The Board of County Commissioners (BOCC) has released the 2014 Annual Report. The report summarizes the functions of each of the county government departments while providing specific information about the department's progress as well as informing the citizens of Camden County about the accomplishments the County government achieved during 2014. The continued dedication and teamwork of Camden County employees ensures our community is a better place to live, work, and play.  To view report Click Here.

 County Administrator Steve Howard said the Annual Report and the annual review of priorities both serve a valuable function. "This review helps provide the impetus to continue doing everything we can to give the citizens of Camden County a government that is responsive to their needs and respectful of their wallets." The Board of Commissioners thank all county employees for their hard work, contribution and citizen partnerships for making 2014 so successful.

 In an effort to be more environmentally friendly, the 2014 Annual Report will be posted and distributed electronically. 

In an effort to solicit the public's input regarding the future of Camden County, a Citizen's Summit was held in November 2014. Surveys were also made available at county government facilities and online to interested citizens at the County's website. Additionally, several background interview sessions were also conducted. Important strategic planning sessions were held with the Management Team and the Board of County Commissioners.  These sessions allowed for the review of accomplishments from the previous year and to focus on a vision, mission and direction for Camden County.

County Administrator Steve Howard said this process was a huge undertaking. "I applaud everyone for their efforts to make Camden's new strategic plan a reality. Hope is not a plan and therefore, having a detailed roadmap for the future is vital." The Strategic Plan and its lasting effects will help Camden County control its future.

The historic Mutual and Automatic Aid Agreement that joined together Camden County Fire Rescue (CCFR), the Kingsland Fire Department (KFD) and the St. Marys Fire Department (SMFD) was signed just over a year ago in February 2014. The agreement was designed to help improve efficiency, reduce response times and improve the level of service for the citizens of Camden County. Under the agreement, the three departments began training together and the unit that was geographically closest to a call location responded. The first joint training sessions were held on February 5, 2014.

A year later and the results are tangible. CCFR Station 14 (near the intersection of Harrietts Bluff Road and Highway 17) has been closed and the county trucks and equipment moved to KFD Station 5 on Robert's Path adjacent to Mamie Lou Gross Elementary School. In addition, SMFD Station 9 (at the intersection of Colerain Road and St. Marys Road) now has a CCFR ambulance. These strategic changes help to better utilize resources and provide cost savings.

The agreement was the result of unprecedented cooperation between the Camden County Board of Commissioners (BOCC), the Kingsland City Council and the St. Marys City Council. The agreement was one of the options proposed by the International City/County Management Association (ICMA) Center for Public Safety Management who had been hired in 2013 to study the feasibility of consolidation of fire services within the county. Following the study, a committee was comprised of elected members of the two city councils, the BOCC as well as the County Administrator and the two City Managers.

All the City and County Elected Officials and the City and County Fire Chiefs involved in drafting and implementing the new mutual aid agreed that this is a positive step forward in providing all the citizens of Camden County the best possible fire and EMS service.

County Administrator Steve Howard said the agreement and its very positive results are a testament to the power of committed cooperation. "This is a very important step in the right direction and clearly demonstrates to the people of Camden County that their elected officials and their local governments will work together for the common good. This successful functional consolidation is a proud moment in the history of Camden County."

Of the 300 miles of roads in the unincorporated area of Camden County approximately half (169 miles) are paved and the rest (131 miles) are dirt. Maintaining, repairing and providing drainage for these roads falls to the Roads and Bridges Division of the county's Public Works Department. The other division, the Capital Improvements Division, is primarily responsible for overseeing the design and construction of new and renovated buildings owned by Camden County.

 It is a lot of work for Public Works Director Harvey Amerson and his crew of fifteen employees. Amerson, who has worked for Camden County for twenty years, said it is always a balancing act between providing quality services and finding ways to cut costs. One way he does that is by utilizing the Georgia Department of Corrections inmate labor program. Using this program on several recent and current projects will save approximately $250,000.

 The largest current ongoing construction project is the expansion of the Camden County Jail in Woodbine. The expansion will provide a new kitchen and a 50-bed dormitory style pod. The expansion should be complete in approximately one year. Another large project being worked on is the construction of a Camden County Sheriff's Office (CCSO) shooting range on Georgia Highway 110 near Highway 40. The 35-acre project is anticipated to include three ranges within the complex. The use of inmate labor will cut the construction cost by approximately half.

The Roads and Bridges Division also stays very busy. Their highest priority is keeping water off the roads. Amerson said beavers are not his favorite animals as they often cause flooding by the building of dams on local waterways, hence making more work for the department. This division is also responsible for making repairs to potholes and washouts, trimming tree limbs, clearing vegetation from county right-of-ways, mowing county roadsides, picking up litter and maintaining safety and traffic signage on county roads.

Recent road projects include the resurfacing of Kinlaw Road, Powderhorn Road, Liberty Tree Road and Sheffield Island Road. The Road Department has also resurfaced short areas on Elliott's Plantation Road, Refuge Road and Dover Bluff Road. In addition, the right-of-way is being cleared for the paving of Powell Street, Jody Lane and Kayla Street. The grading of dirt roads is always an ongoing project.

 County Administrator Steve Howard said although they may often work behind the scenes, the Public Works Department is invaluable. "The County is fortunate to have an experienced Public Works team that properly and efficiently maintains our roadways. The staff do a great job and their work is essential for the well-being and vitality of Camden County. Public works literally paves the way for the County's future."

Spring is that exciting season where we transition from Winter into Summer. It usually occurs during the months of March, April and May, or from the Vernal Equinox (March 20) to the Summer Solstice (June 21). For more information and facts on Spring, keep reading.

The Human Resources Department for Camden County plans and implements human resource programs and policies in the area of staffing, compensation, benefits, employee relations and training for employees. The Human Resources (HR) team is in the process of updating county policies to ensure they are consistent with the work culture and compliant with the law. HR staff work diligently to make sure the same standard applies to every employee.

The biggest challenge facing new HR Director Katie Howard and staff is attracting and retaining qualified, professional employees to serve the citizens of the county. Once hired, it is the responsibility of the HR Department to make sure new employees have the necessary resources and support they need in order to provide high quality service that county citizens have come to expect.

Ms. Howard and the HR Department also manage the Medical and Wellness Division, which includes a Wellness Clinic located in Kingsland. This Living Well Clinic not only serves the employees of Camden County but also the employees of the Public Service Authority (PSA), the Joint Development Authority (JDA), the City of St. Marys and the City of Kingsland.

County Administrator Steve Howard said providing services for so many employees can be a challenge. "It's a complex, demanding role that our HR department handles competently and professionally. We value our employees and want to provide them with the support services they deserve."

Teal analysts identify 695 payloads "proposed" for launch in 2015, followed by 579 in 2016, 390 in 2017, 297 in 2018, 513 in 2019, 523 in 2020, 411 in 2021, 159 in 2022, 90 in 2023, and 98 in 2024.

"Remember, these numbers do not represent a forecast of what is to come, but rather a snapshot of what we know is being proposed to be built and launched," said Teal Group senior space analyst Marco C�ceres. "That's why the numbers appear somewhat disjointed. They're higher in the near-term, because companies and governments that plan to launch satellites, probes, and capsules generally aim to do so within the next few years, and so we have more hard information with which to work. The higher numbers during 2019-2021 mainly reflect hundreds of small broadband communications satellites being proposed by companies such as OneWeb and SpaceX," added C�ceres.

Teal Group publishes its detailed space payload numbers in a daily-updated online spreadsheet known as the Worldwide Mission Model Online. (Contact regional representatives at www.tealgroup.com) In their latest update by spacecraft type, Teal analysts classified 2,587 of the payloads as commercial, 1,071 as civil, 606 as military, and 343 as university and non-profit. "Most of the commercial spacecraft are for communications, imaging, or navigation applications," said C�ceres. "Civil and military are a wider mix of scientific, communications, Earth imaging, navigation, early-warning, exploration, technology development, crew transport, and cargo resupply."

 Of the proposed payloads, more than three-quarters have a mass of less than 1,500 kg. "Most of these spacecraft are low Earth orbit (LEO) mobile and broadband communications satellites, medium Earth orbit (MEO) navigation satellites, and LEO university technology and scientific research satellites."

 More than three-quarters of the payloads are being proposed by government agencies, companies, universities, and organizations in the United States, Europe, and Russia. "No surprise there," notes C�ceres. "But the fastest growing region is Asia and the Pacific Rim, especially China and India... mainly because of their extremely ambitious national space programs and overall general consumer demand for commercial satellite services."

From cleaning up storm debris and restoring safety to the community to cleaning the water we drink by maintaining reservoirs, purification, plants, and pumping stations, counties provide the basic services that are often taken for granted.