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 Camden CountyBoard of Commissioners
Community Outreach eNewsletter
"Working together to make a positive difference in the community."
A Publication from the Office of the County Administrator - June 2016
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2016 NACo Achievement Award Winner
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Camden County, Georgia has received two Achievement Awards from the National Association of Counties (NACo). These awards honor innovative, effective county government programs that enhance services for residents. They are:
McKinney Medical Center - "Shine, Make Your Community Its Best" in the category of Health.
and
"Saving Taxpayer Dollars-Refitting Capital Assets-Cost Saving" for the category of Emergency Management and Response.
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Connect With Us!
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Keep up with what's going on in YOUR local government!
Look for Camden County's Free App at the Apple Store or click
Here
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"Showcase Camden County" Photo Contest
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Click HERE for Guidelines
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Camden County
Hurricane Guide
Provided by the Camden County Board of Commissioners
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With the Atlantic hurricane season starting on June 1st, the Georgia Emergency Management Agency (GEMA) urges residents to take the time now to prepare, plan and stay informed about hurricanes.
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UPCOMING
Board of County Commissioners
Meetings & Public Hearings
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July 4th County Offices will
be closed in observance of Independence Day
July 12th
Regular BOCC
Meeting at 6:00PM
Regular BOCC
Meeting at 6:00PM
Regular BOCC
Meeting at 6:00PM
September 6th County Offices will be closed in observance of Labor Day
Government Services Complex
200 E. 4th St.
Woodbine, GA 31569
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Free Prescription Discount Cards Available to Camden County Residents
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Click on the image above to view more information about this service.
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One of our goals for the County is to ensure that we are providing our citizens with the right information and a better understanding of current local issues as related to Camden County Government. It is our hope that you have enjoyed reading the monthly Community Outreach Newsletter and have found it to be informative and helpful.
We encourage your feedback and value any input you may be able to offer as we strive to improve our services for the future good of Camden County.
By working together, Camden County can continue to be "Georgia's Coastal Community of Choice."
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Join Camden County
to Celebrate the 4th of July
Celebrate the 4th of July in a small town atmosphere in St. Marys with a Kids Fun Run, 5K & 10K races, a parade, entertainment on two stages, arts and crafts, food vendors, kid rides, and a river boat cruise to view one of the largest fireworks displays in Southeast Georgia.
The St. Marys Kiwanis club began hosting this festival in 1968. Proceeds from this festival are spent locally to fund club initiatives including K-Kids, Terrific Kids, Key Club, Kiwanis Scholarships, High School Fine Arts Academy, STAR Student, Helen Ruffin Reading Bowl, Christmas in the Park, and Thanksgiving baskets to needy families.
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"Great Customer Service is the Cornerstone of Every Successful Organization!"
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Please click
on the link below to complete Camden County's customer service survey.
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IMPORTANT TELEPHONE NUMBERS
Main Switchboard
576-5601
510-0464
Animal Control
Bryan Lang
Historical Archives
576-5841
Camden Fire Rescue
Main Office
729-3911
Camden Library
729-3741
Camden Sheriff's Office
510-5100
Clerk of Superior Court
576-5631
Code Enforcement
510-5865
County Clerk
576-5651
Curbside Collections
510-6881
Erosion & Sedimentation
510-4320
Juvenile Court
Magistrate Court
576-5658
Mosquito Control
729-4823
Planning & Development
729-5603
Probate Court
576-3785
Public Works/
Road Department
576-3028
Solid Waste
729-4099
Tax Commissioner/
Tag Office
576-3248
Tax Assessors
576-3241
UGA Extension Office
576-3219
Voters Registrar
576-3245
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OUR DEBT TO THE HEROIC MEN AND VALIANT WOMEN IN THE SERVICE OF OUR COUNTRY CAN NEVER BE REPAID. THEY HAVE EARNED OUR UNDYING GRATITUDE. AMERICA WILL NEVER FORGET THEIR SACRIFICES.
-PRESIDENT HARRY S. TRUMAN
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A Message from the
County Administrator
The Board of County Commissioners adopted the fiscal year 2017 budget on June 21, 2016. The priority in developing this budget was to provide the Board with a balanced budget. Discipline, innovation, and commitment must follow. To the taxpayer, we must commit our best effort. Nothing less is acceptable.
I am proud to announce that the National Association of Counties (NACo) recently granted Camden County a 2016 Achievement Award for its program titled "McKinney Medical Center - Shine, Make Your Community Its Best" in the category of Health. In addition, we received a second 2016 Achievement Award for the program titled "Saving Taxpayer Dollars-Refitting Capital Assets-Cost Saving Results" in the category of Emergency Management and Response. I'd like to congratulate staff and everyone involved in helping develop these two innovative programs. Your commitment and dedication will yield positive results for Camden County residents!
Camden County Board of Commissioners would like to invite our area residents to attend the upcoming Citizens' Academy beginning August 11, 2016. This Academy is an 8-week course available to Camden residents who are interested in learning more about county government, specifically here in Camden County. There is no charge for the course and I, along with our Commissioners, encourage you to sign up. More information on the Citizens' Academy and how to sign up is below.
The Citizens' Academy is just one way the County provides outreach and engagement opportunities to those members of our local community. We hope you are enjoying the County's new mobile app, available for free on Android and Apple devices. It is easy-to-use and provides quick access to the county's most popular content. The new app easily transforms the way residents and visitors interact with local government by taking technology and customer-service to the next level. Also on the app and online, residents can sign up for the Notify Me feature to receive various information about specifically selected topics of interest to that subscriber. For example, notifications might include meeting notices, agendas and minutes, hazardous weather advisories, and website updates. In addition, I invite you to view our most recent Annual Report for 2015 live on the web at www.camdencountyga.gov, and you will also find there the County's 2016-2021-2030 Strategic Plan.
June 1 was the official start of Hurricane Season. I encourage you to learn more about hurricane hazards and what you can do to help protect yourself, your family, and your property.
The Official Georgia Hurricane Guide is intended as a user-friendly resource with specific instructions for you to do each step of the way, before, during, and after the storm. Please be prepared and plan ahead and know your evacuation routes. This website from the Department of Transportation will be very helpful. Visit http://www.dot.ga.gov/DS/Emergency/Hurricane for more information.
Being a coastal county, we are particularly at risk for hurricanes that form in the southern Atlantic Ocean, Caribbean Sea and Gulf of Mexico. Your local Camden County Emergency Management Agency (EMA) can properly prepare you for the Hurricane Season. Feel free to view more information about the EMA by visiting http://www.co.camden.ga.us/81/Emergency-Management.
Awareness of the Zika Virus is also very important at this time. The Zika Virus is spread by the bite of mosquitoes and not spread human to human. Most people do not even realize they have been infected. Additional material related to the Zika virus is discussed in this newsletter.
Have a happy and safe Independence Day.
I am confident that working together, we can make a positive difference for Camden County.
Yours for a better Camden,
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Camden County Fire Rescue Acquires Truck from GA Forestry Commission
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Freightliner Chassis Before
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Camden County Board of Commissioners approved the purchase of three military surplus Freightliner M916 Chassis using SPLOST 7 Funds. The truck above was acquired from the Georgia Forestry Commission (GFC) through the Federal Fire Property program. The only cost to the County was a $100 administrative fee per chassis.
The truck, having less than 11,000 miles, was taken to Georgia Forestry's fabrication shop in Macon where the tank, pump and rear body were constructed, installed, and painted.
The truck carries 3000 gallons of water, pumps 250 gallons per minute and has all-wheel drive that can be used off-road to help extinguish wood fires. The total cost to build this truck was $40,983.57.
The truck will be stationed in District 14, near the Harrietts Bluff Road and Highway 17 territory. This combination tanker and brush truck will replace 2 firefighter apparatus; a 1970 AM General Brush truck and a 1981 Ford Tanker.
The two additional chassis, one with 12,000 miles and the other with 500 miles will be sent to GFC in Macon to be converted into Brush/Tankers in the near future.
Freightliner Chassis After
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Camden County Board of Commissioners Citizens' Academy
The Board of County Commissioners, along with staff, are preparing for another Citizens' Academy that will begin at 6:00 PM on August 11, 2016. By offering this FREE Academy to local area citizens, we continue to carry out our goal of being an open and accessible, transparent government to our citizens.
The Camden County Citizens' Academy is a classroom style program offered to local residents interested in learning more about the services provided by their county government agency. Participants will have the opportunity to hear from various staff, employees, department heads, and elected officials throughout the county as they host sessions detailing what happens in their department.
Classes are limited to the first 25 applicants. Participants must be willing to commit to 2.5 hours every Thursday evening for 8 weeks. In addition, Tuesday evening Commissioner's Meeting and one Saturday morning field trip will take place during the course of the sessions. All sessions are held throughout Camden in various County facilities.
Interested individuals can find an application and additional details about the class HERE. Completed applications can either be mailed to the Office of County Administrator, ATTN: Citizens' Academy, P.O. Box 99, Woodbine, Georgia 31569, faxed to 912-576-5647 or sent via email to [email protected].
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Camden Fire Rescue
Now Recruiting Candidates
 Camden County Fire Rescue (CCFR) is looking for dedicated individuals who want to make a difference in their community. CCFR is an award winning fire and emergency medical service department serving over 50,000 citizens spanning more than 668 square miles. The rewards of public service are endless and no two days are ever the same in this exciting career path. Class size is limited to 25 candidates. Applicants will be selected based on general knowledge testing and physical agility testing. Firefighter 1 Class Facts:
- Classes taught on Tuesday & Thursday evenings from 6pm-10pm, and Saturday 8am-5pm.
- Class will be 6 months or 345 hours long.
- Knowledge of the Georgia Work Ready Test (GWR)- Cost is $50 (candidate is responsible for cost).
- Coastal Pines College will be in Camden County only 2 days to offer the GWR Test. Test consist of 4 sessions.
- Testing location will be at the Coastal Pines Satellite office located within the College of Coastal Georgia at 8001 Lakes Blvd, Kingsland.
- Pre-registration with payment for the GWR testing is required with Laura Fish at 912-510-3327.
- If local testing is not made, contact Anna McCrae at 912-287-5854. She may be able to accommodate another site for testing.
- A GWR Silver Certification is equivalent to the knowledge test.
- The Physical Ability test will consist of timed events.
- CCFR currently has full-time openings and is looking to build a qualified part-time team.
- Required books are $100 (candidate is reponsible for cost).
- Training gear will be provided.
- Candidates successfully completing the training program and obtaining their national certification will be required to sign a letter of commitment with Camden County Fire Rescue for a period of 36 months.
For more information, please contact Camden County Fire Rescue at 912-729-3911 or email at [email protected]. |
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Cumberland Island National Seashore to Offer Free Admission Days
 All national parks, including Cumberland Island National Seashore will waive entrance fees on special days during 2016. "The National Park Service turns 100 years old in 2016 and we want everyone to celebrate," says Superintendent Gary Ingram. "Whether it is for the first time or an old favorite, we hope the fee-free day and entrance passes provide an opportunity to visit Cumberland Island."The remaining fee-free days are:
- August 25-28 - National Park Service Birthday Weekend
- September 24 - National Public Lands Day
- November 11 - Veterans Day
If you have a fourth grade student, they can get a free annual pass through the Every Kid in a Park program. Students can complete a fun educational activity at www.everykidinapark.gov in order to obtain and print the pass. The Park Service would encourage Educators and community leaders to use the website to access educational activities, field trip options, and the ability to print passes. Kids can trade in their paper pass for an official card at the Visitor Center in St. Marys, Georgia.
Active duty military and citizens with a permanent disability can visit the Cumberland Island Visitor Center to get free passes through the America the Beautiful - The National Parks and Federal Recreational Lands Pass program seven days a week from 8:00 am to 4:00 pm, except Christmas Day. For more information, please visit, www.nps.gov or www.nps.gov/cuis.
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2016 "Showcase Camden County"
Photo Contest
 The Camden County Board of Commissioners are pleased to announce they are bringing back the "Showcase Camden County" Photo Contest. The 2016 "Showcase Camden County" photo contest is open to all amateur and professional photographers who would like to submit their best photos of Camden County, Georgia. Camden's natural landscapes and unique area and events provide limitless creative inspiration to individuals that enjoy seeing the world through the lens of a camera. The 2016 photo contest calls for photos to be submitted under one of several categories:
- Landscapes
- Nature/Wildlife
- Transportation
- Current Events/People
Contestants may submit no more than two (2) entries per category or up to eight (8) entries total if so desired. After the deadline, a committee will select a winner from each category. One overall winner will then be chosen from among the top photo in each category. The overall winner's top photo will be featured in the 2016 Annual Report. All photo contest winners will be publicly recognized during a Board of County Commissioner's meeting.
Photos must be submitted either by mail to the Board of County Commissioners, c/o Katie Bishop, P.O. Box 99, Woodbine, Georgia, 31569, or dropped off at either the Government Services Complex located at 200 East 4th Street in Woodbine, or at the County Annex Building, Office of Planning & Development, located in Kingsland. Each entry must be accompanied by a completed entry form. All submissions must be received on or before November 11, 2016. More information, regarding the photo contest & rules can be found at www.camdencountyga.us.
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3, 2, 1...Liftoff!! STEAM Camp at St. Marys Middle School concludes with multiple
Rocket Launches
Camden County's Management Analyst Shannon Nettles and Administrative Assistant Renee Crews joined teachers at St. Marys Middle School for the last day of this summer's S.T.E.A.M. Camp (Science, Technology, Engineering, Arts, Math) on Friday, June 10, 2016. Students worked all week to build a rocket for take-off on the last day of camp. 40 to 45 rockets were launched into the air one to two at a time with great success. All rockets were built, decorated and launched by the students.  While a Master's student in 2006 at Virginia Polytechnic and State University, Georgette Yakman developed the STEM program. She was then studying the Science-Technology-Engineering-Mathematics Educational program (STEMed) but has since continued to evolve the concept by including more research and practice on the topic.  S.T.E.A.M provides an avenue for formally teaching the inter-relationships of how subjects relate in real-life. STEAM-style education can be enjoyable and meaningfully delivered in more engaging and deeply embedding ways within the already well-established realm of education. STEAM is a substantiated, economical and sociologically adaptable as a framework by which to transition, maintain, create and evolve educational elements, programs and institutions to include multidisciplinary-oriented practices catering to developing more FUNctional citizens. This framework is engaging, hands-on and reality-based with many extensions to draw education, industry, government and the community together for the common good of bettering public education for all while meeting guidelines and STEM related goals.  During a brief presentation about Spaceport Camden, the students were excited and asked questions about Spaceport Camden. They understood that bringing a new industry like a spaceport to Camden County would bring jobs to the area and that maybe one day after college graduation, it would be possible for these same students to return home to Camden County and find a well paying job. Special thanks to teachers Holly Cottrell, Richard Anderson, and Administrator Beverly Strickland for working with the future of Camden County (the kids) and allowing Shannon and Renee the opportunity to participate and take pictures. #MissionAccomplished |
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Coastal Regional Commission offers Transportation Services to
Camden Residents
 The Coastal Regional Commission (CRC) provides coordinated human service and rural public transit across 10 counties and 35 municipalities within the coastal region. A system of 62 buses service Camden County and surrounding areas such as Bryan, Bulloch, Camden, Chatham, Effingham, Glynn, Liberty, Long, McIntosh, and Screven. This transportation service is a demand-response, advance-reservation regional rural public transit program that coordinates human services transportation and private contract service. The CRC believes passenger safety is of great importance, therefore, all coaches are inspected annually and are camera equipped. Buses are operated by trained drivers.
The fare for public transit ridership on Coastal Regional Coaches is $3 one-way ($6 round-trip) within the passenger's county of residence or point of origin. For travel outside the county of residence, the fare will vary based on the number of counties traveled. To make a reservation, call the Coastal Regional Coaches toll free, (866)543-6744.
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What You Need to Know about Zika Virus
- The Zika Virus is spread by the bite of mosquitoes. Zika virus is not spread human to human. The most common symptoms of Zika are fever, rash, joint pain, and conjunctivitis (red eyes). The illness is usually mild with symptoms lasting from several days to a week. Severe disease requiring hospitalization is uncommon. Most people infected with Zika virus never know they are sick.
- Zika is carried by the Aedes species of mosquito which can be found in Georgia; however, no locally transmitted Zika cases have been reported in Georgia or anywhere in the United States which means that Zika is not yet in our mosquito population. Cases have been reported in travelers returning to the United States, including Georgia, from areas where Zika is known to exist.
- Pregnant women or women trying to get pregnant should not travel to areas where Zika virus transmission is ongoing. Pregnant women who have traveled to these areas should consult their physician immediately. Health care providers should ask all pregnant women about recent travel. Zika virus can be passed from a pregnant woman to her fetus during pregnancy or around the time of birth. Zika infection during pregnancy is a cause of microcephaly, a severe birth defect that is a sign of a problem with brain development and other severe fetal brain defects.
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COMING TO WOODBINE
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Fort Valley State University
Mobile Information Technology Center with 20 Computers, Laser printers, 50-inch plasma video display, a DVD player, videocassette recorder, and more!
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Join us Tuesday, July 12th from 9:00 AM - 7:00 PM and Wednesday, July 13th from 9:00 AM - 2:00 PM at Cornelia Jackson Park, 15th Street and Georgia Avenue, Woodbine.
72-foot semi-trailer with individual training stations and Instructors ready to help you access the Internet, WIC, Job Search Sites, Utilize practice testing for ACT, SAT, GED and much more!! Children, Students, Adults, Seniors are all Welcome.
FREE to the PUBLIC
Picnic Tuesday, July 12th, 5 -7 PM
Sponsored by the Woodbine Woman's Club and Sonny's BBQ
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Chip Keene
District 1
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 Chuck ClarkDistrict 2
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Jimmy Starline
District 3
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Gary Blount
District 4
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 Tony Sheppard District 5 |
Our Commitment to You!
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 2030 is the premier coastal community of Georgia- beautiful and safe.
Camden County 2030 has 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 2030 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.
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