Camden County Board of Commissioners
Community Outreach eNewsletter
Working Together to Make a Positive Difference in the Community
A Publication from the Office of the County Administrator - Issue 101-2018
Message from the County Administrator
I hope your new year is off to a great start! The 1st quarter of 2018 for Camden County Government has been extremely busy. We ended January with the publication of our 2017 Annual Report, highlighting our achievements and accomplishments.

In February, the Board of Commissioners released the Action Agenda for 2018, the results of our thoughtful and detailed strategic planning efforts.
This March has been exceptionally productive for Camden County. In addition to announcing the winners of the Showcase Camden County Photo Contest and announcing the dates for our upcoming Citizens' Academy class we launched a new www.camdencountyga.gov. This redesigned website highlights ways for Camden County residents to interact with their county government.

Also in March, we reached a significant milestone for Spaceport Camden. The Draft Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) has been released by the FAA with public hearings to be held in April. We also signed a Memorandum of Understanding with ABL Space Systems, received an endorsement from Gubernatorial candidate Hunter Hill, and learned the results of a survey from the University of Georgia commissioned by the Georgia REALTORS®.

All of this is in addition to receiving grants to help improve our Emergency Management and Public Safety capabilities. As you can see, Camden County employees are hard at work for you and we hope the rest of 2018 is as fruitful as the beginning.

Wishing you a very happy spring and successful year ahead!

Yours for a better Camden,
Steve L. Howard, MPA, ICMA-CM, CPM, CPPO
County Administrator
FAA Releases Spaceport Camden Draft Environmental Impact Statement
Spaceport Camden has achieved its most significant milestone to date with the release of the Federal Aviation Administration’s (FAA’s) draft Environmental Impact Statement (EIS). The EIS process for Spaceport Camden began in the fall of 2015 and for the last two and a half years, the FAA has been evaluating the environmental impacts of all proposed construction and operational activities, including those from launches of orbital and suborbital vertical launch vehicles and first-stage landings at Spaceport Camden. 

Camden County Citizens' Academy Now Accepting Applications
The Camden County Board of Commissioners would like to invite area residents to apply for the next Citizens’ Academy class beginning on April 19, 2018.

The Camden County Citizens’ Academy, established in 2009, is an interactive program designed to familiarize the general public with the roles, services, and operations that comprise Camden County Government. The program focuses on educating residents, business owners, and interested persons who work in Camden County on the contributions of daily County Government operations towards building a better community. A variety of Camden County staff and elected officials will lead each session.

Camden County Receives Grant to
Update Hazard Mitigation Plan
From Left: Commissioner Lannie Brant, Commission Chair Jimmy Starline,
Commissioner Gary Blount, Grants Manager Julie Haigler,
Commission Vice-Chair Chuck Clark, Commissioner Ben Casey,
and Camden County EMA Director Chuck White.
The Camden County Board of Commissioners is pleased to announce that it is a recipient of Hazard Mitigation Grant Program funding from the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) and the Georgia Emergency Management Agency (GEMA). The $34,000 grant will assist in updating the five-year Hazard Mitigation Plan.

Gubernatorial Candidate Hunter Hill Announces Support for
Spaceport Camden
At an event on St Simons Island, Gubernatorial Candidate and former State Senator, Hunter Hill, offered his support for Spaceport Camden stating, “Georgia Tech is the number 2 ranked aerospace engineering school in the country and Naval Base Kings Bay is the home to some of the best trained rocket scientists in the country. Spaceport Camden is a perfect opportunity to keep the best and brightest rocket experts living and working in Georgia, while also encouraging economic development, scientific research and discovery, and job growth. In the worldwide push for space exploration, I believe Georgia can lead the way."


Camden County Releases
2017 Annual Report
The Camden County Board of Commissioners has released their 2017 Annual Report. This report summarizes several accomplishments Camden County government achieved during 2017.

Commissioners Adopt
2018 Action Agenda
The Camden County Board of Commissioners unanimously adopted the 2018-2023-2033 Strategic Plan and 2018 Action Agenda. The Strategic Plan is a five-year, outcome-based set of goals with specific issues and projects that need to be addressed by the County, all with measurable objectives.

Camden County Launches Redesigned Website
The Camden County Board of Commissioners is pleased to announce the launch of a redesigned Camden County government website. The website, www.camdencountyga.gov, just completed a nine month redesign process by CivicPlus, the leading government website provider.

Spaceport Camden Signs Memorandum of Understanding with
ABL Space Systems
Steve Howard, Camden County Administrator and Spaceport Camden Project lead announced that ABL Space Systems has signed a memorandum of understanding (MOU) with Camden County officials to explore future launch operations at Spaceport Camden. The MOU outlines how ABL Space Systems will work with Spaceport Camden to test, manufacture, assemble, and launch orbital vehicles in Camden County. The MOU is a precursor to a larger definitive agreement to be negotiated and signed no later than July 31, 2019. 

2017 Showcase Camden County Photo Contest
Winners Announced
From Left: Robby Drawdy, Priscilla Krupp, Kimberly Tank, and Ted J. Barney
The Board of Commissioners is pleased to announce the winners of the 2017 Showcase Camden County Photo Contest. This year nearly thirty (30) entries were submitted throughout the following categories: Landscapes, Nature, People, and Transportation. One recipient was chosen from each category, and out of those recipients an overall winner was selected. 

Georgia Association of REALTORS® Commissions Poll on Spaceport Camden
UGA Research Project Finds Broad Support for Space Activities in Coastal Georgia
Trey Hood, Professor of Political Science and Director of the School of Public & International Affairs Survey Research Center at the University of Georgia presented findings on coastal Georgia’s opinions on a proposed spaceport at a meeting of the Camden Roundtable. The poll, commissioned by the Georgia REALTORS® (GAR), measured support for the project across thirteen counties in southeast Georgia.

Camden County Receives Grant for Interns
The Camden County Board of Commissioners is pleased to announce that it is a recipient of Georgia County Internship Program (GCIP) funds from the Association of County Commissioners of Georgia (ACCG). The $3,000 grant will assist in funding two interns for summer 2018. One intern will work with the Camden County Sheriff’s Office and one will work with the Camden County Emergency Management Agency (EMA).

Camden County Receives Budget Presentation Award from the Government Finance Officers Association
From Left: County Administrator Steve Howard, Commissioner Lannie Brant,
Commission Chair Jimmy Starline, Finance Director Nancy Gonzalez,
Commissioner Gary Blount, Chief Financial Officer Mike Fender,
Commissioner Ben Casey, and Commission Vice-Chair Chuck Clark
The Government Finance Officers Association (GFOA) of the United States and Canada recently announced that the Camden County Board of Commissioners were awarded the GFOA’s Distinguished Budget Presentation Award for its annual budget for its Fiscal Year beginning July 1, 2017. This is the third consecutive year for Camden County to receive this recognition. 

Kingsland By-Pass Phase I Update
Progress on Phase I of the Kingsland By-Pass project is continuing to move forward.

On the east end of the project, relocation of utilities by outside contractors is nearing completion. Beginning on the west end of the project, base is being applied to the road beds.
Support Camden County 4-H
All orders (including payments) must be received by April 13, 2018. Cash and check are accepted. Contact the Camden County Extension Office at 912-576-3219 for more information.
Our Commitment to You!

MISSION
Our mission is to deliver defined county services with exceptional customer service and to do so in a financially sustainable and transparent manner.


VISION
Camden County 2033 is the premier coastal community of Georgia-beautiful and safe.


Camden County 2033 gas a strong regional economy and diverse job opportunities with four major pillars:
  • An active Naval Submarine Base;
  • A successful World-Class Spaceport;
  • Space tourism; and
  • a Technology Corridor.

Camden County 2033 has relaxed living with quality residential developments, and abundant leisure choices for all.


VALUES
The Board of County Commissioners and employees of Camden County are committed to the following values:
  • Integrity,
  • Respect,
  • Service,
  • Accountability,
  • Teamwork, and
  • Balance.

District 1, Commissioner Lannie Brant

District 2, Commissioner and Vice-Chair, Chuck Clark

District 3, Commissioner and Chair, Jimmy Starline

District 4, Commissioner Gary Blount

District 5, Commissioner Ben Casey
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