July 18, 2024, Camden County Commission meeting at 10:00 a.m.

I attended the July 18, 2024, Camden County Commission meeting at 10:00 a.m.

Commissioners Gohagan and Skelton were present.

The agenda order was amended at the beginning of the meeting.

The new first agenda item was Macks Creek School District MOU w/Sheriff’s Office for Services.

This was the MOU between the Sheriff’s Office and the district for their School Resource Officer. The representative from the Sheriff’s Office told the Commission there were no changes in the contract.

It was approved unanimously.

The second agenda item was Resolution 07182024 Lighthouse Property.

In his best speed-reading voice, Presiding Commissioner Skelton read aloud the resolution which basically gave Skelton the authority to sign real estate documents to purchase the Lighthouse Clinic building.

This resolution was approved unanimously.

The third agenda item was Bid Award – Juvenile Justice Center – Generator.

The representatives from the Juvenile Justice Center asked the commissioners to approve the bid from Sons of Thunder. The company has been quick to respond to calls for service and the cost for the two bids was roughly equal.

The Sons of Thunder bid was approved unanimously by the commissioners.

The fourth agenda item was the Planning and Zoning portion of the meeting.

PZ24-0062 Gearhart was a property on Paradise Lane that would be re-zoned from Industrial to Residential. There was a nearby property that was re-zoned similarly at a previous meeting. Nobody was present for or against.

This re-zone was approved unanimously.

The next PZ matter was PZ24-0063 at 200 Chimney Rock Road.

Kenny Carroll’s trust already owned a large B-2 lot on the end of the point that used to be a cabin resort. Carroll also owns a smaller adjacent lot that he wanted to make B-2 also and merge with the large lot. (Owners cannot merge lots that have different zoning classifications.)

In opposition, the neighbors were concerned because the road is very narrow and they were worried that the extra thru-traffic of a commercial enterprise on the lot would be too much for the road.

The commissioners pointed out that such a business could already be established on the large lot in accordance with the current zoning.

There was good communication between Carroll and the neighbors. Carroll offered several ideas regarding how he could improve the road to the lot. Carroll admitted that his desire was to make the lot more desirable for a commercial buyer to purchase. He did not plan on developing it himself.

The neighbors, in turn, confessed that their concern was that improving the road might encourage a new buyer who would develop it. They were especially worried that townhouses might be built out on the point. The Planning and Zoning Commission approved this re-zone earlier 8-1.

The Commission voted unanimously to re-zone the smaller lot to B-2.

The final P&Z matter was PZ24-0065 Elite Property Management LLC.

This was a re-zone from B-2 to R-1 at the intersection of Outer Drive and Restful Lane in the Sunset Cove subdivision.

The owner was present for the re-zone. Nobody else was present for or against it.

The re-zone was approved unanimously by the Commission.

The final agenda item was Discussion with Joey McLiney.

McLiney is a municipal finance expert who has been advising the Commission. He proposed various strategies the county could use to ensure it was able to collect all of the tax revenue that that it was supposed to be collecting. He discussed the advantages and disadvantages of different deferred taxation projects and the importance of managing the sales tax levy rate properly.

And that was that.