ARPA- Funded Work

Work In-Progress

Mobile Field Office

At their September 6, 2022, regular meeting, the Camden County Board of Commissioners approved the purchase of a mobile field office for Camden County Emergency Management Agency (EMA). The FORTS Custom 2 Ton Model Mobile Medical Field Clinic/Office costs nearly $175,000 and will allow for the creation of a mobile field office to assist with recovery efforts following disasters and emergencies.

No Cost Swimming Lessons

At their July 19, 2022, regular meeting, the Camden County Board of Commissioners approved spending $12,500 to provide swimming lessons for 100 children through the Camden County Public Service Authority (PSA). Through a partnership with the City of St. Marys, a total of $25,000 is available for swimming lessons for 200 children.

The eight-lesson program seeks to help children in our community learn to swim and to prevent drownings, the second leading cause of accidental death for children under the age of 14.

Support for Camden House

At their June 7, 2022, regular meeting, the Camden County Board of Commissioners approved a one-time payment of $10,000 to Camden House due to direct impacts of COVID-19. Camden House is a family violence service center and shelter in Camden County.

Sheriff's Office Vehicles

At their May 17, 2022, regular meeting, the Camden County Board of Commissioners approved spending over $950,000 for the purchase of 14 new vehicles for the Camden County Sheriff's Office.

Additional Courtroom Fixtures

Due to the backlog of court cases caused by the COVID-19 pandemic, Camden County Superior Court requested assistance with outfitting an existing space in the Camden County Courthouse as an additional courtroom. At their May 17, 2022, regular meeting, the Camden County Board of Commissioners approved the purchase of hardware, software, and furniture to allow a third courtroom to assist Camden County residents.

Health Department

At their April 19, 2022, regular meeting, the Camden County Board of Commissioners voted to approve spending $387,600 in American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) funding towards the new Camden County Health Department. This is the final approval for the joint city-county collaboration to fund the new facility.

The project cost for the new facility is $4.5 million. Funding is provided by:

Special Purpose Local Option Sales Tax (SPLOST) VIII for $1.2 million;
Community Development Block Grant COVID (CDBG-CV) for $1 million;
Coastal Georgia Public Health for $800,000; and
Women, Infants, and Children (WIC) for $300,000.

The remaining $1.2 million will come from the collaboration between Camden County and the Cities of Kingsland, St. Marys, and Woodbine. Based on population, Camden County is providing $387,600, the City of Kingsland is contributing $378,840, the City of St. Marys is funding $399,960, and the City of Woodbine is adding $33,600.

Public Safety Complex Restroom Renovations

In March 2022, the Camden County Board of Commissioners approved renovations to the public restrooms located at the Camden County Public Safety Complex. These facilities will be used by visitors to the facility and staff.

Public Safety Personnel

Classification & Compensation Study

In January 2022, the Camden County Board of Commissioners approved a Classification and Compensation Study for Camden County employees. The job market for recruiting and retaining talent for all positions, specifically for emergency services personnel, has never been more challenging. Our ability to recruit and retain those employees is vital to meet the needs of the citizens of Camden, and to do that we must ensure our competitiveness with compensation.

Public Safety Placement Specialist

In January 2022, the Camden County Board of Commissioners approved the creation of a full-time Public Safety Placement Specialist in the Human Resources Department. This position's sole focus is recruiting public safety positions with the goal of dramatically increasing Camden’s exposure to applicant pools, as well as provide much needed support to fill our vacancies.

Laptops for Camden County Sheriff's Office

In December 2021, the Camden County Board of Commissioners voted to approve the purchase of 19 laptops and 21 printers for the Sheriff’s Office Patrol Division. This is in addition to software licenses that will assist the Camden County Sheriff’s Office, Kingsland Police Department, and St. Marys Police Department.

This equipment and software will allow Sheriff's deputies to conduct their research and complete paperwork in the field, preventing the necessity to report to the County Jail for administrative work. The Jail, a congregate living facility, has an increased risk for the spread of Covid-19 and allowing staff to conduct work in the field will provide for enhanced social distancing and mitigate the spread of the virus.

Ventilation Systems in Public Buildings

Mitigation and Prevention of COVID–19 was identified as a priority in the Department of Treasury’s interim final rule. Specifically, ventilation improvements in congregate settings, health care settings, or other key locations; or adaptations to public buildings to implement COVID–19 mitigation tactics. In an effort to meet this need, the County has begun the replacement of HVAC systems in public buildings and congregate settings that will improve ventilation and prevent the spread to our staff, citizens and community.

As of December 1, 2021, the list of air systems replaced includes:

Department of Children and Family Services,
Ralph Bunch Head Start Building,
Sheriff’s Office Substation, and
the UGA Extension Office.

Rural Transportation Partnership

Camden County Temporarily Pays Ridership Fees

In November 2021, the Camden County Board of Commissioners approved the request to authorize American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) funds to temporarily pay ridership fees for the Coastal Regional Coaches in Camden County. Operated by the Coastal Regional Commission, the Coastal Regional Coaches provide door-to-door services within Camden County for $3.00 per trip. The $10,000 contributed by the Camden County Board of Commissioners was matched by the City of St. Marys, for a total of $20,000. This amount nearly equals all of the ridership fees spent by Camden County riders in 2020.

More information, including how to access the no-cost rides, is available online.

Thank You Award

In April 2021, the Camden County Board of Commissioners voted to give employees who have completed 12 months of service a one-time, lump-sum $1,500 Thank You Award for their work during the pandemic. Employees with less than 12 months of service received a prorated amount. The overall cost was approximately $675,000 and paid through Camden County's American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) allocation.