November 8, 2022 Camden County Commission meeting at 10:00 a.m.

I attended the November 8, 2022 Camden County Commission meeting at 10:00 a.m.

Commissioners Williams and Gohagan were present.

The meeting was held in the Commission Annex Building conference room. There were five people present besides the Camden County employees who normally attend.

During Public Comment, one citizen spoke to the Commission regarding the Board of Adjustment (BOA) appointment on the agenda for Robert Dye. He didn’t think they should make any planning and zoning appointments until the new commission was seated. Commissioner Williams responded that the Commission was well within its rights to make such appointments and there was no requirement to wait until after Ike Skelton was seated as the new Presiding Commissioner. The citizen then clarified that he did not support Robert Dye’s appointment to the BOA.

Kim Willey, the Planning and Zoning Administrator, explained that the Board of Adjustment needs 4 members out of 5 to make a quorum. To get something passed, they have to have 4 “Yes” votes to get something approved , but they currently only have 4 out of the 5 spots filled. This creates problems when a member is gone or has to recuse themselves because of a conflict.

The first agenda item was the Bid Opening for the Circuit Clerk Workstations. There was only one bid.

As someone who used to do a lot of government ordering (not the most exciting part of being a police administrator), I am always “surprised” by how many single bid results Camden County gets from requests for bids. We were always required to have at least three bids for every purchase unless we could provide a sole source provider justification for an item. Especially if it was a purchase that qualified as a high dollar item.

Welp, the Circuit Clerk wasn’t at the meeting to look at the bid so the Commission tabled it.

The second agenda item was the 2023 Holiday Schedule. The Commission approved it unanimously.

The third agenda item was the BOA Appointment for Robert Dye. Commissioner Williams said he and Kim Willey had talked to Dye. Williams said Dye seemed to have a background that would work really well for the position. Williams then reversed course and said that since meeting Dye, he has received more information and he didn’t think Robert Dye would be appropriate for the BOA.

I was suddenly tempted to throw my name in the hat if it would include a coveted BOA Visitor’s Pass! Could this be my moment of glory?

Alas, Robert and I both will have to come to terms with the capricious nature of Camden County government. He was soo close.

Commissioner Williams made a motion to deny Dye’s appointment. This passed unanimously.

The fourth agenda item was a Request for Surplus from the previous meeting. Charlie McElyea stated that it was a probate issue and he recommended that the Commission approve the release of the surplus funds contingent upon receiving a consignment or consent.

This was approved unanimously.

The final agenda item was the End of Year Budget Amendment.

The County Auditor (who has yet to audit anything) explained that this budget amendment will reflect end of year adjustments to the budget for several departments including the Collector and Road and Bridge. I felt like this agenda item could have used a little more explanation since it wasn’t very clear exactly what money was being moved around. There’s not much point in carefully describing budget amendments moving money between line items during the course of the year and then just tossing the money all over the place at the last minute before the year ends. Sheesh.

This was approved unanimously by the Commissioners.

And that was that.