Board of County Commissioners - Regular Meeting

. . Thank you. so Thank you. Thank you. Thank you.

A commission meeting. We're going to begin with an invocation by Commissioner Goodman and followed by the Pledge of Allegiance.

Let us stand as you're able. Gentlemen, please remove your covers. Let us pray. Our Father and our God in heaven, we come to thee humbly in prayer, thanking you for all of the opportunities, all of the benefits you give us in this great world we live in. We thank you sincerely for all that you do for us. Father, we pray for the safety of those who protect us, both here and abroad. Give them safe passage through their tour. Bring them home to their families at the end of their watch. at the end of their shift. Father, we ask for wisdom tonight as we consider the things that we need to consider tonight for the benefit of our citizens. We ask that our minds be opened and that we be sure that we give everyone a fair hearing. Father, all these things we ask in thy name. Amen.

I pledge allegiance to the flag of the United States of America and to the republic

Roll call.

All commissioners are present.

Do we have any additions to the agenda or deletions? Entertain a motion to adopt the agenda as presented. So moved.

Second.

Second. All in favor? Motion carries. Moving on to approval of the minutes, there's three different... May 12th, 2026 work session. May 18th, 2026 work session. And the May 19th, 2026 regular meeting and public hearing minutes. If there are no comments, deletions, or amendments to the approval of the minutes, I suggest that we vote on these as one.

I just wanted to ask, Ms. Cady, I don't have the full packet in front of me. Were my suggestions, were my suggested cuts in there? As an attachment? Yeah, as part of the minutes.

Yes, I can make sure that's in there.

Okay. That would be my only addition. I'm sorry. That would be my only addition was the documents that I'd prepared as far as suggested adjustments to the bill. You'll make sure to make that in formal motion. Well, I thought I had requested it at those work sessions that they be included.

Yes, it'll be included as an exhibit to the minutes.

Thank you.

So we have a motion on the floor to accept the minutes of the May 12th work session, May 18th work session, and the May 19th regular meeting. Second. We have a motion and a second? Second. All in favor? Motion carries. Move on to presentations. Mike?

Good evening, Mr. Chairman, Commissioners. I have another proclamation before you this evening. So this is a proclamation of the Camden County Board of Commissioners recognizing the week of June 15th through the 20th, 2026, as National Waste and Recycling Workers Week. Whereas National Garbage Man Day began in 2012 to show community appreciation for the local people of the garbage, sanitation, and recycling industry, and later changed the official name to Waste and Recycling Workers Week. The earliest garbage regulation efforts began in 3000 BC, when the first landfill was developed on the island of Crete, where large holes were dug for refuse. Whereas since that time, solid waste workers have worked selflessly and tirelessly in all types of environments. That's weather, pandemics, civil unrest, war, and that risk to themselves, and they do all this to provide solid waste services to protect communities and residents, prevent disease, and keep our community clean, safe, and beautiful. Whereas the people employed by the Camden County Board of Commissioners make significant contributions to the safety, health, and welfare of our residents by processing millions of tons of garbage, recycling, and composting annually. The proper collection, disposal, and maintenance of waste, recyclables, and compostables are vital to preventing disease and unsightly litter. Whereas the solid waste industry is the fifth most dangerous job in the United States, and the people employed in this sector should be celebrated. Whereas the sanitation and solid waste industry employs thousands across the United States and these essential workers deserve to be recognized and honored for their critical services that they provide to the communities that they serve. Whereas we value and celebrate our local Camden County solid waste workers for their commitment to our residents, to businesses and communities and we want to elevate solid waste history, individuals and the profession as a whole. So now therefore be it proclaimed by the Camden County Board of Commissioners that the week of June 15th through the 20th, 2026, be proclaimed as Waste and Recycling Workers Week. In Camden County, we encourage all residents to join me in thanking the hardworking men and women who ensure our communities are kept safe, clean, and healthy. Proclaimed the second day of June, 2026, Robbie Cheek, Chairman, Camden County Board of Commissioners. so we've got uh john here from solid waste and cyrus is here as well too any i'd love to have you all come up and receive this proclamation and get your photo taken with the board i know that's a reward i appreciate you brother that's what y'all hang on the office get your fancy shoes on and everything

Thank you.

So move on now to the presentation for the fiscal year 2027 proposed budget by Chief Financial Officer Linda Lynch, Lisa Lynch.

Good evening, Mr. Chairman, Commissioners. So we've been through five workshops and tonight we come to the conclusion of all of those workshops and we give you the proposed budget for our fiscal year 2027. Scott, can you see it up? Thank you. Okay, so. Just an explanation about balanced budgets. It is required by OCGA. Local governments have to adopt and operate under an annual balanced budget for the general fund, each special revenue fund, capital project fund, and each debt service fund in use by the local government. And it shows below what a balanced budget is when the sum of estimated revenues and appropriated fund balance is equal to appropriations. So that's just a little snippet there. What we'd like to show you here next is what we've come up with our projected revenues there. $48 million and what we're showing here is that to balance the budget the proposed expenditures there are $51 million and in order to balance the budget this year we would have to use $2.4 million of fund balance. So that's that does balance it there but just so you can that gives you a visual of what's needed. So first of all, we'll go through revenues. Again, these are projected numbers for the ad valorem that's projected for 2027. Your totals down there, last year was $48,195,616. For 2027, it's projected at $51,286,769. It's a difference of a little over $3 million. And next we'd like to show you this slide. I know we've had some questions about what's been balanced. Our estimated, this slide shows where we've gone from 2015. We started at 8.7 million, it went down through the years and then We started to build it back up where it was up in 2023 and 2024. And the past couple years we've had to, well, last year we've had to use some of those general fund fund balance. So we estimate this year because of that at $12.4 million. And this kind of gives you, this slide is just a little bit of the net digest history. We do have the numbers there for estimated 2026. As you can see, it's 2.5 billion. Last year it was 2.4, so it's gone up. It's around 118 million increase on the digest. So that shows you over the years. Since 2017, up until now, we've had a 98% growth rate. And just from last year to this year, it was almost a 5% growth right there. Now we'll go through the expenditures. This is just our general government. As you can see, it goes through all those different general government classifications there. We had the total for that general government was 2 million last year. This year it was up to 2.3, so that's a difference of 332,000. And for the courts, this is just the courts there. They did go down slightly, which was great. It was 3.7 last year. The proposed this year is also 3.7, but it's a little bit lower. As you can see, $6,700 less. So they did a good job on that. This is our public safety. It was 20 million last year, this year it's up to 21, it's a million dollar increase there. As you can see all the different areas that are under public safety, the patrol division, jail, adult probation, EMS, coroner, animal control, radio system, emergency management, those are in that category. And then here's the public works. The total for last year was $2.2 million. $2.3 is proposed for next year. Health and welfare, which gives those four departments, health department, mosquito control, family and children's services, and the senior center. It was $9.93, just under a million last year. This next year, we propose a little over a million there. On the culture and recreation, that includes the countywide library and the Brian Lang Historic Library. That last year was adopted at 630,000. This next year, 641,000. So just a little difference there. And for community development, which includes planning, county agents, forestry, code enforcement, and JDA, that was 2.1 million last year. It'll be 2.7 is the proposed for next year. So that brings our total expenses for last year was $48,195,616. And this year, the proposed is $51,286,769, which is an increase of a little over $3 million. And in the other expenditures category, we have the curbside collections, 1.7 million last year. They went up just to still 1.7, but that actually reduced a little bit, 13,000 reduction there. And E911, that would be last year was 1.8 million. Next year proposes 1.9, difference of 118,000. In our unincorporated, we had to divide this into two slides. It's kind of large. That includes the unincorporated area first, non-departmental, which was 4.3 million. It has decreased to 3.1. And then also the fire services is also included in that, and that's 2.6 last year, reduced to 1.7 this year. The second slide is the second half of that unincorporated and that shows our public works. They did reduce their budget as well, 772,000 down to 473. And then we have Let's see, we have the recreation, which was 958,000 last year, and 917, it'll be another reduction of 41,000. So they did a great job here, and unincorporated, it has been reduced from 4.3 to 3.1. That's a $1.2 million decrease. Our solid waste authority is our enterprise fund and last year was 5 million. This next year we propose 5.1 million. It's not a big increase there. And the Two Rivers gun range last year was 293,000 and they did a great job of reducing their budget a little over $3,000. So that's every little bit helps. Did a really good job. On all the funds, this is right here is the totals here. For the general fund is 48 million and the proposed is 51, as I stated earlier, it's $3 million difference. And as you can see, those are all of the other categories there. For a total last year was 86 million, 86.6, and this next year will be 87.3. some of those remain the same. Let's see. Oops, sorry, I'm going backwards there. Let's see. Now, for our capital expenditures, we've gotten that down to, on our government funds, as you can see there, we have the Capital Improvement Fund is 1.6 million. ARPA funds, which we have a little bit left to use, is 144,000. That's used for the The sheriff's office, they have a lease agreement there. And then SPLOST 9 funds will be 2.1 million. Jail and staffing fund, 142,000. And the naval base funding would be 700,000 for a total of 4.8 million. And then on the enterprise fund, since they're separate, 647,000 will be there projected or proposed. So the total there for total capital expenditures is 5.4 million. So just to let you know, on June the 4th, that'll be this Thursday, the summary of the budget will be advertised in the Tribune. And we will have the budget document available by the end of the week. And that's the website that it'll be listed on. Or you can pick up a physical copy here. And just a reminder of the dates that we have left. June the 4th will be the advertised budget. June 11th will be our public hearing on the proposed budget at six o'clock. And then the special called meeting on June 23rd will be the adoption of the 27 budget. That'll be at six o'clock as well. And that's it.

Thanks, Lisa. Questions, comments from the board? Seeing none, we'll move on to our first public comment section. These are comments regarding items featured on the agenda. Limited to three minutes. Anybody signed up?

Yes, Mr. Steve Winkle.

Mr. Winkle.

Finance explained that The net assets of the county that are taxable have increased 98% in the last 10 years. That would be what you can charge taxes on, have increased 98%. We have decreased the tax burden by 9%. which means, in my estimation here, that the burden on existing taxpayers, if it were all on existing, would be 10 times increase over what we paid to live in Camden County for property taxes 10 years ago. Now, I've lived in my house slightly more than 10 years, so it's a meaningful number for me. But I took advantage when I moved in of freezing my value because I was over 65 and retired, and my wife was over 65 and retired, and we were able to lock ours in. But I've noticed that in my neighborhood, which is an upscale neighborhood with higher value homes in it, that the people who have moved in in the last five years or so can't stay in their homes. and they're turning over in two or three or four years because they got in over their heads. Now that's a budget thing, a family budget problem. Maybe they have two fancy cars. Maybe they have a $500 a month internet connection. I don't know what their problems are. but they're not able to afford to stay in their homes. So I did my own research, and I took a look at this current year's budget, and that's the document I put in front of you. This page came directly from the current year's budget. And I noticed something simple. From 2019, the most recent years, to 2024, that's a six-year period, The budget increased 42%. Taxable properties increased 42%. There's no one in this room, including the former planning director, who can tell me that we've increased the number of developed properties 42%. Not even close. That would mean that every new subdivision over the last five years would be 42% built out. Most of them are struggling to sell and offering interest free, which is what gets people into trouble later on and causes them to not be able to afford to stay in their homes. And so when I take a look at this and I started running the numbers, I wonder why we picked the last 10 years to look at the increase in the net value of our taxable assets in the county rather than just the last four years, which would be the period of time that some of the commissioners who are running this year were reelected four years ago. And so I take a look at it and I'm looking at this and I'm saying that taxes are increasing a lot faster because our property values are supposedly increasing even though property sales are up and down depending on the economy. And right now they're quite down. That's why interest free is necessary in some of the new subdivisions that were started a couple years ago. And that's why drainage is a problem. And so I'm looking at taxes being a big problem in Camden County. And maybe that's why we're not landing businesses. Because the JDA can only give away so many years of tax deductions to new businesses. And we're competing against every other coastal state, including interior states. And surprise, surprise, Camden County, of the 10 surrounding Georgia counties, had the lowest voter turnout during the primary. People here aren't even aware of how much trouble we're in. And y'all are reacting to the fact that you don't hear from them. complaining about the fact they can't afford to live here anymore and there aren't jobs for them. And maybe it all has to do with the fact that for at least 10 years we have doubled the tax base but only reduced the millage rate one-fifth as much as we have increased the tax base. And so maybe taxes are paying a bigger part in people who can look at other places and make another decision. I notice every morning about 4,000 more people move into, I'm sorry, drive into Camden County to work than spend the night here. They drive back out to their families. And so you can say we've got this many X thousands of people working, but you spend money where you work or do you spend money where you live? You pay taxes where you live. You buy your groceries where you live. Your kids go to school where you live and you pay school taxes there, not school taxes in Camden County. And so maybe the way we look at it has to change. The whole conversation I watched last Tuesday nights online and the way that went was totally unsatisfactory to a taxpayer. I know the problem that you're faced with. The sheriff comes in and says he needs this and he needs that or else he can't protect the public. And boy, I want to be protected. And I just got great service today at the Brian Lang Library because it's being maintained and maintained well and it's been there for the decades that it's been there. And so we have a lot of things. Maybe we've taken on too much. Maybe we should drop back a little bit and cut some of those line items out altogether rather than just allowing them to increase a little bit. Thank you.

Thank you. Anybody else signed up? Anybody else?

I'm Ben Goff from Harris Bluff. I want to commend you gentlemen for all the hard work that you've done in the work sessions to try to reduce the current expenditures. I along with at least 42 percent of the constituents in District 2 are upset with the fact that we continue to attempt to live above our means. And I firmly believe that we cannot continue to attempt to provide the services that we're providing on the backs of the taxpayers. Thank you.

Thank you. Anybody else?

Rick Mann from Bullhead. On the subject of the budget, I don't believe we've made a decent attempt to even cut some things that could be cut. No, nobody wants to lose services. We all know that. But the numbers ain't numbered. The revenue that's coming in versus the growth that we've had, they don't jive together, folks. I mean, they increase. I know y'all, half of this county stalks my Facebook page. You looked on there where I posted a little two-acre piece that in from one year to the next, more than doubled in value and taxes. A little piece of magnolia-based swamp land with nothing, I mean nothing around it. Why'd it do that? Well, we all know why. Because it's not an eligible homestead exemption. And it's not the only piece. I looked through there and seen hundreds and hundreds of them. There's no way the property increased that much. But then you sit up here and you say, well, we didn't cut millage rate or increase the millage rate that year. Well, I wonder why. Because the tax has more than doubled on a piece of swamp that you can't even develop. Now, folks, we've got to get a hold of our spending. We don't have revenue problems. We have spending problems. The only revenue problems we have is because we don't have industry. Why don't we have industry? Because of what we're doing right there. When you raise taxes like that on a piece of undevelopable land, who do you think wants to come in here? Well, hell, they're going to look at Camden County and say, I'm not going there because as soon as I get there and try to do something, they're going to jack... taxes up on me. And that's how people look at it. I talk to people every day. Probably more than some of y'all do. We got people sitting here, business people, engineering, and we're sitting here pissing money down the drain. I can show you me being pissed down the drain right here. I've tried to talk with y'all. Y'all don't want to hear nothing. When I come up here and when I try to talk to y'all, it's about saving this county money. It ain't about me trying to make my point. Well, in case you don't know, I love this county. My family's been here since the 1850s. And I'm watching what's going on. And what's going on is because of that board right up there. Y'all make the decisions. Y'all control the purse. Nobody else do. Don't go blaming it on Joey or nobody else because y'all control it. I mean, every one of these departments is going to ask and ask and ask. And if you keep giving... It's no different than sending a kid to the candy store. They're going to ask for more next time. Thank you.

Thank you. Anybody else? okay moving on we're going to move to the we're going to entertain a motion to adjourn the regular meeting and convene a public hearing to receive comments on the amendments to the official code of camden county chapter 14 animals second mr chairman i have a motion in a second all in favor jerry do you have any additional information

I do. Thank you. So as we as you guys explained, we're looking at the adoption or the second reading and the adoption of the animal control ordinances. And what it is is just a total revamp of of what we've done in the past. I have a little thing here for highlighting the the major changes and the kind of the key changes that are going to take place. excuse me we have extensive and detailed definitions definition additions those are community cast potentially potentially dangerous animals electronic confinement systems fencing adequate shelter proper color and harnesses more strict tethering rules which include weather regulations and limits on tether weight Shelter requirements, which include four-sided enclosures, solid walls, temperature threshold requirements, and direct sunlight restrictions. We have an expansion of the dangerous dog declarations. We added a potentially dangerous dog. We get calls periodically about situations that happen that we can't, by state law, classify as a dangerous or vicious dog. to which it could be a situation where it's understandable and it's looked at by us, but ultimately we don't have that authority to do that based on the circumstance. So what we did was we added that potentially dangerous dog clause in there, which it has to either endanger the safety of humans, an animal that bites or attacks a person, or a pet animal without causing injury, an animal that has been found running at large for more than one time in a six-month period. And then because of temperament, conditioning, or training has a known propensity, tendency, or disposition to attack, bite, or injure humans or animals without provocation, that's going to give us a lot more teeth to correct these issues and hold people accountable for not being responsible for their pets. We have added a repeat offender clause. um and these are just you know the high you know the the high high majority the high profile things that we're doing and the benefits of adopting these ordinances as presented is number one going to improve animal animal welfare is protection from extreme temperatures cleaner living conditions and reduce exposure to the elements rain and staining water THE NEW PROPOSED ORDINANCES GIVE A CLEAR CRITERIA FOR REGULATIONS INSTEAD OF MULTIPLE INTERPRETATIONS OF STANDARDS AND THE ADDITION OF THE POTENTIALLY DANGEROUS DOG, WHICH IDENTIFIES AREAS OF DOGS. THIS IS GOING TO ALLOW US TO IDENTIFY AREAS OF DOGS OF POTENTIAL ESCALATION, WHICH COULD RESULT IN MORE SERIOUS PUBLIC SAFETY ISSUES. AND THEN LASTLY, IT'S GOING TO GIVE US BETTER CONTROL OF BREEDING PRACTICES TO MITIGATE STRAY POPULATIONS. And our entire goal of this is to have a stronger public safety, have stronger public safety measures in place earlier and quicker interventions to potentially escalating problems and increase all humane standards for animals in Camden County. So they are up for adoption or for the second reading and adoption.

Thank you. Any comments from the public?

Positive comment today. The three sitting over there. I asked last meeting about getting everything highlighted and all on the public forum. It was done. We had a citizens meeting last week, and then we looked it over. Made it a lot easier to see the changes, and we do appreciate it.

Thanks, Ricky. Mr. Winkle?

Steve Winkle, when the budget was presented, did I notice a reduction in the budget amount for animal control? Y'all have the budget in front of you. We don't have anything to look at, but I believe the presentation showed a reduction of a couple hundred thousand dollars for animal control, which goes exactly to my point. We're getting more protection if your plan goes in for less money in last year's budget. Does that mean our money was wasted last year, that amount of money? Does that mean that we're going to do it by miracles from heaven? Or does it mean that we have better management in place? We'd rather it be better management, of course. Thank you. Thank you.

Anybody else? Any questions from the board?

I do have a question. So have you put this in front of the, my understanding is you can only enforce codes within unincorporated except for animal control because of the agreement that's in place. So how do you enforce this ordinance within the cities if they don't adopt it?

The city's run off of the ordinance, which is, since we service the cities, we have an IGA, I believe, with our service delivery strategy that we provide that service to the cities. So they would fall under this purview for our ordinances for animals.

So they don't have to adopt any in this language? They're just automatically falling?

Not to my knowledge. Okay.

I have one question. It looks like to me that the code enforcement agent or whoever that person is, you've given them more authority to make these decisions, right?

Essentially, yes. It's given them more authority, but it's also giving us stronger ordinances to back up that authority and vice versa.

For instance, if you go to a house and there's a dog there, you guys make the decision, if you know where the dog lives, whether to take the dog home or take it with you, right?

That's right. And I mean, too, just an example of that authority that you're talking about, you know, this ordinance, if we adopt this ordinance here, if we have a dog that is owned by somebody that is running at large more than one time in a six-month period, we can move for a classification of a potentially dangerous dog to where before we couldn't. We just went by state law. But state law has a very basic criteria for declaring dangerous and vicious dogs. But we wanted to make it to where it was a little bit stronger because it can become a problem if we keep on getting calls like we do for them. And I mean, honestly, at the same time, you're providing some potential closure or better solutions for the victims of issues like this.

I think it really just strengthens the fact that it's not the animals, it's the irresponsible ownership that's the biggest problem. And this strengthens that.

That's right.

That's right.

So for the majority of dogs that you find running at large, are you able to reunite them with their owner?

Um, I mean, it's, it's, I think it was, I think it'd be a fair split. Um, it just depends on the circumstances. Um, if they, if they're taken away from where they were at, where they were found, that makes it a little more challenging. While I do understand that is also human nature to, to want to provide help for that dog. Um, you also, you know, in providing that help, you also present a challenge, uh, to where if you take that dog out from where it's known, where that dog knows that area, you make it that much more harder for that dog to get back home.

Do you keep a log of where most of the calls come from? Yes, sir.

Everything is in our, all calls are logged in our databases. Thank you.

What is the penalty for being a potentially dangerous dog?

So the process of the potentially dangerous dog goes forward like the same, like it would go forward the same as a dangerous dog or vicious dog classification.

So a dog that's getting out and running loose, you could potentially put it down?

No, no, that can only happen through a judge's order.

Right, which would normally, that'd be the, what you're trying to determine with a dangerous dog, correct?

Right, so a very brief process for that is we submit the, we make the classification for a dog to be either dangerous or vicious. We have to make that determination within 72 hours. The owner of that dog has the right and ability to file an appeal within seven days through probate court. then it will be taken before the judge to either uphold that classification or revoke that classification. And that's when it gets to the point if it goes to probate on appeal, that's usually when we see either a judgment for the dog to be put down or a disposition from the judge.

So I guess now walk me through a potentially dangerous dog. What would that process look like?

It's the same process. We're doing a potential dangerous dog to give us the ability to say this is either dangerous or vicious with lesser criteria than the actual state law. Because we can have a little bit more of a strict guideline than state law. We just can't have a lesser strict than state law.

My only hangup was I just don't think a dog running loose necessarily, you're labeling it potentially dangerous. That doesn't mean it's gonna be actually dangerous.

Correct, correct. It doesn't necessarily mean potentially that it's dangerous. And if somebody, if a resident does want to appeal that, they have every right to do so. Then it's gonna be up to the judge to make a ruling on that.

Right, yeah, because aside from the shelter and everything, that was like one of the most major changes in here, correct?

That's right. I mean, you know, and you also got to think, I mean, you would never imagine a dog running loose two times in a matter of six months would be considered dangerous or could be considered potentially dangerous until it happens. So our goal is to prevent that from happening, prevent something serious from happening.

So is it just a bunch of fines? I'm just trying to understand. So what is the what's the end end goal with the potential?

So for the potential, if we classify a potentially dangerous or vicious dog, it will. That is not a citation. That's not a citation that we write. The citation we write will be the dog at large. And if it's more than one more than one time at a six month period, then we'll go for a repeat offender. A REPEAT OFFENDER SITUATION WHICH THAT THE MAGISTRATE COURT CAN IMPOSE MORE FINES IN THAT AND THAT'S WHAT WE WILL PUSH FOR BUT IF IT'S A SITUATION WHERE YOU KNOW THE DOG IS JUST YOU KNOW RUNNING LOOSE ONE TWO TIMES IN A MONTH IN SIX MONTHS LIKE I SAID WE DON'T KNOW UNTIL IT HAPPENS THEN THE WHOLE POINT IS WE DON'T WANT IT TO HAPPEN.

I'M JUST TRYING TO UNDERSTAND. YOU WANT TO PREVENT IT. what does that designation actually mean? So it carries that designation.

So you're talking about what are the provisions for a potentially dangerous dog?

If you're not putting it down, it just carries that designation.

So they have, there are also, there's also a slew of other requirements there that the resident is required to do to own a dangerous dog. Number one, you cannot own more than one dangerous dog per household. Number two, you have to have a cage within a cage. So if you have an outdoor kennel, there has to be an additional outdoor kennel inside that first outdoor kennel. so that would be the same requirement for a potentially dangerous right that's right um you have to carry a 50 000 insurance policy for that there has to be signage muzzled when it's outside in the public just a variety of different different regulations that go along with that thank you anything else so entertain a motion to adjourn the public hearing and reconvene the regular meeting

Let's move, Mr. Chairman.

Second. I have a motion and a second. All in favor? Moving on. Item number one is the second reading of adoption of the amendments to Chapter 14, Animals of the Official Code of Camden County, Georgia. I move that we waive the second reading and adopt the amendments to the Chapter 14, Animals of the Official Code of Camden County, Georgia.

Second. Second.

We have a motion and a second. Any discussion? All in favor? Motion carries. Now we're moving on to the renewal of the lease agreement for the Department of Community Supervision.

Mr. Chairman, do you want to ask if Mr. Smith opposes it? Have you opposed it?

Yeah, I didn't raise my hand in favor. Yeah, I was about to ask.

Did you catch that?

I didn't catch that.

Yes, I was just going to ask.

We were talking with our eyes. Okay, cool.

So let's move on to item two. It's renewal of the lease agreement for the Department of Community Supervision located at 208 East 4th Street, Woodbine. I'll make a motion that we renew the lease agreement as presented.

I have a motion and a second.

Any discussion? All in favor? Motion carries. Okay, moving on. A motion to adjourn the regular meeting and convene the Solid Waste Authority meeting. So moved. I'll second. I have a motion and a second. All in favor? Okay, moving on to the Solid Waste Agenda amendments. Do we have any amendments to the agenda? Seeing none, move to adopt the agenda as presented.

Mr. Chairman, I move to adopt the agenda as presented. Second.

A motion and a second. All in favor? Move on to the approval of the minutes of the Solid Waste Authority meeting on May 19th, 2026.

Mr. Chairman, I move to approve the May 19th Solid Waste Authority minutes.

Second. We have a motion and a second. Any discussion?

All in favor? Motion carries.

Now we'll move on to the Solid Waste Authority public comment section. Any comments regarding items featured on the agenda? Seeing none. We'll move on to the solid waste agenda. Mr. Pittman.

Good evening, Mr. Chairman and commissioners. It's a pleasure to be back before you again to request the board to consider and approve the MSW and C&D landfills FY27 cost analysis and tip and fee options. The FY27 recommended fee structure was tabled last week at the meeting. And at that time, I was given direction to come back to the board to adjust the MSW and the CND in-county and out-of-county fees for the FY27 budget cycle. Consulting with our engineers at ACC, updates were made to the cost of disposal analysis for the MSW and the C&D land fields using the most recent operational cost tonnage data closure cost with an overall increase from the initial in-county and out-of-county recommended FY27 tipping fees. There was an increase as we review the current data. There was a recommended of about 10% increase from the recommended FY27 tipping fees. Right now is the adjusted tipping fees that what I'm presenting to you right now. So with that being said, all the rates, you know, we are still within, we remain competitive within the region, the regional market. So adopting the disposal tipping fees at this time would align disposal rates and actual operating costs, standardized rate categories all across customers, commercial haulers in all cities will be on the same level. And it also allows us to maintain long-term financial stability of landfill operations at Camden County. So at this time, Solid Waste Authority recommends approving the adjusted FY27 MSW and CND in-county and out-of-county disposal rates. At this time, I will be more than happy to answer any questions that you may have.

Questions from the board? Mr. Chairman, I make the motion we approve these rates.

Second.

We have a motion and a second. Any discussion? All in favor? Motion carries. Thanks, John. You're welcome. So move on to the additional Solid Waste Authority public comments section. Anybody have any comments? Okay, moving on, entertain a motion to adjourn the Solid Waste Authority meeting and reconvene the meeting. Sorry, Mr. Goff, you need to be a little quicker on your feet. We all are.

Again, Goff, I have the absolute curiosity of a cat maybe, but I'm curious about what happened with the fire at the landfill that destroyed a piece of equipment. What started the fire? And I guess that's the basic thing. And then I understand with a little investigation that fire department was never called. I don't know for a fact that that's correct, but that's what I understand. So I would love to have some interest in our, some knowledge regarding that fire. Thank you.

John, if you could address that. We're going to be a little out of protocol, but please address that one.

Absolutely. The start of the fire was just a pickup truck that was parked next to it. It had some electrical problems, and it caught on fire, and it ignited and caught the articulator on fire as well. As far as the fire department being called, the fire department was there before I could get there, of course. There were a few more others on site as well, but they were called, and they'd done their job, and they'd done an excellent job when they were on site.

Thank you. I know for one, when I got the call, it takes me probably 25 minutes to get there, and it was already out by the time I got there. So the response time was good. Not a good situation, but it's a lot better than it could have been. I'm sorry. One last question.

Could you step to the podium so the people listening can hear you?

The damage to the county equipment, was it covered by insurance of the vehicle that caused the fire, or did it come out of county pockets?

We're pursuing.

We're self-insured.

If I may, Chairman, yes, the damage was insured. That is considered property. The articulating jump truck is considered property and not a vehicle because it doesn't have a license plate on it and it's not driven on the road. And thankfully for our situation, the pickup truck that was out there was an old truck that had been used and then the landfill takes those vehicles out there and uses them on the landfill. They never leave the property, so they don't have license plates on them either. And thankfully that was the case because the pickup truck started the fire. The property insurance company is different than the auto insurance company and they would have wanted to subrogate against the auto insurance company where there's a huge deductible that's bigger than the value of the truck. But because that truck wasn't insured, I know this is getting in the weeds here, because the pickup truck wasn't insured, the property insurance covered the big expensive truck. So we did recoup probably close to 80% of what we paid for that vehicle several years ago through the insurance company.

Thank you.

Yes, you're welcome. Thanks, Mike.

Okay, we'll entertain a motion to adjourn the Solid Waste Authority meeting and reconvene the regular meeting. So moved.

Second, Mr. Chairman. We'll have a motion and a second.

All in favor? I'll move back to the regular meeting. Entertain a motion for the consideration of the MSW and the CD&D landfill tipping fee increase as presented at the Solid Waste Authority.

Mr. Chairman, I move that we accept the cost analysis. Oh, wait, are you about to? Sorry, I thought we just heard it. My bad.

No, you're fine. You're good.

Can I finish? Yeah. I move that we accept the tipping fees and associated cost analysis.

Second. We have a motion and a second. Discussion? All in favor? Motion carries. Thank you. Thank you.

Moving on to reports.

The calendar.

There's no changes to the calendar at this time.

No changes in the calendar. Joey, do you have any comments?

Yes, sir, Mr. Chairman. I just want to remind everyone about our 32nd Annual Fishing Derby, which will be on June the 13th. It'll be fishing for 16 and under children. So bring them out to our landfill, enjoy the day, and let Mr. Pittman entertain us all. So we appreciate everyone. Thanks, Joey.

Move on to the additional public comment section. Does anybody wish to speak to the board? Seeing none, I'll make a motion we adjourn the regular meeting and convene an executive session to discuss real estate. I have a motion and a second. All in favor? We'll be back. I have a motion and a second. All in favor? There is no action necessary from the executive session, so any final comments from the board? Seeing none, motion to adjourn.

I make a motion we adjourn, Mr. Chairman.

Second, Mr. Chairman. Motion and a second. All in favor? Thank you all.