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Look for Camden County's Free App at the Apple Store or click Here.
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Sign Up to stay informed in the event of an emergency situation. Click
HERE
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Upcoming
Board of County Commissioners
Meetings & Public Hearings
Regular BOCC Meeting
at 6:00PM
March 21st
Regular BOCC Meeting
at 6:00PM
April 4th
Regular BOCC Meeting
at 6:00PM
April 18th
Regular BOCC Meeting
at 6:00PM
Government
Services Complex
200 East 4th Street
Woodbine, GA 31569
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Free Prescription Discount Cards Available to Camden County Residents
Please click
HERE if you would like to view more information about this service.
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Get Help Evacuating for a Hurricane
The Camden County Health Department maintains the Registry of residents in our area who may require transport and medical assistance during a hurricane evacuation. Those who have no other resources such as family, friends, neighbors, or church members to help them if they need to evacuate, may sign up. Residents must apply to be on the registry. To apply, residents should call the Camden County Health Department in Woodbine at 912.576.3040 or in St. Marys, call 912.882.8515. You may also print the forms below and mail them to:
Camden County
Health Department
ATTN: Mallory Chappell, R.N.
905 Dilworth St.
St. Marys, GA 31558
Click
HERE for forms and more information
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For more information click
HERE
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Camden County Hurricane Guides
Available
Provided by the
Camden County
Board of Commissioners
With the Atlantic Hurricane Season over, now is the time to prepare, plan, and stay informed about hurricanes. The new season begins on June 1st, 2017 and will be here before we know it. The GA Emergency Management Agency (GEMA) urges residents to take the time now to be ready for future emergencies.
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D
aylight Savings Time begins Sunday, March 12, 2017 at 2:00 AM local time. Clocks shift forward 1 hour, making the local time 3:00 AM.
DID YOU KNOW?
Benjamin Franklin first proposed the idea of DST in 1784. He wrote An Economical
Project for the Journal of Paris,
wherein he discussed the cost of oil for lamps as well as working while it was dark, and sleeping while it was day.
Time changes at 2:00 am. This time is selected in an effort to provide the least amount of inconvenience to businesses and citizens.
DST always begins on the second Sunday in March, and ends on the first Sunday in November.
Hawaii and Arizona do not participate in DST. Up until 2006, Indiana only used DST in part of the state.
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Camden to Celebrate National County Government Month
Camden County will celebrate National County Government Month (NCGM) during the entire month of April. The theme for this year's celebration is Brilliant Ideas at Work. The County will feature the following initiatives:
- Mobile App
- CodeRed
- Citizens' Academy
- Online Bill Pay
- Annual Report
- eNewsletters
- Coast2Coast Free Discount Prescription Card Program
- McKinney Medical Center
- Free Transportation for Residents
Through these initiatives, the Board of Commissioners have raised public awareness and enriched the quality of life for our citizens. Look for our public outreach events around the County in different areas.
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11th Annual Runabout In the Royal District
Visit Kingsland for its annual "Run About in the Royal District, Horses to Horsepower" Transportation & Vehicle Show. Come join us on
Saturday, March 18, 2017 in downtown Kingsland. There will be door prizes, 50/50 raffles, trophies, food, entertainment and lots of family fun.
This event is a lavish display of cars, trucks, motorcycles & tractors. The celebration of transportation is held annually on the third Saturday in March. This is a special show for all vehicles, celebrating transportation throughout the years.
There will be a variety of styles for every enthusiast, including vintage and modern collections.
Contact the Kingsland Downtown Development Authority, 912-673-1890 or
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Coastal Kids Camp
Come join park rangers March 28th, 29th, or 30th from
8:00 am to 4:00 pm at three different sites and participate in water activities at each site. Students will visit Crooked River State Park, Laura S. Walker State Park and Fort King George Historic Site.
Activities include a boat cruise on Crooked River, kayaking at Laura S. Walker, and old-fashioned fishing and water fun at Fort King George. A park ranger will provide transportation from Crooked River to each site.
Camp is for kids 10 yrs to 13 yrs old: $110 per student, limited space; pre-registration required.
Please call Crooked River to register (912) 882-5256.
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Commercial Space Sector Continues to Grow
While Alaska Aerospace announces they are looking for
a new launch site, SpaceWorks indicates 320 to 460 Nano/Microsatellites will need laun
ches globally in 2023. A
nalysis of development trends by sector show that the commercial sector continues to grow significantly and will soon account for the majority of spacecraft launched in the Nano/Microsatellite market. Bill Doncaster, SpaceWorks Senior System Engineer said, "Introduction of a low cost dedicated small launch vehicle is necessary to ensure regular space access for small satellites. Their latest Nano/Microsatellite Market Assessment provided insight into the future and proves to be a valuable resource for the small satellite community."
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Message from the County Administrator
I hope your new year is off to a great start! The 1st quarter of 2017 for Camden County Government has been extremely busy.
We ushered in 2017 by introducing two newly elected Commissioners to the Board. On January 10, recently elected Superior Court Judge Robert W. Guy, Jr., swore in new Commissioners Lannie Brant, District 1 and Ben Casey, District 5. Judge Guy also administered the oath of office to incumbent County Commissioner James H. Starline, District 3, who ran unopposed.
2016 brought both challenges and opportunities for Camden County. You can get a glimpse of what was achieved and accomplished by viewing our newly released
2016 Annual Report
.
The Georgia House of Representatives recently passed a bill to limit the liability of space flight entities related to injuries sustained by participants who have agreed in writing to such a limitation.
The
Georgia Space Flight Act, House Bill 1, was passed in February (162-5), as was a nearly identical bill by the Senate,
offering the same liability protections. Senate Bill 46 passed the Georgia Senate (49-2). Statewide
momentum launches forward for Spaceport Camden!
For a more detailed overview of the Georgia Space Flight Act, please click
here
.
On December 12 & 13, 2016, the County Management Team participated in a leadership and strategic planning retreat. The purpose of the session was to review accomplishments from the past year, focus on Vision, Mission and direction for Camden County, and identify topics for the Board of Commissioners Strategic Planning Workshop. The Board of County Commissioners also held a Strategic Planning retreat on December 13 & 14 to review progress, prioritize goals and finalize the action agenda for 2017. Consensus was reached by the Board on the
Strategic Plan 2017 ~ 2022 ~ 2032 with 2017 Action Agenda.
The Strategic Framework for the future of Camden County is well documented in the Vision 2032, Goals for 2022 and the new 2017 Action Agenda. The Strategic Plan is a five-year, outcome-based set of goals with specific issues and projects that need to be addressed. The Board of Commissioners formally approved the 2017 Action Agenda at the February 21st Commission Meeting.
As we look forward to 2017, I commend the tireless work of the employees of Camden County. Providing award-winning government is not possible without world-class human capital. Camden County is fortunate to be staffed by gifted public servants dedicated to making Camden County the Premier Coastal Community in Georgia.
Wishing you a very happy spring and successful year ahead.
Yours for a better Camden,
County Administrator
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Reorganization and Swearing-In of
New County Commissioners
 A special called meeting was held Tuesday, January 10, 2017 at 5:30PM to swear-in Camden County Commissioners for Districts 1, 3 and 5. The oath of office was administered by newly elected Superior Court Judge Robert W. Guy, Jr. for Commissioner James H. Starline (District 3), who ran unopposed, as well as Commissioner Lannie E. Brant (District 1) and Commissioner Ben L. Casey (District 5). Mr. Starline and the newly elected Commissioners will each serve four-year terms ending December 31, 2020. The new Commissioners were given a warm welcome and the Commission looks forward to working with them to help build a better Camden.
Board meetings are held at 6:00PM on the first and third Tuesday of each month unless otherwise scheduled due to conflicts. All meetings are held at the Government Services Complex in Woodbine, second floor, in the Commission Chambers. Special Called meetings, Work Sessions, and Public Hearings are held when necessary. All meetings are open to the public.
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The Board of Commissioners Release the 2016 Annual Report
To view please click
HERE
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Camden County Announces New
Citizens' Academy
Now taking Applications!
The Board of Commissioners would like to invite local area residents to apply for the next Citizens' Academy class. Applications are now being accepted. The upcoming Citizens' Academy will kick-off Thursday, April 20, 2017 at 6:00 PM at the Government Services Complex in the Historic Courtroom on the 2nd floor.
The Citizens' Academy is an interactive program designed to familiarize the general public with the roles, services and operations that comprise Camden County Government. The program will focus on educating residents, business owners, and interested persons who work in Camden County on how daily County Government operations contribute to building a better community. Various County staff and elected officials will host the sessions.
Classes are limited to the first 30 applicants signed up. The Academy is a nine-week program held every Thursday night from 6 PM - 8:30 PM. Two classes will be held on a Tuesday night so the class may attend a Commissioners Meeting and a field trip outing. All citizens of the community are encouraged and welcome to apply.
For more information and to complete an application, please go to www.camdencountyga.gov and click the Citizens' Academy logo on the home page.
If you have any questions please call Renee' Crews or Shannon Nettles at 912-510-0464.
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Camden County visits
Atlanta & State Legislators
Each year during the Atlanta Fly-in, Georgia's legislative leaders are apprised of the assets and needs of Camden County. It is a tough job, but one that the Camden County Chamber of Commerce eagerly takes on to keep Camden County on the radar during the legislative session of the Georgia General Assembly.
The 2017 contingent that traveled to Atlanta January 24-26 was led by Chamber President, Amy Hendricks, 2017 Chamber Chair, Joel Hanner, and Government and Legislative Affairs Committee Chair, Gary Straight.
Leaders met by appointment with each of the following: Lt. Governor, Casey Cagle; Secretary of State, Brian Kemp; House Speaker, David Ralston; Senator Bruce Thompson, Science and Technology Chair; Representative Earl Ehrhart, Higher Education and Appropriations Subcommittee Chair; Representative Terry England, House Appropriations Chair; Senator Jack Hill, Senate Appropriations Chair; and Representative Dave Belton, Military Affairs Working Committee Chair.
Our own Shannon Nettles, Management Analyst for the Board of Commissioners, provided information about Camden's Spaceport initiative, while St. Marys Councilman Dave Riley spoke about the Georgia Coastal Greenway and encouraged continued support of the project. Mayor John Morrissey, St. Marys, reminded leaders that Exit 1 is the gateway into Georgia but that it currently has issues that need to be addressed involving safety, infrastructure, and amenities. Shelia McNeill, The Camden Partnership, announced the change in name of the Ohio Replacement Program to the Columbia Class. She emphasized that Kings Bay is the only military installation in Georgia without a technical college.
Rachel Baldwin, Camden Chamber Workforce Chair delivered the 'big ask,' requesting support for $17.1M to complete the proposed design of Coastal Pines Technical College here in Camden County.
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DON'T WAIT, SIGN UP TODAY!
 In 2016, Camden County battled Hurricane Matthew, and on Sunday, January 22, 2017, Camden battled a major tornado. As a whole, Camden County has been extremely blessed that there was no loss of life and only minimal property damage.
The Board of Commissioners, along with EMA Director Mark Crews, urge residents to sign up for CodeRed. You will be alerted to dangerous weather in your area and can plan accordingly. Do not wait until hurricane season to sign up.
The CodeRED Emergency Notification System employs a one-of-a-kind Internet mapping capability for geographic targeting of calls, coupled with a high speed telephone calling system capable of delivering customized pre-recorded emergency messages directly to homes and businesses at the rate of up to 60,000 calls per hour.
If your address is outside the Kingsland or St. Marys city limits, but adjacent to the city limit boundary, it is recommended that you register with either the city's Code Red system or the county's Code Red system. If your property falls in the affected areas, you will get an alert.
Woodbine residents will automatically receive alerts from the county's code red system once registered.
The recent tornado that hit the North end of Camden County reminds us all that we could be hit by a disaster at any time. CodeRed gives you that short but precious extra time needed to prepare yourself and get to safety.
It is easy to sign up. Just click
HERE
.
If you need help or your family member or friend does not have internet service, please call Renee' Crews at 912-510-0464 or Camden County Fire Rescue at 912-729-3911 and we will sign you up over the phone.
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Board of Commissioners
Sheppard and Keene Honored
 The Camden County Board of Commissioners (BOCC)
honored District 1 Commissioner Chip Keene and District 5 Commissioner Tony Sheppard last night in October at a regularly scheduled Commissioners meeting. Both Keene and Sheppard received plaques recognizing them for their loyal and dedicated service to the Board of Commissioners and the citizens of Camden County. Each of their terms ended December 31, 2016.
Commissioner Keene was elected in 2009 to serve as Commissioner for District 1 and then elected to serve a
s Chairman of the Board in 2013. He is currently Vice President of the bank formerly known as Citizens State Bank (CSB), where he manages the Kingsland and St. Marys branch office, as well as the Fernandina Beach, Florida branch office. He has been with CSB since 2005.
Commissioner Sheppard was elected to serve as Commissioner for District 5 in 2012 during a run-off and took office January 1, 2013. He also serves on the St. Marys River Management Committee. Sheppard currently works at Kings Bay Naval Submarine Base as a Utilities Manager for Chicago Bridge & Iron Company (CB&I), a contractor for Kings Bay Support Services.
"It has been an honor to work under the leadership of Commissioner Sheppard and Commissioner Keene," said County Administrator Steve Howard. "Their contribution to the betterment of Camden County is greatly appreciated." Both Commissioners were recognized for their contributions through leadership, vision, values and system improvements while working to make Camden a better place to live and work.
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Enjoy the Great Outdoors in Camden!
Spring has sprung and Camden County has much to offer in our great outdoors, so come out and play!
The following areas are just a few of the many sites you should take in:
- Cumberland Island National Seashore - Ferry reservations can be placed by visiting us at www.cumberlandlandferry.com.
- Georgia Coast Rail-Trail - The Georgia Coast Rail-Trail, when completed, will be a 68-mile trail stretching from Kingsland north to Riceboro and then winding through lush green marshes, longleaf pines, and saw grass...crossing 43 beautiful tidal rivers and creeks. No trail in the nation can match it.
- Crooked River State Park - Located on Georgia's colonial coast, this park offers cozy facilities in a beautiful setting with campsites and cottages for overnight stays, places to hike, a boat ramp and much more.
- Fishing Charters - St. Marys offers several fishing charters and bait shops. Click here to set up your next fishing charter.
- Historic Downtowns - Both Kingsland and St. Marys, as well as our County Seat, Woodbine.
- Colonial Coast Birding Trail - Coast Bird Trail Map These sites will provide you with the opportunity to see and enjoy the beauty of a kaleidoscope of birds and glimpse the fascinating history of this land and its residents.
- Kayaking in St. Marys - One of life's simple pleasures... St. Marys has miles of quiet marshes and thriving estuaries or you could kayak to Cumberland Island with Knuckleheads Kayak Adventures. Citizens can rent kayaks and standup paddleboards by visiting or calling Knuckleheads.
- Local fishing and boat ramps - Click here for a list of all local boat ramps.
- Area Golf Courses - Laurel Island Links, Osprey Cove, and Trident Lakes (on base).
- Aquatic Center - Enjoy a day at the water park! Relax in the Lazy River or ride the Orange Crush, swim in the lap pool or just enjoy the sun, snack bar, and kiddie area. There is fun for all ages.
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Kings Bay Naval Submarine Base has Economic Impact over $1.1 Billion
The Camden Partnership commissions a
2017 Economic Impact Study
From the latest study commissioned by The Camden Partnership, and prepared by Georgia Southern University's Bureau of Business Research and Economic Development, Naval Submarine Base Kings Bay (SUBASE) was found to have an overall economic impact of $1.142 Billion. This not only makes the installation Camden County's largest enterprise, it also makes it one of the largest economic generators in South Georgia. This billion dollar figure comes from two main categories - direct spending by the installation ($855 million) and spending by other sectors that is directly spurred by the installation ($287 million).
The study makes it easy to see why government services accounts for about 5 in every 10 jobs in Camden County, or 50% of the labor market. With the manufacturing, retail trade, and healthcare jointly accounting for about 10% of the local market. Out of the approximately 9,000 military related jobs in the county, local residents hold 6,600 of those jobs. The other 2,300 workers are categorized as "daily commuters,'' coming in to the county from three major areas; Nassau County (32%), Duval County (26%), and Charlton County (18%). The spending induced from these 9,000 jobs is a major part of the indirect impact of $458 million.
"We salute the service of the men and women stationed at SUBASE and thank all of the hard-working employees at this installation for their contribution to the success of SUBASE. The impact Naval Submarine Base Kings Bay has on Camden County is something that goes without analyzing, however, crunching the numbers is beneficial for a few major reasons. Having a data driven insight into the financial impact SUBASE has on our county, and all of Georgia, is a crucial component when discussing the installation," said Sheila McNeill, president of The Camden Partnership.
From an economic development perspective, its presence is a major asset for future growth in the area. James Coughlin, Camden County Joint Development Authority Executive Director said, "Though the present numbers are immensely promising, the work doesn't stop there. When we discuss opportunities to grow the mission of SUBASE, we are discussing development and additional employment opportunities for Camden County."
McNeill and The Camden Partnership would like to thank Linda Cook, ERA Kingsbay Realty, the Camden/Charlton County Board of REALTORS, and the Georgia Association of Realtors, Inc. for their support and for the funding of this study.
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