of a facility may be
issued a temporary certificate of occupancy as long as all the above criteria have been
met for that particular area. The Fire Marshal and the Fire Chief of Camden County
Fire Rescue shall agree upon the terms of the temporary certificate of occupancy and
the document shall bear the names and signatures of both parties granting the
approval.
Sec 27-18 Collection of Fees and Issuance of Permits and Approvals
a) The Office of the Fire Marshal shall assess and collect, and persons so assessed shall pay in
advance to the Office of the Fire Marshal, fees and charges under this article as follows:
(1) New anhydrous ammonia permit for storage in bulk (more than 2,000 gallons aggregate
capacity) for sale or distribution; one-time fee
$100.00
(2) Annual license for manufacture of explosives other than fireworks
100.00
(3) Annual license for manufacture, storage, or transport of fireworks
1,000.00
(4) Carnival license
100.00
(5) Certificate of Occupancy
100.00
(6) Construction plan review:
(a) Bulk storage construction
100.00
(b) Building construction, 10,000 square feet or less
100.00
(c) Building construction, more than 10,000 square feet
.015 per square foot
(7) Other construction
100.00
(8) Liquefied petroleum gas storage license:
(a) 2,000 gallons or less
100.00
(b) More than 2,000 gallons
500.00
(9) Building construction inspection:
(a) 80 percent completion, 100 percent completion, annual,
and first follow-up
None
(b) Second follow-up
100.00
(c) Third and each subsequent follow-up
150.00
(10) Purchase, storage, sale, transport, or use of explosives other
than fireworks:
(a) 500 pounds or less
50.00
(b) More than 500 pounds
100.00
(11) New self-service gasoline station permit; one-time fee
100.00
(12) New permit to dispense compressed natural gas (CNG) for
vehicular fuel; one-time fee
100.00
b) The licenses and permits for which fees or charges are required pursuant to this article
section shall not be transferable. A new license or permit and fee are required upon
change of ownership.
Sec 27-19 Governmental and Religious Organization Facilities Exemptions
a) Facilities owned by any city, county, state or federal government and facilities
owned by religious organizations which are used exclusively for religious services are
exempt from fee charges in section 27-17.
Sec. 27-20 Automatic Fire Suppression System Required
RESERVED
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Sec 27-21 Fire Hydrant and Water System Requirements
* *Any current or future pressurized water system within the jurisdiction of
Camden County Fire Rescue, including both private and municipal systems, shall provide
access to all installed fire hydrants for the purpose of use in emergency situations,
inspection, testing, and identification marking by authorized County personnel.
a) The procedure for determining fire-flow requirements for buildings or portions of
buildings hereafter constructed shall be in accordance with the Fire Suppression
Rating Schedule, utilized by the Insurance Services Office (ISO©).
b) Fire hydrants shall be required on any pressurized water system designed to supply
multiple structures, where any two of these structures are separated by a distance
greater than five hundred feet (500'). Fire hydrants shall be located no more than five
hundred (500’) feet apart and within five hundred feet (500') of any structure and shall
be on an eight inch (8") water line main, and installed in accordance with all
applicable codes included in the State Rules and Regulations Chapter 120-3. To
eliminate future street openings, all underground utilities for fire hydrants, together
with the fire hydrants themselves and all other supply improvements shall be installed
and approved by the County Fire Chief and the Director of Planning and
Development or their designees before any final paving of a street shown on the
subdivision plat.
c) All public and private fire hydrants installed and operating within the jurisdiction of
Camden County Fire Rescue shall be painted and marked in accordance with national
guidelines as set forth in the current State Minimum Fire Safety Standards.
Sec 27-22 Building Numbering and Identification for Emergency Response
a) Each one- and two-family dwelling unit shall have posted and maintained in a
conspicuous place on the property, visible from all streets providing access to the
public and/or emergency personnel, the address of such dwelling unit in reflective
figures at least four inches high on a contrasting background in accordance with all
applicable codes included in the State Rules and Regulations Chapter 120-3.
b) Each multifamily building shall have posted and maintained in a conspicuous place
on the building, visible from the parking lot or all streets providing access to the
public and/or emergency personnel, the address(es) or number(s) of the building in
reflective figures at least six inches high on a contrasting background and each
individual apartment/unit within the building shall be marked on or about its main
entrance with the individual apartment/unit number and/or address in reflective
figures, at least four inches high on a contrasting background with all applicable
codes included in the State Rules and Regulations Chapter 120-3, and shall also
require approval of the Fire Chief or Fire Marshal. In addition to the above, where a
multifamily building has more than one exterior entrance, each such entrance shall be
marked, in reflective figures at least four inches high on a contrasting background,
with the numbers and/or address of each and every apartment/unit to which access is
provided through that common entrance.
c) All commercial properties, including individual buildings and all types of multitenant
occupancies, shall have building numbering and identification requirements decided
by the Office of the Fire Marshal on an individual basis, either during inspection of
existing properties or during plans review of proposed properties.
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d) Any building recessed from any street providing access to the public and/or

emergency personnel shall post and maintain reflective figures in a conspicuous place
on the building and also adjacent to the intersection of the access road and main
street(s).
Sec 27-23 Marking of Utilities
a) All buildings having more than one tenant space, or in complexes where utilities are
not directly affixed to the building, all electrical disconnects, meters and gas shutoffs
shall be marked by a permanent means with the unit number in which the device is
servicing. The number or figure shall be at least two inches high on a contrasting
background. The manner in which the device is marked must meet the approval of the
Office of the Fire Marshal.
Sec 27-24 Authority at Emergency Incidents
a) The Fire Chief of Camden County Fire Rescue or fire officers under his or her
direction shall have full control over all fire department apparatus in service at any
incident that involves a direct threat to lives and/or property by fire, hazardous
material, machinery/vehicle accident, or other type of similar emergency incident,
including the necessity of EMS response. It shall be the duty of the Fire Chief or his or
her designee to superintend the fire department while performing any public duty at
such instances; to give general and specific directions as to the manner of performing
necessary duties, including the use of any necessary equipment and the specific
assignments of the various members of the fire department in attendance at the
incident.
Sec 27-25 Certain Acts Interfering with Firefighting Activities
a) No person, except an active member of the fire department, shall at any time enter
within the territory or vicinity of any fire, when the area is roped off or access is
otherwise denied by any member of the fire department or law enforcement officer, or
interfere with or attempt to operate any of the apparatus or equipment of the fire
department or any fire hydrant, sprinkler system valve, fire department connection, or
other appliance used during emergency mitigation, or interfere by giving orders to any
individual, unless requested to do so by the Fire Chief or designees; provided,
however, that any member of local, county, or state government, any law enforcement
officer or deputy, the owner or occupant of the property involved, or any other person
who has been deemed as having a direct interest in the property, may be specifically
authorized by the Fire Chief or designee to enter the restricted areas.
Sec 27-26 Crossing Fire Hose Prohibited
a) No vehicle shall be driven over any unprotected hose of the fire department when
laid down on any street, roadway or private driveway without the consent of the fire
department's officer in command of that particular incident. Any person refusing to
obey the orders and directions of the officer in command may be arrested for violation
of this section and, on conviction thereof, be punished for the violation of a county
ordinance.
Sec 27-27 Obstructing a Fire Station or Equipment

27

a) It shall be unlawful for any person to put any obstruction of any nature whatsoever in
front of any fire station or location where any fire service apparatus and/or equipment
may encounter a delay in response to an emergency incident.
Sec 27-28 False Alarms
a) No person shall intentionally make, turn in, or report a false alarm of fire or false
report for ambulance assistance, or aid or abet in the commission of such an act.
Sec 27-29 Response to Malfunctioning Fire Alarms
a) When emergency response to a malfunctioning fire alarm system exceeds two in a
30-day period, a fee of $50.00 shall be levied for each additional incident.
Sec 27-30 Designated Fire Lanes
a) Streets or drives adjacent to the following locations shall have designated fire
lanes:
(1) Any building 20,000 square feet or more with storage facilities, except for
storage warehouse occupancies which are equal to or greater than 80 percent
of the total building area and which comply with subsection (b) of this section.
(2) Places of assembly with an occupant load of 300 or more.
(3) The area five feet on each side of fire hydrants and associated appliances
used for fire protection.
(4) All points of exit from nursing homes, hospitals, multistory office
buildings and places of assembly.
b) Buildings not required to have fire lanes shall maintain fire service access to at
least one side.
c) Where designated fire lanes are required, they shall meet the following criteria:

(1) The curbing shall be painted traffic yellow. Where curbing is not present,
there shall be designated a 20-foot wide, cross-hatched, traffic yellow way of
access kept free of obstructions.
(2) Signs meeting the specifications described in this article shall be spaced no
less than 30 feet apart and legible from both directions of travel.
d) Building driveways and access roads shall be kept clear of any obstruction which
would hinder access by fire department equipment.
Sec 27-31 Reporting of Fires
a) Any damage by fire having a total dollar value of $200.00 or more shall be required
to be reported to the Office of the Fire Marshal within 24 hours.
Sec 27-32 Open Burning
a) No person shall cause, suffer, allow, or permit open burning in any area of the
County except as follows:
1. Reduction of leaf piles, yard, debris, or hand-piled natural vegetation on the
premises on which they fall by the person in control of the premises, unless
prohibited by local ban and/or regulation.

28

2. Carrying out recognized agricultural procedures necessary for production or
harvesting of crops, if the agricultural tract, lot, or parcel is less than or
equal to five acres.
3. Burning over any agricultural tract, lot, or parcel greater than five acres for
purposes of any existing, expanded, or new agricultural operations as such
term is defined by O.C.G.A. Section 1-3-3, provided that such burning is
consistent with the requirements of the Federal Act and is limited to
vegetative material.
4. The “prescribed burning” of any land by the owners or the owner’s
designee.
5. For recreational purposes or cooking food for immediate human
consumption.
6. Fires set for purposes of training fire department personnel when authorized
by the appropriate governmental entity.
7. Acquired structure burns provided that an Authorization to Burn certificate
has been issued by the appropriate governmental entity.
8. Disposal of vegetative debris from storm damage.
9. For weed abatement, disease, and pest prevention.
10. Operation of devices using open flames such as tar kettles, blow torches,
welding torches, portable heaters, and other flame-making equipment.
11. Open burning for the purpose of land clearing or construction or right-ofway maintenance.
a. Prior to any open burning larger than six foot by six foot hand-piled
natural vegetation, proper approval and permitting must be attained
through the Georgia Forestry Commission.
b) All approved open burning of hand-piled natural vegetation no larger than six feet
by six feet shall be allowed, provided the following conditions are met:
1. Burning shall take place between the official sunrise and the official sunset
for the location where the burning is taking place.
2. Location of the burning of hand-piled natural vegetation is no less than 25
feet from any woodlands, forestland, or flammable materials, and is no less
than 50 feet from any structure, outbuilding, sheds, or barns.
3. The person responsible shall attend the burning at all times until the fire is
completely extinguished, and shall take necessary precautions to prevent
escape or spread from the original location.
Sec 27-33 Authority to Enact a Burn Ban
a) In the event of dry conditions which may pose a fire danger to developed and/or
undeveloped lands within Camden County, the Fire Chief shall have the authority
to enact a burn ban, for all or portions of Camden County, with the approval of the
Chairman of the Camden County Board of Commissioners. This ban will have
the ability to be instituted either in full or in stages of burning practices or
geographic areas to be restricted.
Sec 27-34 KNOX-BOX® Rapid Entry System
a) The following structures shall be equipped with a KNOX-BOX® Rapid Entry
System, which shall include Knox® locking FDC Plugs and Storz Caps where
29

applicable, at an accessible location near the main entrance of the structure or
complex or at such location approved by the Fire Marshal:
(1) All buildings within the fire services jurisdiction of Camden County Fire
Rescue having an automatic fire suppression system except one- and twofamily dwellings as defined in the applicable adopted codes;
(2) Multi-family residential structures, including senior citizen apartment/condo
complexes, that have restricted access through locked doors and have a
common corridor for access to the living units;
(3) Any subdivisions or developments with restricted access to the property by a
gate or other means, requiring access by keypad, card, key, or other type;
(4) Commercial or industrial buildings and complexes;
Exception: Any building or complex having on-site 24-hour security personnel with
access to all areas of the property may be exempt from the requirements at the
discretion of the Fire Chief and Fire Marshal.
b)All new construction subject to this section shall have the rapid entry system installed
and operational prior to the issuance of a Certificate of Occupancy.
c) All structures in existence on the effective date of this section and subject to this
section shall have one calendar year from this effective date to have the rapid entry
system installed and operational.
d)The Fire Marshal shall be authorized to implement rules and regulations for the use of
the rapid entry system.
e) The owner or operator of a structure required to have a rapid entry system shall, at all
times, keep a key or keys, as required, in the lock box that will allow for complete
and unobstructed access to the structure or complex interior. These keys shall be
marked and identified in a manner approved by the Fire Marshal.
f) The owner or authorized occupant of the building shall notify the Fire Marshal when
testing, inspection, or maintenance is performed on any fire protection equipment.
Any installed plugs or caps shall be removed for these purposes by the approval of the
Fire Marshal and shall be done by authorized fire department personnel only.
g)The owner or occupant shall be responsible for ordering and installing the KNOXBOX®. The box shall be installed by following the manufacturer's instructions, at a
height no less than five and no more than seven feet above ground level at a spot
predetermined upon consultation of the Fire Marshal.
h)The KNOX-BOX® is not required to be attached to or monitored by a private alarm
system, but it is recommended.
i) Upon completion of installation, the Fire Marshal must be notified by phone as soon
as possible at 912-510-4302 or 912-729-3911 to schedule a time for locking the box.
Sec 27-35 Fire Watch
a) The Fire Marshal or department designee shall have the authority to require
standby fire personnel or an approved fire watch when potentially hazardous
conditions or reduction in life safety features exist due to the type of performance,
display, exhibit, occupancy, contest or activity, an impairment to a fire protection
feature, or the number of persons present.
30

b) The owner or owner’s designee shall employ one or more qualified persons, as
required and approved, to be on duty.
c) The cost of standby personnel shall be at no cost to the fire department.
d) Such standby personnel or fire department personnel shall be subject to the orders
of the Fire Marshal, or designee, at all times and shall be identifiable and remain on
duty during the times such properties are open to the public, when such activity is
being conducted, or while such impairment or condition remains, as required.
Sec 27-36 Fireworks Displays and Exhibitions
a) The regulation and enforcement of manufacturing, storage, sales, exhibitions and displays
of fireworks and pyrotechnics and use of flame effects before a proximate audience within
Camden County shall be the responsibility of the Fire Marshal pursuant to Chapter 120-322 of the Rules and Regulations of the State of Georgia and O.C.G.A. §§ 25-2-4 and 2510
b) Special use permitting where required by O.C.G.A. § 25-10-2 shall be applied for and
obtained no less than 10 business days prior to any requested event.
c) Prior to or during any fireworks displays or exhibitions, the Fire Marshal or any authorized
members of Camden County Fire Rescue retain the authority to postpone or cancel any
event if, in their opinion, any hazardous condition, lack of crowd control, or weather issue
exists.
Sec 27-37 Structure and Non-Structure Fires
Camden County Fire Rescue is authorized to initiate a user fee for the delivery of Fire
Rescue services, personnel, supplies and equipment to the scene of a fire. The rate of the user
fee shall be that which is the usual, customary and reasonable costs (UCR), which includes
any services, personnel, supplies and equipment and may fluctuate based on the needs of the
fire. The user fee shall be filed to the commercial or homeowner's insurance, representing an
add-on-cost of the claim for damages of the property and/or injuries. The claim costs shall be
filed to the insurance coverage of the owner of the property, or responsible party.
Sec 27-38 Hazardous Material Incident Response
Camden County Fire Rescue is authorized to initiate a user fee for the delivery of Fire
Rescue services, personnel, supplies and equipment to the scene of a hazardous material
incident or situation where response was warranted to protect the public. The rate of the user
fee shall be that which is the usual, customary and reasonable costs (UCR), which includes
any services, personnel, supplies and equipment and may fluctuate based on the needs of the
incident. The user fee shall be filed to the vehicle, commercial or homeowner's insurance,
representing an add-on-cost of the claim for damages of the property. The claim costs shall
be filed to the insurance coverage of the owner of the property, or responsible party.
Sec 27-39 Emergency Medical Services Response
Camden County Fire Rescue is authorized to initiate a user fee for the delivery of Fire
Rescue services, personnel, supplies and equipment to the scene of an emergency or nonemergency medical incident. The rate of the user fee shall be that which is adopted by the fire
rescue department as a fee schedule. The user fee due shall be the responsibility of patient or
responsible party. An insurance billing authorization is necessary before patient insurance
can be billed.
31

The respective Fire Departrnent or their designees are hereby authorized to execute any and all
documents and/or implement any and all procedures necessary to effectuate the collection of
fees in order to enhance services by the Fire Department.
All amounts collected as a result of this ordinance shall be placed into a fund as established by
the Fire Department to be used exclusively for personnel, supplies and equipment for the Fire
Department.
It is found and determined that all formal actions of the Camden County Board of
Commissioners concerning and relating to the adoption of this Ordinance were adopted in open
meetings of this Board of Commissioners, and that all deliberations of this Board of
Commissioners that resulted in such formal actions were in compliance with all legal
requirements, and the Codified Ordinances of the Camden County Board of Commissioners.
This Ordinance shall take effect upon adoption and execution.
6.

Fire and Emergency Medical Services Mutual Aid Agreement with
Charlton County.

Chairman Cheek made a motion, seconded by Commissioner Casey to approve
the Fire and Emergency Medical Services Mutual Aid Agreement with Charlton
County.
The motion carried unanimously.

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33

34

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7.

Bid Award for the Joint Comprehensive Transportation Plan.

Chairman Cheek made a motion, seconded by Commissioner Casey to approve
the Bid Award for the Joint Comprehensive Transportation Plan to Goodwyn Mills
Cawood in the amount of $430,960.00 from grant award.
The motion carried unanimously.
Chairman Cheek made a motion, seconded by Commissioner Smith to adjourn
the regular meeting for a five (5) minute recess at 7:12 PM..
The motion carried unanimously.
Chairman Cheek made a motion, seconded by Commissioner Goodman to
reconvene the regular meeting at 7:17 PM..
The motion carried unanimously.

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8.

Grant Award from Georgia Forestry Volunteer 50/50 Grant Program.

Commissioner Casey made a motion, seconded by Chairman Cheek to accept the
grant award from Georgia Forestry Volunteer 50/50 grant program to purchase
pump testing equipment and a deluge gun with interchangeable nozzle tips in the
amount of $5,000.00 with matching funds of $5,000.00.
The motion carried unanimously.
9.

Grant Award from Georgia Emergency Management Agency (GEMA)
State Homeland Security Program to purchase license plate readers.

Commissioner Smith made a motion, seconded by Commissioner Casey to accept
the grant award from GEMA State Homeland Security Program for the purchase
license plate readers in the amount of $137,904.10.
The motion carried unanimously.
10.

Grant Award from Georgia Emergency Management Agency (GEMA)
State Homeland Security Program to purchase portable radios.

Commissioner Casey made a motion, seconded by Commissioner Goodman to
accept the grant award from GEMA State Homeland Security Program to prevent
terrorism and other catastrophic events, funds will be used to purchase portable
radios in the amount of $76,003.50.
The motion carried unanimously.
11.

Grant Award from Georgia Emergency Management Agency (GEMA)
Hazard Mitigation Grant Program to purchase Variable Message Signs and
a Long-Range Acoustical Device.

Commissioner Smith made a motion, seconded by Commissioner Goodman to
accept the grant award from Georgia Emergency Management Agency (GEMA)
Hazard Mitigation Grant Program for the purchase Variable Message Signs and a
Long-Range Acoustical Device in the amount of $127,115.43 with $8,113.75
matching funds.
The motion carried unanimously.

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12.

Purchase of Variable Message Signs (VMS) “Millenium Products” and LongRange Acoustical Device (LRAD) from “Quantico Tactical.”

Commissioner Casey made a motion, seconded by Commissioner Goodman to
approve the purchase of the three (3) Variable Message Signs (VMS) from Millenium
Products and Long-Range Acoustical Device (LRAD) from Quantico Tactical in the
amount of $134, 388.85 from grant award with matching funds.
The motion carried unanimously.
13.

Submittal of the Local Road Assistance (LRA) Administration Fund to
Georgia Department of Transportation (GDOT).

Commissioner Casey made a motion, seconded by Chairman Cheek to approve
the recommended road list for resurfacing for the Submittal of the Local Road
Assistance (LRA) Administration Fund to Georgia Department of Transportation
(GDOT).
The motion carried unanimously.

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14.

Approval to submit for the LMIG Safety Action Plan (SAP) Administration
Fund to the Georgia Department of Transportation (GDOT).

Commissioner Casey made a motion, seconded by Chairman Cheek to approve
the recommended road list for the submittal of the LMIG Safety Action Plan (SAP)
Administration Fund to the Georgia Department of Transportation (GDOT).
The motion carried unanimously.

15.

Resolution of the Camden County Board of Commissioners Establishing a
Temporary Moratorium on the Acceptance, Review, and Approval of
Applications for Data Centers within Camden County, Georgia; and for
other purposes.

Chairman Cheek made a motion, seconded by Commissioner Smith that we discuss
the temporary moratorium on data centers.
Commissioner Casey
My question is, why isn't the Planning Commission handling this first? Have they put
one together?
Commissioner Smith
I'll go ahead and I'll speak on this because I'm the one who put this draft together.
It was brought to our attention as a board that our Joint Development Authority, an
entity that we fund, had entertained not one but two data centers. There was
Project Apex, allegedly, but confirmed was Project Produce. It was reported on in
the paper. So, I don't think this is something that we want to be behind on, especially
because they're obviously entertaining, they're being entertained all around us and
there's all sorts of environmental concerns and resource concerns. So I put a draft
together, I submitted it to the board to discuss, as per the chairman's motion, and I
think that's a great idea, Ben. If we want to get this in front of the Planning
Commission, I think that's a great idea. But full disclosure, I'm the one that brought it
forward, so I don't want you to think anyone was trying to step around. I was just
trying to introduce it to the board for discussion and if you think it needs to go to
planning, I think that's a great idea.
39

Commissioner Casey
Well, you know, that is their job, in a way, but my understanding, these data centers
were, they approached the city of Kingsland. We have no jurisdiction what happens
inside the city limits of Kingsland. So if somebody wants to come in and put a data
center in the city of Kingsland, the county really can't stop it.
Commissioner Smith
I would certainly hope the city of Kingsland would follow suit, and this is to protect
unincorporated Camden County, absolutely. If you take a look at the resolution for
the moratorium, it specifically states, actually, since I didn't have it in front of me, it
specifically states to give staff and the Planning and Zoning Department time to
formulate what those regulations would be. That's actually the specific verbiage in
that, if you had taken a look at it.
Chairman Cheek
One thing that the Planning Department is doing, they're putting an ordinance
package together strictly for data center. Working on that now, we don't have it
tonight, but they're working on an ordinance to further protect us through an
ordinance through the Planning Commission to bring to us. I'm not against a
moratorium at all, it's just we got to be careful how we step through this process.
Commissioner Smith
Yeah, and I probably wouldn't even have brought it if I'd been made aware of that.
I definitely think things like that should be communicated, so we're not duplicating
work either.
Chairman Cheek
Another thing, Georgia Power has offered to come down and do a work session
with us to give us the pros and cons of a data center. They're a big power supplier,
so they're deeply involved all over the state, and they've offered to come down
and do a work session for us, and I think we ought to take them up on that.
Commissioner Smith
Yes, we should. Maybe as part of the work session, we incorporate the ordinance
that we're putting together, so make it one package.
Chairman Cheek
Again, I'm not against a temporary moratorium, we just got to be very careful how
we step forward.
Commissioner Smith
Well, keep in mind, it's not a decision. Up here, we didn't decide to bring a data
center into Camden County, but it was brought to our attention that the Joint
Development Authority actively was. So, you know, with all these code names and
not really knowing what they're working on, I think this is just a way to protect the
citizens in unincorporated Camden County. And again, like I said, the verbiage
specifically directs planning and zoning to formulate those ordinances, which it
40

sounds like they're already working on. Maybe it's not the motion, but maybe we
table this to the next meeting, give Jackie a chance to look at the language. Is that
fair?
County Attorney Jackie Fortier
I would like a little bit more time. I honestly have been a little busy with some of my
other practice to get to reviewing that it wasn't presented. Like, if we're looking to
do this, if you'll direct it directly to me first so I can get you some direction, be
prepared for that sort of thing, it would make it a lot easier for me to give you better
advice. There was a couple of things in your ordinance that kind of struck me.
There's one thing, the unincorporated county, we don't have a water source big
enough and we don't even have a way to get rid of the wastewater. We don't have
a treatment plant. Now, there's other counties that have got ordinances. I took
about 10 minutes today and found quite a few counties in Georgia that have
ordinances on data centers. Georgia Tech has got a good website that provides a
lot of those ordinances as well and other data that's involved.
Commissioner Casey
One thing that you got to think about with a data center, you know, everybody's
talking about the cooling water and stuff like that. You do a closed loop system
where you reuse that water over and over and then the only water you have to add
is what would be called makeup water from evaporation from the cooling towers.
There's other ways.
Commissioner Smith
That sounds like something that should be in our ordinance.
Commissioner Casey
Another thing that, you know, some, we couldn't do it here because our wastewater
systems don't generate enough treated water to be used in a cooling system like
that, but somebody like Jacksonville that has a lot of wastewater that's been
treated, they could potentially use that water to cool the equipment and then
discharge the water wherever they need to discharge it. There's a lot of stuff that
needs to be worked out on a data center, but one thing about a data center is if it
comes in and we get a data center, that would probably lower everybody's taxes.
Now everybody's thinking about, you know, property taxes, but it's the taxes on the
equipment that is changed on a regular basis inside that data center. That's where
the money is. What uses more water, a paper mill or a data center? We don't have
a paper mill anymore. I'm wondering who owns the water rights to all those wells
that Gilman had. That's a lot of water that could be permitted for some kind of use.
Chairman Cheek amended his previous motion, seconded by Commissioner Smith
to amend the previous motion to table the temporary moratorium on data centers
until the county attorney has an opportunity to review the language.
The motion carried unanimously.
41

Chairman Cheek made a motion, seconded by Commissioner Goodman to have
staff contact Georgia Power to give us a work session in a public forum to explain
the pros and cons of a data center.
The motion carried unanimously.
16.

Discussion of Proposed Replacement Airport Project and Consideration of
Continued Pursuit.

Vice-Chairman Turner made a motion, seconded by Commissioner Goodman to
discuss the Proposed Replacement Airport Project and Consideration of
Continued Pursuit.
Commissioner Casey
Well, usually you make a motion for or against something, then you go into
discussion, then you vote on it.
Commissioner Smith
I'm with Ben. I say we put our, I say we quit kicking this can around, whether it's
down the road or up the road, and make a decision tonight.
Vice-Chairman Turner withdrew his previous motion, Commissioner Goodman
withdrew his second to the previous motion.
Commissioner Smith made a motion, seconded by Commissioner Goodman for
the county to formally withdraw from the proposed airport project.
So Voted:
Chairman Cheek – Yes
Vice-Chairman Turner – Yes
Commissioner Casey – No
Commissioner Smith – Yes
Commissioner Goodman – Yes
The motion carried 4 – 1, Commissioner Casey voted against the motion.

Reports


Calendar – April and May 2026

County Clerk Katie Bishop stated there are no changes to the calendar at this time.



County Administrator Comments

Interim County Administrator Joey Yacobacci
First, I'd like to begin by sharing a few important staff updates that we have made
recently. First would be our promotion to Cassie Turpin as our Interim Planning and
Development Director, so I definitely haven't had time to formally announce her,
42

but I really appreciate all that she's done for us. She will also continue Yes, well
deserved. She will also continue to work in the floodplain management area while
she's doing the interim, so like I said, I really appreciate everything Cassie's done for
us. Also, I would like to also congratulate Shannon Nettles. We've elevated her to
Interim Deputy County Administrator, so congratulations to you, Shannon. Again,
well deserved. During Shannon's absence in elections, Rock Carter will be
overseeing the Elections Department with the assistance of Dennis Irvin, so
congratulations to them as well, and just know that each of our departments are
being well taken care of and overseen by our great staff. I'd also like to announce
we have hired a new CFO, so I'd ask Lisa Lynch would stand, and please join me in
congratulating her and welcoming her as our new Chief Financial Officer. Lisa does
bring an extensive government financial experience or finance experience with her,
and we are excited that you've joined our team, so thank you very much, and we
look forward to the journey ahead and all the challenges and things that we can
overcome together. That's important together. Also, I would like for our community
to know that I'm currently working on putting a schedule together to have more
series of town hall meetings, so you can hear from me and we can stay connected
together. The Sheriff has graciously invited me to participate in his upcoming town
hall on April the 28th at the Resiliency Center in Kingsland at 135 Grosse Road, so we
do look forward to meeting with everybody, sharing comments and visions together.
I strongly believe that moving forward together is listening to one another. I've
always been a great listener. I think it's important that we do listen and understand
one another. Very important and growing is vital that we bond together and bind
together as a community. It's important that we learn from our past. Very important
that we learn from our past and move forward together. That's the only way we can
grow. We all know that, and we need to grow this community. We see our five
commissioners binding together more and more, and listening to each other is very
vital to me. I'm also excited to announce that we are starting our Citizens Academy
this coming Thursday night. New directors, new people in places, new ideas, very
exciting. I can tell you it's a very exciting time, so I'm excited to see the new
participants, the new ideas, and hearing each other. So new things and new ideas
are coming about, very exciting things happening in the county in terms of growing
together. I cannot stress that enough, that it's very important that we listen to one
another and we bind together and move forward together. We are one. That's the
only way we're going to grow this community, is we listen to one another and grow.
Commissioner Goodman
Mr. Chairman, I'd like to respond to something to Joey and the other interim people.
The five of us up here are interim also, so you ain't got nothing on us. Thank you for
what you're doing and stepping up to the plate.

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Additional Public Comments
Emily Floore, St. Marys Riverkeeper
Thank you for withdrawing from the airport because I live around the corner of that.
So for St. Marys Riverkeeper, one thing I did want to mention was that the City of
Kingsland did adopt an ordinance regarding data centers in early March, just so
that was very recent, but I did want to share that, to require established definitions,
zoning standards, and supplemental regulations for data centers, and provide
permitted locations designed environmental and operational infrastructure
requirements, and to provide application review requirements for special land use
permits, to provide enforcement and other lawful purposes. So I just wanted to bring
that to the attention of the commissioners, that that was a recent thing. But what I
really came here for was to announce the St. Mary's River cleanup that we do every
year. This is our 28th year of doing it. St. Marys Riverkeeper took it over 10 years ago
when the organization formed. We are turning 10 this year, which is a big milestone
for a local small non-profit, and we really value partners of the community and our
elected leaders to ensure that St. Marys River is protected from harm, effluent
discharge, and pollution. So I did want to let you all know that we have five locations
around the county. Temple Landing Boat Ramp, which we tend to pull a lot of tires
out of in that area. The Blue Bridge Boat Landing, which we almost always get over
a thousand pounds of trash along the roadway. It's also our biggest site with over 50
people working together to do that. Meeting Street Boat Ramp, the Burrell Creek
Kayak Launch, and then Notter Pond on the North Causeway are our five locations
around Camden County. And we typically see a lot of the community that comes
out. Many of the commissioners have come out and helped out with that event. We
are very grateful to our big sponsor, White Oak Conservation, for hosting our
celebration afterwards and feeding us, and all of the over 400 volunteers that show
up on one day and pull six tons of trash off of boat landings and tributaries of the St.
Marys River. And I especially wanted to be grateful for the Board of County
Commissioners' continued support, including the staff. Camden County Solid Waste,
which donates the dumpster roll-offs at our two boat landings, we're very grateful
for that. And then St. Marys Public Works, who helps pick up the trash for the three
St. Marys sites. But if you are available, please come out April 18th, that's next
Saturday, from 9 a.m. to 11 a.m. You can register, or I gave you all my cards, so just
text me, and I'm happy to get you registered for one of those sites. And we'd love
to see you all turn out and help support a clean river and then come to White Oak
afterwards for some hot dogs and hamburgers and celebrations, and hear all the
crazy things that everyone around the watershed has pulled out of the river. Thank
you so much.
Ricky Manning, Bullhead Bluff
First of all, I just want to thank Joey and all y'all commissioners and everybody else
for the town halls. Sheriff, that's a good idea. We've been after it for a while. I'm glad
to see it coming, and yes, I'll be there. Anyways, on non-agent items, have we
already decided that we are going to proceed with a new jail complex without a
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vote? Because there are several cuts that can be made that we can move millions
into the jail fund, public safety complex, whatever you want to call it. I call it jail,
simpler for me. We had one cut tonight. Let's move that money over there so that
we could not borrow so much money and it doesn't cost us as much in the long run.
Everybody knows we need a safety complex. We've put it off for 20 years now. It's
time to move forward with it. Dropping that airport's a good start. We need more.
All right, now monetary gift policies with the county. Might want to check with
council on that. Vendors giving gifts to county employees without knowledge of the
board or an approval of the board is a no-no. Yeah, I'm not mistaking the state law.
Might want to check with council on that because it's happening. Anyhow, all right,
now again on county projects, we are making entirely too many mistakes. This is part
of our town halls that needs to get going forward. We can all discuss things and
there's a lot of people out here with a lot of knowledge. We have people in the
county with a lot of knowledge. We're not putting heads together. We're wasting
money, piles of money. One of them is right out here at our new public works
complex. Why in the world whoever back when decided that's where we wanted
to put a public works complex on top of a swamp and haul in 10 million loads of dirt
and have to compact it? I don't know. I pity for poor Jared having to deal with that.
That's a pile of money being wasted. We could have purchased high land
somewhere a lot cheaper.
We're not thinking ahead of time and what
consequences are of our actions and this is why we're wasting so much money. We
don't have this public safety complex. Folks, let's do better. We're trying to do better.
I see us moving forward and discussing things and that's a good thing. Thank you for
your time.
Steve Weinkle, Harriett’s Bluff
It would make everyone who is a constituent and a voter in Camden County feel
much better about our local government if we knew that once the commissioners
were presented with new facts that were contrary to the old information that was
obsolete that they had made a prior decision about that they would consider
changing their mind. And so the example that was just used about how
Commissioner Goodman was the only one who voted against something a year
ago or six months ago, whatever, and now four commissioners are going to vote
against something, that's an indication that you are listening and that's a good sign
for our government. Staff has demonstrated that we are getting better performance
than we got in the past. Communication at the highest levels is the problem. And
so when I made this statement that y'all are the five wise men, that's exactly what
that conversation sounded like. Y'all are just discussing among yourselves stuff that
could be easily disproved in black and white. Facts, I pointed one of them out earlier
to try to make it easy for you. Insurance for the airport, for the personnel. The quote
that you mentioned tonight for the value or the cost of the airport, that's from 2022.
A more recent quote was done in Bryan County for an airport with a 25-foot
narrower runway, a narrower runway the same length, that was over 80 million
dollars. And so when you're quoting 40 or 44, you are way out of whack because
the quote that they got was for a similar airport without hangars and without a
45

control tower. When we talk about a replacement airport, that's exactly what we're
going to get, a bare bones airport at 80 million dollars. But worse than that is that
no one in this room that's matter of the public has any idea where you're going to
drop that airport. Is it going to be convenient to the people who might wish to use
the airport that are in business on Kings Bay? Why is it still a secret after 20 years?
And so the point is, is if you can't be honest with us, the taxpayers who are going to
have to pay for that airport for 10 years to the tune of 5 or 10 or 15 million dollars,
you don't have any idea. And I know you don't have any idea because I know the
numbers. If that's the situation we're in, you cannot move forward. And so you've
done the right thing. There's no reason to him in the hall. It really is black and white.
And you don't have to be wise men, you just have to be good observers. There's a
lot of things in Camden County like that, a lot of things that go on because they
persist in one person's mind as being important. And we should listen up to a point
and then make a decision.
Carly Simone, Come As You Are Recovery
You guys might remember me a few months ago. I came up with Judge Kelly as a
success story from drug court. This is my partner in crime, Sarah. We wanted to bring
to your attention that we are starting a recovery community organization within
Camden County called Come As You Are Recovery. There's RCOs all over Georgia
that have great success rates in bringing light to addiction recovery instead of, you
know, turning a dark corner at it.
Sara Jumper, Come As You Are Recovery
I am from Woodbine. Recovery community organizations are non-clinical peer-led
organizations that exist to fill the gap in services for people who enter recovery. A
lot of the times we see failures because people come home from treatment or detox
or leave jail and there's no support. So what we're going to do is take that, take the
stress off of families, off of local services, off of the hospital, off of EMS. We're going
to create a community for people to come and flourish in their recovery so that they
can receive services and then give back once they reach that point. And we hope
to do that by reducing overdose rates, distributing naloxone, and using our lived
experience to coach others in their own recovery. And we just wanted to introduce
ourselves today.
Ben Goff, Harriett’s Bluff
I've been in a lot of conversation about the public safety complex and I absolutely,
totally agree. After a tour of the jail myself, I wasn't locked in. There is definite need
for, I wouldn't even call it a replacement, there's definite need for a new look at a
safety complex which includes the 911 and a couple other buildings. But I also want
to make a point that that current jail is a county asset. It's a public asset. It belongs
to us and it's a crying shame as to what we've allowed to happen to that building,
to that asset. And it needs to be fixed. If we started today, I've asked this question
amongst a couple of three people, if we started today with intent to build a new
jail, how long would it be before the first inmate sets foot in it? And the best guess
that I've gotten was three years, some as high as five years and some as high as
46

seven years. I honestly don't know. It could be 18 months. But regardless, we've got
conditions over there that need to be addressed and fixed. I mean, at the end of
five years, when we have this new safety complex, what are we going to do with
that asset then? What's going to happen to it? We're just going to raise it? We need
to do maintenance on that asset today. The roof leaks, the electronics don't work,
the plumbing don't work, and that's probably the most important part of it. But we
definitely need issues to be addressed at that complex today.
Jannie Everett, Woodbine
I need the county commissioner's help. We have House Resolution 6559 that's on the
floor Congress now and we only have three co-sponsors. We need to get up to 290
to get this thing for a vote. So I'm asking the county commissioners to reach out to
the 14 members of Congress from the state of Georgia and ask them to support the
bill. Because right now we only have three of the 14 that's with it. We reached out
to the 100 veterans in Congress to get their support. So it's like we're fighting it from
the grassroots and with veteran’s groups. We have some veterans and citizens in
Tennessee, Virginia, and South Carolina that are also writing letters. We asked
Stephen Sands and Mike Hodges to write letters. We really need the state of
Georgia to stand up, at least the 14. Thank you.
John Wojcik, Kingsland
I live off of Clark's Bluff Road. I don't know if I'd want Georgia Power to come down
here to give advice on data centers because I got a feeling they'd be biased. I
don't think they'd look both directions. But anyway, Camden County is an easy sell.
Everybody's talking about taxes and how to cut them. I'm surprised we don't have
more stuff being as far as warehouses being developed. But given planning the
responsibility of the data centers, I don't understand where that's coming from. I think
that ought to be a commissioner duty also. I don't think data centers will reduce our
taxes. Chatham County is busting at the seams with all kinds of industry and they're
still raising their property tax. Fernandina, they've got so much building going on
down there. Nassau County is raising their taxes. We're not going to get away from
taxes. I don't care what we build here. We're going to still have taxes. If I'm not
mistaken, a grand jury should have been appointed yearly to look at our jail. And I
don't know when the last time a grand jury has been appointed to look at the
condition of our jail. I agree with Mr. Goff and a few others. I've been through that
jail twice as far as a visitor. Once because of the door hinges, I wanted to go see
what condition they were in. And a citizen's academy, I went there and we
graduates were appalled at the condition of that jail. I can imagine what a grand
jury would say. They would probably tell you we're going to condemn it and you're
going to have to build a new one. I think the jail should be a priority since we have
dropped the airport. Commissioner Turner, you said something about what we need
to do as far as the jail. And I agree that we need a new jail. The sooner we start on
it, the better. I don't like Mr. Goff said, one to five years. We need to start building it
now. That ought to be a high priority. I appreciate the two ladies that came up here
because I was here when they talked, when the judge was here, about their
addiction. That was a good success story if you happen to be here. And I
47

appreciate them coming tonight to say that they're still on their way. Matter of fact,
I'm addicted to sugar and I'm doing my best to get off of sugar. So I can imagine
what it's like to get off of drugs when I'm trying to get off of sugar, I'm not here to
belittle any of you. I appreciate each and every one of you for the job that you're
doing.

Adjournment:
Commissioner Goodman made a motion, seconded by Chairman Cheek to adjourn
the regular meeting of April 7, 2026. The motion carried to adjourn the meeting at
approximately 8:28 PM.
The motion carried unanimously.
BY: _______________________________________________
ROBBIE CHEEK, VICE-CHAIRMAN
CAMDEN COUNTY BOARD OF COMMISSIONERS
ATTEST: ______________________________________
KATIE BISHOP, COUNTY CLERK

48

CAMDEN COUNTY BOARD OF COMMISSIONERS
REGULAR AGENDA ITEM: 1
SUBJECT:

Second Reading and Adoption of the amendments to the
Camden County Code of Ordinances, Chapter 27 - Fire Rescue
Fire Prevention and Services.

( ) Recommendation
( ) Policy Discussion
( ) Status Report
(X) Action Item
( ) Other
DATE SUBMITTED:

April 16, 2026

COMMISSION ACTION REQUESTED ON:
April 21, 2026
PURPOSE:
To request that the Board of Commissioners:
a.
To consider waiving the Second Reading and Adopt the
amendments to the Camden County Code of Ordinances,
Chapter 27 - Fire Rescue Fire Prevention and Services.
HISTORY:
1.

The current Fire Rescue ordinances were adopted in 2008 and
have since been in effect.

FACTS & ISSUES:
1.
See attached red lined amendments to the Camden County
Code of Ordinances, Chapter 27 - Fire Rescue Fire Prevention and
Services.
OPTIONS:
1.
2.
3.
4.

Motion to waive the Second Reading and Adopt the amendments
to the Camden County Code of Ordinances, Chapter 27 - Fire
Rescue Fire Prevention and Services.
Motion to deny this item.
Motion to table this item.
Other action by the Board.

DEPARTMENT RECOMMENDED ACTION:
1.
Staff recommends approval of this item.
DEPARTMENT:
Prepared by:

IF APPLICABLE:
County Attorney Review:

IF APPLICABLE:
Finance Review:

Captain Chris Goebel
________________________

Attorney Jackie Fortier
_________________________

N/A
____________________

CHAPTER 27
FIRE RESCUE FIRE PREVENTION AND SERVICES ORDINANCE
Sec. 27-1 Fire Rescue Department
Sec. 27-2 Adoption of State Minimum Fire Safety Standards
Sec 27-3 International Fire Code
Sec 27-4 Construction of Codes
See 27-5 Enforcement of Article
Sec 27-6 Penalties for Violation of Article
Sec 27-7 Buildings Owned and/or Operated by Camden County
Sec 27-8 Establishment and Duties of the Office of the Fire Marshal
Sec 27-9 Inspections
Sec 27-10 Modifications
Sec 27-11 Variances
Sec 27-12 Appeals
Sec 27-13 Permits
Sec 27-14 New Materials, Processes or Occupancies which May Require Permits
Sec 27-15 Submission of Plans and Specifications Required
Sec 27-16 Revision of Plans
Sec 27-17 Temporary Occupancy
Sec 27-18 Collection of Fees and Issuance of Permits and Approvals
Sec 27-19 Governmental and Religious Organization Facilities Exemptions
Sec. 27-20 Automatic Fire Suppression System Required RESERVED
Sec 27-21 Fire Hydrant and Water System Requirements
Sec 27-22 Building Numbering and Identification for Emergency Response
Sec 27-23 Marking of Utilities
Sec 27-24 Authority at Emergency Incidents
Sec 27-25 Certain Acts Interfering with Firefighting Activities
Sec 27-26 Crossing Fire Hose Prohibited
Sec 27-27 Obstructing a Fire Station or Equipment
Sec 27-28 False Alarms
Sec 27-29 Response to Malfunctioning Fire Alarms
Sec 27-30 Designated Fire Lanes
Sec 27-31 Reporting of Fires
Sec 27-32 Open Burning
Sec 27-33 Authority to enact a Burn Ban
Sec 27-34 KNOX-BOX@ Rapid Entry System
Sec 27-35 Fire Watch
Sec 27-36 Fireworks Displays and Exhibitions
Sec 27-37 Structure and Non-Structure Fires
Sec 27-38 Hazardous Material Incident Response
Sec 27-39 Emergency Medical Services Response

Sec. 27-1 Fire Rescue Department
Camden County Fire Rescue shall have the authority to:
a)
Protect life and property against fire, explosion, hazardous materials, or electrical
hazards;
b)
Detect, prevent and assist in the prosecution of arson;
c)
Administer and enforce the laws of Georgia; the rules and regulations, and any
ordinances and codes that are adopted by the Camden County Board of
Commissioners that are related to the prevention and suppression of fires,
explosions, or injuries from hazardous materials and explosions and the protection
of life and property from such hazards.
d)
Inspect any necessary building, based on the judgment of the Fire Marshal and/or
the Fire Chief, and its construction, protection, and occupancy features necessary
to minimize danger to life from fire, including fumes, smoke, and panic.
e)
Conduct programs of public education in fire prevention and safety;
f)
Conduct emergency medical services and rescue assistance, subject to O.C.G.A.
Title 31, Chapter 1l and subject to the approval of the Camden County Board of
Commissioners;
g)
Control and regulate the flow of traffic in areas of existing emergencies, including
rail, highway, water and air traffic; and
h)
Perform all such services of a fire rescue department as may be provided by law
or which necessarily appertain thereto.
Sec. 27-2 Adoption of State Minimum Fire Safety Standards
a) There is hereby adopted by the Camden County Board of Commissioners for the
purpose of prescribing regulations governing conditions hazardous to life and property
from fire or explosion, including smoke, fumes, or panic, those certain codes known as
the Georgia State Minimum Fire Safety Standards, as amended by Chapter 120-3-3 of
the Rules and Regulations of the State of Georgia, under authority of O.C.G.A. 25-2-4,
25-2-12, 50-13-21. The codes are hereby adopted and incorporated as fully as if set out
completely in this article. From the date on which the ordinance from which this article
is derived shall take effect, the provisions thereof shall be controlling within the limits
of the county. If any sections of the Georgia State Minimum Fire Safety Standards
conflict with the requirements listed within the Official Code of Camden County, the
stricter policy shall apply.
Sec 27-3 International Fire Code
a) The International Fire Code is hereby amended by omitting section 109, Board of
Appeals of Chapter 1, Administration and section 109 shall not be adopted by the
County.
b) Appendix D, Fire Apparatus Access Roads, shall be adopted by this County as if set
out fully in this article.
Sec 27-4 Construction of Codes

a) All codes, ordinances, standards, and pamphlets adopted in this article shall be
construed as the standard for fire code compliance among buildings within the county
and shall prevail in matters of life safety over all other local codes, ordinances or
standards which apply to the same building components or systems covered by this
article. Final approving authority for fire code compliance covered in this section
shall be the Camden County Office of the Fire Marshal.
Sec 27-5 Enforcement of Article
a) The provisions of this article shall be enforced by authorized personnel of Camden
County Fire Rescue, or by authorized deputies of Camden County Sheriff’s Office,
within the unincorporated areas of Camden County, and in all jurisdictions with
whom the County has a valid intergovernmental agreement for the provision of fire
protection services.
Sec 27-6 Penalties for Violation of Article
a) Any person who shall violate any of the provisions of this article or the codes adopted
by reference in this article or fail to comply therewith or who shall violate or fail to
comply with any order made pursuant to this article, or who shall build in violation of
any detailed statement of specifications or plans submitted and approved thereunder
and from which no appeal has been taken, or who shall fail to comply with such an
order as affirmed or modified by the Board of Commissioners within the time set
forth in this article, shall constitute a violation of a county ordinance. Any person
violating this article or any of the codes and/or laws incorporated in this article shall
be deemed guilty of violating a county ordinance and shall be punished by a
predetermined fine and/or imprisonment in the common jail of the county. The
imposition of one penalty shall not excuse the violation nor permit it to continue, and
such persons shall be required to correct or remedy such violations or defects within a
specified time. When not otherwise specified, each day that prohibited conditions are
maintained shall constitute a separate violation of this article.
b) The application of the penalty in subsection (a) of this section shall not be held to
prevent the enforced removal of the prohibited conditions.
c) Upon written notice from the Fire Marshal or his designee, work on any project that is
being performed contrary to the provisions of this article and the codes adopted in this
article, or otherwise being done in a dangerous or unsafe manner, shall cease
immediately. Such notice shall be given to the owner of the property, his agent, or the
person doing the work and shall state the conditions under which the work may be
resumed.
d) Permits or approvals may be revoked by the Fire Marshal or his designee when there
has been any false statement or misrepresentation as to any materials or facts
contained in plans or other information on which the permit or approval has been
based.
e) Whenever any of the officers or inspectors of Camden County Fire Rescue find
conditions which are unsafe and/or in violation of the provisions or intent of the codes
or ordinances enforced by the Office of the Fire Marshal, written notice, which has
been approved by the Fire Marshal, shall be given to the owner, the owner's agent or

the occupant or occupant's representative requiring that any activities impacted by the
conditions shall cease until the condition is corrected.
Sec 27-7 Buildings Owned and/or Operated by Camden County
a) All buildings or portions thereof that are owned and operated or occupied by the
Camden County Board of Commissioners shall be within the jurisdiction of Camden
County Fire Rescue and its inspectors, regardless of location.
b) The Fire Marshal shall oversee:
a. Fire safety inspections of existing county buildings and structures
b. Review plans and specifications for proposed buildings and structures
c. Issue permanent and temporary certificates of occupancy.
c) Nothing in this section shall be construed so as to prohibit fire service personnel of
other fire departments within Camden County from making inspections of any
County owned and operated building or structure for planning or life safety matters.
Sec 27-8 Establishment and Duties of the Office of the Fire Marshal
a) The fire prevention codes adopted herein shall be enforced by the Office of the Fire
Marshal within Camden County Fire Rescue.
b) The Fire Marshal in charge of the Office of the Fire Marshal shall be appointed by the
Fire Chief of Camden County Fire Rescue in accordance with the County personnel
policy.
c) The Fire Chief of Camden County Fire Rescue may detail such members of the fire
service as inspectors as shall from time to time be necessary. The Fire Chief of
Camden County Fire Rescue shall recommend to the Board of Commissioners the
employment of technical inspectors, who shall be selected in accordance with the
County personnel policy.
d) A report of the Office of the Fire Marshal shall be made annually and transmitted to
the Fire Chief of Camden County Fire Rescue and shall be forwarded to the Board
of Commissioners. It shall contain a report of all activities and inspections undertaken
pursuant to this article, with such statistics as the Fire Chief of Camden County Fire
Rescue may wish to include therein. The Fire Marshal and Fire Chief of Camden
County Fire Rescue shall also recommend any amendments to the code, which in his
or her judgment, shall be desirable.
e) The Office of the Fire Marshal shall be the primary division within Camden County
Fire Rescue in charge of public education, relating to injury, burn and fire prevention.
f) The Office of the Fire Marshal shall be the primary division within Camden County
Fire Rescue in charge of the investigation into all fires deemed necessary by the Fire
Chief of Camden County Fire Rescue. The Office of the Fire Marshal shall be the
primary division within Camden County Fire Rescue to assist with the prosecution
and conviction of any persons involved in incendiary fires within Camden County.
The Office of the Fire Marshal shall have the authority to request, if necessary, the
involvement of any investigator within the Georgia State Fire Marshal's Office to
assist with the investigation of any fire within Camden County.

Sec 27-9 Inspections
a) The Fire Marshal or Fire Chief of Camden County Fire Rescue or his assistants and
inspectors shall inspect or cause to be inspected all premises on a periodic basis for
compliance with the State Minimum Fire Safety Standards, this chapter, rules and
regulations and other fire protection ordinances of the County, and shall make orders
as may be necessary for the enforcement of the laws and ordinances governing the
same.
b) Additionally, upon complaint submitted in writing alleging a failure to comply with
the State Minimum Fire Safety Standards, this chapter, and fire related rules,
regulations, and ordinances, the Fire Marshal or Fire Chief of Camden County Fire
Rescue or his assistants or inspectors may enter in or upon any building or premises
complained of for the purpose of investigating the complaint.
c) Additionally, if the Fire Marshal or Fire Chief of Camden County Fire Rescue or his
assistants or inspectors has been deputized by the state Safety Fire Commissioner
pursuant to O.C.G.A. 25-2-12.1 then that person is further authorized to seek
inspection warrants against non-cooperating parties pursuant to O.C.G.A. 25-2-22.1.
Inspection warrants may be issued by any judge of the superior, state, municipal or
magistrate court upon proper oath or affirmation showing probable cause.
Sec 27-10 Modifications
a) The Fire Marshal, upon approval of the Fire Chief of Camden County Fire Rescue,
shall have power to modify any of the provisions of this Fire Prevention Code upon
application in writing by the owner or lessee, or a duly authorized agent, when there
are serious difficulties in carrying out the strict letter of the code, provided that the
spirit of the code shall be observed, public safety secured, and substantial justice
done. The particulars of such modification, when granted or allowed, and the
decision of the Fire Marshal and Fire Chief thereon shall be entered upon the
records of the fire department and a signed copy shall be furnished to the applicant.
Sec 27-11 Variances
a) The Fire Marshal and Fire Chief of Camden County Fire Rescue shall have the power
to implement systems, methods, or devices of equivalent or superior quality, strength,
fire resistance, effectiveness, durability, and safety as alternatives to those prescribed
by the codes, provided technical documentation is submitted to the fire departrnent to
demonstrate equivalency, and the system, method, or device is approved for the
intended purpose. The decision of the Fire Marshal and Fire Chief may be appealed to
the Camden County Board of Commissioners within the time constraints of appeals
described in this article.
Sec 27-12 Appeals
a) Whenever the Fire Marshal and/or Fire Chief of Camden County Fire Rescue shall
disapprove an application or refuse to grant a permit when applied for, or when it is
claimed the provisions of the State Minimum Fire Safety Standards, this article, or
other county-related rules, regulations, or ordinances do not apply or that the true

intent and meaning of the same has been misconstrued or improperly applied, the
claimant may appeal the decision, in writing, to the County Administrator within
thirty (30) days from the date of decision. The County Administrator shall retain the
authority to make a judgment on the appeal or forward said appeal to the Camden
County Board of Commissioners. The Board shall retain the authority to make a final
judgment on any appeal submitted.
Sec 27-13 Permits
a) In accordance with requirements as detailed in Section 105 of the International Fire
Code, a permit shall be obtained from the Office of the Fire Marshal to conduct
certain operations described therein, or to store, handle, or use those processes
described therein that are considered to present an extra or unusual fire hazard to life
or property. Before permits may be issued, the Fire Marshal or his assistants or
inspectors shall inspect and approve the receptacles, processes, vehicles, buildings,
storage places or sites to be used for any such purposes. A predetermined processing
fee shall be imposed upon each permit application. The County shall revoke or
suspend an individual or entity's business license for violation of this section.
Violation of this section shall be punished by a predetermined fine and/or
imprisonment in the common jail of the County.
Sec 27-14 New Materials, Processes or Occupancies which May Require Permits
a) The Fire Marshal and Fire Chief of Camden County Fire Rescue shall act as a
committee to determine and specify, after giving affected persons an opportunity to be
heard, any new materials, processes or occupancies, which shall require permits in
addition to those now enumerated in the International Fire Code. The Fire Marshal
shall post the list, if any, in a conspicuous place in his or her office, and distribute
copies thereof to interested persons. The list shall be a rule and regulation of the fire
department and shall be adopted by the Camden County Board of Commissioners and
become effective upon approval, unless otherwise specified.
Sec 27-15 Submission of Plans and Specifications Required
a) Owners, their agents or designees, of all buildings and tenant spaces covered by this
article are required to submit plans and specifications of the project to the Camden
County Planning and Building Department. The Planning and Building Department
shall forward all plans to the Office of the Fire Marshal for approval prior to
construction. An 80 percent completion inspection, a 100 percent inspection and a
certificate of occupancy shall be obtained from the Office of the Fire Marshal prior to
the occupancy of the facility.
Sec 27-16 Revision of Plans
a)
All drawings, specifications and/or pertinent documents required to bear the
stamp, seal and signature of a registered designer shall be revised by the designer
of record and bear his or her stamp or seal and signature on all revisions and
details. Required revisions to stamped plans are subject to the designer of record's
approval, which shall be in the form of "hardline" drawings. Fax transmittals or

b)

c)

written correspondence may be deemed acceptable alternatives subject to the
approval of the Fire Marshal and/or Fire Chief.
Certain minor corrections to plans, i.e., relocation of exit signs, sprinkler heads,
smoke alarms or change of door swings, etc., may be "redlined" as granted by each
department. Redlined corrections shall be shown on all required sets of plans
and/or specifications and shall bear the name and signature of the individual
submitting the project for code compliance review.
Examples of items not allowed to be redlined are as follows:
(1) Changes to the means of egress as in direction of travel, number of the means
of egress, etc.
(2) Changes to the number of exits.
(3) Changes to features necessary for accessibility for the disabled.
(4) Changes to fire alarm systems except as stated in the above subsection.
(5) Changes to sprinkler systems to include site plans except as stated in the above
subsection.

Sec 27-17 Temporary Occupancy
a) A temporary certificate of occupancy may be issued for a portion or portions of a
facility. The Office of the Fire Marshal shall forward written comments to the
building official of the county allowing or disallowing occupancy of a partially
completed facility.
b) All facilities described in this section shall be equipped with the following minimum
features in order for a temporary certificate of occupancy to be issued:
(1) All required portions of the means of egress shall be complete which does not
include carpet, wallcovering, etc.
(2) All exit signage shall be in place and in proper working order.
(3) All emergency lighting fixtures shall be in place and in proper working order.
(4) All required exits shall be installed and equipped with approved hardware.
(5) All automatic sprinkler systems (if so equipped) shall be installed, tested, and
in proper working order.
(6) All fire barriers shall be installed and properly sealed.
c) Any facility where a temporary certificate of occupancy has been issued shall be in
compliance with the above features. If necessary, certain portions of a facility may be
issued a temporary certificate of occupancy as long as all the above criteria have been
met for that particular area. The Fire Marshal and the Fire Chief of Camden County
Fire Rescue shall agree upon the terms of the temporary certificate of occupancy and
the document shall bear the names and signatures of both parties granting the
approval.
Sec 27-18 Collection of Fees and Issuance of Permits and Approvals
a) The Office of the Fire Marshal shall assess and collect, and persons so assessed shall pay in
advance to the Office of the Fire Marshal, fees and charges under this article as follows:

(1) New anhydrous ammonia permit for storage in bulk (more than 2,000 gallons aggregate
capacity) for sale or distribution; one-time fee
$100.00
(2) Annual license for manufacture of explosives other than fireworks
100.00
(3) Annual license for manufacture, storage, or transport of fireworks
1,000.00
(4) Carnival license
100.00
(5) Certificate of Occupancy
100.00
(6) Construction plan review:
(a) Bulk storage construction
100.00
(b) Building construction, 10,000 square feet or less
100.00
(c) Building construction, more than 10,000 square feet
.015 per square foot
(7) Other construction
100.00
(8) Liquefied petroleum gas storage license:
(a) 2,000 gallons or less
100.00
(b) More than 2,000 gallons
500.00
(9) Building construction inspection:
(a) 80 percent completion, 100 percent completion, annual,
and first follow-up
None
(b) Second follow-up
100.00
(c) Third and each subsequent follow-up
150.00
(10) Purchase, storage, sale, transport, or use of explosives other
than fireworks:
(a) 500 pounds or less
50.00
(b) More than 500 pounds
100.00
(11) New self-service gasoline station permit; one-time fee
100.00
(12) New permit to dispense compressed natural gas (CNG) for
vehicular fuel; one-time fee
100.00
b) The licenses and permits for which fees or charges are required pursuant to this article
section shall not be transferable. A new license or permit and fee are required upon
change of ownership.
Sec 27-19 Governmental and Religious Organization Facilities Exemptions
a) Facilities owned by any city, county, state or federal government and facilities owned
by religious organizations which are used exclusively for religious services are
exempt from fee charges in section 27-17.
Sec. 27-20 Automatic Fire Suppression System Required
RESERVED
Sec 27-21 Fire Hydrant and Water System Requirements
* *Any current or future pressurized water system within the jurisdiction of
Camden County Fire Rescue, including both private and municipal systems, shall provide
access to all installed fire hydrants for the purpose of use in emergency situations,
inspection, testing, and identification marking by authorized County personnel.

a) The procedure for determining fire-flow requirements for buildings or portions of

buildings hereafter constructed shall be in accordance with the Fire Suppression
Rating Schedule, utilized by the Insurance Services Office (ISO©).
b) Fire hydrants shall be required on any pressurized water system designed to supply
multiple structures, where any two of these structures are separated by a distance
greater than five hundred feet (500'). Fire hydrants shall be located no more than five
hundred (500’) feet apart and within five hundred feet (500') of any structure and shall
be on an eight inch (8") water line main, and installed in accordance with all
applicable codes included in the State Rules and Regulations Chapter 120-3. To
eliminate future street openings, all underground utilities for fire hydrants, together
with the fire hydrants themselves and all other supply improvements shall be installed
and approved by the County Fire Chief and the Director of Planning and
Development or their designees before any final paving of a street shown on the
subdivision plat.
c) All public and private fire hydrants installed and operating within the jurisdiction of
Camden County Fire Rescue shall be painted and marked in accordance with national
guidelines as set forth in the current State Minimum Fire Safety Standards.
Sec 27-22 Building Numbering and Identification for Emergency Response
a) Each one- and two-family dwelling unit shall have posted and maintained in a
conspicuous place on the property, visible from all streets providing access to the
public and/or emergency personnel, the address of such dwelling unit in reflective
figures at least four inches high on a contrasting background in accordance with all
applicable codes included in the State Rules and Regulations Chapter 120-3.
b) Each multifamily building shall have posted and maintained in a conspicuous place
on the building, visible from the parking lot or all streets providing access to the
public and/or emergency personnel, the address(es) or number(s) of the building in
reflective figures at least six inches high on a contrasting background and each
individual apartment/unit within the building shall be marked on or about its main
entrance with the individual apartment/unit number and/or address in reflective
figures, at least four inches high on a contrasting background with all applicable
codes included in the State Rules and Regulations Chapter 120-3, and shall also
require approval of the Fire Chief or Fire Marshal. In addition to the above, where a
multifamily building has more than one exterior entrance, each such entrance shall be
marked, in reflective figures at least four inches high on a contrasting background,
with the numbers and/or address of each and every apartment/unit to which access is
provided through that common entrance.
c) All commercial properties, including individual buildings and all types of multitenant
occupancies, shall have building numbering and identification requirements decided
by the Office of the Fire Marshal on an individual basis, either during inspection of
existing properties or during plans review of proposed properties.
d) Any building recessed from any street providing access to the public and/or
emergency personnel shall post and maintain reflective figures in a conspicuous place

on the building and also adjacent to the intersection of the access road and main
street(s).
Sec 27-23 Marking of Utilities
a) All buildings having more than one tenant space, or in complexes where utilities are
not directly affixed to the building, all electrical disconnects, meters and gas shutoffs
shall be marked by a permanent means with the unit number in which the device is
servicing. The number or figure shall be at least two inches high on a contrasting
background. The manner in which the device is marked must meet the approval of the
Office of the Fire Marshal.
Sec 27-24 Authority at Emergency Incidents
a) The Fire Chief of Camden County Fire Rescue or fire officers under his or her
direction shall have full control over all fire department apparatus in service at any
incident that involves a direct threat to lives and/or property by fire, hazardous
material, machinery/vehicle accident, or other type of similar emergency incident,
including the necessity of EMS response. It shall be the duty of the Fire Chief or his or
her designee to superintend the fire department while performing any public duty at
such instances; to give general and specific directions as to the manner of performing
necessary duties, including the use of any necessary equipment and the specific
assignments of the various members of the fire department in attendance at the
incident.
Sec 27-25 Certain Acts Interfering with Firefighting Activities
a) No person, except an active member of the fire department, shall at any time enter
within the territory or vicinity of any fire, when the area is roped off or access is
otherwise denied by any member of the fire department or law enforcement officer, or
interfere with or attempt to operate any of the apparatus or equipment of the fire
department or any fire hydrant, sprinkler system valve, fire department connection, or
other appliance used during emergency mitigation, or interfere by giving orders to any
individual, unless requested to do so by the Fire Chief or designees; provided,
however, that any member of local, county, or state government, any law enforcement
officer or deputy, the owner or occupant of the property involved, or any other person
who has been deemed as having a direct interest in the property, may be specifically
authorized by the Fire Chief or designee to enter the restricted areas.
Sec 27-26 Crossing Fire Hose Prohibited
a) No vehicle shall be driven over any unprotected hose of the fire department when laid
down on any street, roadway or private driveway without the consent of the fire
department's officer in command of that particular incident. Any person refusing to
obey the orders and directions of the officer in command may be arrested for violation
of this section and, on conviction thereof, be punished for the violation of a county
ordinance.

Sec 27-27 Obstructing a Fire Station or Equipment
a) It shall be unlawful for any person to put any obstruction of any nature whatsoever in
front of any fire station or location where any fire service apparatus and/or equipment
may encounter a delay in response to an emergency incident.
Sec 27-28 False Alarms
a) No person shall intentionally make, turn in, or report a false alarm of fire or false
report for ambulance assistance, or aid or abet in the commission of such an act.
Sec 27-29 Response to Malfunctioning Fire Alarms
a) When emergency response to a malfunctioning fire alarm system exceeds two in a
30-day period, a fee of $50.00 shall be levied for each additional incident.
Sec 27-30 Designated Fire Lanes
a)
Streets or drives adjacent to the following locations shall have designated fire
lanes:
(1) Any building 20,000 square feet or more with storage facilities, except for
storage warehouse occupancies which are equal to or greater than 80 percent
of the total building area and which comply with subsection (b) of this section.
(2) Places of assembly with an occupant load of 300 or more.
(3) The area five feet on each side of fire hydrants and associated appliances used
for fire protection.
(4) All points of exit from nursing homes, hospitals, multistory office buildings
and places of assembly.
b)
Buildings not required to have fire lanes shall maintain fire service access to at
least one side.
c)

d)

Where designated fire lanes are required, they shall meet the following criteria:
(1) The curbing shall be painted traffic yellow. Where curbing is not present, there
shall be designated a 20-foot wide, cross-hatched, traffic yellow way of access
kept free of obstructions.
(2) Signs meeting the specifications described in this article shall be spaced no
less than 30 feet apart and legible from both directions of travel.
Building driveways and access roads shall be kept clear of any obstruction which
would hinder access by fire department equipment.

Sec 27-31 Reporting of Fires
a) Any damage by fire having a total dollar value of $200.00 or more shall be required
to be reported to the Office of the Fire Marshal within 24 hours.
Sec 27-32 Open Burning
a) No person shall cause, suffer, allow, or permit open burning in any area of the
County except as follows:

1. Reduction of leaf piles, yard, debris, or hand-piled natural vegetation on the
premises on which they fall by the person in control of the premises, unless
prohibited by local ban and/or regulation.
2. Carrying out recognized agricultural procedures necessary for production or
harvesting of crops, if the agricultural tract, lot, or parcel is less than or
equal to five acres.
3. Burning over any agricultural tract, lot, or parcel greater than five acres for
purposes of any existing, expanded, or new agricultural operations as such
term is defined by O.C.G.A. Section 1-3-3, provided that such burning is
consistent with the requirements of the Federal Act and is limited to
vegetative material.
4. The “prescribed burning” of any land by the owners or the owner’s
designee.
5. For recreational purposes or cooking food for immediate human
consumption.
6. Fires set for purposes of training fire department personnel when authorized
by the appropriate governmental entity.
7. Acquired structure burns provided that an Authorization to Burn certificate
has been issued by the appropriate governmental entity.
8. Disposal of vegetative debris from storm damage.
9. For weed abatement, disease, and pest prevention.
10. Operation of devices using open flames such as tar kettles, blow torches,
welding torches, portable heaters, and other flame-making equipment.
11. Open burning for the purpose of land clearing or construction or right-ofway maintenance.
a. Prior to any open burning larger than six foot by six foot hand-piled
natural vegetation, proper approval and permitting must be attained
through the Georgia Forestry Commission.
b) All approved open burning of hand-piled natural vegetation no larger than six feet
by six feet shall be allowed, provided the following conditions are met:
1. Burning shall take place between the official sunrise and the official sunset
for the location where the burning is taking place.
2. Location of the burning of hand-piled natural vegetation is no less than 25
feet from any woodlands, forestland, or flammable materials, and is no less
than 50 feet from any structure, outbuilding, sheds, or barns.
3. The person responsible shall attend the burning at all times until the fire is
completely extinguished, and shall take necessary precautions to prevent
escape or spread from the original location.
Sec 27-33 Authority to Enact a Burn Ban
a) In the event of dry conditions which may pose a fire danger to developed and/or
undeveloped lands within Camden County, the Fire Chief shall have the authority
to enact a burn ban, for all or portions of Camden County, with the approval of the
Chairman of the Camden County Board of Commissioners. This ban will have

the ability to be instituted either in full or in stages of burning practices or
geographic areas to be restricted.
Sec 27-34 KNOX-BOX® Rapid Entry System
a) The following structures shall be equipped with a KNOX-BOX® Rapid Entry
System, which shall include Knox® locking FDC Plugs and Storz Caps where
applicable, at an accessible location near the main entrance of the structure or
complex or at such location approved by the Fire Marshal:
(1) All buildings within the fire services jurisdiction of Camden County Fire
Rescue having an automatic fire suppression system except one- and twofamily dwellings as defined in the applicable adopted codes;
(2) Multi-family residential structures, including senior citizen apartment/condo
complexes, that have restricted access through locked doors and have a
common corridor for access to the living units;
(3) Any subdivisions or developments with restricted access to the property by a
gate or other means, requiring access by keypad, card, key, or other type;
(4) Commercial or industrial buildings and complexes;
Exception: Any building or complex having on-site 24-hour security personnel with
access to all areas of the property may be exempt from the requirements at the
discretion of the Fire Chief and Fire Marshal.
b) All new construction subject to this section shall have the rapid entry system installed
and operational prior to the issuance of a Certificate of Occupancy.
c) All structures in existence on the effective date of this section and subject to this
section shall have one calendar year from this effective date to have the rapid entry
system installed and operational.
d) The Fire Marshal shall be authorized to implement rules and regulations for the use of
the rapid entry system.
e) The owner or operator of a structure required to have a rapid entry system shall, at all
times, keep a key or keys, as required, in the lock box that will allow for complete
and unobstructed access to the structure or complex interior. These keys shall be
marked and identified in a manner approved by the Fire Marshal.
f) The owner or authorized occupant of the building shall notify the Fire Marshal when
testing, inspection, or maintenance is performed on any fire protection equipment.
Any installed plugs or caps shall be removed for these purposes by the approval of the
Fire Marshal and shall be done by authorized fire department personnel only.
g) The owner or occupant shall be responsible for ordering and installing the KNOXBOX®. The box shall be installed by following the manufacturer's instructions, at a
height no less than five and no more than seven feet above ground level at a spot
predetermined upon consultation of the Fire Marshal.
h) The KNOX-BOX® is not required to be attached to or monitored by a private alarm
system, but it is recommended.

i) Upon completion of installation, the Fire Marshal must be notified by phone as soon
as possible at 912-510-4302 or 912-729-3911 to schedule a time for locking the box.
Sec 27-35 Fire Watch
a) The Fire Marshal or department designee shall have the authority to require
standby fire personnel or an approved fire watch when potentially hazardous
conditions or reduction in life safety features exist due to the type of performance,
display, exhibit, occupancy, contest or activity, an impairment to a fire protection
feature, or the number of persons present.
b) The owner or owner’s designee shall employ one or more qualified persons, as
required and approved, to be on duty.
c) The cost of standby personnel shall be at no cost to the fire department.
d) Such standby personnel or fire department personnel shall be subject to the orders
of the Fire Marshal, or designee, at all times and shall be identifiable and remain on
duty during the times such properties are open to the public, when such activity is
being conducted, or while such impairment or condition remains, as required.
Sec 27-36 Fireworks Displays and Exhibitions

a) The regulation and enforcement of manufacturing, storage, sales, exhibitions and displays of
fireworks and pyrotechnics and use of flame effects before a proximate audience within Camden
County shall be the responsibility of the Fire Marshal pursuant to Chapter 120-3-22 of the Rules
and Regulations of the State of Georgia and O.C.G.A. §§ 25-2-4 and 25-10
b) Special use permitting where required by O.C.G.A. § 25-10-2 shall be applied for and obtained no
less than 10 business days prior to any requested event.
c) Prior to or during any fireworks displays or exhibitions, the Fire Marshal or any authorized
members of Camden County Fire Rescue retain the authority to postpone or cancel any event if, in
their opinion, any hazardous condition, lack of crowd control, or weather issue exists.

Sec 27-37 Structure and Non-Structure Fires
Camden County Fire Rescue is authorized to initiate a user fee for the delivery of Fire
Rescue services, personnel, supplies and equipment to the scene of a fire. The rate of the user
fee shall be that which is the usual, customary and reasonable costs (UCR), which includes
any services, personnel, supplies and equipment and may fluctuate based on the needs of the
fire. The user fee shall be filed to the commercial or homeowner's insurance, representing an
add-on-cost of the claim for damages of the property and/or injuries. The claim costs shall be
filed to the insurance coverage of the owner of the property, or responsible party.
Sec 27-38 Hazardous Material Incident Response
Camden County Fire Rescue is authorized to initiate a user fee for the delivery of Fire
Rescue services, personnel, supplies and equipment to the scene of a hazardous material
incident or situation where response was warranted to protect the public. The rate of the user
fee shall be that which is the usual, customary and reasonable costs (UCR), which includes
any services, personnel, supplies and equipment and may fluctuate based on the needs of the
incident. The user fee shall be filed to the vehicle, commercial or homeowner's insurance,

representing an add-on-cost of the claim for damages of the property. The claim costs shall
be filed to the insurance coverage of the owner of the property, or responsible party.
Sec 27-39 Emergency Medical Services Response
Camden County Fire Rescue is authorized to initiate a user fee for the delivery of Fire
Rescue services, personnel, supplies and equipment to the scene of an emergency or nonemergency medical incident. The rate of the user fee shall be that which is adopted by the fire
rescue department as a fee schedule. The user fee due shall be the responsibility of patient or
responsible party. An insurance billing authorization is necessary before patient insurance
can be billed.
The respective Fire Departrnent or their designees are hereby authorized to execute any and all
documents and/or implement any and all procedures necessary to effectuate the collection of
fees in order to enhance services by the Fire Department.
All amounts collected as a result of this ordinance shall be placed into a fund as established by
the Fire Department to be used exclusively for personnel, supplies and equipment for the Fire
Department.
It is found and determined that all formal actions of the Camden County Board of
Commissioners concerning and relating to the adoption of this Ordinance were adopted in open
meetings of this Board of Commissioners, and that all deliberations of this Board of
Commissioners that resulted in such formal actions were in compliance with all legal
requirements, and the Codified Ordinances of the Camden County Board of Commissioners.
This Ordinance shall take effect upon adoption and execution.
Adopted in legal assembly this ____ day of _________________, 20___.

ATTEST:
Katie Bishop, County Clerk

Robbie Cheek, Chairman
Camden County Board of Commissioners

CAMDEN COUNTY BOARD OF COMMISSIONERS
REGULAR AGENDA ITEM: 2
SUBJECT:

Approval of the Six (6) Remnant Defendants’ Settlement from the
new national opioid settlement.

( ) Recommendation
( ) Policy Discussion
( ) Status Report
(X) Action Item
( ) Other
DATE SUBMITTED:

April 15, 2026

BUDGET INFORMATION:
REVENUES:

Not determined at this time.

EXPENSES:

Not determined at this time.

FUNDING SOURCE: Settlement proceeds – Opioid Settlement Fund #231
COMMISSION ACTION REQUESTED ON:
April 21st
PURPOSE:
To request that the Board of Commissioners:
a.
To consider the approval of entering into the Six (6) Remnant
Defendants’ settlement agreement from the new national opioid
settlement.
b.
Authorize the Docusign of the Six (6) Remnant Defendants’
Combined Subdivision Participation and Release Form.
HISTORY:
1.
2.

Camden County is currently a participant in national opioid cases in
the US multidistrict litigation based in Ohio.
Camden County is represented by third party counsel, Blasingame,
Burch, Ashley & Gerrard of Athens, GA.

FACTS & ISSUES:
1.
Counsel recommends participating in the settlement. Participating
in the Six Remnant Defendants Settlement is the only way to ensure
your subdivision receives a payment from these defendants.
2.
Deadline to opt-in is May 4, 2025.
OPTIONS:
1.

2.
3.
4.

Motion to approve entering into the Six (6) Remnant Defendants’
settlement agreement from the new national opioid settlement
and authorize the Docusign of the Six (6) Remnant Defendants’
Combined Subdivision Participation and Release Form.
Motion to deny this item.
Motion to table this item.
Other action by the Board.

DEPARTMENT RECOMMENDED ACTION:
1.
Entry into the settlement is recommended.
DEPARTMENT:
Prepared by:

IF APPLICABLE:
County Attorney Review:

IF APPLICABLE:
Finance Review:

Janice Beckham,
Finance Director
________________________

Attorney Jackie Fortier

Lisa Lynch, Chief
Financial Officer
_________________________

_________________________

Camden County Solid Waste Authority (SWA)
Government Services Building, (Courthouse Square)
Commissioners’ Meeting Chambers
200 East 4thStreet, 2nd Floor, Room 252,
Woodbine, Georgia
Tuesday, March 17, 2026
The Camden County Solid Waste Authority (SWA) held a regular meeting on
Tuesday, Marh 17, 2026, at 7:50 p.m. in the Board of County Commissioners’ Meeting
Chambers of the Government Services Building, Woodbine, Georgia.
Present:

Ben Casey; Robbie Cheek, Cody Smith; Jim Goodman; Martin Turner;
County Administrator Shawn Boatright; Deputy County Administrator
Joey Yacobacci, County Attorney Jaqueline Fortier; County Clerk
Katie Bishop and Deputy County Clerk Shekia Robinson.

County Attorney Jackie Fortier called the Solid Waste Authority Meeting to order at
8:01 PM.

Reorganization of Solid Waste Authority (SWA)

Election of the SWA Chair
Ben Casey made a motion, seconded by Martin Turner to nominate Robbie Cheek
to serve as the Chairman of the Solid Waste Authority.
The motion carried unanimously.

Election of the SWA Vice-Chair
Martin Turner made a motion, seconded by Robbie Cheek to nominate Ben Casey
to serve as the Vice-Chair of the Solid Waste Authority.
The motion carried unanimously.

SWA Agenda Amendments
No amendments were offered during this time.

Adoption of SWA Agenda
Cody Smith made a motion, seconded by Jim Goodman to adopt the agenda as
presented.
The motion carried unanimously.

SWA Approval of Minutes

October 7, 2025 SWA meeting minutes
Vice-Chairman Casey made a motion, seconded by Chairman Robbie Cheek to
approve the October 7, 2025 Solid Waste Authority meeting minutes.
The motion carried unanimously.

SWA Public Comments
John Wojcik, Kingsland
I've had several doctor's appointments down in Jacksonville. I usually go down
Highway 17, and it's sometimes early in the morning, and sometimes I come back
by lunch. And I've noticed a lot of Nassau County solid waste coming across that
blue bridge. And apparently they're coming to the landfill. I've also noticed some
vehicles that do land tree cutting, stuff like that, arborist. And they have trailers that
come across that blue bridge or between Yulee and the blue bridge. I see them
come across that bridge and leaving, going back to Nassau County. Are we going
to run out of real estate because of Nassau County? I mean, we're taking stuff from
Brunswick also, and we're taking stuff from Nassau County. Nassau County is making
money off their real estate. I think it's time for them to build them a landfill. So I don't
know how much time we have left by taking everybody else's stuff. It's just something
to consider. I've just seen so much traveling back and forth with the solid waste, and
it's just a concern that I have. I'm not complaining. I'm just having a concern that
we're going to reach a limit pretty soon by taking all these people's stuff.
Steve Winkle, Harriett’s Bluff
I have been an occasional user of both the C&D landfill and the solid waste
garbage landfill, okay? And I just want to compliment the landfill management on
the quality of the personnel and the helpfulness of the personnel on site. I have been
embarrassed. Now, I know they might be looking for tips, okay, which would be fair
because they're providing a good service that I couldn't hire somebody to do
anyway. But the fact of the matter is I've gotten a lot of help, volunteered from the
staff there to help me unload or move things or even to fix a flat. And so I just want
to make sure that people understand when the county does good work, the
management should understand that the citizens see that as their job being well
done.

SWA Presentations
 MSW and C&D Landfills - Costs Analyses and Tipping Fee Options presented
by Solid Waste Director John Pittman and Atlantic Coast Consulting, Inc.

Solid Waste Director John Pittman
Good afternoon, Mr. Chairman and board members. In January, we held a strategic
planning meeting and we had a discussion on our landfill tip and fees, and you asked that
I bring something before the board. And so we have prepared a presentation with some
cost analysis, tip and fees, and some tip and fee options for your approval this evening. At
this time, I'm going to go ahead and yield to ACC so that they consult and firm to present
the prepared presentation. Afterwards, we will be happy to answer any questions going
forward and any questions that you may have.
Atlantic Coast Consulting
Just as a brief update, we came before you, I think, in 2024 and that was when we first
started looking at cost at the landfill. We came back again in 2025, and then to begin this
fiscal year that we're in now, you approved some new rates. And those new rates came
into effect in July, and now we've had six months of activity at the landfill under this new
rate structure. We wanted to review that and see what the impacts were to those new
rates. And I guess backing up a step even further is just a reminder, the Solid Waste
Authority is an enterprise fund, so they are creating revenue to sustain themselves. And
sustaining themselves is about paying for the operations, it's about paying for monitoring
all the environmental compliance monitoring points out there, and it's about putting
money away to take care of the facility once it's closed. So the trends since we did the
first study in 2024, the disposal rates, the quantities at the MSW landfill, the solid waste
landfill, are down 11%. The quantities disposed of at the C&D landfill are down 22%. So less
materials coming in. Well, what does that mean? For operations costs, your operations
costs are pretty much fixed. That's the people and the equipment that it takes to run the
facility. So that's going to yield a higher cost per ton when you've got less tons coming in
there to spread that cost over. Well, the other thing that commission has done over the
last year has engaged us in designing a vertical expansion of the MSW airspace. 2024, the
quantity of that waste to go over the top of the existing footprint wasn't taken into
account. So when we look at it today, and we've done the site suitability study, we've
turned that into a state, and we think that that's a viable option to vertically expand there,
you'll have additional volume that you can use there, so you're able to then have more
volume that you can spread that cost over, more tons, basically, that you can put in there.
The cost per ton, and what we're talking about here is cost. We're not talking about what
is charged. I'm just talking about what is cost. And the study that we did in 2025, we said
the cost at the C&D landfill was about $22.30 a ton. It's, I think, because of the lower
disposal rates, it's up a little bit, $22.40 a ton or so. The previous cost estimate at the MSW
landfill was $37.25 a ton, and now it's less than $32 a ton. And that's really about taking the
future cost that you've got to take care of the facility for 30 years after its closed and
spreading that out over more tons that you're able to put in there with the vertical
expansion. So what are you getting in fees? At the C&D landfill, you're getting an average
of $19.35 a ton. Remember, I just told you that the current cost was $22.42 a ton. The MSW
landfill, your average fee is $28.65 a ton. It's close to what your calculated cost is. Another
piece of that is that the curbside collection program is paying a reduced rate of disposal
fees at the landfill. So based on the analysis that we've done today, what are we
recommending to do? The C&D landfill, I think we just need to continue to monitor what's
happening. C&D waste, a lot of that varies. What comes into the landfill varies by

economic activity that generates C&D waste in the community, right? The stuff that goes
into the MSW landfill, the solid waste landfill, is pretty standard. It doesn't vary a lot. But
C&D does vary a lot. So let's continue to monitor what's going on there and seeing what
the costs are. We are recommending that you reestablish some asbestos rates, which
were in a previous rate table out there in 2024 that went away. We're saying let's put those
back in and then also have a separate tipping fee for industrial waste. For the MSW landfill,
one of the things that's different than in 2024 was the county took on a GFA loan to pay
for the recent cell construction out there. That GFA loan just started paying regular
payments on. It's a 20-year loan. What we're recommending that you try to do is with the
increased volume that you're able to put waste in there, spread the cost over that, you
could accelerate the payoff of that loan to five years, which would reduce your interest
cost by almost $800,000. So if you're able to accelerate that at the same rates that you've
got now on the MSW side, then you're able to prepare for the next cell and the next
construction project that has to happen in the future instead of spending this down over
the next 20 years. The second thing at the MSW landfill is let's try to align all the customers
that come in with the current published gate rates. That'll help with getting the average
fees up to what the gate rates are. The last thing is the cost for curbside collection is really
not being covered by the $25 right now because we've got a contract that you're paying
Meridian almost $21 to collect it, and the $4 doesn't really cover the disposal. To cover the
disposal cost, we need to look at raising that. The cost of that is really $2,850. So the rates
that were approved for this physical year included a CPI adjustment. Oddly enough, CPI
has a line item in there for garbage and trash collection. It has its own CPI value, and so
that's what was in there for that. And as published by the feds this past January, that
number is 5%. So again, really, the action that we're looking for is adjustments on tipping
fees and adjustments on curbside collection fees so that we can continue to push the
department towards financial sound footing. The tipping fees shown on this schedule that
are being proposed for next fiscal year, it's hard to see on this one, but the bold ones are
really the ones that are changed beyond what the CPI was. And that's a new rate for
asbestos there on a per cubic yard sort of in the middle there, and then the two items
down at the bottom, a C&D industrial cost and the mattress and box spring per piece
cost. The rest of those are exactly the CPI adjustment off of what the commission
approved for the current fiscal year. And the other action item that is being
recommended is the curbside collection rate to adjust that. And just as a gut check of
what your neighbors are charging versus what is being proposed here, these are MSW
gate rates as available through EPD that are given to them every year. And so we got
these out of EPD's database. And for the MSW, you're right in the middle there of what is
happening in this area or in south Georgia. And then for the C&D rates, it's typical also.
We've got an in-county rate and an out-of-county rate, and that's what was approved
last year. So that's why if you look down at the bottom here, the in-county rate is really at
the bottom end of this chart, right? The out-of-county rate is what those customers are
paying that are coming from other places. They're paying more. Same thing on the C&D
side. The in-county rates are still some of the lowest around, and then the out-of-county
rates are right there towards the median of what we looked at.

SWA Agenda
1.

Loan modification to Georgia Environmental Finance Authority (GEFA) loan
#GF2023010.

Vice-Chairman Casey made a motion, seconded by Chairman Cheek to table this
item.
The motion carried unanimously.

Additional SWA Public Comments
Steve Weinkle, Harriett’s Bluff
We should be able to get computer spreadsheets of the exact amounts of money
and tonnage which is being brought into the county for disposal in the county
because people pay for it. We're accounting for the money exactly to the dollar.
That's what an audit is all about. The audit should be able to tell us the same process,
exactly how many tons come from out of the county, based on the fees that are
charged, if not based on the location of the customers that pay for it. And so there's
plenty of ways to know exactly the answer to your question and not speculation,
which is what we heard here. We also are hearing that we should expand our
existing landfills vertically. How do we know that 10 and 15 and 5 years ago, that the
landfills that we're counting on driving over and putting tons and tons and tons of
equipment and people on will support that weight while all of that action is actually
happening? And for how long can you count on it staying that way considering that
landfills are designed to deteriorate over time, to rot? That's why you do all the
testing. It's because of the water that flows through them and the stuff that's
expelled. So how do we know that 30 feet down, there's not big air pockets that are
forming right now, not based on stuff that we found dead 10 years ago, but are
forming right now that we're going to drive a 30-ton or whatever a bulldozer weighs
over or that these big tractor-trail rigs are going to drive over that are depending on
the integrity of a landfill that has had inspections done from the surface and
measurements taken of water around the perimeter, I think, for the most part that
comes out of the landfill. I think the idea requires a whole lot more study than you're
going to be able to accomplish before the next meeting in two weeks.

SWA Adjournment
Commissioner Casey made a motion, seconded by Commissioner Smith to adjourn
the SWA Meeting and Reconvene the Regular Meeting at 8:23 PM.
The motion carried unanimously.

CAMDEN COUNTY SOLID WASTE AUTHORITY
SWA AGENDA ITEM: 1
SUBJECT:

Task order that authorizes and directs Atlantic Coast Consulting to
proceed with assisting in providing Environmental Monitoring at the
three landfills: SR 110 C/D/I Landfill, SR 110 MSW Landfill, and
Vacuna Road Landfill.

() Recommendation
() Policy Discussion
( ) Status Report
(X) Action Item
( ) Other
DATE SUBMITTED: April 7, 2026
BUDGET INFORMATION:
REVENUES: EXPENSES:
ANNUAL:
CAPITAL: $139,760.00
OTHER:
FUNDING SOURCE: Solid Waste Department
COMMISSION ACTION REQUESTED ON: April 21, 2026
PURPOSE:
To request that the Board of Commissioners:
a.
Consider the approval of a task order that authorizes and directs
Atlantic Coast Consulting to proceed with assisting in providing
Environmental Monitoring at the three landfills: SR 110 C/D/I Landfill,
SR 110 MSW Landfill, and Vacuna Road Landfill.
HISTORY:
1.
2.

ACC is the “Engineer of Record” for the three Camden County
Landfills.
Monitoring is required by the Environmental Protection Department.

FACTS & ISSUES:
1.
Scope of services include:
• Semi-Annual Groundwater and Surface-Water Monitoring &
Reporting at MSW, C&D and Vacuna Road Landfills.
• Quarterly Methane Monitoring & Reporting at MSW, C&D
and Vacuna Road Landfills.
• Vacuna Road Landfill Annual Corrective Action Progress
Reporting
2.
Total cost of monitoring and reporting for task order is $123,740
3.
Funds are budgeted in Solid Waste Department FY25 Budget.
4.
Please see attached task order for detailed breakdown of
schedule and costs.

OPTIONS:
1.

2.
3.
4.

Motion to approve the task order that authorizes and directs
Atlantic Coast Consulting to proceed with assisting in providing
Environmental Monitoring at the three landfills: SR 110 C/D/I Landfill,
SR 110 MSW Landfill, and Vacuna Road Landfill.
Motion to deny this item.
Motion to table this item.
Other action by the Board.

DEPARTMENT RECOMMENDED ACTION:
1.
To be determined by the Board.
DEPARTMENT:
Prepared by:
John Pittman,
Solid Waste Director
____________

IF APPLICABLE:
County Attorney Review:
N/A
_________________________

IF APPLICABLE:
Finance Review:
Lisa Lynch, Chief Financial
Officer
_________________________

CAMDEN COUNTY BOARD OF COMMISSIONERS
REGULAR AGENDA ITEM: 3
SUBJECT:

Task order that authorizes and directs Atlantic Coast Consulting to
proceed with assisting in providing Environmental Monitoring at the
three landfills: SR 110 C/D/I Landfill, SR 110 MSW Landfill, and
Vacuna Road Landfill.

() Recommendation
() Policy Discussion
( ) Status Report
(X) Action Item
( ) Other
DATE SUBMITTED: April 7, 2026
BUDGET INFORMATION:
REVENUES: EXPENSES:
ANNUAL:
CAPITAL: $139,760.00
OTHER:
FUNDING SOURCE: Solid Waste Department
COMMISSION ACTION REQUESTED ON: April 21, 2026
PURPOSE:
To request that the Board of Commissioners:
a.
Consider the approval of a task order that authorizes and directs
Atlantic Coast Consulting to proceed with assisting in providing
Environmental Monitoring at the three landfills: SR 110 C/D/I Landfill,
SR 110 MSW Landfill, and Vacuna Road Landfill.
HISTORY:
1.
2.

ACC is the “Engineer of Record” for the three Camden County
Landfills.
Monitoring is required by the Environmental Protection Department.

FACTS & ISSUES:
1.
Scope of services include:
• Semi-Annual Groundwater and Surface-Water Monitoring &
Reporting at MSW, C&D and Vacuna Road Landfills.
• Quarterly Methane Monitoring & Reporting at MSW, C&D
and Vacuna Road Landfills.
• Vacuna Road Landfill Annual Corrective Action Progress
Reporting
2.
Total cost of monitoring and reporting for task order is $123,740
3.
Funds are budgeted in Solid Waste Department FY25 Budget.
4.
Please see attached task order for detailed breakdown of
schedule and costs.

OPTIONS:
1.

2.
3.
4.

Motion to approve the task order that authorizes and directs
Atlantic Coast Consulting to proceed with assisting in providing
Environmental Monitoring at the three landfills: SR 110 C/D/I Landfill,
SR 110 MSW Landfill, and Vacuna Road Landfill.
Motion to deny this item.
Motion to table this item.
Other action by the Board.

DEPARTMENT RECOMMENDED ACTION:
1.
To be determined by the Board.
DEPARTMENT:
Prepared by:
John Pittman,
Solid Waste Director
____________

IF APPLICABLE:
County Attorney Review:
N/A
_________________________

IF APPLICABLE:
Finance Review:
Lisa Lynch, Chief Financial
Officer
_________________________

Board of County Commissioner’s Calendar
April 2026
April 13

April 14

April 15

Residential Coastal
Construction - Free
Class, 9:00 AM – 1:00
PM, ROC, Kingsland

April 20

April 21

Voter Registration
Deadline for May
19, 2026 General
Primary/Nonpartis
an Election.

Board of County
Commissioners
Work Session 5:00 PM
Regular Meeting and
Public Hearing 6:00
PM, Chambers,
Woodbine

April 27

April 28

April 16

April 17

Board of Elections
& Registration
Regular Meeting,
4:00 PM, Chambers,
Woodbine

April 22

April 23
Board of Assessors
Regular Meeting,
Chambers,
Woodbine 6:00 PM

April 29
Planning
Commission
Regular Meeting,
6:00 PM ROC,
Kingsland

April 30

April 24

Board of County Commissioner’s Calendar
May 2026
May 1

May 4

May 5

Board of County
Commissioners
Work Session 5:00
PM, Chambers,
Woodbine

Board of County
Commissioners
Regular Meeting and
Public Hearing 6:00
PM, Chambers,
Woodbine

May 11

May 12

May 6

May 7

May 8

Board of Assessors
Regular Meeting,
Chambers,
Woodbine 6:00 PM

May 13

May 14

May 15

May 20

May 21

May 22

Board of County
Commissioners
Work Session 5:00
PM, Chambers,
Woodbine

May 18

May 19

Board of County
Commissioners
Work Session 5:00
PM, Chambers,
Woodbine

Board of County
Commissioners
Regular Meeting and
Public Hearing 6:00
PM, Chambers,
Woodbine

May 25

May 26

County offices will
be closed in
observance of
Memorial Day.

Board of Elections
& Registration
Regular Meeting,
3:00 PM,
Chambers,
Woodbine

May 27
Planning
Commission
Regular Meeting,
6:00 PM ROC,
Kingsland

May 28

May 29