June 4, 2026, Camden County Commission meeting at 10:00 a.m.

I attended the June 4, 2026, Camden County Commission meeting at 10:00 a.m.

Commissioners Gohagan and Dougan were present.

Commissioner Dougan asked for the third agenda item (May 2026 Revenue/Budget Update) to be removed from the agenda because the County Auditor would not be attending the meeting. This agenda change was approved by the Commission.

The first agenda item was “GIS Limited License Agreement.”

Core Logic pays for the county’s GIS data every few years. This was the agreement for that arrangement.

The Commission approved it unanimously.

The second agenda item was “Horseshoe Bend Special Road District – CART Fund Distribution – $462,133.57.”

This payment transfer was the HBSRD’s share of the county’s CART revenue.

It was approved unanimously.

In New Business, Prosecuting Attorney Richelle Grosvenor asked to discuss an issue related to the county’s budget.

According to Grosvenor, her office is expecting significant increases in its budget appropriations and she wanted to notify the Commission of the impending increase and see how they wanted her to proceed with the unforeseen expenses.

She advised that on the same day as this meeting, the Prosecuting Attorney’s Office had begun turning over discovery copies of the secret recordings that were made by Sheriff employees during two meetings with Camden County prosecutors.

You can read about these secret recordings in this article I wrote previously. It’s worth a read.

Now that defense attorneys have received these recordings, they are rejecting any plea agreements on every case that involves the detective who made one of the recordings and are instead setting times for depositions so they can question the detective about what was discussed in the recording. Grosvenor stated that every case involving the detective in question will now require new depositions and new experts for testimony. In fact, all of the plea deals that had been previously negotiated have been rejected until the defense attorneys are able to depose the detective.

The office budgeted $11,000 for depositions in 2026 and that money has been spent. Grosvenor estimated that the financial impact alone of these secret recordings will likely cost the county an extra $100,000.

Another additional expense will be the need to hire a Special Prosecutor for a new investigation(????). This might cost anywhere from $50,000 to $100,000. Grosvenor explained that counties used to loan prosecutors to each other to serve as Special Prosecutors, but with the current statewide shortage of prosecutors, there just aren’t any available. They have to be hired.

Commissioner Gohagan asked if the court fines and fees could possibly pay for the depositions? Grosvenor responded that many of the defendants ultimately get sent to prison and prison isn’t a great place to earn money to pay back debts.

County Attorney Dickman confirmed the expense of depositions and explained that just the court reporter fees often cost at least $500 per day.

Grosvenor stated that many of the local defense attorneys have been waiting to receive a copy of the secret recordings. One particular defense attorney is planning to schedule 3 to 4 depositions per day.

The County Treasurer clarified that the Prosecuting Attorney’s Office should collect the deposition bills and then a budget amendment would be prepared so they would be paid with the approval of the Commission. The county can set up a special budget appropriation line for the costs associated with the Special Prosecutor.

At the end of it all, the commissioners understood and acknowledged that they should expect deposition and trial costs to increase as the impact of the secret recordings on the county and its institutions continues to unfold.

And that was that.