I attended the November 21, 2024, Camden County Commission meeting at 10:00 a.m.
Commissioners Gohagan and Skelton were present. Commissioner-Elect Steve Dougan was also sitting at the Commission table.
The first agenda item was “Budget Amendment – Pros Atty office – $27,811.59.”
The Budget Amendment would transfer $27,811.59 from CLERF into the bad check fund.
(CLERF stands for County Law Enforcement Restitution Fund.)
The Budget Amendment was signed by the Commissioners.
The second agenda item was “Discuss Road and Bridge 2025 Budget.”
Presiding Commissioner Skelton commented that while there were roads being considered for improvements, he felt that perhaps the county’s low water crossings should be made a priority? Skelton visited the low water crossing at Flippin Road and was surprised to see that there was no concrete left there at all. He said he had directed Camden County Road and Bridge to address the problems with that crossing. He confirmed that the county would not be paving Tranquil Woods Road and observed that that there is a current county policy that should be followed for new paving projects.
Pat Wolf, the Camden County Road and Bridge Administrator, reported that there are 144 low water crossings in Camden County and 26 of them need repair. There are also 28 bridges in the county.
Wolf felt that the Freedom Ridge crossing would be the most expensive road project for the county to tackle.
Presiding Commissioner Skelton wanted the county, at a minimum, to start putting concrete belly slabs over crossings that were currently only gravel.
Camden County is currently considering a new company to conduct its paved road surveys. IMS surveyed and evaluated the county’s paved road network several years ago, but there is a new company that can provide road data that could be accessed more easily by county departments and the public. No new requests for bids have been sent out yet.
Commissioner Skelton wanted to hold off on spending money for new asphalt until the county gets an updated road survey. He again mentioned that the county might need to focus more on low water crossings.
Commissioner Gohagan asked Wolf which three county roads needed asphalt work the most?
Wolf responded that the roads that were surveyed two years ago have continued to deteriorate. He mentioned that Old South 5 was in bad shape, but he told the Commission he would need more time to come up with a list of the three county roads that needed asphalt work the most.
Dean’s Creek and Stoutland Creek were also discussed as low water crossings that were in bad shape.
Commissioner Gohagan asked the County Auditor how the county budget was doing?
County Auditor Laughlin responded that Camden County was “doing okay.”
Gohagan pointed out that Camden County had budgeted $84 million in tax revenue for 2024, but the county had already taken in $87 million.
Laughlin told Gohagan that those numbers sounded right to him.
This topic wrapped up with the Commission reviewing a printed list of roads that were slated for improvements. It sounded like the Commission will address this again at future meetings, but Commissioner Skelton definitely seemed concerned about improving the low water crossings in Camden County.
In other Old Business, Commissioner Skelton informed the audience that it looks like Camden County will not be able to collect a 3% sales tax on marijuana businesses in municipalities. Recent court decisions have ruled that the county sales tax cannot be stacked on top of the municipality tax so until some marijuana businesses open up in unincorporated county areas, Camden County will be receiving no tax revenue from the reefer.
Commissioner Skelton also vented his exasperation at the Auditor with the current state of the county’s vehicle inventory. He held up an inventory sheet and complained that the county does not know how many vehicles they own. The sheet he had in his hand was the latest vehicle inventory, but he knew for a fact that some of the vehicles on the list had been sold at auction. Commissioner Skelton seemed irritated that the accountability for the county’s vehicles continued to be an ongoing problem.
And that was that.
144 low water crossings? Wow.
It does make me wonder which low water crossings are in the worst shape. Especially now that the issue seems to have attracted the attention of the County Commission. This might be an opportunity for Camden County residents to showcase their famous (or infamous) ability to poke fun at their circumstances.
Is your low water crossing Camden County’s Worst Low Water Crossing of 2024?
You can earn bragging rights for your favorite local deteriorating work of road engineering by sending photos of the low water crossing to:
We will judge the submissions based on the following five categories:
Most Impressive Crack
Highest Low Water
Worst Clogged Culverts
Most Hooterville Design
and
You’re Not Even Trying
Send us your photos (hopefully entertaining) and we will post the submissions and announce a winner. Don’t complain about that low water crossing in private anymore! Share that crossing that keeps you from going to the store when it rains with the rest of the county! Maybe Road and Bridge will even pour some concrete and throw some culverts at it!
Among the Dogwoods 