Camden Ga News

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2007-01-30T10:24:00.000-05:00

Visit the new Camden GA News at www.camdenganews.com. This site is no longer active, but is being maintained for archival purposes.

OUT WITH THE OLD,IN WITH THE NEW!!!!!

2005-11-11T09:00:00.000-05:00

SANCTUARY COVE an upscale closed
gate community located in the Dover
Bluff area of Camden County is to expand
its waste water treatment plant. If plans
go thru, they will serve two similar
developments "BRIDGE POINTE at
JEKYLL SOUND and SATILLA
VILLAGE." Bridge Pointe is a
development of 762 acres and
SATILLA is 381 acres. When built
out over 1000 homes would be
involved.

Camden County to consider two
pieces of legislation which are
designed to favor growth at
the expense of the existing
population.

First, In cooperation with the
JDA they will consider making
SANCTUARY COVE (upscale
closed gate community located in
the Dover Bluff Area) septic tank
for two other developments in
the area.

The plan is to expand the approved
waste water treatment plant located
inside Sanctuary Cove to
accommodate Bridge Pointe at
Jekyll Sound and Satilla Village so
that they can market lots to the
general public.

However, by the letter from JDA to
Mr. Ian Ruggles of Bridge Pointe
at Jekyll Sound the rest of the
County is exposed to all kinds of
problems. What is most disturbing
is why are taxpayers involved?

Why is the JDA and County
Government involved in what
is a totally private venture.
There will be no cash flow into
an enterprise fund* (the way
government usually pays for
water & sewer construction).

*Enterprise Fund - A fund to pay
back taxpayers for a water and
waste water system and to pay
for new construction. (Initially
paid for by bonds, financed by
taxpayers. The fund is paid for
by new residents fees for hook-up
to the system. Also for water use
(monitored by meters).

The receiver of the waste is
private (Sanctuary Cove) the
givers are two private developers.
Why should the taxpayers not
only be involved, but our good
name is guaranteeing the entire
project leaving us legally liable.

The following letter is an exact
replica of what the JDA is telling
developers on taxpayers behalf.

August 3O, 2005

Mr. Ian Ruggles
Bridge Pointe at Jekyll Sound
PO Box 86
Waverly, GA 31565

Re:Bridge Pointe at Jekyll Sound

Dear Mr. Ruggles;

The Camden County Joint Development
Authority (CCJDA) supports growth on
Dover Bluff Road in the Northern part
of Camden County.

Our goal is to have a public water and
sewer system in place as soon as possible.
Our consultant engineering firm tells us
this system can be in place in four (4)
years.

Because of our desire to promote growth
in Camden County, this letter is to assure
your company that we will do whatever
it takes to assist you with your development.
If it becomes necessary to put in package
plants for sewer, we plan to install them
and we plan to be putting in water wells.

If for any reason we find that we can not
accommodate your time frame for develop-
ment, we will work with private enterprise
to provide these utilities.

Again, thanks for your interest in Camden
County and the goal of the CCJDA is to
make things happen!

With Best Regards,
Bob Noble Executive Director

Secondly, the county proposes
banning trailers in R1 (single
family) and R2 (2 family) zones.

What this means is that there
will be no trailers in new areas.
However, it also means that there
will be no new trailers where they
currently exist. Bascially, if
something happens to your trailer
or you want to make yours bigger,
you will not be allowed to do so.

Imagine, for example if a tornado
came down and destroyed 6 mobile
homes. Not only would the families
be devastated but additionally they
would not be able to rebuild. I
repeat, if anything happens to your
trailer (including wearing out) you
will not be able to put a new one
where the old one was.

Sandy Sez:
The JDA is encouraging housing which
we already have plenty of instead of
concentrating on businessess of
which we have none. Why is it?

Is it because they don't want
business here???

With reference to the trailer matter I
suppose they think that the time for
people with limited income has past.
That Camden now belongs to the
rich and famous.

What a pity that they have no soul.
Call them, tell them, ask them "where
is your humanity?"

Sandy Feller
County Commissioner
District 4

"Working for the future without forgetting the past"

ELECTION RESULTS 2005

2005-11-09T09:03:00.000-05:00

Winners

St. Marys
Mayor - ROWLAND ESKRIDGE
District - BILL DELOUGHY
District - LARRY JOHNSON
District - GULL WEAVER

Congratulations to the winners
and best wishes to those who
also ran. Your contributions
to the election process is
something to be proud of.

Sandy Sez:
If you voted shake your hand,
If you didn't go in front of a
mirror and look ashamed.

Good luck and God Bless
our County

PLEASE VOTE NOV 8TH

2005-11-04T21:00:00.000-05:00

ON TUESDAY NOVEMBER 8, 2005
the citizens of St. Marys will elect a
Mayor and three councilpersons. They
will serve in the most important time in
the history of the city. They will have to
deal with the Durango redevelopment,
Infrastructure, rebuilding and expansion
and explosive population growth. The
editorial staff of Camden Ga News is
proud and pleased to endorse the
following candidates.

Mayor - Rowland Eskridge
Post 4 - Bill Deloughy
Post 5 - Deborah Hase
Post 6 - Gull Weaver

Kingsland - Marion Wall
Woodbine - Ginger Readdick-Lloyd

In our opinion these candidates have
no pre-conceived notions or alliances.
They will serve only one master you
the public. Their opponents on the
other hand very clearly represent a
conglomerate of self serving individuals
whose only purpose is to serve the
developers and their close nit group of
friends. When weighing all the factors
involved. Mayor, Post 4 and Post 6 were
a NO-BRAINER. In the case of Post 5
it was more difficult. Mr. Rillo and
Mr. Johnson are fine men however, when
viewing the future with all its problems
our decision fell to experience . Clearly
Mrs. Hase has the experience necessary
at this point in time.

In the case of Kingsland take a look at
Marion Wall a newcomer to politics but
someone who has been around for a long
time. He will be a tremendous asset.

In Woodbine same story. Take a look at
Ginger Readdick-Llyod. She looks like she
couldmake a meaningful contribution to
Woodbines future.
*************************************
*************************************
On November 8th you had better
put all other interests aside. Your
vote is vital to all of our futures.
On November 8th
VOTE-VOTE-VOTE-VOTE-VOTE
Thank you.
**************************************
**************************************
PLEASE UNDERSTAND HOW
SERIOUS THIS ELECTION IS!!!!!

***************************************
PAID POLITICAL ADVERTISEMENT
***************************************
IN THE ST. MARYS ELECTION ELECT
THE STEVE BERRY LINE

BRIAN FEWOX - MAYOR
DOUG VAUGHT - POST 6
J.R. ROLLINS - POST 4

Remember if you want good dictatorial
government that promises consolidation
of Police and Fire Services with the
County. If you want walking out when
the vote goes the other way.
Elect the Berry Line.

"Paid for by I.M. NUTS"

Sandy Sez:
VOTE for the people!!!!!!
Our futures are at stake!!!!
Please do not vote for the
well connected. Please share
this information with all of
your family and friends.

Have a great Camden County Weekend
VOTE - VOTE - VOTE - VOTE - VOTE

"Working for the future without forgetting the past"

ELECTION 2005

2005-11-02T09:00:00.000-05:00

ON TUESDAY NOVEMBER 8, 2005 the citizens of St. Marys will elect a Mayor and three councilpersons. They will serve in the most important time in the history of the city. They will have to deal with the Durango redevelopment, Infrastructure, rebuilding and expansion and explosive population growth. The editorial staff of Camden Ga News is proud and pleased to endorse the following candidates:

Mayor - Rowland Eskridge
Post 4 - Bill Deloughy
Post 5 - Deborah Hase
Post 6 - Gull Weaver

In our opinion these candidates have
no pre-conceived notions or alliances.
They will serve only one master you
the public. Their opponents on the
other hand very clearly represent a
conglomerate of self serving individuals
whose only purpose is to serve the
developers and their closely nit group
of friends. When weighing all the factors
involved. Mayor, Post 4 and Post 6 were
a NO-BRAINER. In the case of Post 5
it was more difficult. Mr. Rillo and
Mr. Johnson are fine men however, when
viewing the future with all its problems
our decision fell to experience . Clearly
Mrs. Hase has the experience necessary
at this point in time.

In the case of Kingsland take a look at
Marion Wall a newcomer to politics but
someone who has been around for a long
time. He will be tremendous asset.

In Woodbine same story. Take a look at
Ginger Readdick-Llyod. She looks like she
could make a meaningful contribution to
Woodbines future.
***************************************
***************************************
On November 8th you had better
put all other interests aside. Your
vote is vital to all of our futures.
On November 8th
VOTE-VOTE-VOTE-VOTE-VOTE
Thank you.
***************************************
***************************************
PLEASE UNDERSTAND HOW
SERIOUS THIS ELECTION IS!!!!!

***************************************
PAID POLITICAL ADVERTISEMENT
***************************************
IN THE ST. MARYS ELECTION
ELECT THE STEVE BERRY LINE

BRIAN FEWOX - MAYOR
DOUG VAUGHT - POST 6
J.R. ROLLINS - POST 4

Remember if you want good
dictatorial government that
promises consolidation
of Police and Fire Services
with the County.

If you want walking out when
the vote goes the other way.
Elect the Berry Line.

"Paid for by I.M. NUTS"

Sandy Sez:
It is up to you to decide the
future of our community.
VOTE - VOTE - VOTE

"Working for the future without forgetting the past"

EVACUATION PLANNING

2005-10-26T09:02:00.000-04:00

On October 4, 2005 I had placed on the
agenda an item regarding evacuation
plans. What follows is my introductory
statement and the response from the
head of our emergency management
team.

My statement to the Commission:
Hurricane Katrina made me aware that
we have a problem that should be
addressed now. The problem is the safe
evacuation of the ill, infirmed, bed
ridden and economically disadvantaged
citizens of Camden County as well as the
service providers who have their own
families to be concerned with in a time
of crisis. To this end I asked Mr. Crews
to think about the problem and put
together some ideas and share them with
us this evening.

The only trouble was that my
fellow commissioners refused to allow
Mr. Crews to speak. So I obtained the
report from Mr. Crews so that he could
speak to you directly.

Camden County Emergency
Management Agency Plan for
Evacuation of Special Needs
Citizens
Because of their fragile medical conditions,
Special Needs Citizens will be the first to
leave and the last to return.
A roster of special needs citizens as
defined by the state will be maintained
on a year-round basis. The list will be
updated weekly during hurricane season.
We need to define how we determine a
SNP, and what info needs to be included
in the registry.
Responsible party: Camden County Health Dept.

The roster will be provided to Camden
County EMA on June 1 and updated
weekly during hurricane season. Some
patients may be out of town, in the
hospital, or have made other
arrangements. The updates will be
provided to the Camden County Sheriff s
Search and Rescue Team on a monthly
basis or more frequently as needed.
Responsible party: Camden County Health
Department, Camden EMA

The locations of the special needs citizens'
homes will be mapped and a pick-up
route established. We should also
include destination map.
Responsible party: Camden County Planning
and Building, Camden County SO Search
and Rescue

When a storm is 5 days out, the citizens
on the special needs roster will be
notified that the evacuation is imminent
and told to prepare all items needed to
take to the special needs shelter. Do we
limit their carry-on items? At this point,
no additional names will be added to
the roster. ?
Responsible party: Camden County Health
Department
When the storm is 5 days out, the following
entities will be notified that the special
needs citizens may need to be evacuated;

Camden County Board of Education for

buses for ambulatory patients

Camden County Fire Rescue for moving

stretcher bound patients

Glynn County EMA for reception of our

special needs citizens

Camden County SO Search and Rescue

team for assistance in moving the special
needs citizens
Responsible party: Camden County EMA

When the storm is 72 hours out, the
citizens on the special needs roster will
be notified that they will be evacuated
and will be given a pick-up time.
Responsible party: Camden County Health
Department

When the storm is 72 hours out the
following entities will be notified that
special needs citizens will be evacuated
and given an approximate departure
time:

Camden County Board of Education

for buses for ambulatory patients

Camden County Fire Rescue for moving

stricter bound patients

Glynn County EMA for reception of our

special needs citizens

Camden County SO Search and Rescue

team for assistance in moving the special
needs citizens
Responsible party: Camden County EMA

All special need citizens will be picked up
and taken to the Glynn County Multi-
Purpose Center where they will then be
transferred to Glynn County buses and
ambulances. One EMT or Paramedic will
be assigned to the buses to accompany
the patients to Glynn County. A manifest
of the patients and staff traveling on the
buses will be provided to the Board of
Education. Volunteers will mark the
patient's belongings with masking tape.
Responsible party: Camden County Board of
Education

Camden County SO Search and

Rescue

Camden County Fire Rescue

(Bed bound patients will be taken to
Ware County High School in Waycross.
The Georgia Nurse Alert System will
provide nursing care.)

(Ambulatory patients will be taken to
the Ware County High School in
Waycross.)

All patients will be given a 5x8 pouch
envelope with a long neck cord attached.
Their names will visible on the outside
of the pouch. The patients will place
the pouch around their neck so that
their names are visible. The pouch will
contain medical history, a list of
allergies and current medications.
Other possibly information to have in
the pouch may include DNR orders,
emergency contact numbers for
next-of-kin.
Responsible party: Camden County Health
Department

Coolers filled with ice, water and snacks
will be placed on the buses. Kits
containing sanitary wipes, exam
gloves, toilet paper, paper towels, and
garbage bags will be placed on the buses.
Responsible party: American Red Cross

The buses will have a Law Enforcement
escort to Glynn County Multi-Purpose
Facility.
Responsible party: Camden County Sheriffs Office

Once the "All-Clear" has been given and
utilities fully restored, this process will be
reversed and all patients returned to
their respective homes
Responsible party: All above mentioned agencies.

Please read and address any comments
to oilseal@tds.net I will forward them
to Mr. Crews for reply. Thank you.

It would appear that my fellow
Commissioners were so annoyed with
me that they allowed their feelings to
come before the public good.

Chairman Rainer alone must take
responsibility for this because he runs
the meeting. As for the rest, please
grow up! There are 50,000 people
that depend on us. Do the right thing
and put petty political differences out
of the way of good government.

Sandy Sez:
My friend Dave says some of his
friends are new comers to the County.
They can't understand why I have such
a problem getting along with my fellow
Commissioners.

My answer is best explained as follows.

The Donini Family has been in
business for over 40 years in St. Marys.
Now a developer is trying to push them
out by what appears to be high handed
tactics. Ultimately the matter will be
settled in court. However, I represent
the Donini's of Camden County. My
fellow Commissioners represent the
Developers. When my fellow
Commissioners start thinking about all
of Camden all the bickering will
DISAPPEAR!!!!!!

***************************************
PAID POLITICAL ADVERTISEMENT
***************************************
IN THE ST. MARYS ELECTION ELECT
THE STEVE BERRY LINE

BRIAN FEWOX - MAYOR
DOUG VAUGHT - POST 6
J.R. ROLLINS - POST 4

Remember if you want good dictatorial
government that promises consolidation
of Police and Fire Services with the County.
If you want walking out when the vote goes
the other way. Elect the Berry Line.

Paid for by I.M. NUTS

"Working for the future without forgetting the past"

The Mailbox 10-26-05

2005-10-26T09:00:00.000-04:00

Here is a small selection from an
outpouring to our email oilseal@tds.net
We will try to catch up as soon as we
can. With this posting our counter
reads over 10,000. Thank you
Camden County for participating.

**************************************
LETTERS TO THE EDITOR:
**************************************
Robert G. Becker writes about travesty
in County Government:

Once again personal issues by certain
commissioners has already rear it's
ugly head. "At will" is at fault, and it
will destroy this county. Within days
of four of the Commissioners passing
"At will" they fired the Secretary for
Planning. A very honest woman, who
told them what our County rules were.
She won't play ball with them, because
of the rules and regulations that had
been passed. It's back to square one.
Certain individuals get special favors,
to the detriment of the rest of the
County people. This is government
of the few by the few. People wake up,
we are getting ripped off by certain
Commissioners. The average person
in this County will no longer be able
to live here if the taxes keep increasing.
As to "At will" you can bet that an
honest person cannot work for this
County. By that I mean try to follow
the rules, they'll get fired, it is to
intimidate the employees so that if you
blow the whistle on these people, you get
fired. Fear and intimidation is now the
order of business for all employees of
the County. What do you think will
happen with these employees and what
do you think they will be forced to do,
if they want to keep working?

Commissioner Herrin is back at
telling people to do special jobs for
special people to the detriment of
other work they should be doing,
many of these things border on being
illegal by County law.

Commissioner Berry is pushing his
agenda as agent and lawyer for
First National Bank, for the County to
buy land from the bank, land we
do not need. Then says he cannot vote
on it because he is involved with the sale.
What does that tell you about why he
is there.

It appears that these people are
feathering their own nest at the
expense of the people of the County.
When are people going to wake up
to what is going on, I HOPE SOON!!

Marion Wall candidate for City Council
Kingsland writes:

Mr Feller, in response to your comment
about Kingsland; I believe that Kingsland
will be on the move when I am elected.
One of the things I want to do is, not
sell the golf course. Yes It has been
loosing about 1/2 Mil a year but I
believe that with proper management
we can take this property that the people
have purchase and make it a winner for
all of Camden County. I see the golf course
as an attraction to Kingsland. They have
nice facilities and could be an attraction
to many for weekend activities and
meals. The only reason it is not making
money is that it is mis-managed. If the
golf course is sold as presently planned;

1. The taxpayers loose money.
2.The golf course will be changed to housing.
3. The people that bought there
(Laurel Island) for the golf course will be
jipped. So lets not sell the course, Lets
look for a contractor that is willing to
work on an incentive basis and pay
Kingland their Investment through
the profits of proper management.

Bottom line on the golf course; why
should we loose money so someone
else can make some? I would like to
see reduced taxes, improved services
and an enhanced lifestyle in Kingsland.
This would be one way to help that
vision. I believe that I will be a better
steward of our tax dollar than my
opponent. I hope everyone will vote
to make Kingsland, Camden County's
city on the move.

Gull Weaver Candidate for St. Marys
City Council

My good friend (Mrs.) Gull Weaver is
running for St Marys City Council.
I would like everyone to consider
voting for her and/or telling your
friends about her. She is very
informed in the city government
and attends all the city council
meetings and many of the county
commissioner meetings and is a
tireless volunteer in the community.

Some of her involvements include:
Navy League, St Marys Submarine
Museum volunteer, Dolphin
Scholarship Auction volunteer,
just to name a few.

Gull's husband Royal is a retired Navy
Chief who currently works (as a civilian)
with the SSGN submarine USS Florida
that is coming to Kings Bay in May 2006.
They have two daughters that attend
schools in Camden County and play
soccer as well as other activities.
As a homeowner in St. Marys
(unlike her opponent) she is a taxpayer
in the city and county. (If you are
going to represent me - you should
be paying the taxes I pay).

I met Gull about ten years ago when
we both were volunteers for the
Dolphin Scholarship Auction at
Kings Bay Naval Submarine Base.
I learned very quickly that she was a
"go-getter" and someone who gives
100% of what she is committed to
doing. I know she will make a good
representative for our city because
of these traits and her integrity.
Personally, I think she is a bit crazy
for wanting to do this, but she is
determined to make a difference
for our city and therefore, I support
her decision and I hope you will too.

If you have any questions or concerns,
please feel free to contact Gull Weaver
at http://www.blogger.com/ or phone at
673-7822. For more information,
visit her website at
http://personalpages.tds.net/~royalgull/

Please tell your friends about Gull and
if you can help with her campaign -
let me know! If you are not registered
to vote yet, don't wait! In the city
elections - every vote counts!

Mr. Jail writes:

This mornings paper "Camden County
Commissioners is considering a
proposal to triple the capacity of the
county jail"--To pay for it you suggested
a 1% sales tax.--Wrong--We have to get
out of the mind set of Tax's, Tax's, Tax's
to solve problems.. A sales tax is still a
tax that will effect the lives of Camden
county Residences. The County must
be run as a business or your household,
you must stay within your means or
budget. If you cant figure a way to make
the new jail SELF SUPPORTING we
don't need it.

A sales tax granted will spread the
burden but the poor souls of this county
will still see thinner pocket books.
Camden voters will vote this down in
2007 I feel sure, we are tired of rising
tax's, enough is enough. I feel any
politician that favors this tax idea
will be hurt.
Sandy sez:
I was just thinking out loud. I don't
have a real position at this time.
P.S. County forming a committee
to study jail expansion. They
proposed 3 members from Sheriff
Office, 2 County Commissioners,
1 from each city and 1 private
citizen. Does the breakdown seem
fair or is it too weighted toward
Commission and not enough toward
the rest of the county?

N. writes about Brian Fewox:

Just wanted to ask, what do you
think of Fewox resigning his
position, causing us to pay for a
special election, then running
again? What's to say half way
through his term (IF he did win
the election) he wouldn't resign
again? I think he should be
paying for that special election!
What do you and others think
of this?
Sandy Sez:
Reminds me of the Soprano's TV
series line. First I'm in, then I'm
out, then I'm in. I guess he can't
make up his mind. Shall we help
him out?

S.H. writes about City of Dover Bluff:

I have to tell you that there are days
that I'm tempted to just sell out and
move on. Where would I look it up?
State's website, I suppose. More
potential for politicians and
corruption may not be the answer.
But we do desperately need a new
commissioner in our area. How can
land development begin before
rezoning is approved by the planning
commission, and before going to the
board of commissioners?
Neanderthals are running the place.

Mr. Outraged writes about taxes:

Damn, you have me fired up---I need a
new car but at this time I cannot afford
one. I must wait until my budget allows
me to buy one. We need a new Church
but we must wait until we have saved
up enough money, I could go on and on,
this is how responsible people think and
act. If you don't have the money you
don't buy it, simple, law of the land.

We are slowly pushing the retires and
people on fixed income out of Camden
County. Many are selling their homes
because they cannot afford the increased
tax's and insurance. We will soon be a
County of newcomers---. I dare you to
put me on the committee to check this out.

Sandy, people in responsible positions
such as you have to think more about the
poor souls that live from pay check to
pay check. This group of people are
being walked on. Its time we started
thinking of them and helping them out
---no more tax's.

This County doesn't need to grow , we
are big enough. As of now we are bigger
then Brunswick, what's the aim now
Jacksonville?? When we have the
problems fixed in the County then we
can think of growing. We are growing
so fast our pants don't fit, we need
more tax's to buy bigger pants.
Sandy Sez: I totally agree with
you. If only the other
Commissioners would
think about those of us who
have lived here a long time and
are being pushed out by high taxes.
We would be better off!
State Senator Chapman is the only
one sticking up for the littlemen.
Contact him at jeff@jeffchapman.us
ask him what you can do. Let me
know how you make out.

J. writes about conflict:

I guess Steve Berry feels as though he has
prevailed AGAIN!!! This guy is truly a
nemesis to Camden County. How can
he as a Attorney suggest that it's a
wonderful thing to have David Rainer
acting as both a County Manager and
Chairman of the County Commission.
What is Steve Berry getting for his
disloyalty to the taxpayers? I believe
if we get rid of Steve Berry, Camden
County has the opportunity to grow in
a very productive manner. The rest are
followers of his!!! Sandy, keep up the
good work the residents appreciate you.

Mr. Tact writes about Thug Void:

Regarding the latest dirty trick from the
gang-of-four, I'm sure you realize that
what is really going on is perfectly
self-evident to friends and foe alike.
Puts me in mind of my political
arrest as a "gunslinger." Hang in there.

By the way, for those of us who are
cable subscribers, what are the chances
of having the county commission meetings
broadcast on cable access channels? That
kind of sunshine might eventually
disenfect the place.
Sandy Sez:
You ask and you shall receive.
TV Camden is nowing airing the
County Commission meetings.

Bill writes about Steve Berry:

I'm proud to see that there is someone
who is not going to take this type of
underhanded stuff. Any one that can
fog a mirror believes Berry is behind this.
At the the very least he is a proven liar
about not contacting the media. He sure
gets away with a lot of stuff.

Mr. Tact writes about Rulon Company:

Regarding the Rulon Company moving

to St. Augustine, check this out:

http://www.rulonco.com/.

They are moving their corporate

headquarters from BRUNSWICK, GA !!!

Even though they had to repeatedly drive

by several prime Camden locations off of

I-95 in order to look at the St. Johns County

location, our vaunted JDA / Planning and

Building Dept. made no effort to land this

business?

I started to exclaim "UNBELIEVABLE,"

but then I realized how truly unbelievable

that would be to anyone familiar with our
JDA's dismal (but apparently quite

satisfactory to the Gang of Four) record

of misfeasance.

Mr. Bobby Bryant writes about Jail:

You are not the commissioner of my

district, but I have a question. If you

could answer it, that would be great,

but if you don't. I'll understand. I have

been reading the bickering back and

forth with the commissioners and

ST. Marys. My question is, Who paid

for the jail and who owns it now? If the

answer is the taxpayers, which the

commissioners are suppose to represent,

then aren't the people of ST. Marys,

taxpayers.

If all that is true, then shouldn't ST.Marys

have the same use of the jail as the sheriffs

dept. or any other city in the county at no

extra cost.

Sandy Sez: You are correct.

****************************************
STEVE BERRY COMMERCIAL
The story [ click here ] at the Fox30 web
site recounts the apparently ongoing battle
between Camden Commissioner Stephen
Berry and fellow Commissioner Sanford
Feller. I say `apparently ongoing` because
nobody would make such unfounded and
laughable accusations as has Commissioner
Berry without already having an agenda to
fulfill.
*****************************************
Sandy Sez:
Thank you one and all for your
support during these trying days.
Your eyes and ears told you the truth.
I am deeply humble.

Sandy Feller
County Commissioner
District 4

"Working for the future without forgetting the past"

WHY SHUT SANDY UP ??

2005-10-21T09:20:00.000-04:00

Dear Commissioner Feller,

If you check the public records in
the Planning and Building
Department you will find a lot of
unlawful activities. There have
been approvals given that did not
meet the minimum requirements
that were set for the protection
of life and safety of the residents
of the County. Appendix A, Article
One, Section 104 of the Official
Code of Camden County states:

“The purpose of the regulations
are to promote the public health,
safety and general welfare of the
county. The overall objective of
these regulations is to consider
land subdivision plans as part
of an overall plan for the orderly,
efficient and economical
development of the land within
the planning commission’s
jurisdiction.”

The unfortunate truth to the
matter is that the Board of
Commissioners, or at least two
of them, believe that the
Planning and Building Department
work for them and their friends
only. They do not take into
consideration the effects their
decisions could have on the
neighbors or on the future
landowners.

For example:

Middleton Plantation was allowed
to record their final plat without
installing fire hydrants. Oh, they
installed two dry hydrants on the
lake they proposed, but the
ordinance that the Board of
Commissioners approved on
January 18, 2005 required fire
hydrants to be placed every 500
feet and not more than 500 feet
from any structure. The developers,
Waterfront Group, argued through
their surveyor (Jackson Surveying)
that they did not need to install
those hydrants because they were
an extension to a subdivision they
had completed in 2004 (before the
ordinance was created). If in deed
they could prove, without a master
plan showing locations of future
developments, that they were
indeed an extension they would
have another issue to face.
A State review.

Well, the Planning Commission
was deceived by the interim
Planning Director (Mr. Bob Noble)
when he stated that all issues
raised by staff had been addressed
when in fact, they had not. No state
review had taken place. When
the project made it to the Board of
Commissioners and one of the
members had asked about the
review, he was also deceived
when he was told that it was
not required. Unfortunately
for the County, that
Commissioner (Sandy Feller) asked
the state if it was true. Since that
initial question, the Regional
Development Center, in charge
of the state review, sent a letter
to the Board of Commissioners
informing them of the violation.
Now, the County and its
residents face the potential loss
of thousands of dollars from
state and federal funding. Luckily,
this offense would only be a
temporary suspension of the
Qualified Local Government Status.

The interesting part is that the first
time the County was warned about
not completing State review was
from a project that the same
developers had done…do you see
a trend?

We won’t go into the details about
landowners not being able to build
houses because the developers have
not completed their infrastructure.

We also won’t discuss the
substandard water lines that have
been installed in Middleton
Plantation.

Do you want to know that Waterfront
Group is not the only developer that
gets special privileges from the Board
of Commissioners? Chip Drury
at Laurel Island also received
approvals without providing the
County with the required bond for
the infrastructure. Oh and there
are more where that came from…

The sad truth to all of this is that
the residents are the ones that suffer.

If they want to change the rules
than they should change the
ordinances so that everybody is
treated the same. There are a lot
of developers in Camden County,
most of them local, that follow
the rules and sometimes it costs
them thousands of dollars, but
you don’t see any of them taking
the Board members out to lunch…

Who do you think the Board of
Commissioners is really working
for? Well they have proven over
and over again that it certainly
isn’t the residents of Camden
County. Who said that money
couldn’t buy you anyone?

Just ask E.B. Herrin
or David Rainer!

Signed A Taxpayer

***************************************

***************************************
Commission meeting of October
18th, scheduled for airing on
Friday October 21st at 9:30 p.m.

St. Marys - Channel 62
Kingsland - Channel 52

On Saturday October 22nd at 5:00 p.m.
St. Marys - Channel 62

On Sunday October 23rd at 5:00 p.m.
St. Marys - Channel 62

Sandy Sez:

I would just like to point out the
inconsistencies in Commissioner
Steve Berry statements.

1. He told the Georgia Times Union
that he did not contact CBS 47 News.
But Celine McArthur of CBS 47 News
stated that Commissioner Berry
contacted her.

2. Commissioner Berry told Celine
McArthur of CBS47 that a high school
student contacted him.
He stated at the County Commission
meeting that a Parent contacted him.

3. Commissioner Berry said on
CBS 47 "I did not tell anyone, I was
going to wait until the Commission
meeting."
But Doug Vaught called me the day
before CBS 47 showed up and alerted
me of their coming.

4. Commissioner Berry stated at
the County Commission meeting
that he told the County Secretary
to share with me what the censure
was about. Which he didn't. He
then stated that the County
Secretary told me. Which she
didn't. He then stated that he did
not tell anyone. Which he did!

I would go on but why bother!
I am going to leave this entire
mess in the hands of the
authorities.

Sandy Feller
County Commissioner
District 4

Have a great Camden County Weekend

"Working for the future without forgetting the past"

MR. BERRY STRIKES AGAIN

2005-10-19T09:00:00.000-04:00

In a fit of frustration over the
disclosures of this blog. I
suspect that Commissioner Berry
caused the blog to be infected by
PORN. The porn has been cleaned
out and turned over to the FBI for
investigation.

What follows are my remarks at the
County Commission meeting of
October 18, 2005. To view this
meeting check with "TV CAMDEN"
for scheduled airing.

On Sunday October 16th I received a
phone call from Dough Vaught a citizen
of St. Marys. He called to complain
about a piece on the blog that he
thought was negative towards his
candidacy for City Council. I invited
him to send a letter to oilseal@tds.net
and I would print it as received.

He then said "do you know anything
about a TV story on Fox News and CBS
regarding the County and you".

I replied that if there was a story about
me the normal practice would be for me
to be interviewed first. Further, I
advised him that I had not been
contacted.

As an aside, my wife heard the entire
conversation (my side).

Around lunch time on Monday a
reporter and a camera man showed
up at my office. She proceded to tell
me that I have a porno site on my blog.
I said I didn't know what she was
talking about. We went on my
computer and she showed me how to
find the porno site. I indicated that
this was my profile and that I hadn't
visited it since I set up the blog in
January.

She further indicated that this had
been brought to her attention by
Commissioner Berry. She indicated
further that Commissioner Berry
claims the matter had been brought
to him by a high school student which
Mr. Berry refused to/or could not
identify.

After the reporter left Mr. Bob Becker
(former County Commissioner) who
was present during the interview said
that he would discuss the matter with
his son. His son was formerly with
Security at IBM.

I then contacted a local computer
service bureau and tasked them with
finding out when, where and who
hacked into my computer. I then filed
a complaint with the FBI asking them
to look into the matter.

Finally I contacted my Web Master to
ask him how to clean up the site. He
checked and then gave me the necessary
instructions and the contents were
cleaned out around 6:00 p.m. that same
night.

It is clear to everyone what this is all
about. My blog is bringing valuable
information to the general public.
This is something that Commissioner
Berry doesn't want to happen.

He likes the warmth and comfort of
darkness to accomplish his agenda.
My blog shines too much light.
Clearly someone close to Commissioner
Berry hacked into my blog and put this
filth in. Time will tell when and who.
The proof is that he waited 10 days to
air the subject. 10 days that he didn't
tell me. 10 days he didn't file a complaint
with the authorities. 10 days he was
happy to leave this filth within access to
children. 10 days that parents were not
made aware.

In other words politics were more
important then the welfare of the
community. I on the other hand I moved
with all dispatch when advised of the
situation. Commissioner Berry you
should be ashamed.
***************************************
LETTER TO THE EDITOR
***************************************
Denise R. Taylor writes about
Commissioner Steve Berry:

The armor has cracked and they
are feeling very vulnerable. The
results of that vulnerability has
shown up in Commissioner Steve
Berry latest display. He's desperate
and desperate people, do desperate
things.

I ask the public to read the following
and decide if it is time to speak up
and speak out. I have my opinion,
I would love to know yours.

Commissioner Berry placed a 3rd
censure against Commissioner Feller
on the agenda prior to October 11th.
No one advised Commissioner Feller
of what the censure was for. The most
that he was given by the Secretary
"was inapproiate conduct".

On October 16th City Councilmen Doug
Vaught phone Commissioner Feller
inquiring about a ad placed on
Commissioner Fellers blog informing
the public of his strong ties with
Commissioner Berry. After Commissioner
Feller informed Councilmen Vaught "If
you refute your ties email me saying
that and I will place your response in
the blog un-edited".

However, Commissioner Berry staged
a media campaign at his office. He was
very nervous for someone with a law
degree. Most importantly you could
tell that the reporter saw him as a
liar. It was priceless when she asked him
"if he thought this was so important
why didn't he contact Commissioner
Feller" Commissioner Berry had no
answer. When she asked him" the
identity of the individual that supposedly
told him again he had no answer".

Maybe I should explain the rules of
the game to Commissioner Berry.
Because his last four moves have been
absolute blunders. Stick to the facts!!
Just as Commissioner Feller does to
you. How did Doug Vaught know
that the media was going to contact
Commissioner Feller, when Steve Berry
said on national T.V. "he did not tell
anyone". Why did Commissioner Berry
contact the news media of Jacksonville?

Would it have something to do with his
"plan" to take over Camden County. And
the fact that Commissioner Feller is
blocking his passage.

Pay more attention to your next
move Stevie!! I am two moves from
check mate!

Sandy Sez:
!!!!!!!NEWS ALERT!!!!!!!!!
The Secretary to the Planning Board
was fired Tuesday morning Oct. 17th.
She made the mistake of obeying the
law. She would not look the other
way. Now you know what "AT-Will"
was all about.

Sandy Feller
County Commissioner
District 4

***************************************
PAID POLITICAL ADVERTISEMENT
***************************************
IN THE ST. MARYS ELECTION
ELECT THE STEVE BERRY LINE

BRIAN FEWOX - MAYOR
DOUG VAUGHT – POST 6
J.R. ROLLINS – POST 4

Remember if you want good dictatorial
government that promises consolidation
of Police and Fire Services with the County.
If you want walking out when the vote goes
the other way. Elect the Berry Line.

Paid for by I.M. NUTS

Will St. Johns attract next big business boom?

2005-10-14T09:00:00.000-04:00

OPEN LETTER TO COMMISSIONERS
RAINER, HERRIN AND BERRY
REGARDING PLANNING.

I have taken the liberty (with permission)
of reproducing the following article by
Alison Trinidad of the Times Union. It
offers some insights that I wanted to
share with you. At a recent meeting of
the "Blueprint for Prosperity" a
Jacksonville Taskforce it was disclosed
that "Rulon" (a Georgia-based company)
searched all the JDA's in South Georgia
for a home for this project and was
turned away cold. Where was our JDA
when this opportunity arose?

Planners are counting on projects
like World Commerce Center to
start the stampede

This month, developers and economic officials in
St. Johns County await the closing of a coporate
coup that could herald a new era in business
development for the county.

Ring Power Corp., a longtime Jacksonville-based
dealer of heavy industrial equipment, is moving its
corporate headquarters and taking more than 500
jobs to World Commerce Center, a 973 acre
business center off Interstate 95 in the northern
part of the county.

Although business growth in St. Johns County has
trailed in the wake of a housing boom, planners
are counting on projects like World
Commerce to slow that trend. Real Estate
professionals predict that business will cluster
along the interstate, which runs through the heart
of the county. Already, the construction of
about 2.2 million square feet of new business
has been approved in developments
throughout the county - mostly near major
roads like I-95. Employers like ConAgra Foods
Inc., Tree of Life, American Culinary Federation,
Whetstone Chocolate and Dominex, which pay
higher wages than retailers, have established
presences in the county. And county economic
incentive policies are in place to persuade new
business, such as Ring Power, to relocate there.

S. Johns officials say their strategy isn't to divert
business from Duval County, but to supplement it.
And, as growth spills from the south side of
Jacksonville, they say it's likely that more
businesses will take root south of the Duval County
line. At least, they hope it is.

A HEALTHY BALANCE

"If you have a county full of rooftops, that's
not a healthy fiscal place for a community
to be," said Kari Keating, who heads the economic
development arm of the St. Augustine & St. Johns
County Chamber of Commerce. "We need to keep
singing the song very loudly that a mix of uses that
includes commercial and industrial (use) is healthy
for a balance in your local tax base."

About three-quarters of the taxable real
estate in the county is residential property,
according to the chamber. Although St. Johns
is a member of Cornerstone, a six-county
partnership that markets the region to potential
businesses, it needs to create high-wage
jobs within its borders or risk becoming
a bedroom community to Jacksonville,
Keating said.

St. Johns County residents earn one of the
highest per capita incomes in the state,
but employers there pay a lower average wage
than employers pay in Duval County. Because
of that, between 35 and 40 percent of the county's
labor force commutes outside the county to work,
Keating said.

More jobs would diversify the county's tax
base, cut down on commute time for its residents
and increase its annual average salary. "That
highlights why we put so much energy into
recruiting those high wage opportuinties
at home," Keating said. "When we look at
all the rooftops that are being approved,
it becomes more daunting. It's just been
easier lately to sell homes because that's
been the hot commodity. In the long run,
our local government leaders need to
really have a keen understanding (that)
we can't put the entire burden on the
homeowners in the future. It's got be
balanced.

Business Synergy

Frank "Duke" Steineman Jr., the developer
behind World Commerce Center, agrees.

"Most of the development in St. Johns
County to date has been targeted toward
residential development," he said. "It
felt a lot like a bedroom community. I
think it is important to have some
business synergy developed in that area.

Steinemann's largest new development, with
rights to put in about 2.2 million square
feet of office space; 1 million square feet
of retail; 450,000 square feet of light
industrial; 1,150 residences; and 1,000
hotel rooms. Visible from the interstate,
the center is just south of World Golf
Village, a similiar mixed-use project that has
rights to develop up to 5.6 million square feet of
commercial space.

In March, the developer broke ground for the
center's second tenant, Georgia-based Rulon
Co., which manufactures acoustical wood
and PVC ceilings and wall systems for
commercial buildings like hospitals and
musuems.

"We want to be the employment center for
St. Johns County. That's our objective. And at
this point of time, we have the biggest new
employer in the county on our site. Having
Rulon come along was certainly a very
positive validation for World Commerce
Center," Steinemann said.

Managing the growth

In April, the U.S. Census Bureau named
St. Johns County the ninth-fastest growing
county in the country. From 2003 to 2004,
the county's population jumped 6.7 percent. With
more than 60,000 homes approved for construction
over the next 25 years, it is unlikely that population
growth will slow.

To help manage that growth, the county
adopted an impact fee schedule this year
that more than doubles the government
fees for new construction. The fees help pay
for government services needed to support new
developments, such as roads, drainage,
schools, public safety and fire protection.

The new fees take effect today, increasing the fee
to build a new single-family home from $2,360 to
$6,685 for a home up to 1,800 square feet or
$9,299 for a bigger home. Commercial buildings
smaller than 100,000 square feet went from $2,127
per 1,000 square feet to $6,562 per 1,000 square
feet.

If you build it ..........

Other businesses will follow World Commerce Center
and Ring Power, said Chuck White, CEO of real
estate firm Commercial Jacksonville/Cushman &
Wakefield.

The residences are going south, and when the
residences go south, the retail and a certain amount
of offices will go there, " White said.

Business leaders are looking to locate closer
to areas they and their employees want to
live, White said. Easy interstate access, close
proximity,low taxes and tourist destinations
like St. Augustine and the beaches make St. Johns
County attractive. More surveys show that these
businessess employees are living south of Butler
Boulevard, he said.

Sandy Sez: I am unlike some other
Commissioners, not in the habit of making
statements without facts. Unfortunately,
my fellow Commissioners think of
developers first and ordinary folks a
distant last.

P.S. See for yourself what really happened

at the October 4th meeting! TUNE INTO

TV CAMDEN Channel 62 St. Marys and 52

in Kingsland. Tuesday October 18th

8:30 pm. Tell me what you think?

Sandy Feller

County Commissioner

District 4

oilseal@tds.net

"Working for the future without forgetting the past"

EMPLOYEES OF CAMDEN COUNTY

2005-10-11T21:00:00.000-04:00

Let me say first, "I am not a lawyer."

I am giving you this information
because I am told that the Information
is reliable. You must check it out with
a lawyer. Repeat, check it out. Before
reading it. There is also a question
whether "you can change the terms
and condition of employment after the
fact."

English translation, can they change
after you are already on the job. This
policy was approved by Mr. Rainer,
Mr. Herrin, Mr. Rhodes and Mr. Berry.
I suggest you remember these names.
You never know when you might need
the information. I wish I could do more
but I am only one vote.

Good Luck, Your Friend
Sandy Feller

Here is Georgia Law:
45-20-l.
(a) It is the purpose of this article to
establish in the state a system of
personnel administration which will
attract, select, and retain the best
employees based on merit, free from
coercive political influences, with
incentives in the form of equal
opportunities for all; which will
provide technically competent and
loyal personnel to render impartial
service to the public at all times and
to render such service according to
the dictates of ethics and morality;
and which will remove unnecessary
and inefficient employees. It is
specifically the intent of the General
Assembly to promote this purpose by
allowing agencies greater flexibility in
personnel management so as to
promote the overall effectiveness
and efficiency of state government. To
this end, and in accordance with Code
Sections 45-20-2 and 45-20-6, all
positions filled after July 1, 1996, shall
be included in the unclassified service
of the state merit system, except as
provided in Code Section 15-11-24.3.
It is also specifically the intent of the
General Assembly that employees in
the classified service prior to
July 1, 1996, shall continue to be covered
employees in the classified service and
shall remain subject to the rules and
regulations of the state merit system so
long as they remain in covered positions
or as otherwise provided by law. It is
further specifically the intent of the
General Assembly that state government
operate within a framework of consistent
personnel policies and practices across
all state agencies and entities and that
the state's most valued resource, its
employees, be managed in a manner
to promote work force productivity and
sound business practices.
(b) In order to achieve these purposes,
it is the policy of the state that
agencies treat all employees, whether
included in the classified or unclassified
service, in accordance with the following
principles:
(1) Assuring fair treatment of applicants
and employees in all aspects of personnel
administration without regard to race,
color, national origin, sex, age, disability,
religious creed, or political affiliations.
This 'fair treatment' principle includes
compliance with all state and federal
equal employment opportunity and
nondiscrimination laws;
(2) Recruiting, selecting, and advancing
employees on the basis of their relative
ability, knowledge, and skills, including
open consideration of qualified applicants
for initial employment;
(3) Providing equitable and adequate
compensation based on merit,
performance, job value, and
competitiveness within applicable labor
markets;
(4) Training employees, as needed, to
assure high quality performance and to
provide work force skills needed to
maintain and advance the state's goals
and objectives;
(5) Retaining employees on the basis of
the adequacy of their performance,
correcting inadequate performance where
possible and appropriate, and separating
employees whose performance is
inadequate; and
(6) Assuring that employees are protected
against coercion for partisan political
purposes and are prohibited from using
their official authority for the purpose of
interfering with or affecting the result of
an election or nomination for office. .
(c) With respect to employees in the
unclassified service, it shall be the
responsibility of the state merit system
to perform the following functions:
(l) Establish and maintain a state-wide
system of pay ranges for all job classes;
(2) Define common job classes, establish
associated minimum qualifications for
those classes and assign those classes to
appropriate pay ranges;
(3) Develop and maintain a common
employment application form to be used
by all applicants for state emploYment,
which form may be supplemented as
necessary by agencies in seeking
information about agency job classes;
(4) Serve as the central contact point for
all potential employees in order to
streamline state-wide recruiting for
applicants, to provide for a state-wide
applicant data base, to refer applicants to
agencies, and make applicant data
available to agencies for review and
consideration;
(5) Upon request, develop, validate, or
develop and validate applicant screening
devices being utilized by agencies;
(6) Upon request, administer screening
devices on behalf of agencies;
(7) Make employment related training
available to agencies and allow agencies
the opportunity to provide input into the
nature and scope of said training programs;
(8) In consultation with agencies,
establish state-wide model standards and
processes and best practices criteria which
agencies shall use in developing internal
processes for classification, compensation,
pay for performance, and performance
management, including processes involved
in defming job classes, establishing and
applying associated minimum qualifications,
assigning jobs to appropriate state-wide
pay ranges, developing and applying
applicant screening methods, and
measuring worker effectiveness;
(9) Audit agencies' processes as referred to
in paragraph (8) of this subsection and
report findings annually to the Governor
and the General Assembly in conjunction
with an annual report on the overall status
of the state work force;
(10) Serve as consultant to agencies on work
force planning and effective work force
strategies, provide technical support
assistance, and direct services to agencies as
requested; and
(11) Maintain and make available to the
public at large a state-wide central registry
of employment vacancies and job
announcements in state government as
provided to the state merit system by
agencies.
(d) With respect to employees in the
unclassified service, it shall be the
responsibility of the employing agency
to perform the following functions:
(1) Within state-wide human resource
standards, processes, and best practices
criteria, define agency unique job classes,
establish and apply associated
qualifications for those job classes, and
assign those job classes to pay ranges on
an appropriate state-wide compensation
plan;
(2) Allocate agency positions to defmed
job classes;
(3) Recruit and screen applicants for job
vacancies;
(4) Develop and administer appropriate
job applicant screening devices to ensure
the integrity of the hiring process; and
(5) Develop agency unique policies to ensure
compliance with all applicable
employment related state and federal laws.
(e) Subsections (c) and (d) of this Code
section shall not apply to the legislative
or judicial branches, to the board of
regents, or to any agency which employed
no classified employees as of July 1, 1996.
(f) Each agency shall develop an annual
work force plan according to state-wide
criteria and guidelines and shall provide
a report of such plan annually to the state
merit system for incorporation into the
state-wide work force plan to be
submitted to the Governor and the
General Assembly. (g) In the event
agencies do not use a competitive civil
service examination to fill some or all of
their unclassified positions, it is expressly
the intent of the General Assembly that
appropriate consideration be given to
veterans as defined under Article IV,
Section III, Paragraph II of the
Constitution of Georgia and Article 2
of Chapter 2 of this title in the filling of
job vacancies in this state. Guidelines
defining consideration practices shall
be developed at the state level. Agencies
shall specify agency policies and practices
to implement appropriate consideration
of military veterans in filling agency job
vacancies.
(h) The rules of statutory construction
contained in Chapter 3 of Title 1,
relating to general provisions concerning
the construction of statutes, as now or
hereafter amended, shall apply to this
article
Here is what Georgia law says about
counties that have created a civil service
system. 36-1-21.
(a) The governing authority of any county
is authorized to provide by ordinance or
resolution for the creation of a civil service
system for employees of the county, other
than elected officials or persons appointed
to positions for specified terms. .
(b) Subsequent to the creation of a civil
service system, the county governing
authority which created the system may
provide by ordinance or resolution that
positions of employment within
departments subject to the jurisdiction
of elected county officers or subject to
the jurisdiction of other commissions,
boards, or bodies of the county shall be
subject to and covered by the civil
service system upon the written
application of the elected county
officer, commission, board, or body
having the power of appointment,
employment, or removal of employees
of the officer, department, commission,
board, or body. Once positions of
employment are made subject to the
civil service system, such positions
shall not be removed thereafter from
the coverage of the civil service system.
(c) A civil service system created
pursuant to the authority of this Code
section shall be administered in such
manner and pursuant to such rules
and regulations as may be provided
for by resolution or ordinance of the
county governing authority which
created the system.
Note the "SHALL NOT BE REMOVED
THEREAFTER FROM THE COVERAGE
OF THE CIVIL SERVICE SYSTEM"
at the end of (b).

One might infer that by the adoption
of the personnel policies by resolution
in 2001 (which incorporated guidelines
for hiring and firing) the county created
a civil service system, and cannot
unring the bell.

P.S. Please print this out and put
away in a safe place.

Thanks,

Sandy Feller
County Commissioner
District 4

"Working for the future without forgetting the past"

AT-WILL / CENSURED

2005-10-07T09:00:00.000-04:00

Despite questions of legality the
County Commissioners passed the
new personnel policy 10-04-05. The
fact that it was implemented before
the fact was ignored.

There will be a SPECIAL EDITION
of this publication Tuesday October
11, 2005. It will be for employees of
Camden County. It will be published
at 9:00 am. If you miss it you can
always get it by looking at "Recent
Posts" on the right hand side of any
edition.

Please make a copy and put it away in
a safe place. It will be a valuable tool
if you are fired under the "AT-WILL"
policy.

I WAS CENSURED

I was censured for communication with
Environmental Protection Department
(EPD) at the 10-04-05 meeting of the
County Commission. Please send all
comments to oilseal@tds.net. We
want to hear from you.

The following is the correspondence
that I was censured for:

To: Jim Harris, Program Director
EPD Coastal District

Cc: Robert A. Scott Program Manager P.E.
Jeff Larson, PCEP
Darrell Crosby, Coastal Director EPD
David Word, Assistant Director EPD

Subject: CAMDEN COUNTY WATER
AND SEWER

Gentlemen this is to I confirm
conversations I have had recently with
members of your staff Reference:
Woodrow Sapp Well Drilling DBA: W&D
Investments, or any variation thereof.
We urge you to investigate carefully the
financial health of the above with all
diligence. Additionally, any bonding
company he maybe using to back up
his projects.

Camden County has passed legislation
which states "We will not be party to
backing up W&D or any other private
supplier of water or waste water treatment
(Trust Indenture) should there be an
inability to perform at some future date.
State law says if a holder of a permit fails
then the County is liable, unless, they
notify the state in advance. You are
hereby notified. Additionally, there has
been no public vote by the County stating
that W&D will be a regional service
provider. Under 489, which we have
not publicly repudiated, we state that
we will not "be in the water business."

If we plan to enter the water business we
will have to vote to do so in a public forum.
Be advised, you put the taxpayers in an
exposed position if W&D fails. You have
been notified that we will not back him
up therefore satisfying the legal
requirement.

I do this as a County Commissioner
sworn to protect the citizens of Georgia
as well as Camden County.
Sincerely,

Sandy Feller
County Commissioner
District 4

COMMENTS MADE BY SANDY
FELLER AT OCTOBER 4TH
COMMISSION MEETING

The letter to EPD followed a telephone
conversation with Jeff Larson PCEP
which followed several conversations
and communications with Jim Harris -
Program Director EPD Coastal District.
Mr. Scott, Program Director P.E. was
contacted at the suggestion of Mr. Larson.

My concern is that we need to
enforce the legislation we passed
to protect our citizens from future
"Flea Hills" which cost us
thousands of dollars. With the growth
in the North. If we are not protected it
could cost us lOO's of thousands of dollars.
With me the taxpayers come first. I have
no feelings one way or the other regarding
any commercial operation. In view of the
fact that the actions of the JDA are below
the radar and out of ear shot.

I feel the citizens of Camden County
must be protected by whatever legal
means available.

Sandy Sez:
It is my sworn duty to the citizens of
Camden County to represent them in
all matters and to protect the interests
without fear and without favor.

This I do and will continue to do so
long as I have your support. Thank you
for the opportunity of serving you

Sandy Feller
County Commissioner
District 4

"Working for the future without forgetting the past"

St. Marys Candidates 10-5-05

2005-10-05T21:00:00.000-04:00

***************************************
PAID POLITICAL ADVERTISEMENT
***************************************

IN THE ST. MARYS ELECTION
ELECT THE STEVE BERRY LINE

BRIAN FEWOX - MAYOR
DOUG VAUGHT – POST 6
J.R. ROLLINS – POST 4

Remember if you want good dictatorial
government that promises consolidation
of Police and Fire Services with the County.

If you want walking out when the vote
goes the other way. Elect the Berry Line.

Paid for by I.M. NUTS

CANDIDATE DEBORAH HASE:
Goals and Objectives for the next four years:
*Keep our government open and accessible
to the public, and continue to simplify the
process.

*Continue with the upgrade and expansion
of our infrastructure: Water/Sewer Master
plan implementation (including the
annexed areas); Drainage Master plan;
Comprehensive/Quality Growth Plan.

*Fiscal Accountability: Continue to develop
a realistic budget to accommodate the
growth, but keep taxes low in the process.

*Maintain the integrity of our small town
atmosphere; continue the concept of
"walking community" neighborhoods with
a higher level of public safety.

*Tax Collection consolidation:
My proposal:
County Tax Commissioner collects our
taxes, reduces staff time and is more
"taxpayer-friendly" by having one bill to pay.

*Improve/Expand Emergency Management
Services in our community, along with better
health care.

*Continue to work to diversify our economy.
Including the development of the mill site
property, lobbying to expand the Coast
Guard Unit, and additional functions at
Kings Bay Navy Base.

*Develop and implement a Main Street
Program to enhance Tourism.

*Keep honest and effective government
by continuing to fight "Good Ole Boy" ,
politics in St Marys City Government.

God Bless St Marys, Georgia-A Place
We Love to Call "Home"

CANDIDATE LARRY JOHNSON:
Goals and objectives for next four years
Protect the homes of seniors by supporting
the freeze on property value assessments.

Allow the supply of resources, primarily
water and utilities, to catch up with
development

Provide additionall access facilities for
seniors and the physically challenged

Provide a larger and more reliable van
for the Senior Center

Become more business friendly toward
incoming small businesses. The City
needs a better mix of taxpaying
businesses and residential

Revise the proposed high fees for XXXXXX
and related utilities

Adjust teh budget to allow increased
support of the police and fire fighters
and make needed repairs to the infrastructure

Support the blockage of extending the law
of Eminent Domain to include private big
business.

CANDIDATE BILL DELOUGHY
This Is a Crucial Time for St. Marys

You can trust Bill DeLoughy.

Bill will continue to do the right thing for St. Marys
and its citizens.

Bill has served as a St. Marys City Councilman for
4 years.

He has made important strides forward.

With 4 more years he assures continued progress.

Bill provides fiscally responsible leadership for the
future growth of St. Marys

Accomplishments
* As chair of the Finance Committee of
the Council, drove a millage rate decrease
every year for 3 consecutive years, even
after the closing of the paper mill

*Led the way to save our City Police
Department by championing a feasibility
study which cleared the air and brought
about a resolution in the best interests of
both the police and the citizens of St. Marys

*Successfully led the effort to save insurance
protection for the volunteer members of the
St. Marys Fire Department.

*Identified solutions to resolve rain water
and drainage problems and flood threats

*Strong supporter of the St. Marys 20
year Water and Sewer Master Plan.

CANDIDATE GULL WEAVER
Thank you for allowing me this opportunity.
I am an involved member of this community and
I understand our needs. I am a wife, mother,
homeowner, taxpayer, and consumer in St. Marys
and Camden County. I love living and raising my
family here. I want St. Marys to continue to be the
City we would all want to raise our families in for
many years to come.

I will work hard to make decisions that are in the
best interest of our wonderful city and its citizens.
I have no hidden agenda to my platform, except to
serve the people of St. Marys.

Our area has so much potential for quality and
controlled growth, and we are growing every day
as our trees are coming down and new
developments are springing up all around us.
In order for this growth to be better controlled,
we need better communication among the city and
the citizens. While I do not claim to have all the
answers, I do have a lot of great ideas and I will
listen to yours ! We need to all work together
toward common achievable goals.

Raise our Standards
Development: We need to make sure that the
development of St. Marys is in the best interest
of St. Marys, not the developers. Developers need
to provide curbs and gutters, not only in their
subdivisions but to their subdivisions. Sidewalks
should be included in the plan for each subdivision
as well providing a family-friendly and safe
environment. We have a finite amount to develop,
let's do it right!

Employment: Quality jobs are needed in St. Marys.
A plan should be in place to attract new businesses
to our area and to break down any obstacles that
exist for current businesses. We are on the right
track with the hiring of an economic development
director. St. Marys wants to be known as a
business friendly city!

Forward Thinking
As a collective body we need to envision the
future - to see our city in 5 - 10 - 20 years.
A master plan for the city would do this and more
for St. Marys. True, hard thinking and not pipe
dreams. We need to look at what we expect the
future to hold and make a plan for that. Ensure our
children make it to that future. Ensure that we
have affordable housing. Ensure that we
accommodate everyone in that plan. That plan
needs to be a solid written plan covering all
aspects of our city.

Respect our Past

Our collective past is what has made us.

Our heritage here in St. Marys is priceless

and we need to protect that passionately.

Many people have asked me why I want to

be on the St. Marys City Council and my

reply is, "I want to make a difference."

PRESS RELEASE
BRUNSWICK - Senator Jeff Chapman is conducting

a town hall meeting for Camden citizens on Tuesday,

October 11th, from 6:00 PM to 8:00 PM at the

County Annex Building, 1 07 North Gross Road in

Kingsland. He is inviting citizen input on legislative

issues for the 2006 Georgia General Assembly.

Sen. Chapman also plans to discuss the proposed

Camden Homestead Tax Freeze Initiative, issues

under review by the Senate Study Committee on

Eminent Domain which he chairs, and the new

State Merit Health Benefit Plan offered through

United Health starting January 06.

"I look forward to discussing these important

issues and hearing the concerns of Camden County

residents," stated Sen. Jeff Chapman. "The best

way to serve the public is to listen."

Senator Chapman will also field questions about

any of the standing Senate Committees on which

he serves. These include: Public Safety and

Homeland Security, Transportation, Insurance

and Labor, and Natural Resources and the

Environment. Additional Study Committees include

the Coastal Georgia Sound Science Initiative and

the Security for State and County Buildings Study

Committee. Sen. Chapman represents Brantley,

Camden, Charlton, Glynn, and McIntosh counties

which comprise the Third Senate District. For

further information about bills sponsored or

cosponsored by Sen. Chapman, visit his website

at www-jeffchapman. us or contact his Brunswick

office at 912-280-0456. His email is

jeff@jeffchapman.us and the media email

contact is update@jeffchapman.us.

Sandy Sez:
Get yourself up to speed on the
candidates. They will be in
charge for a long time. DO NOT
let a would be carpet bagger
take control.

P.S. More next Wednesday

"Working for the future without forgetting the past"

CAMDEN 9-30-05

2005-09-30T09:00:00.000-04:00

AT - WILL EMPLOYMENT

In a backroom vote At-Will Employment
was approved by certain (not me) County
Commissioners. Proof is the fact that it
is part of employment applications in
Human Resource Office. So much for
open government. (Thanks to Agent X
for information)

DISTRICT ATTORNEY CLEARS
EX-FIRE CHIEF DANNY DANIELS

We have been advised that former
Fire Chief Danny Daniels has been
cleared by District Attorney Kelley
of all charges. For background
read
http://camdenganews.blogspot.com/2005/04
/fire-districtems-investigation.html

Will he be offered his position back?

CHAIRMAN RAINER TO STEP
DOWN AS INTERN MANAGER?

In a legal opinion obtained by this
publication ACCG (Association of
County Commissioners of Georgia)
legal staff advises that "a County
Commissioner cannot act as a
County Manager."

Will Rainer step down?

DURANGO SITE

Stories still persist that the mill site
is full of contaminents. We await
definitive reports from the agencies
responsible.

If so, will it be covered up to make
a sale or will honesty prevail?

AIRPORT

The question of who will own the site
and how much local taxpayers money
will be needed for the project remains
a question.

Hang onto your wallets.....

AT-WILL ILLEGAL?

See Georgia Law 45-20-1, 45-20-2,
45-20-6, Code Section III, paragraph
II of the constitution and article Z of
chapter 2 of this title also chapter 3
of title 1. See also 36-1-21. Opinion
one might infer that by adoption of
the personnel poilicies by resolution in
2001 (which incorporated guidelines
for hiring and firing) the County created
a Civil Service System, and cannot
unring the bell.

Anyone terminated under At-Will
should show this to their attorney.

***************************************
LETTERS TO THE EDITOR:
***************************************
I. writes about gas prices:
WHY DOES THE COUNTY LET BOSSES
TAKE COUNTY CARS AND TRUCKS
HOME WE THE TAXPAYERS NEED
A BREAK FROM BUYING GAS A
CONCERNED TAXPAYER ST MARY'S GA

R. writes about At-Will Employment:
Hey Commissioner,I understand that the
applications for employment currently
being used by Camden County indicate
that the county employs people on an
"at-will" basis. Seeing that this policy
hasn't been voted upon but has already
been put in place, it seems that our elected
officials have made a decision for the
people without waiting for the input of
the people, as promised. But of course we
didn't expect anything less, did we? If this
keeps up and I keep making noise, I'll
probably end up in the gulag, comrade.

J. writes about At-Will:
I wanted to tell someone about an incident
I witnessed the other day. As I am an
employee who wishes to keep his job, I
can't tell anyone about it. Except maybe
you. Just to set this into proper context:

Several years ago a deputy was in charge
of some trustees. This deputy took one to
see his family, then left him there for
several days. Of course, the trustee fled
to be later caught. The deputy was
reprimanded, and I believe was given
some time off. I don't remember if it was
with or without pay. Well, the other day
I saw another deputy, or perhaps
S.O. employee will do. This man does not
wear a uniform and indeed does not do
any of the duties of a deputy. EXCEPT he
is in charge of several trustees. This
employee is also a former
commissioner. 'Nuff said about THAT.

As I was driving down MLK going towards
Kingsland, I noticed this employee walking
down the street away from his vehicle
where several trustees were lounging,
smoking, and talking with several other
people who were in their cars. The man
"in charge" was too far away from them
to be able to stop them from taking his
vehicle or even stop them from getting
into any of these vehicles and leaving the
area. I say, who holds them accountable?
A trustee is still someone who has
committed a crime and is not a free
person in the proper sense of the word.

But then, neither are the county
employees. We are held hostage
by the new policies about to be
voted on...

Thank you for listening to us.
Keep up the good work.

R. sends humor:
Yes, just a simple question. How could
an innocent question like "Do you know
me?" end up like this? And why lawyers
should never ask a witness a question if
they aren't prepared for the answer.
During a trial, a small town Southern
prosecuting attorney called his first
witness to the stand; a grandmotherly,
elderly woman. He approached her and
asked, "Mrs. Jones, do you know me?"
She responded, "Why, yes I do know you,
Mr. Williams. I've know you since you
were a young boy, and frankly, you've
been a big disappointment to me.
You lie, you cheat on your wife, you
manipulate people and talk about them
behind their backs. You think you're a
big shot when you haven't the brains
to realize you never will amount to anything
more than a two bit paperpusher. Yes, I
know you. "District Attorney Williams
was stunned. Not knowing what else to
do, he pointed across the room and
asked "Mrs. Jones, do you know the
defense attorney?" She again replied,"
Why yes, I do. I've known Mr. Bradley
since he was a youngster, too. He's lazy,
bigoted, and he has a drinking problem.
He can't build a normal relationship
with anyone and his law practice is
one of the worst in the entire state.
Not to mention he cheated on his wife
with three different women, one of
them was your wife. Yes, I know him.
"Bradley, the defense attorney, almost
died.

The judge asked both the District
Attorney and the defense lawyer to
approach the bench, and in a quiet
voice, said; "If either of you bastards
asks her if she knows me, I'll throw
your sorry asses in jail for contempt."

Sandy Sez:
I give endless amounts of
credit to St. Marys for their
open government policies
and the structure of their
public meetings. However,
the endless rhetoric and
failure to finish debates
on important issues is indeed
troubling. Especially when
so many of the councilmen
are running for re-election.

"Actions speak louder than words."

Sandy Feller
County Commissioner
District 4

"Working for the future without forgetting the past"

CAMDEN 9-28-05

2005-09-28T09:00:00.000-04:00

St. Marys Election
**********************

This years election for Mayor and City
Council is a truly unusual one.
Commissioner Steve Berry purports to
be (by his rhetoric) the Chairman of
the County Commission, the Sheriff and
Jail Keeper. One has merely to observe
him to understand what I am saying.
Now, by his various alliances he wishes
to become Mayor of St. Marys and
through his surrogates the controlling
force on the City Council.

During the next few weeks we will be
featuring candidates that will vote their
conscience and meet the needs now and
in the future for the citizens of St. Marys.
We will be blunt and too the point and
we will afford every opportunity for those

who differ with us to voice their position.
Quite candidly St. Marys does not need
the influence of a pseudo dictator
controlling its future.

WOODBINE
***************

ACCG (Association County
Commissioners of Georgia)
Chief Council advises us that
"A County Commissioner cannot
serve as County Manager." The
Commissioners and County
Attorney have been notified. No
result at this time. Keep tuned.

Joint Development Authority
*******************************

Soon to be announced. A give
away that makes Express Scripts
look like chump change. Keep
tuned for this one. You will not
believe it.

KINGSLAND
**************

You may agree or disagree but
when Keith Dixon was Mayor of
the "City of Kingsland" the city
was on the move. Now, it appears
to have dissappeared out of sight.
Hopefully, the elections will bring
a little bit of life back.

*****************************************
PAID POLITICAL ADVERTISEMENT
*****************************************
IN THE ST. MARYS ELECTION

ELECT THE STEVE BERRY LINE

BRIAN FEWOX - MAYOR
DOUG VAUGHT – POST 6
J.R. ROLLINS – POST 4

Remember if you want good dictatorial
government that promises consolidation
of Police and Fire Services with the
County. If you want walking out
when the vote goes the other way.

Elect the Berry Line.

Paid for by I.M. NUTS

Sandy Sez:
St. Marys has tried to conduct
itself in the open. Don't let
darkness come in. Dark Vader
(Berry) has no place in City
Government.

Sandy Feller
County Commissioner
District 4

"Working for the future without forgetting the past"

AT-WILL EMPLOYMENT

2005-09-23T09:00:00.000-04:00

AT-WILL EMPLOYMENT VOTE
SET FOR OCTOBER 4, 2005

In a memorandum dated September 13,
2005 the staff was notified of the plans
to bring it to a vote at the October 4th
meeting of the County Commission.
The memorandum was approved by a
telephone vote of Chairman Rainer,
E.B. Herrin and Steve Berry. To his
credit Preston Rhodes voted NO.

I was not notified!

The substance of the memorandum
is covered on page 2. Section 1.
Introduction, Paragraph C. titled
"At-Will Employment"

It states: "Nothing in these
personnel policies and procedures
is intended to create a contract of
employment. Employment with
Camden County, Georgia and the
Camden County Commission is
at will and may be terminated at
anytime, for any reason, or for
no reason at all." Repeat for no
reason at all.

There it is in a nut shell. Additionally,
in the text of the memorandum dated
September 13, 2005 it states, "ALL
employees who have questions or
concerns about the changes should plan
to attend (Oct 4th meeting) where they
will be given an opportunity to be heard
concerning the policy change. Given the
circumstances who (an employee) will
dare to speak up at the meeting?

The message is clear this is not a place
of employment where you can exchange
years of dedicated service for a salary,
benefits and retirement. It is a place to
hang your hat while you are looking for
real employment opportunities
elsewhere.

It says shut up, hang your head low and
say yes boss, no boss. There is no room
for initiative. It means if you are
ambitious, conscientious, go elsewhere.
You are not wanted!!!!!!!

Mr. Rhodes very wisely did not vote for
this. He is the only working man on the
Commission. He works for wages and
understands the working man. The
others are tyrants of one flavor or another.

It is quite understandable why the others
did it in the dark. It cannot stand the
light of day. They should be ashamed of
themselves.

As an aside I hear rumblings that the
staff will try to organize a union. I trust
if they do that the professional organizers
will advise them of their rights under
Federal Law which supercedes anything
the "dark 3 can do."

Good luck my friends, please feel
free to contact me with your
thoughts or concerns
oilseal@tds.net

*********************************
LETTERS TO THE EDITOR:
*********************************
Jim Withrow writes about airport:
I like Ed Marx are old timers here and
never seen any need in a airport here.
Years ago in early sixties it was not used
we wanted a drag strip and city was
against it, also Thunderbolt out of
Jacksonville wanted to rent it, still no.
I am totally against wasting money on
a new one. It sat there with no use till
Gilman's pilot refuse to land on it, then
all of a sudden a runway got paved with
no problems.

Now if you would like to check to see
if its possible that Sea Island may
want to give land for what they could
gain. If they are still working on the large
hunting preserve off Harriets Bluff road
and the cost a day was going to cost to
hunt yes I would want a air strip for my
personal use at tax payer cost. I wonder
if there plans are still going and if so if
this is possible just a thought.

Keep up the good work you are doing for
us. I am behind you just never spoke up.
It's about time the idiots running things
are going nuts. We need to start the mill
back up to create jobs for all. Not build
condos and etc. to help a few fatten there
pockets.

That ground is so polluted how can EPA
give rights. After 43 years of working
there and what they said no way man to
build homes on it. I did go to EPA web
page there use to be a hazard barrel on
mill site as a waste hazard guess what it
has been removed?? Why because mill is
down, its still there.

I understand by rumor we have a drainage
problem due to mill down from city
engineers, that's kept quite?? Also a while
back our mayor said to save water , when it
ought to be running out her ears. With mill
down theirs about 30 to 40 million of gallons
a day not in use ??? OMG

Larry Johnson candidate for St.Marys
City Council:
I am asking for the opportunity to serve
all St.Marys on the City Council. For
some time, I have been concerned with
the direction our city is growing. With
all the great achievements we have made,
there are areas that need immediate
attention. The water and sewer lines must
be repaired. The expanding drug problem
must be corrected. And our seniors and
handicapped must be given better
accommodations. I hope everyone votes
on November 8, 2005.

H. writes reference to airport:
I've written previously (to the local news
editor) opposing relocating the airport.
If the federal government demands the
existing airport be closed (for whatever
reason), so be it. Close it. We do not need
another airport. If Sea Island Company
wants a private airport to serve its property,
let them pay for it. They currently provide
transportation for their guests from the
Brunswick, Savannah and Jacksonville
airports at any time, day or night. The
private businesses operating at the airport
can relocate, retool, or retrain for another
career. Many others have had that experience
in Camden of late. Unfortunately, the
Camden County commission does not
listen to its constituency. They seem to
know better than anyone. Or so they think.

Thanks again, Sandy, for asking what the
taxpayers think.

Marion Wall candidate for Kingsland
City Council:
Hi, Yesterday I qualified for Post 1
Councilman in Kingsland. I am sending
this to many friends. Some are in
Kingsland and some are out. I will be
running against Don Mounsey. What I
would like to know from you is; What
issues do you have about your city, county,
or just some political issue. I want to know
the issues of the people. I would like to
think about them for a while. Please help.

Sandy Feller
County Commissioner
District 4
912-882-4151
oilseal@tds.net

Sandy Sez:
Come to October 4th meeting and
speak for the employees that cannot
speak for themselves. They can be
fired for "no reason at all." Repeat
for no reason at all.

"Working for the future without forgetting the past"

OPEN LETTER TO TAX COMMISSIONER

2005-09-21T09:00:00.000-04:00

Dear Brenda,

It's time to automate your
department. After the recent
debacle re: timber taxes and need
for Camden County and the
School District to re-advertise
the public hearings for millage
rate, it is clear. The volume
of work is too large to continue
to be done by hand.

What is astonishing to me is that
your department, the entire
School Board and the entire
Board of Commissioners
(including me) and the professional
staffs that served them did not
pick up an $11,000,000.00 error.

It was Denise Taylor that brought
it to my attention. After she did
so I got the wheels turning.

I urge you to evaluate the situation
and come to the Commission with
a supplemental budget to fully
automate your department. This
will be such a convenience for
yourself and the public. Just
imagine the public being able to
pay directly to the state via your
website.

Sincerely,

Sandy Feller
County Commissioner
District 4

"Working for the future without forgetting the past"

CAMDEN SPEAKS OUT!!!!!!!!

2005-09-16T09:00:00.000-04:00

GULL WEAVER ANNOUNCES CANDIDACY:
I hope this e-mail finds everything going
well for you. I wanted you to be one of the
first to know that I will be qualifying today
to run for City Council of St. Marys. I am
running for this seat because I believe, as
I think you do, that St. Marys needs
quality leadership.

I appreciate your past support and look
forward to that continued support.

Thank you,

Sandy Reply:
Good Luck. We offer you and your
opponent this platform to share your
views on the future of St. Marys. Please
limit your comments to 500 words.
Thank you for offering to serve this
community.

John Cressman writes about Airport:
Mr. Feller: Concerning the airport, I
think the gentleman who wrote the article
may not have all the facts on the airport.
I do not know why Sea Island is giving the
land for the airport but would assume
they have other interests that would
benefit from Camden County having an
airport. The cost of the airport would be
funded from Airport and Airways Trust
Funds held by the FAA and used to
promote aviation, from GA DOT funds
available for GA airports, and from the
City of St. Marys. The City of St. Marys
is the owner of the current airport and
would use the funds derived from the
sale of the property where the current
airport is located to pay their port of
the cost of the new airport. Included
in the cost of the new airport are the
road, water and sewer costs associated
with the new airport. The infrastructure
costs would not result in additional taxes
on the residents of the county. Why do
we need an airport if there are so many
so close? That is like asking why we
needed to fund the space program. We
had some ideas but no hard facts at the
time the decision was made and which
resulted in technological advances that
we now take for granted. We have
citizens of our county that own or rent
aircraft and business owners in our
county that depend on the airport for
their livelihood. Should we tell them
to leave, don't they have the same rights
that people who own cars or operate
service stations? Should we deny them
the basic rights others have? There is
also the question of development of the
county; I believe that the airport would
be an asset the future development of
the county. As for the airport generating
money, it does. The businesses that
operate at the airport pay taxes, rent
property from the city and the city derives
revenue from the sale of fuel at the airport.

The question as to where the FAA gets the
money for the Trust Fund was also
questioned. This money does not come
from a general tax but is a tax on the
people who use aviation facilities. If
you do not fly or use aviation facilities
you don't pay this tax. However, a
provision of the new federal highway
spending bill is hurting the aviation
community. It now requires that aviation
operators pay taxes meant for truckers.
This is resulting in the diversion of tax
funds from the Airport and Aviation
Trust Fund to the Highway Trust Fund.
No one likes taxes but if we want the
government to provide facilities and
services for us we have to be willing to
pay for them. The taxes for the
aviation community are paid for by
that community as it should be. I wish
it was the same for other facilities and
services.

John H. P. Cressman, P.E.
Senior Associate
Robert and Company
Engineers-Architects-Planners
435 Clark Road, Suite 606
Jacksonville, FL 32218
(904) 924-0050
(904) 924-0051 Fax
j.cressman@robertco.com

Sandys reply:
Thank you for the heads-up.

W. writes about Ed Marx comments:

Sounds reasonable to me what you

are saying about the airport. Maybe

the payoff is the property in St Marys

that will be vacated.

What do I get out of this deal?

Sandys reply:

That is the $64,000.00 question.....

Les Dooley writes about School Taxes:

Sandy;

My parents had their meeting on Tuesday.

They said the appraiser was very

condescending to them. He kept telling

them that they could sell the house for

a lot of money over & over despite them

telling him that we did not want to sell

the house because we couldn't replace it.

Despite that he said that we have people

moving in from up north who think our

taxes are a bargain and they are for

them but not for us.

The valuation board they said was

condescending toward our state

representative Jeff Chapman and

basically told him that he had no

influence in Camden County.

It is very frustrating to have people

like this in our county government.

They clearly don't have the best interest

of the population in mind. Greed is bad

in any form, but in government it is

worse because the population has no

power to fight them other than at the

ballot box and the elections are only

every so many years and it's not right

that they have to contend with these

kinds of issues.

They do have another avenue if this fails.

I will be contacting Jeff Chapmans office

and informing him of their meeting also.

It's unfortunate that you are the only

commissioner who has the peoples and

the countys interest in mind. I don't

know what the rest of the boards

philosophy is but I imagine it's like

Steve Berrys, tax and spend. I will let

you know what continues to happen

with their case. Thanks for your help

and keep fighting the good fight for us.

Sandys reply:

I am sorry your parents had a hard time.

I think its time to start a little

organization that would attend BOE

meetings as advocates for the taxpayers.

I'll share with you a personal story. I

called a member of the Board of Assessors

and told him a long time resident was

having trouble with the taxes. He said

"if he can't pay the taxes let him get a

reverse mortgage." So much for

compassion.

If you and some others want to start an

advocacy group. Let me know and I

will be there for you.

Mr. Tact informs our readers:

Dear Editor,

I've just read a new, best-seller which

I highly recommend to you and your

readers: The Fair Tax Book, subtitled

Saying Goodbye to the Income Tax

and the IRS.

The co-authors are "reformed lawyer"

and syndicated talk show host, Neal

Boortz, and Congressman John Linder,

(R) GA. Congressman Linder is also

the principal author / sponsor of The

Fair Tax Bill (H.R. 25), currently before

Congress.

In the interest of brevity (the book is

only 180 pages, by the way), I'll quote

from the back of the dust jacket.

"What the Fair Tax will do for America:

eliminate the income tax and the

dreaded IRS; jump start the U.S.

economy; bring businesses and jobs

back to the United States; and recapture

billions of untaxed dollars currently

lost to criminal and offshore businesses."

"What the Fair Tax will do for you:

allow you to keep 100% of your hard-

earned paycheck; let you choose to save

all the money you want .... and pay taxes

only when you spend it; eliminate

countless taxes you don't even know

you're paying; lower interest rates; and

make April 15th just another beautiful

spring day."

The authors provide ample citations from

the works of various economic think-tanks

to back each of those assertions.

Succinctly, the Fair Tax would replace all

current, federal, income-based taxes with

one, universal, federal "consumption

tax," on both goods and services, at the

retail level only. There would be no

exemptions whatsoever. The proposed,

"revenueinitialal," intial tax rate would

be 23%. Predictions are that the resulting

economic boom would make it possible

to lower that rate in short order.

As described so far, the Fair Tax would

be so regressive as not to stand a

snowball's-chance-in-Hell of passage.

Here's the solution.

At the first of every month, every

head-of-household (including single /

no dependents), irrespective of

income / net worth, would receive a

federal "pre-bate" check equal to the

taxes due on his / her appropriate

"poverty level spending" for the

coming month. To quote the authors,

"Poverty level spending' is, by definition,

that spending necessary for a household

of a given size to pay for its necessities.

It is adjusted every year by the

Department of Health and Human

Services."

For example, if the Fair Tax were

currently in effect, every family of four

would receive a monthly pre-bate of

$491.82 to cover the 23% tax on their

first $2,138.22 spent - their "poverty

level spending." All spending above that

level (that month) would have a net

federal tax cost of 23 cents-on-the-dollar -

be it for sneakers or a yacht.

While there would be a new, 23% federal

sales tax (collected by the states' sales

tax offices, by the way), studies predict
initial the intial rate could be lowered in

short order. Moreover, don't forget that

everyones' "take-home-pay" would be

their full, gross earnings under The

Fair Tax.

It is a most interesting, concise, and

thought provoking read that can be

knocked out in two or three sittings.

Suggested full retail is $24.95. There is

at least one copy available at the Camden

County Public Library.

I hope that you and your readers will

both enjoy the book and come to support

the bill.

Sandys reply:

Thanks it was very informative

as usual.

Bob Griggs explains millage rates:

Commissioner,

I read your article at camdenganews

regarding the difficulties with the tax

digest. I want to raise an additional

concern. Does the Camden County

Commission set a mathematically-correct

millage rate? Over nine out of 10 taxing

authorities (by our researched estimation)

adopt arbitrary rates that have absolutely

no mathematical connection to their

budgets.

As a result, the taxpayers are either

OVER-taxed or UNDER-taxed; it has to

be one or the other.

I invite you to visit www.millagerate.com

for information on the millage rate-- how

to calculate it correctly; jurisdictions that

are doing it wrong; and news about our

effort to enact a state law requiring taxing

and recommending authorities to adopt

mathematically correct millage rates.

You can also find an overview of the issue at

http://www.bloggwinnett.com/wpblog/bobg/?p=3 .

Sandys reply:

Thank you for the information. Hopefully

people will read it and learn the game.

Knowledge is a powerful weapon. Thanks.

D. writes about unhired fireman:

With regards to the fireman who did not

feel like he was given a fair shot at a new

position with the County Fire Department,

I want to make sure the people of the

community understand ALL the facts

before deciding who is at fault.

First, I cannot explain why the Human

Resources Dept did not at least call and

say, "Sorry, you don't get an interview."

That is not a hard thing to do and I do

think should have been done.

Second, I think it is up to the Fire Chief

who he wants working in his department.

I know that I was not hired by anyone

other than my boss and I don't see who

else should have made the decision.

I must confess, I am a current firefighter

with Camden County Fire Rescue and

fully understand the reasoning behind

the hiring of the two who were hired to

fill the open positions.

THE BASIS FOR THE APPOINTMENT

WAS BECAUSE OF THE CREDENTIALS

OF THE TWO GENTLEMEN AND NOT

DUE TO ANY FRIENDSHIP-BASED

CHOICES. The chief needs people helping

him he can trust and when a trustworthy

friend also happens to be the most

qualified and most deserving, that only

makes the decision even better.

The last of my rants has to do with the

person who had written the first blog

complaining about not getting granted

an interview. This county is not large

by no means and therefore all firemen

know each other and know the past

records of each other also. I am not

saying that any charges were ever filed,

but if you were to look in that person's

file from the county, you would see

reprimands and actions that I wouldn't

want in my department either. I don't

know if that was the basis for not being

granted an interview, but if I were chief,

the contents of a personnel file like that

would never warrant future employment

in any county position.

Sandys reply:

Once the Dept. of Labor declared the

firemen "Qualified," he should have

been granted an interview. After the

interview Human Resources and the

Fire Chief should have made a decision

and advised who was hired and said

thank you to the rest and that would

have been the end of it. It was there

call and they botched it. The second

comment that I have on the matter.

How is it that you know the contents

of the "unhired fireman" personnel

files? Personnel files are confidential.

That is totally unsatisfactory. Instead

of closing the issue you have just

made it worst.

Sandy Sez:

Thanks to all of you who took

the time to write us letters. I

think we together are finding

and sharing a voice for real

change in Camden County.

Thanks all, have a Great Camden

County weekend.

Sandy Feller

County Commissioner

District 4

"Working for the future without forgetting the past"

NEW AIRPORT - YES/NO

2005-09-14T21:00:00.000-04:00

This article was written by Ed Marx
a longtime resident of Camden
County.

Watch Out – If we the General
Public (general public being –
retirees, blue collar workers)
continue to sit back and
say nothing we will get a airport
jammed down our throats.

Let me get you up to date. Our Mayor
says the relocation of the airport is
being well received – by who – certainly
not the general public that make up
90% of the voting power of this
county.

Sea Island is giving the land
for the airport – why – it will be for
the rich, not for the working class or
people on fixed income. I am told that
the FAA will give a chunk of the money.
Guess what the FAA gets its money
from the Federal Government.
The Federal Government gets its money
from US (no free lunch) – you don’t
have to be smart to figure this out.

This is the part that is going to hurt the
working people. The infrastructure, roads,
sewer, water will be paid for with our tax
money. This money we will be drained
upfront from our pocket book.

This airport clearly will be a drain of our
tax money and a drain from our thin and
thinner pocket books. Its hard for me to
understand why our elected officials
even consider this airport when we
have so many airports near here.
There are 8 airports less than one hour away.
The new airport location near Woodbine will
be a short 20 minute drive from Brunswick
Airport that was completely rebuilt to state
of the art status. Someone please explain
to me why we need a airport? It surely is
not from the money it generates, so it
must be for a select few to enjoy at
our expense.

With this said I ask for only one thing.
Let the people of Camden County have
a say in this, let us vote on this! This
maybe tough to get on the voting
ballot , because the people pushing
this airport know if it would be put up
for a vote the general public would
reject it by a hugh margin. Talk to
your elected officials demand that this
is put to a vote. Don’t let a few people
decide this issue, its to big.

Sandy Sez: This was written by a
long time Camden Resident. What
do you think? Write us at
oilseal@tds.net

Sandy Feller
County Commissioner
District 4

"Working for the future without forgetting the past"

IT'S TIME!!!!!

2005-09-09T09:00:00.000-04:00

The Tax Commissioners Office must
be completely computerized, now. At
Tuesdays meeting (September 6th)
the public hearing on setting the
millage rate was cancelled.
It seems that the revenue figure
for "Timber" was understated by some
$11,000,000.00. This will effect the
counties setting the millage rate and
will require the Camden County School
District to also revisit the issue, i.e.
setting new date for public hearing
and re-advertising in Tribune and
Georgian.

What makes this episode so
remarkable is that it slipped by
not only the Tax Commissioner
but also the high priced financial
directors of the County and
the School District.

To show you how bizarre the situation
is. The cash receipts from the taxpayers
are posted by hand on the deposit slips.
Then they are posted by hand to the
reconciliation given by the Tax
Commissioner to the Finance Director.

Additionally the Board of Assessors
computer cannot talk to the Tax
Commissioners limited computers, so
the reports on reassessments have to
be sent out to a consultant to translate
the information.

The time has come for the Tax Dept.
to come to the County Commission
and request the money necessary to
fully computerize the department.

What do you think? Contact us at
oilseal@tds.net

**************************************
LETTERS TO THE EDITOR:
**************************************
Les Dooley writes about school tax:
Dear Mr. Feller,
I wanted to find out some information
from you. As I understand it the schools
tell the county how much money they
need and the millage rate is adjusted to
meet their demands. Isn’t this taxation
without representation since we the
property owner’s have no chance to
vote on whether our taxes are raised?

In every other state that I have lived
in school taxes are put to a vote of
the registered voters. Thereby keeping
the school systems accountable for the
money they spend.

It seems the way things are here there
is no accountability for the money that
the school system gets. Is this taxation
system the same all through Georgia
and if so what would it take to change
the system. I have a hard time believing
that Dr. Proctor does anything close to
justify her $200,000 salary.

I recently heard about Mr. Berrys’
comments regarding our property taxes.
He doesn’t live in the real world. I’m sure
that money is no object to him since he
is a successful attorney and a bestselling
author. I even heard that our state
representative, Jeff Chapman suggested
that taxes in our county should be capped
for longtime residents such as they have
done on St. Simons Island that Mr. Berry
didn’t think that was a good idea didn’t
even know who he was.

In my opinion the county would be
better served if Mr. Berry stuck to writing
novels. I just see if things continue the way
they are people will be forced to move
because they can’t afford the taxes on
their property. I love the place I live and
would never sell it because I couldn’t
replace it.

In closing I know that you have been in
the taxpayers corner during your tenure
on the county commissioners, I hope
someone in the higher levels of government
will pay attention to the situation. Since
we have lived here we have paid school
tax and don’t even have any children.

Sandys response:
I was a School Board member in NY
where we voted on school budgets.
At first blush your concept makes
sense. However, given the twists and
turns of politics even voting on budget
doesn't work. Will write bigger
answer soon. Thanks for letter.
Comments anyone?

OJ writes about Durango:
Given the fact that there have not been
any new petroleum refineries for more
than 25 years primarily, by "not in my
back yard" environmentalists and the
fact that gasoline is not likely to fall
below $ 3.00 a gallon any time soon, I
would suggest that we actively pursue
having a refinery on the Mill Property.
The odor would be no worse than from
the Mill, hundreds and perhaps
thousands of jobs would be added, the
economic boom and tax income would
be tremendous for the entire area.
I can't imagine this being to difficult
because no one wants one and if the oil
companies find a favorable community
I would think they would be interested.

Just my $ .02 worth.

Sandys response:
We cetainly need rateables (Business).
However, I don't think that too many
will support your idea. What do you
folks out there think? Contact us at
oilseal@tds.net

N. writes about gas prices:
Sandy,
Driving my youngest to school this
morning I heard gas prices in
Jacksonville were $2.5? and up to
$2.61 a gallon for regular gas while
our's are in the $2.88 and up to over
$3.00 How come our gas prices are
so much more then FL?
Prices jumped over $0.40 in a matter
of hours just a day after the hurricane.
That seems to me like price gouging
since the stations couldn't have all just
gotten a new shipment of gas paying
higher prices.

Sandys response:
I haven't a clue. Any of you out there
know why? Write to oilseal@tds.net

Sandy Sez:
Hurricane KATRINA is a natural
disaster that brings out the best
and the worst in people. I pray
that Camden County will show it
brightest most compassionate
face to the world during the
aftermath of this tragedy.

Have a Great Camden County
Weekend and GOD BLESS AMERICA
and our wounded but not down
neighbors.

Sandy Feller
County Commissioner
District 4

"Working for the future without forgetting the past"

PROPERTY TAXES ARE KILLING US

2005-09-07T09:00:00.000-04:00

Exclusive interview between Georgia House
Majority Leader Jerry Keen(R) and Editorial
Staff of Georgia Daily Digest (GDD)

Article reproduced with permission from
www.GeorgiaDailyDigest.com

Jerry Keen: "People are sick and tired of being
taxed to death through local property taxes...."

GDD: You are proposing a
constitutional amendment that
would abolish the school portion
of property taxes and replace it
with a statewide sales tax. Why do
you think this is a good idea?

Keen: Look, if you read the newspapers
throughout this state, there is growing
unrest with property tax bills in
virtually every city and county. People
are sick and tired of being taxed to
death through local property taxes
which they have little control over.
Year after year, their property gets
reassessed; and they wind up with
higher tax bills. In some neighborhoods,
there is evidence homeowners continue
to get reappraised annually while
others are ignored for years. The
taxpayers are catching on that the
property tax is the most regressive
tax around. Public opinion polls in
Georgia and nationwide show it is
the most loathed tax. No other tax
even comes close. I believe consumers
would rather pay a few extra pennies
on purchases than have to set aside
several hundred dollars a month to
pay for property taxes. It’s just easier
for them to swallow. In addition, we
believe this move to finance schools
with a statewide sales tax will help
Georgia bring more equity to the
financing of education.

GDD: Even if it addresses issues of
equity, would it make it easier for
advocates to make a case for
additional revenue to address
education-funding adequacy?

Keen: No. We’re trying to beat that
at the pass. We have seen lawsuits
filed in dozens of states throughout
the country by well-funded liberal
outfits who believe that more money
translates into better education.
There is one here in Georgia by a
consortium of school systems seeking
a major tax hike. We know better.
From 1996 to 2004, property tax
revenues for education climbed 85
percent while enrollment statewide
jumped only 16 percent. And we are
still in the basement on SAT scores.
You can’t tell me more money makes
a difference. If it did, then during these
past eight years, we would have seen
significant gains in test scores across
all school districts and all grades.
We hope this effort will deter any court
from imposing a multi-billion dollar tax
increase on Georgia residents to help
fund poor public schools. This is our
effort to avoid that court-ordered tax
increase. We’ll get them the extra
funding they need in a more palatable
way.

GDD: How would the Legislature
make a determination to raise or
lower the tax?

Keen: House Resolution 58 or the School
Property Tax Cut of 2006 is a proposed
constitutional amendment. It would
require 120 votes in the House and 2/3
vote of the Senate to be placed on the
November 2006 ballot. Then Georgia
voters would get a say on whether they
want to change this highly regressive
form of taxation – from one based on
holdings to one based on consumption.
If the Legislature gives the green light,
it then is in the hands of the voters.
I predict voters will leap at the chance
to lower their tax bills – particularly by
such an enormous amount. Remember,
in some counties, permanently removing
school property taxes will result in as
much as a 70 percent decrease in annual
tax bills.

GDD: Why would a parent in either
a poorer or wealthier county
support this proposal?

Keen: In a wealthy district, land values
are high; and homeowners pay dearly to
fund their public schools. This way their
schools would be funded with a sales tax
of no more than 3 cents. It might even be
2 cents before the General Assembly is
done debating this. In rural counties, we
will use any extra sales tax revenue
generated statewide to help increase the
per-pupil funding.

GDD: This would appear to
significantly transfer some of the
control of schools from Georgia
communities to the state Capitol.
Is this one of the objectives?

Keen: You know, you hear school boards
rallying against this idea because they
claim it takes away their control. It does
strip them of the power to ever levy taxes
again. But that’s a good thing. They still
will have complete local control of how
they spend their money. Instead of their
revenue checks coming from the local
tax commissioner, they will come from
the Georgia Revenue Commissioner.
That doesn’t sound like much of a loss
of control to me. The school boards
never collected their own tax revenue
anyway. I prefer to look at it this way,
with no need for a staff to worry about
finance, the school systems can instead
focus on academics. That’s what their
primary focus should always be.

GDD: This would raise the sales
tax to 10 or 11 percent in some
counties if the proposal should
reach it maximum 3-cent cap.
Won’t this just compound the
regressive nature of sales taxes
on Georgia’s citizens?

Keen: Absolutely not. That’s where the
big misconception comes into play.
Property taxes are more regressive.
In so many places, the poor are in
danger of losing their homes because
of rising tax bills. So are the middle
class and new homeowners. We can
control our spending habits, and a
couple of extra pennies here and there
are easier to swallow than property
tax bills that amount to thousands
of dollars. We have heard stories of
citizens banding together in places
like Oakhurst in DeKalb County to
have garage sales to help pay
property taxes for the disabled
and elderly. No one wants to lose
their home, and I bet you any of
these poor folks would tell you
they’d prefer a few pennies at
the grocery store to a whopper
of a tax bill every year.

GDD: With the exception of
Atlanta, nearly every other
Georgia population center is near
the border of another state. Why
wouldn’t most Georgians take the
property tax break and then
drive across the border or use the
Internet to make large purchases
for sales tax savings?

Keen: My instincts tell me something
different. I imagine if a young couple
is looking for a new home, and they
can purchase a house that is 25 percent
larger in Augusta, for example, because
of such a huge reduction in property
taxes, they’ll move to Georgia. That’s
good for Georgia’s economy. They may
drive across the state line to shop for
big-ticket items. But when you are
pressed for time, making the weekly
grocery store run for example, I doubt
you are going to drive far to save a
few pennies. I’d certainly bet on that
with the price of gas these days.

GDD: Property taxes are thought
to be relatively stable during
volatile economic times while sale
tax collections can be a roller
coaster. How would this proposal
address the volatility of sales taxes?

Keen: I’d say that’s another
misconception. A recent study by
a professor at Georgia State
University shows that during the past
30 years, sales tax collections
statewide have averaged 9 percent
annually. I can’t imagine any school
district legitimately needing more
than a 9 percent annual increase in
their budget. Besides, we will have a
provision in the legislation to require
a state education reserve just in case
of a catastrophic economic downturn.

GDD: Tell us about an initiative
you have planned for the 2006
Legislative session that would
crack down on sex offenders.

Keen: As long as I’m Majority Leader,
I never want to see Georgia have the
problems we’ve seen in places like
Florida where sex offenders slip through
the cracks and continue to molest
children. We are drafting legislation
that will be a zero tolerance policy for
sex offenders. You may know that these
are some of our most hardened
criminals. They are sick and have a
lifetime problem that usually is
incurable. For that reason, we will
require lifetime monitoring with
ankle bracelets, strengthen sentencing
and increase the penalties so they
cannot get near schools or other
places where children congregate.
This legislation will probably make
Georgia one of the toughest in the
nation on sex offenders. No sex
offender is ever going to want to
live here. I’d be mighty happy to
see that happen.

GDD: After 134 years in the
wilderness, what’s it like now
that the Republicans are in
charge? Is it all you thought it
would be?

Keen: These are exciting and
hectic days down at the state
Capitol. Governing is very, very
different than being in the Minority.
During our first legislative session,
we accomplished much more than
critics ever dreamed from civil
justice reform, to corporate tax
cuts, redistricting congressional
maps, improvements to education,
to changes in insurance regulations
and a 24-hour waiting period to
get an abortion. We have much
more to do in the coming years
especially in the areas of health
care and illegal immigration.
Remember, Republicans and
conservatives have been out of
power for a very long time. We
couldn’t even get a hearing on
our legislation. We are governing
much differently. We are trying
to be fair to the minority party and
treat them with respect. But we
intend to carry out an agenda that
makes the state safer for Georgians,
cuts taxes, improves education and
brings a more business-like approach
to governing. Each day is a new
challenge, and we’re all still running
on adrenaline.

Sandy Sez:
After schools can the County
Commissions be next? I hope so!

County Commissioner
District 4

"Working for the future without forgetting the past"

NO NEW TAX INCREASES

2005-09-02T09:00:00.000-04:00

Impact Fees can be our salvation.
Please read the following from the
official online publication of the
Florida Home Builders Association.

Osceola County Wins Impact Fee Challenge
A circuit judge on August 6th struck
down the HBA of Metro Orlando's and
Florida Home Builders Association's
challenge to Osceola County's school
impact fee - the highest in the state.
The HBA/FHBA lawsuit alleged that
the method used by Osceola County
School District consultants was flawed
and had never been used elsewhere in
Florida. Further, it claimed this
overcharged new-home buyers by
failing to give them credit for a
capital improvement tax they also
would pay. But in his 20-page ruling,
Circuit Judge R. James Stroker
dismissed those arguments. He said
that while a fee must directly benefit
those who pay it, that is not required
of a tax. He also said the method used
to calculate the impact fee was
"reasonable and not arbitrary."
Stroker ruled that the county had met
a twofold test in proving that its higher
fee was justified. First, there must be a
reasonable connection between the
anticipated need for new schools and
the growth generated by new development.
Second, he said, there must be a similar
connection between the spending of
impact-fee revenue and a benefit to the
home buyers who ultimately pay the fee.
The judge ruled that the county's impact
fee ordinance passed both parts of that test.
In 2004, Osceola County increased its
school impact fee by 243 percent to
$9,708 for a single-family home.

Imagine if we (as part of the new
Master Plan) Implemented a version
of the above. We wouldn't have to
raise taxes for years to come.
*****************************************
LETTERS TO THE EDITOR:
*****************************************
Denise R. Taylor writes about C.

I only wish C. had allowed name to be
printed so that I could have given a
Proper salutation.

Those of Camden County who know me or
has come in contact with me have a good
since of who I am. All others, such as
yourself, base your opinion of me on the
distortion of others or the misinterpretation
of what I write. Therefore let me give you
a synopsis.

Everything that I have written/said is
100% true. There isn't one elected/
appointed official that can refute any of
what I have informed the taxpayers of.

One thing that those who know me
"The System" understand is I am
absolutely right. And if those who are in
a position don't take their heads out of
the sand our community will continue
to suffer. My only purpose is to make
things better. We have an awesome
opportunity here in Camden County.
But we must rearrange and get our house
in order so that we can move forward
and take advantage of the opportunities
before us.

We are in a very critical season and
this is our opportunity to make Camden
County path straight. We need to
immediately correct the problems in our
County Government. This will set the
course straight.

Secondly, we need to initiate serious
plans for improvement in the following
areas:

* Comprehensive Master Plan

* Diversity in all areas of
community/planning

* Per Capita Income Gap

* Affordable Housing

* Student Achievement

* Lowering the Dropout Rate

* Taxes

We must come together as a community.
We all need each other. The BRAC
Commission just told us that. We cannot
continue with things the way that they are.

But if people who are not informed of
all of the facts attack the messenger then
how do we correct and move forward?
We have been told basically by the world
"Get your house in order." All I want is
for us to do that. You can't allow illegal
deals that are so obvious; a taxpayer
realizes it, to continue taking place.
You cannot allow your County Government
to misappropriate Federal money and
sweep it under the carpet. These are
examples of what we must all work to
correct.

So if I offend you and others that have
bountiful similarities with you, by
working for FREE for the betterment
of the community in which I live. I refuse
to apologize! Psalms 78:72

Robert G. Becker writes accidents:

I keep observing accidents at the entrance

to Wal-Mart on GA. 40, especially east

bound. For one thing many people who

use the Murphy gasoline station like to

make turns at this intersection, when

there is no turn lane. They stop there

to make a turn, causing traffic moving

even at low speeds let alone at the speed

limit to stop in their lane, without

warning in many cases. Both the Cities

of Kingsland and St. Marys should ask

DOT to put up a "No turn" sign there

and police it. This should stop some

of the accidents. These people are a

danger to themselves and others.

Especially whn it is wet. There is a turn

lane at the light, a short distance ahead,

use it. No one likes to see an accident,

especially those involved. It's

dangerous enough out there. Use

common sense.

Sandy Sez:
Let us all bow our heads and pray for

the victims of KATRINA. There but for

the Grace of God go you and I. Open

your hearts and be generous to whatever

charity will benefit our neighbors.

Sandy Feller
County Commissioner
District 4

"Working for the future without forgetting the past"

DRIVING WHILE INTOXICATED

2005-08-31T09:00:00.000-04:00

The next time someone criticizes
Judge Moroz for being too heavy
handed re: DWI tell him to contact
Lt. Governor Taylor. Recently Mr.
Taylors son was involved in a fatal
automobile accident.

If a police officer had spotted and
pulled over Mr. Taylors son 5 minutes
earlier, the sons best friend would
still be alive. (See Georgia Times
Union Saturday August 27th).
############################
NO NEW TAXES FOR 5 YEARS
############################
How would you like "No new taxes"
for 5 years? Read Fridays edition of
Camden Ga News. "The eyes and ears
of Camden County".

When is a tax increase a tax increase?
Read Fridays edition of Camden Ga
News. "The eyes and ears of Camden
County".
****************************************
AT WILL EMPLOYMENT UPDATE
****************************************
I am advised by the County Clerk that the
matter has been turned over to the County
Attorney. After he gets through with it,
it will be advertised in the Tribune and
Georgian for a public hearing.
****************************************
LETTERS TO THE EDITOR
****************************************
L. Writes about Steve Berry letter:

Dear Mr. Feller
I recently received a letter from
Commissioner Steve Berry where he brags
about his voting record on taxes. He must
think I and yawl have no memory.

Well lets see, the Soccer Courts were
supposed to be $95,000. They turned out
to be $187,000. He pushed thru Winding
Road only $500,000.00. (5 Families
live there)

In both cases his personal clients benefited.
I remember Sandy, because you kept
talking about it. So we do listen to whats
going on and whats being said.

As far as taxes I still remember what you
said. If your tax bill is higher than the
year before, you got a tax increase.
Well it did and I got it! In the neck!!
Keep up the good work.

B. Writes about AT-Will:
E. B. Herrin is a tyrant. When he got
in this time he fired Barry King, Denise
Etheridge, Frank Etheridge and forced
out the Road Dept. Manager and the
County Manager Mr. Akridge. Now he
wants AT-Will Employment. I hope
somebody runs against him next year.
I can't vote in his election. But I
surely will send money to anyone who
runs against him!

C. writes about blog:
I honestly believe a blog is a wonderful
avenue to express yourself, a First
Amendment byproduct which is used
by many to express, explain, and
sometimes bitch and moan. I would
just like to give my opinion to you in
regards to your blog if I may.

First, I find only one difference between
yourself and Denise Taylor. You hold an
elected position and she does not. Other
than that, the similarities are bountiful.
It is one thing for Mrs. Taylor to talk down
about the local government and its
officials since she is talking ONLY as a
citizen of Camden. You on the other
hand sir are holding a very powerful
position in our land. You have the
ability to transform this county into
an ideal piece of land with intelligent
moves and strategies. With this power
must come some personal restraint. That,
you have not shown when you preach the
wrongdoings of your colleagues instead
of doing your 1/5 part in the commission.

Please start thinking a little harder before
you begin another session of finger
pointing. As a citizen, I don't want to
have a commissioner finish out his
tenure by bitching and moaning instead
of working until the job is done. And
don't worry, there are three other
commissioners I am not happy with
either.

Thank you for hearing my $0.02,

Mark McAnaw writes about
political parties:
Hello Sandy
I believe our Government should be
for the People and " by the People ".
Right now a good portion of our
community are Military or Federally
paid Civil Service personnel. Think
of all of the Federal Installations in
our area, Kings Bays Navy Submarine
Base, Cumberland Island National
Seashore Okefenokeekee National Wildlife
Refuge, Federal Law Enforcement
Training Center, the Navy Bases in
Jacksonville ( whose employees are
living in Camden County because of
its quality of life ), and other places
that have Federal Government employees.
By law, we are not able to serve in elected
positions where you have to declare a
political party preference.

If we make having a political party
preference in local government races a
requirement, we make a portion of our
community unable to participate. We
risk losing a lot of experienced and
motivated people if we exclude them
from the process. Think about what
would happen if all of the Federally
Employed people of Camden County
stopped being active in our community.
What would happen to our schools where
there are partnerships between schools
and submarines, how would our roads
look when the adopt a highway went
away, think of all the Community
volunteer groups we participate in
(volunteer fire departments, civic clubs,
Habitat for Humanity, City Government).
I would like to see ALL local races, City
Council, Mayor, County Commissioners
and School Board, elected without a
political party declaration.

I hope the School Board and any other
local governments or offices will think
long and hard before changing the way
they elect their members.

Thank you

N. Writes about BRAC decision:
Well thanks (for nothing) Jimmy
Carter! I sure hope the terrorists
never bomb the Gold Star Highway
Bridge the subs wouldn't be able
to get out of the base!

R. Writes about AT- Will:
Commissioner Feller,

You are going to start hearing from me a
lot in regards to the Camden County
Board of Commissioners considering the
adoption of an At Will Employment
policy. This is very wrong!

Briefly, At Will Employment means that
a worker can be fired for a good reason, a
bad reason, any reason or no reason at all.
And then the onus is placed on the
discharged worker to prove in court that
an illegal reason such as discrimination
existed. Also, the discharged person will
have to prove in court that he was in a
permanent position to begin with as
opposed to a temporary position. Wow!
Legalized discrimination? Our county
emarentees aren't permanent employees?
I guess they won't be. How is a person
supposed to pay for legal representation in
these cases when they can't even make the
mortgage, the car payment or feed the kids?

So a person who has been a good worker
for the last 25 years, always gets to work
on time, the job is always done right, sick
days are kept to a very minimum, all of the
sudden has a family member get sick.
They have health insurance but their
family healthcare costs are hurting the
system. Let's just fire them for no reason
at all to make those healthcare costs go
away. And the worker has to prove that
they weren't going to be fired anyway. I
guess that we'd better make sure they we
don't get up in years while were working
for Camden County. They'll fire you for
having healthcare costs that are too high.
What about the folks who are not fully
vested in their retirement plans? If they
get fired, they'll only get a percentage of
the interest that their money earned.
Yep. They invested the money, but
they'll only get a percentage of the
interest. And the rest of that money
will go pay for someone else's retirement.

We've seen the hurt caused by At Will
Employment when the Sheriffs Office
fired a bunch of employees some months
ago. Do we know the reason? That's the
point, there doesn't have to be a reason.

Now these politicians are going to tell
us that these things will never happen.
Will you bet your future on a
politicians promise?
County employees, are you non-permanent
employees? Are you willing to work only as
long an appointed bureaucrat (the county
administrator) says it's O.K.? Make
yourselves smart about by At Will
Employment. Look it up on the internet
or at the library and see how it will affect
you. Get your family and friends to start
writing letters to the Commissioners, to
the Editor of the Tribune-Georgian and
to Commissioner Fellers weblog. Show
up every other Tuesday night to Woodbine
and tell the commission that it's wrong.

But if you do take an active part, have
your escape plan ready because they will
fire you for no reason at all. It's only
your job that you're fighting for. And even
if you don't take an active part and they do
adopt this policy, I'd recommend that you
do move to a job with more security before
it's too late.

We need to stop this At Will Employment
initiative now! We need to keep our
dedicated county workforce in place.
******************************************
HEAR YE, ADVERTISEMENTS !!!!!!!
**************************************
"A NEW ENTERPRISE"

DRT LAND TITLE COMPANY
Title Searches for Residential,
Land and Commercial. Quick and
Accurate services.
For further information call
Denise R. Taylor 904-556-3892

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
NOW OPEN BIG MAMA'S KITCHEN
1840 Osborne Road
St. Marys, Georgia 31558
912-576-4858

ALL-YOU-CAN-EAT-
BUFFET

Sandy Sez: Come hungry you will
enjoy. I eat there and it is fabulous.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
If you need something fixed around the
house or at your business give First
Choice Heating and Air
Conditioning a call. Jeff Horner is
the owner operator and a great guy. Give
him a call his prices are great.

Office: 912-882-7988
Mobile: 912-227-0464
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Sandy Sez: With reference to
C. letter. I thank him/her for
taking the time to express his/her opinion.
However, in this case what he/she
suggests is unfortunately
impossible. I serve at the pleasure
of the people. When my fellow
Commissioners choose to put
forward an agenda not in the
publics best interests, I regrettably
must speak out. With me the people
come first. At any rate again thank you
very much for your input.

Sandy Feller

County Commissioner

District 4

"Working for the future without forgetting the past"

CAMDEN WATER

2005-08-26T21:00:00.000-04:00

In a FREE SOCIETY the citizens
give certain powers to elected
officials.

It is hoped that they will use the power
for the good of ALL. Below you will
find a letter from "Georgia Department
of Natural Resources" to W&D
Investments, Inc. This letter came into
our possession because of our attendance
at Camden County Planning Board
Meetings. This implication is that the
Board of Commissioners has voted on the
matter. In fact, it has never been
discussed.

Past blogs have referenced this issue
before see: Water for Sale 4-22-05
http://camdenganews.blogspot.com

The following is exact replica of Letter:
Georgia Department of Natural Resources
Environmental Protection Division.
Watershed Protection Branch
4220 intentional Parkway.
Suite 101. Atlanta. Georgia 30354
404/675-6232

Reply to: engineering & Technical
Support Program
Phone:404/675-6233; Fax 404/675-6246

June 16, 2005

Mr. Woodrow Sapp
W&D Investments, Inc.
D/B/ A SC Utilities
4774 New Jesup Highway
Brunswick, Georgia 31520

RE: Urban Reclamation Facility
Dover Bluff Road
Camden County

Dear Mr. Sapp:

We have reviewed your letter of
June 1, 2005 in which you discuss
your plans to expand the St. Andrews
Sound Urban Water reclamation facility
which is currently permitted to treat up
to 0.400 million gallons per day (mgd).
In particular, you state that several
developments planned for the Dover Bluff
Road area have requested that you provide
sewerage service and that the Camden
County Commission supports
your plan to develop a "regional" reuse
wastewater system to serve the East Dover
Bluff area.

In response to your request for the
Environmental Protection Division's view of
your plans, we believe that development of a
regional system, especially one that will
provide reuse water to alleviate the need for
withdrawing irrigation water from the
aquifer, would be a positive step in
managing the county's resources as it faces
the pressures of ongoing growth.

We look forward to working with you. If
you have any questions, please contact
me at 404-675-1753.

Sincerely.
Robert A. Scott, P.E.
Program Manager
Engineering & Technical Support Program

cc:
Darrel Crosby, Coastal District EPD
Jeff Larson, PCEP
Charles Ackridge, Camden County Administrator
David Word, Assistant Director EPD

Given the ignoring of ordinances etc.
one wonders what's going on. Clearly the
JDA's sudden interest in WATER is
suspect see blog Camden County Water
Friday, June 10th edition
http://camdenganews.blogspot.com

What does all of this mean?

Unregulated private companies
who are free to charge
residents anything they want?

What do you think? Email us at
oilseal@tds.net

Sandy Sez:

The time for openness and clarity
is NOW!!!!!! Let us reason
together slowly with compassion
for the other fellows point of
view.

Sandy Feller
County Commissioner
District 4

"Working for the future without forgetting the past"

NEWS IN BRIEF!!!!!

2005-08-24T09:00:00.000-04:00

Would you support an unregulated
independent water and waste water
treatment service company? That's
right, totally free to charge any price
they want for water and sewer services.
What do you think? More details
in our Friday August 26 edition.

Question: Do you think Political
Party's are important?

Do you think local branches of the
two parties serve any purpose between
elections?

Do you think political parties should be
active in local issues?

Send your thoughts to oilseal@tds.net.

We will publish your thoughts (with or
without your name, if you so indicate).
**************************************
LETTERS TO THE EDITOR:
**************************************
R. Writes about Gratitude:

I am so grateful for the blog. You guys
are truly the eyes and ears of Camden
County. I would like to thank you for
sharing the cold hard truths about
Camden County. You print what the
others will not and I appreciate that.
Keep up the good work. Do not be
intimidated by the system. You guys
are beginning to crack the armour of
Berry-Rainer-Herrin-Rhodes. Keep
doing what you are doing. GOOD JOB!

W. Writes about Commission meeting:

Attacking you at a meeting in front of the
public as the other commissioners did,
will surely back fire on them. It is nazi
like to have at-will firing. The truth hurts.
While I don't agree with some of the things
you want to do, I do think you do a good
job of informing the public in all districts
as to what's going on. I for one appreciate
that. If I lived in your district I would
surely vote for you.

The other commissioners would like for
you to keep quite about things and they
could out vote you, then things would be
done and over, before the public knew
anything about what was going on.
Thanks for keeping us informed.
Keep up the good work.

S. Writes about Eyes and Ears:

Sandy, what do you think the chance
of a Recall for commissioners Herrin
and Rainer and even Berry.? I can't
believe the way he is acting. He's no
better than the other two.

I am starting to think that just maybe
the citizens are going to wake up.

Did you know that John Braswell's
sister was hired at the 911 center with
Gail, his wife and Wesley Walkers sister
was hired at Planning and building?

Penny is right in the middle of this.

We are headed for the same mess in our
government that we had before when
Herrin was commissioner, and the
budget was in the RED.

T. Writes about concerns:

Wow.....loved your Blog Mr. Feller....
I want to thank you AGAIN for your
concern and your effort to help in this
matter....as I expected prior to writing
my letter to you my thoughts came
true....YOU were the ONLY
commissioner to take time out of there
so very busy day to call me and you are
certainly the ONLY one to make an
effort to help me by presenting the
problem to those concerned....if I can
ever be of any help to you please let me
know....

M. Writes about Injustices:

Dear Sandy, As I read all that is
going on I have to laugh for many
reasons that will go unexplained.
What I would like to comment on is
all of the stuff about Judge Moroz.
Call it what you want. The attorneys
simply bypass him. AND I think he is
looking for a different job and it is
in Woodbine.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Need something fixed around the
house or your shop call First Choice
Heating and Air Conditioning. Jeff
can be reached by call 912-882-7988
or 912-227-0464.

I use them they are great. And most
importantly the price is right.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Sandy Sez:

Your response to the At-Will
issue was awesome! We
received over 1,000 hits.
It should show those in power
it is time to change their ways.

Sandy Feller
County Commissioner
District 4

"Working for the future without forgetting the past"

LET THE BUYER BEWARE!!!

2005-08-19T09:00:00.000-04:00

Can you build when you want too?

It is my understanding that most
contracts for the purchase of lots
call for delays in start of construction
for 1 or 2 years. The theory behind
this is that the infrastructure in a
development must be completed
before construction of houses can
begin. The question is what if the
infrastructure i.e, roads, water,
sewer are not built? EXAMPLE:
If the project calls for development
with water and wastewater
treatment facilities to be built by
or for the developer (as opposed
to individual private wells and septic
tanks) and they are not completed.

What happens then?

The county planning department is
woefully understaffed. The County
does not enforce its own laws. Who
will be responsible to the buyers at
that point? Since the County issued
the permits to the developer, will the
County be dragged into court and will
the existing taxpayers be required
(By new and higher taxes) to make good?

Just a warning to you new buyers!
Check it out make sure you
are protected.
You don't want litigation and neither
do the taxpayers of Camden County.

We welcome all the newcomers. We hope
you will be happy here. But, like they say
"let the buyer beware." Thank you
for all of your Groton inquiries.
************************************
LETTERS TO THE EDITOR:
************************************
Denise R. Taylor writes about injustice:
For the original story please refer to
At-Will, Letter to the Editor at
http://camdenganews.blogspot.com/

Just wanted to give you and update on
the injustices in Camden County. My
case was finally sent to the Georgia
Bureau of Investigation. From the
research I previously conducted I
thought this was the way to truth and
justice, once and for all. Again I
underestimated the good ole boy
network of Camden County. Yes, my
case was sent to the GBI, but with
instructions Investigate the threat
only. When I questioned Special Agent
Dial about this I was told, "The Camden
County Sheriff Office requested that I
investigate the threat only." I then asked
Special Agent Dial how can you investigate
the threat without investigating the cause
of the threat? He responded by saying
"That is out of my jurisdiction, I can only
investigate what the CCSO requested."

How stupid is that! Again everyone knows
of the wrongdoing, stealing,
mismanagement of funds, conspiracy,
terrorist threats, malfeasance, breach of
oath of office, breach of fiduciary duties,
etc. But everyone turns a deaf ear,
including the District Attorney. I just
never thought this would include
Sheriff Bill Smith. If we don't have
truthful law enforcement, except in cases
that involve common people, what are we
basing the justice of this County on?

And to this day I have not received and
answer to the question? I have been
threatened about asking the question,
but no one has offered and answer to
me, or the taxpayers of this County.
What did the JDA spend 15 million
dollars on? They acquired a bond for
35 million for Express Scripts; to date
they say they have utilized 15 million of
that money. What was it spent on? It's
a very simple question, but one worth
threatening my life over?

J. writes about Steve Berry:
If Berry wants to see what his prospects
of winning against Hill are all he has to
do is go to his mirror, take a look and
he will see a loser. He is only in office
now because he is in a small district and
no one has mounted a serious campaign
against him. This will be a good chance
for him to see what folks really think about
him and we can rid of him in public office.
That looks like a real winner to me.
Perhaps one of those meetings he has at
Cracker Barrel he can call in Keith Dixion
and he can get a heads up on getting rid of
an undesirable, self promoting, egotistical
fellow. One can only hope it is true.

Robert G. Becker writes about At-Will:
Commissioner E.B. Herrin has come
up with "At-Will Employment" which
means if you complain or you speak out
of turn or someone doesn't like you, you
can be fired. If you were to say something
to the paper or tell a friend and a
Commissioner heard it, even as, "hear say",
you could be fired. Why would anyone
work for the county is the question? This
is nothing but servitude to the people who
are in power. And if new people replace
the people who are in power now they
could fire you because you are friends
with someone who has left. This is sheer
stupidity, it opens a bucket of worms to
anyone who works for the county. There
are practices in place to handle this, and
if need be, it can be tightened. This is
nothing but a way to control people.

Ms. Tactless sends a quote:

I thought this an appropriate quote for
your blog. "Let no man turn aside, ever so
slightly, from the brhonorth of honour,
on the plausible pretence that he is justified
by the goodness of his end. All good ends can
be worked out by good means."-- Charles
Dickens (1812-1870) English Novelist

C. writes about Union Carbide:
Am I wrong or is the 4000 acre UC tract
in the northern part of the county tax
assessed at approx $250/acre. Is this
normal for large tracts in the county?
I was just curious since this is one of
the few large tracts in GA with
significant water frontage.
Current market value, say $20,000,000.

S. writes about Parade Manual:
I have obtained a "draft" of a document

titled "Parade/Festival Manual." Drafts

have a very bad sound because that usually

means there is soon to follow the real thing.

Parades in St. Marys have become a very

good promotional draw for our wonderful

area and illustrate all that is fun about a

small town. However, having a parade

manual certainly takes away from it all.

The last thing I want is to be bound by a

manual on being in a small town parade.

We have it great here and that is only if

we can keep government out of our affairs.

This not New York. It is more like a very

pleasant "Hooterville By The Sea." We

know how to behave and we don't need

city hall to teach us. Reason I sent this is

because I think the City has really gone

over board on messing up a good thing.

Part of the Manual requires that you have

to have an application to be in the parade

30 days before the parade, then you have

to meet with the Parade/Festival Committee

15 days prior to event. You also have to have

a waiver due no later than 72 hours before

the event. Photos and all sorts of other stuff.

I have participated in the parades for a

number of years on a voluntary basis. I don't

care to have to do all that crap and I don't

know any other group that would. We have

all sorts of folks in our parades for years and

I don't recall there ever being a problem. We

have all sorts of churches business, clubs,

pre-schools and local organizations

participating. It is just a hassle that is foolish.

It was always a fun event and not a hassle

with local government and requirements

to meet and read ever changing manuals.

It is just counter productive when we talk

about tourism and such. It takes away from

our small town attraction of being just that.

They have had parades that attracted

crowds up to 30,000. Most towns would do

anything to encourage the participation.

Sandy Sez:

If we do not have a sound Planning/

Building Department we are in for alot

of trouble. Let us know your thoughts.

"Remember Flea Hill."

Sandy Feller

County Commissioner

District 4

Have a great Camden County Weekend.

"Working for the future without forgetting the past."

INJUSTICE..............

2005-08-17T21:00:00.000-04:00

***********************************
MAYOR HASE SPEAKS OUT
ON DOUBLE TAXATION:
***********************************
(Statement at 8/8/05 Council meeting):

The City Manager and I met with
Commissioners Rainer and Berry,
along with two employees of the Sheriff's
department on July 26th at the county
annex. (The sheriff was not present.)
Also present were Mayor Kenneth Smith,
his police chief, our police chief, the
county attorney and various other staff
members from each entity.

The meeting was rather adversarial.
Unfortunately we were unsuccessful in
convincing the commissioners that
there should not be a contract between
St Marys and the Sheriff regarding the
incarceration of St Marys' prisoners.
They basically stated that it was
irrelevant that the City of St Marys
has the smallest percentage of
prisoners in the county jail; and we
were emphatically informed that the
Sheriff is going to begin charging
St Marys whether we agree to it or
not. It was also irrelevant that the
City already provides approximately
40% of the revenues to the Sheriff's
budget.

Once it was established by both
commissioners that there would be
no discussion about whether or not
there would be a contract, we began
discussions about the proposed terms.
Several items were discussed. In short,
we objected very strongly against the
wording that the sheriff's office could
turn away our prisoners if the jail were
full. They agreed to delete this from the
contract language. They also agreed that
the $45 per day per prisoner charge
would not begin until the 11th day that
a prisoner is incarcerated, instead of
day one, which is what was proposed
in the last draft we received.

Other major concerns such as medical
expenses will be available for council's
review once the city receives the
amended draft, which will be coming
from the County Attorney any day now.
He will be forwarding it to the City
Attorney, who will forward it to us with
his comments. I anticipate that it will
be on the next agenda for discussion
since the county insists that this
arrangement begin as of September 1.

Finally, I feel compelled to make a
statement regarding the irresponsible
comments about our court made by
Commissioner Berry at the meeting
on July 26th, as well as by
Commissioner Herrin in his letters
to the editor recently:

The City of St Marys' municipal court
safeguards the constitutional rights of
its defendants, and does not deny the
right to counsel to any defendant
accused of a crime in our court. All
such rights are explained verbally and
in writing. The accused are required to
acknowledge this orally and in writing
before any plea is accepted by the
judge. Additionally, all sessions are
videotaped and are on file with the city.

It is my opinion that the City is fortunate
to have a judge that believes in justice
and is faithful to his oath of office for
the protection of our citizens, which is
what he was appointed to do.
Mayor Hase
*************************************
IT'S WHO YOU KNOW!!!!!!
Hiring practices in Camden
County, Georgia
*************************************
Dear Commissioner Feller,
I hope this finds you doing ok and
having a wonderful day. Even
though I do not live in your district
I have found by reading your news
articles that we think quite a bit
alike. I find myself often times
agreeing with your decisions. I
therefore thought you would give
my letter the most fore thought
and hopefully I would have a
better chance of some investigation
into a serious concern of mine and
hopefully even an answer to my
concern. The subject of this letter
Mr. Feller is the possible inequitable
practices of your human resources
department when it comes to hiring.

I have a situation that occurred and
I wanted to run it by you and see if
I have a legitimate concern.
In June our county government
placed an ad in the local paper for
two positions in our county fire
department that they were looking
to fill. It was also posted with the
Ga. Dept. of Labor website. I
researched the ad on the Dept
of Labor web site and applied via
the website for the position. I
met and exceeded the pre-requisites
set forth in the job announcement
according to the Ga. Dept of Labor
representative that was indicated
by the county fire department
announcement. They therefore
contacted me via email and advised
me so and then informed me that I
was then able to obtain a job
application from the county
government and proceed with the
application process. I then filled
out the appropriate paperwork and
delivered such to the Ga. Dept of
Labor office. A few weeks went by
and being concerned I asked the
county fire chief what the status
was of the proceedings to hire. He
informed me that the human
resources department was
handling the proceedings. I assumed
he meant they were going to mail
out notifications of when and where
the interviews would be held for
the open positions. Another week
or so went by and I received word
via word of mouth that the interviews
had taken place that day and the
points were being tallied and the
decision would be forth coming of
who was selected for the open position.
I have yet to receive an answer from
anyone why ALL the qualified
applicants were NOT interviewed.

I was told only 4 people were
interviewed. It just so happens that
the fire chiefs best friend happened
to be one of the individuals
interviewed and of course the one
hired. The applicants that had as
much experience and qualifications
if not more than the applicant hired
were NOT even afforded the
opportunity of an interview. I find it
hard to believe that the decision by
the county human resource
department NOT to interview
ALL qualified applicants was a unfair
and unjust decision in accordance with
any hiring laws that there may be in
place.

I would like to know if a county
entity can just pick and choose
whom to interview and whom not
to interview in order to stack the
deck if you will so that the fire
chiefs best friend ends up as the
most qualified candidate being
interviewed and hired for the
position. This just doesn't sound
like a practice that should be legal
with any EEOC laws. If the posted
job announcement that was issued
by the county human resource
office indicated certain qualifications
be met prior to applying and those
resume/application then I feel that
ALL qualified applicants should
have been afforded the opportunity
of an interview in order to keep
everything fair and equal for all
concerned. I do not feel that neither
the fire chief nor the human resources
department had the right to screen
out qualified applicants resumes and
determine that only certain applicants
were worthy of an interview.

The county claims to be an EEOC
employer but obviously their not if
they're screening applications and
weeding out the ones that they do
not want competing against there
chosen applicant that they wanted
to hire in the first place. On top of
all that the human resource
department has not even had the
courtesy to notify those of us that
did not receive an interview that
we were not worthy of an interview
and at least advise us that our
applications were received and that
we did not even have a chance at
the position. This is just one of
many examples of the way our
county does business in it's
continuous unfair and unjust
ways.

Here is my concern. Why wasn't
EVERY qualified applicant that
was screened by the Dept of Labor
afforded the opportunity of an
interview in order to # 1 hire the
best qualified applicant for the
position and #2 to ensure that
Camden County was an EQUAL
OPPORTUNITY EMPLOYER as
it was stated in the newspaper
ad, on the county website and
on the dept of labor website.

Where does it state that either
the fire chief or the human
resources department has the
authority to screen
applications/resumes for whom
they determine worthy of an
interview? Where does it state
that the human resources
department has the authority to
determine who is qualified for
an interview? I know that I am
not a human resources expert
nor do I have a degree in that
subject matter but I would
think that the labor laws would
state that if a applicant met the
prerequisites of the employers
ad that they should at least be
afforded the opportunity of an
interview just as some others
were afforded.

I was really hoping that after
more than 20 years of Camden
Fire Rescue working under a
dictatorship that the advent of
a new fire chief would breathe
of fresh air into the department.
However, I can see that even after
hiring a new fire chief that the
lineup has changed but the
ballgame remains the same.

My family has lived here for
more than 24 years and lots of
things have changed but then
again some things haven't and
never will change. I have been in
Fire/EMS all those 24 years here
in the county. Both as a volunteer
and as a paid professional. I also
served for 18 of those 24 years
with Camden Fire Rescue. I left in
1999 for another position and more
money. I was hoping to come back
to Camden Fire Rescue under the
same pretenses. A higher position
and more money hopefully bettering
my family and myself. But
unfortunately someone with the
county deemed that this process
would not be done fairly or in
accordance with equal opportunity
employment procedures I'm sure.
I would certainly appreciate as a
former county employee and most
certainly as a taxpayer for over
24 years that if you find anything in
your inquiries that you would be
kind enough to call me or write me
and let me know what the problem
was in the ability for the county to
be fair and equal. I'm not the only
one that this happened to sir there
are others that applied for this same
position that were treated the same
unfair way. I give the new Assistant
Chief nothing but best wishes
however I only wish that the rest of
us applicants that were if not more
qualified then at least as qualified
were able to fairly compete with ALL
qualified applicants.

Commissioner I would be more than
happy to talk with you or meet with
you anytime at your convenience
about this issue.

This has really left a sour taste in my
mouth about Camden County politics.

Thank you very much for your time
with this matter and your time you
spend as a commissioner.

Sandy Sez:
With regards to Mayor Hase comments
it is clear that the County is using its
power to punish the Judge thru the
City in an attempt to get him to toe
the mark. It's unfortunate that
personal feelings on the county's part
is punishing the taxpayers of the City.

With regard to the fireman, I would
hope the Human Resource Director
of the County would answer him in
a straight forward manner. He
deserves no less. We will be happy
to print such a response when
received.

If you have any thoughts contact
us at oilseal@tds.net.

Sandy Feller
County Commissioner
District 4

"Working for the future without forgetting the past"

KINGSLAND GOLF COURSE

2005-08-12T21:00:00.000-04:00

County money was used to pay
for the golf course. SPLOST is a
County sales tax NOT CITY.

If the Kingsland government had
financial problems then the property
should have been turned over to the
PSA. They could have put it to good
service for the whole county. Lets face
it, it was built to help local developers
sell land. There was no other reason.
If there was, PSA would have built it.
It was just another "good old boys deal."

Now, when they sell (sold) it, it will go to
another member of the "good old boys."
It doesn't take a rocket scientist to sell
property at a loss. Any fool can do it.
This is just another example of the few
misusing the money for selfish reasons.
*****************************************
AT-WILL EMPLOYMENT
*****************************************
There is a County meeting on August 16th.

Time for you to speak out in reference to
At-Will employment. Don't miss the
opportunity.

Rumors still fly as to how high the
reassessments will be for downtown
St. Marys residents. Keep your
hyper-tension pills close by.

Sandy Sez:

We have had a big bump in readership
recently. The "At-Will" story clearly
found an audience. However, if you
don't speak up one way or the other
nothing has been accomplished.

Have a Great Camden County Weekend...

Sandy Feller
County Commissioner
District 4

"Working for the future without forgetting the past."

IMPACT FEES WHO BENEFITS?

2005-08-10T09:00:00.000-04:00

When impact fees are part of
a Master Plan everyone benefits.

Impact fees are monies charged
to developers when they apply
for approval of plans to build
houses, factories, stores, etc.

The fees are charged to everyone
at the same rate. Impact fees
pay for water, sewer, schools,
fire houses, roads, traffic lights
etc. If impact fees are not
charged then "The existing
taxpayers of Camden County
must pick up the infrastructure
costs for the "New Comers." In
other words you pay so someone
you don't even know can move
here.

In addition when property values
go up because of the developments,
who pays? You got it, you do!
So you pay twice and if you can't
foot the bill you must move!!

Is this what you call "FAIR!" I
don't think so. Tell the other
Commissioners you want Impact
Fees Now! Now while they are in
the early stages of designing a new
master plan.
**************************************
**************************************
NEWS FROM THE POLITICAL GRAPEVINE
(THANKS FOX NEWS)
**************************************
**************************************
Commissioner Steve Berry wants
to replace State Representative
Cecily Hill.

Reliable sources tell us that Mr.
Berry is organizing now and
raising money. Keep tuned. If
Mr. Berry or Mrs. Hill want to
comment we will give them all the
space they want (within reason).

Charlie Smith are you listening?

Brian Fewox to challenge Mayor
Hase. This should be a lively race.
Both bring baggage to the market
place. We will comment later.
Mr. Fewox and Mrs. Hase are
welcome to comment if they
desire. We will print all their
comments (within reason).

To reach us: oilseal@tds.net

Sandy Sez: Why should Camdenites
pay for new comers to come here
and enjoy what we have. Clearly,
they should pay, not us. What do
you think. Write us: oilseal@tds.net

P.P.S.

Thank you Camden we went over
5,000 hits this week. Together we
can make a Camden to be proud of.

Sandy Feller
County Commissioner
District 4

"Working for the future without forgetting the past."

AT WILL EMPLOYMENT

2005-08-05T09:00:00.000-04:00

At Tuesdays meeting (August 2, 05)
the Camden County Board of
Commissioners continued on the path
toward At-Will employment for their
employees.

For those who are not familiar with
the term it means you can be fired
at any moment without cause.

This sets up a scenario where; if
a superior doesn't like you - you're
fired!

If a County Commissioner doesn't like
you - you're fired!

If you don't contribute to a County
Commissioners campaign - you're fired!

If the County wants to cut expenses and
you have a lot of time in - you're fired!

If a superior likes you and you resist
advances (and there are no witnesses) -
you're fired!

Just last year when I started the process
of getting staff a well deserved raise,
the other Commissioners (one in
particular) sang the praises for the
staff. Now, the same Commissioner
is leading the charge for "At Will
Employment." This raises the
question. Folks, what have you done
in the last 12 months to get him p - o?

By their vote last night they are
advertising for a public hearing. I
voted for the public hearing to
hopefully kill the issue once and for
all.

Given the circumstances that there
are 4 votes for "AT-Will" how many
employees are crazy enough to speak
out in public? So my friend I urge
you when the date of the hearing is
publicized to get your friends (not
family) to speak out on your behalf.

If you want to talk to me in strictest
confidence my phone number is
912-882-4151. It is not necessary
for you to identify yourself. Remember
God takes care of those who take care
of themselves. Organize now (in secret)
to defend yourselves.
****************************************
LETTER TO THE EDITOR:
****************************************
Denise R. Taylor writes about injustices:
I would like to share with the taxpayers of
Camden County what happens when you
ask questions about taxpayers money.

On July 19th I attended the County
Commissioners meeting in Woodbine,
Georgia. I went before the commission to
ask if any of them had any intentions of
telling the taxpayers how the JDA spent
15 million of the 35 million dollar bond
acquired for Express Scripts. I did not
get and answer from the Commissioners.

I returned to my seat and the Mayor
came over to me and stated "If you keep
coming up here somebody is going to
shoot you." After sharing this with my
husband he called the Sheriff Dept to
file a complaint. On July 22nd I went
to the substation to give my official
complaint. The officer in charge was
Mr. N. Fry (son of Harvey Fry,
Magistrate Judge). Also in attendance
was Walter Langshaw, Investigator
and his new investigative partner.
I started the statement by saying
what I stated in the beginning of
this letter. When asked why I felt
the Terrorist Threats were occurring.

I stated: I believe what lead to all of
this is the fact that I submitted
information to the District Attorney
implicating the entire Board of
Commissioners for DEFRAUDING
the taxpayers. The DA misrepresented
the facts to the Grand Jury to allow the
Commissioners to go FREE. He stated
to the Grand Jury that the amount of
land in question was 58 acres when in
fact it was over 100 acres. This was to
validate and cover up that a County
Commissioner acted in dual rolls as a
representative for First National Bank
and as a County Commissioner. They
utilized taxpayers money to pay all of
the taxes on property that the County
does not own. They lead the public to
believe at first that the County would
receive a clear title, after I exposed
everything they changed everything
including the wording. It then stated
Limited Warranty Deed instead of
Warranty Deed. Which is 360 degrees
from what was originally told to the
public. They changed the wording
because they could not produce.

I left town immediately after filing the
above report. I returned home on
Saturday evening. When my family
and I woke up Monday morning
someone had stabbed the tire on
our SUV with a knife.I filed another
police report with the City
of St. Marys.

I went to Woodbine to share
this information and to retrieve a copy of
the FIRST police report. The following is
a exact copy of what I received.

AGENCY: OFFICE OF THE SHERIFF,
CAMDEN, COUNTY, GEORGIA. Jurisdiction:
GA0200000Report Date 1 Time: 07/22/2005
09:42:37 IncidenCase Number: 2005-0700198
Case Description: THREATS Primary Officer
Name/lD: FRY, NATHAN/CA128 Approved
By:Date Time Printed: 07/22/2005 16:19:15
Narrative: Page 2 Complaint Type: HARASS -
HARASSMENT Caller Name:Officer ID: 1136,
Officer Name: N FRY 07/22/2005 9:42:37 AM
: trainer REF: TERRORISTIC THREATS
DENISE TAYLOR IS THE COMPLAINT
07/22/05 AT ABOUT 0942 HOURS DEPUTY
NATHAN FRY WAS DISPATCHED TO THE
CAMDEN COUNTY SUBSTATION IN
REFERENCE TO THREATS. UPON ARRIVAL
DEPUTY FRY AND DEPUTY LT. WALTER
LANGSHAW MET WITH THE
COMPLAINANT/VICTIM DENISE TAYLOR.
MS. TAYLOR STATED ON 07/19/05
SHE WAS ATTENDING THE CAMDEN
COUNTY COMMISSION MEETING IN
WOODBINE. DURING THE MEETING
MS. TAYLOR STATED BURFORD CLARK
CAME UP TO HER AND SAID " IF YOU
KEEP COMING UP THERE SOMEBODY
IS GOING TO SHOOT YOU.". MS. TAYLOR
STATED SHE WAS NOT SURE IF HE WAS
THREATENING HER OR WARNING HER.
MS. TAYLOR STATED THE PERSON
SITTING TO HER RIGHT HEARD THE
COMMENT, BUT SHE DID NOT KNOW
THE PERSONS NAME. DEPUTY FRY HAD
MS. TAYLOR FILL OUT A WITNESS
STATEMENT FORM. MS TAYLOR WAS
GIVEN CASE # 2005-0700198. THE CASE
WAS TURNED OVER TO INVESTIGATIONS.

I spoke with Officer Wesley Walker about
the inaccuracies in the police report. He
agreed to have the basic information
corrected such as the date the incident
occurred. For everything else he offered
a justification. Within our conversation
he stated that "he was not sure that the
investigation would be turned over to
the GBI." I informed him that I did not
believe that the CCSO was capable of
doing a thorough investigation and
besides how can you investigate the
body that gives you your budget.

About two hours later I received a call
from yet another LT. stating that he had
spoken to the Mayor and he stated that he
did not make the statement to me. I
immediately responded by saying
"I am sure that you all told him to say
that he did not say it, but I find it quite
odd that the Probate Judge told me
before I entered the CCSO that
"He has no doubt about the mayor
saying what I said,he said but he did not
mean it in the way I took it." And if I
would stop stirring the pot all this would
go away." I then stated that I did not
share with the Probate Judge exactly
what the Mayor had said before he
made the statement, so how did he
know? Did the CCSO share the
information, or did the Mayor. Again
the officer was at a lost for words.
I stated I understand that your office
is not ran on honesty so lets just have
the Mayor and I to take a lie detector
test. The Officer stated I don't know
that he would agree to that. I then
stated well since you know that in
advance that's an admission of guilt.
The officer then proceeded to tell me
that he was not sure that the
investigation would be turned over
to the GBI because the Mayor denies
that he made the statement.

The TRUTH IS they have no intentions
of turning the matter over to the GBI
because they would all be indicted
upon completion of a thorough
investigation. If I were to share with
you all of the things that have happen
to me and my family since I exercised
my right to run for office, you would be
nauseated.
In 2005, the travesty continues!

Sandy Sez: In recent days I have
witnessed a disturbing trend in
Camden County.

A City Judge has been pounced
on for "not playing the game"
with local Attorneys. When he
convicted "A well connected
person," he was vilified.
Additionally, his personal
property has been damaged by
vandals and his family has been
harassed.

A frequent contributor to this
blog who is an out spoken critic
of things that are done badly
(an understatement) has been
threatened and like the judge
her personal property has
been vandalized.

Now, with the move toward
At-Will Employment, the
establishment is letting
everyone know "Toe the line
or you will pay!!"

The occurrences are very
reminiscent of Germany in
the 30's and 40's.

This must stop and it must
stop now!

Sandy Feller
County Commissioner
District 4

"Working for the future without forgetting the past"

St. Marys Buys Durango?

2005-08-03T21:00:00.000-04:00

St. Marys should consider buying
former Durango Paper Mill Property.
It's not too late! Two years ago I
suggested that the County buy the
property. The thought was to build
a hotel, convention center, exhibition
hall, golf course and marina. In
addition, if Atlanta ever re-energized
the idea of a desalivization plant
(a multi-million dollar project)
there would be more than enough
room (10 acres) to fold it into an
obscure corner of the property.

The County Commission sent it too
the JDA. Till now, the JDA has
not reported back.

Professional economic developers
will tell you that Tourism is the
greatest source of revenue, bar none.
The acquisition would generate good
paying jobs during the clean-up.
The construction of the various
buildings would provide good paying
jobs during the build out. The
facilities would pay good wages
for staff. The visitors would pay
SPLOST Taxes up to the sky. In
addition, the visitors would patronize
local stores and restaurants generating
still more jobs.

I call on the City to think about this.
There is still time! What do you think.
Contact us at oilseal@tds.net.
***************************************
LETTERS TO THE EDITOR:
***************************************
S. Writes about E.B Herrins letter to editor:
I just read the Tribune-Georgians letter
to the Editor from an elected official.
What mean spirit!

Answer: Mr. Becker is a former Chairman
of the Commission. The only one who ever
refunded 2 million dollars in excess splost
funds to the public. In addition, Mr. Becker
is the one who as Chairman revamped the
handling of SPLOST money. The cities
now get money when a project is completed.
If you recall, some years ago the cities were
sitting on the money and projects weren't
being completed. Now that campaign 2006
has been joined look for back and forth claims
by the two gentlemen.

D. Writes about Union Carbide:
Am I wrong or is the 4000 acre UC tract in
the northern part of the county tax assessed
at approx $250/acre. Is this normal for large
tracts in the county? You don't need to respond.
I was just curious since this is one of the few
large tracts in GA with significant water frontage.
Current market value, say $20,000,000.

Answer: We will check into this. Do you have
the map/parcel numbers regarding this property?
If you have name and address this information
would also be helpful.

Ruben Gomez writes about Building & Planning:
I've heard that a new Director of Building &
Planning has been appointed: Mr. Bob Noble,
is that true?

Answer: The JDA has been appointed to
administer planning/building for 6 months.

Sandy Sez: Congratulations to County
Leaders. By advertising for a new
County Manager and hopefully a new
Planning Director they are finally
recognizing the obvious. We need
help. All this growth must be
administered properly.

Sandy Feller
County Commissioner
District 4

"Working for the future without forgetting the past"

ANOTHER WORLD

2005-07-29T21:00:00.000-04:00

Sometimes you get involved with
something and it gets so intense
that you lose sight of everything
else.

Last week I was in Fort Lauderdale
to see my granddaughter play soft
ball. She is on one of those teams
that you see on ESPN. For three
days I sat in the hot sun watching
a bunch of 16 year old girls striving
to succeed. The running, the batting,
the pitching. It was a marvelous
experience. They were on one hand
serious and on the other just a bunch
of kids having fun. So I come back to
Camden County refreshed. For a
little while I will try to be less intense.
It will not be easy. There are many
problems to be faced. But, for this one
moment I feel very relaxed and at
peace with the world.

Have a great Camden County Weekend.

May the new school year bring you
much joy.

Sandy Feller
County Commissioner
District 4

"Working for the future without forgetting the past"

KEEP QUIET or YOU'RE FIRED !!!!!!

2005-07-27T09:00:00.000-04:00

Last weeks work session on "At Will
Employment" was a warning to
Camden County Workers.
Keep your mouth shut or
you're gone!!!!

The Commissioners bragging about
how they keep things from me is a
self indictment. They are saying
that there is wrong doing going on
and I must not find out. By
threatening the employees of the
County with firing (without cause)
they are admitting it.

It's your County and your lives
that are effected. I was elected
to serve you and you alone. Let
them know how you feel, don't let
them push you around.

Email us at oilseal@tds.net
with your comments.
**************************************
LETTERS TO THE EDITOR:
**************************************
Denise R. Taylor writes about JDA:
Sandy,
After reading the new JDA contract
I believe it is worst than the previous
contract. The new contract is not just
based on the JDA receiving an enormous
amount of money. In fact the contract
states that the County will pay the JDA
$854,835.00 July 1, 2005. After that the
JDA will receive an amount equal to a one
mill ad valorem tax on all property in the
County. Therefore what they receive is
based on how many properties are on the
tax digest. With the way the County is
growing this could potentially be millions
per year with no accountability.

I'm a previous Contract Surveillance
Representative for the Government.
In all of my years of governmental services
I have never seen a contract written
like this. A lot of people are getting their
palms greased at taxpayers expense. In
reference to them hollering about how
wonderful Express Scripts is and how
beneficial they are to this community.
I say what are we receiving for all the
millions that we have given! They say
they brought jobs when Durango closed
down. Well Durango had very few, if any
employees that made $8 - $10 per hour.
I am not knocking the employees but with
this type of salary you can't qualify for a
house in Camden. So what are we receiving
for the millions that we have given.

Another question.
If Camden County was such a great place
to locate a business, why, instead of us paying
them, didn't they pay us to come here?

The taxpayers of Camden are paying for a
35 million dollar bond that purchased the
building, renovated the facility, purchase
all necessary equipment, tax exempt for 10
years, no inventory tax for 10 years, I can go
on forever. We gave them a 564,000.00
interest free loan. We gave them $998,000.00
from the OneGeorgia Authority. The State
gives them $1,750.oo everytime they hire
a new employee.
(The Job Fairs are very prosperous)

Steve Berry stated that they have shared
with him what they are doing with all of
the money that the taxpayers have dumped
into the JDA confers. I see this as
unacceptable, I feel the taxpayers should be
informed as to what they are doing with
all of this money. If you look at the previous
County Commission minutes you can see
how aggressive Steve was against the JDA.
Now all of a sudden he is the only one in
the know. Hmmmmmmm........

I really hate how they treat you at the
County Commission meetings. But I
understand the disguise. If you say
something Stevie chimes in to distort
what you are saying so that the public
will miss the issue. He wants you to
appear non-knowledgeable so that he
and others can continue this travesty
against the taxpayers. I just hope that
others see through the smoke..... You
were dead on point about the BOE, I
had a conversation with Ed McKoy
before the meeting. He shared with
me that he is the only one on the
BOE currently. I thought it was priceless
when he outed Brent Green at the meeting,
what a liar. Just think he is the County
Attorney. Has anyone ever heard of
"breach of fiduciary duty."

I know that its not easy and my heart
goes out to you. I pray for you all the
time. Keep up the good work! God is
watching and he takes care of those that
take care of his children.

Please tell me that what I saw is not true!!!!!
Danny Daniels was wearing a Camden
County Sheriff Office shirt. I ask the guy
beside me and he stated that he has been
employed by the Sheriffs Department for
awhile. How can this be? This guy was
caught red handed stealing from the
taxpayers of Camden County and now
he is employed by the Sheriff. I was told
at the meeting that not only is he employed
by the Sheriff but Charles Ackridge refused
to give Cindy Daniels a raise because she
makes more than anyone else that holds
her position(he is going to fax me a copy
of the denial letter from Charles). But
Penny Woodards first order of business
was to issue the promotion. What does
Daniels have on the others that enables
both he and his wife to prosper in these
muddy waters. What does the D.A. say
about all of this?

Please say that none of this is true. Are
there any honest elected or appointed
people in this county? Is anyone thinking
about the long term effects of all of these
bad decisions? What's really going on?
One thing I know for sure, my son who
is 14 years old will not be able grow old
in Camden County.

Ruben Gomez writes about:
STATE OF CORRUPTION IN CAMDEN
Dear Sandy,
Yesterday, I had the privilege to read
two inside reports showing what is
really going on in our county......it was
indeed an appalling experience. Although
we live in a country embarked in
teaching the world about the ins and
outs of democracy and transparency in
government, in our little world we are
tolerating and consenting a small band of
crooked politicians who puts us up to shame.

These seven men, who either directly have
their hands in the "cookie jar" or are guilty
by association, not only believe they own
their seats to perpetuity but are all corrupt
to the bone. Who are they?.....their names
will come out sooner than later, and I am
saying that because as much as they have
mastered the Law of Flotation which allows
them to float like corks in our sea of politics,
that same fact will keep them exposed to the
public eye and their mistakes will give them
away as we just have started to see and witness.

In closing, I have to say to my fellow
camdencountians, we either get prepared to
grab the bull by the horns or we will get
exactly what we deserve.

Hope we will keep on deserving God's blessings.

D. Writes about E.B. Herrins Inmate:
In response to the person who questions the
name of the individual sentenced to long jail
term - mute point, the guy has been discharged
by the Sheriff's office.

S. Writes about Accountability in Government:
The problem is that the politicians don't feel
any pressure to be responsible. No company
would ever exist or survive if the folks in charge
didn't feel accountable. Government has gotten
to the point to where all they can do is tax and
spend with out realistic accountability. As long
as we have government running things and no
real accountability we are going to stay in
trouble. In private enterprises you can fire a
fellow immediately. In government we have to
put up with the malfeasance and misfeasance
for years before we can make a change. We
need to get as much of our business out of the
hands of government as we can. Privatized
every thing that we can get some accountable
capitalists to operate. We can go to all the
meetings that can be scheduled and we still
have the problem. We can fuss and fight till
we are hoarse and we go home with the same
problem. Governments that are not accountable.
When we have to sell our homes to be able to
retire and can't live on what we can scrap up
we will then be face to face with our future.
It is surely coming down to that. I have nothing
but pity and concern for the mess we are leaving
to our young folks. I am so thankful that I was
growing up in the 50's and early 60's before
the socialistic politicians got a grip on this
country and I was alive when morality,
character and responsibility was alive and
well. If we were doing so many things wrong
then, how do we explain today?

Sandy Sez:
As we start a new school year let us vow to
show our children (by example) that truly
"The price of freedom is eternal vigilance.

Have a Great Day.....

Sandy Feller
County Commissioner
District 4

"Working for the future without forgetting the past"

A REAL LEGISLATOR

2005-07-22T21:00:00.000-04:00

STATE SENATOR JEFF CHAPMAN
is truly a gem for the people of
Camden County and the rest of the
State of Georgia.

Senate Bill 86 seeks to overcome the
negatives of the U.S. Supreme Court
regarding Eminent Domain (the
taking of private property by
government).

While the cities and the county and
especially the JDA rub their hands
in glee with the prospect of taking
land for their friends "the developers."
Senators Chapman, Williams,
Johnson, Whitehead and Goggans
are working for you.

Please read what they are proposing.
It has passed the Senate and will
reach the HOUSE in January.

Senate Bill 86
By: Senators Chapman of the 3rd, Williams
of the 19th, Goggans of the 7th, Johnson of
the 1st, Whitehead, Sr. of the 24th and others

AS PASSED SENATE

A BILL TO BE ENTITLED AN ACT

1 To amend Chapter 1 of Title 22 of the
Official Code of Georgia Annotated,
relating to 2 general provisions applicable
to eminent domain, so as to change certain
provisions relating 3 to the nature of the
right of eminent domain; to provide for the
limitation of public purposes 4 for which
eminent domain may be exercised; to provide
for statutory construction; to provide 5 for
legislative intent; to provide for related matters;
to repeal conflicting laws; and for other 6 purposes.

BE IT ENACTED BY THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF GEORGIA:

SECTION 1.

Chapter 1 of Title 22 of the Official Code of Georgia
Annotated, relating to general provisions applicable
to eminent domain, is amended by striking in its
entirety Code Section 11 22-1-2, relating to the nature
of the right of eminent domain, and inserting in lieu
thereof the 12 following: "22-1-2.

The right of eminent domain is the right of the state,
through its regular organization, to reassert, either
temporarily or permanently, its dominion over any
portion of the soil of the state on account of public
exigency and for the public good. Thus, in time of
war or insurrection the proper authorities may
possess and hold any part of the territory of the state
for the common safety; and in time of peace the
General Assembly may authorize the appropriation
of the same to public purposes, such as the opening
of roads, construction of defenses, or providing
channels for trade or travel and such other public
purposes as defined in this Code and as limited
bv Code Section 22-1-9."

SECTION 2.

Said chapter is further amended by adding a new
Code section to the end of such chapter to read as
follows:

(a) Pursuant to Article I, Section III, Paragraph I
of the Constitution, the General Assembly is
authorized to determine what constitutes a public
purpose with respect to the power of eminent
domain. A public purpose shall be as defined by
general law as provided by this Code, but in no
event shall a public purpose be construed to include
the exercise of eminent domain solely or primarily
for the purpose of improving tax revenue or the tax
base or the purpose of economic development.
This shall include condemning property for the
purpose of transferring, leasing, or allowing the
use of such property to a private developer,
corporation, or other entity solely or primarily to
attempt to expand tax revenue, increase
the taxable value of the property, or promote
economic development.

(b) To the greatest extent possible, this Code
section shall be construed in accord with existing
statutes authorizing the power of eminent
domain for purposes of community redevelopment,
including, but not limited to, Article 1 of Chapter 3
of Title 8, the 'Housing Authorities Law';
Chapter 42 of Title 36, the 'Downtown
Development Authorities Law';
Chapter 44 of Title 36, the 'Redevelopment Powers
Law'; and Chapter 61 of Title 36, the 'Urban
Redevelopment Law.' However, it is the intent of
the General Assembly that the private property
rights of residents and businesses should be
protected over the interests of private developers
and corporations. Therefore, it is further the
intent of the General Assembly that the power
of eminent domain for purposes of community
redevelopment be used sparingly; and such laws
shall be strictly and narrowly construed for use
solely on legitimate redevelopment projects.
In the event of a conflict between this Code
section and an existing statute authorizing the
power of eminent domain for purposes of
community redevelopment, this Code section
shall control and shall be strictly construed to
protect the private property rights of residents
and businesses over the interests of private
developers and corporations.

SECTION 3.

All laws and parts of laws in
conflict with this Act are repealed.
*******************************************
ALERT * ALERT * ALERT * ALERT
*******************************************
Don't forget Master Plan Meeting!!!!!

July 26, 2005 * 6:00p.m.

Camden County Annex
Gross Road next to Library
********************************************
Sandy Sez:
Call State Representative Cecily Hill
and demand that she supports SB 86.
Make her understand that we are
watching her and will not take
lightly a negative vote.

Have a Great Camden County Weekend.

Sandy Feller
County Commissioner
District 4

"Working for the future without forgetting the past"

RISING PROPERTY TAXES

2005-07-20T09:00:00.000-04:00

At Friday (July 15th) Rotary meeting
the program was "Habitat for Humanity."
During the presentation the speaker said
taxes and property values are going up so
fast the firemen and policemen can't live
here. Think about it, people we ask to
put their lives on the line everyday of the
week can't afford to live here.

Elected Officials are basking in the glow
of high property values. Thousands of
lots are sold and thousands more are in
the pipeline. The bubble will burst, however
when the officials have to finance
infrastructure and provide services for all
these people.

We get tax increases that they don't call tax
increases. The property values go up but the
mileage rate stays the same. It sounds good
when you hear the politicians say it. "I didn't
raise your taxes," however when you get the
tax bill low and behold it is higher then before.

When will things get better? Answer:
When you get off the chair and get your mouth
going. Come to meetings of the Cities and
County and start learning whats going on.

Write letters to the editor. Remember we
publish them with or without your name
(your call) and the Tribune and Georgian
will also publish them (with your name).

Do yourself a favor and send to both. Our
address is oilseal@tds.net.
****************************************
LETTERS TO THE EDITOR:
****************************************
B. Writes about state of County:
Sandy, has anyone checked to see who this
person is that Herrin went to bat for? I heard
it was a relative, a nephew. If the judge could
think back to who this person was, then- we
could find out what relations he is.
All I can say is It is about time that we have
someone who will stand up for right.
Go Judge Moroz.

H. Writes about Senate Bill 86:
Sandy, I won't be back in town in time to
attend this, but you know that I support it.What
political body rejected the cap on property taxes?
Was this addressed at a County Commission meeting?
Damnation. I've been trying to follow the news on the
Georgian Tribune website, but that's impossible...if
you want the full story, you have to buy the paper.
Well, they don't sell that silly little paper in Maine.
The website only publishes one story per issue, and
a few headlines and comments. Just enough to make
you worry.

Rueben Gomez. Writes in reference to
Building Inspectors:
Dear Sandy,
I have surveyed the county and municipalities
with the following results:

City of Kingsland
The Director of the Building & Planning Dept.,
Matt LeCerf affirms to have two inspectors
under him (Greg & Donnie).

City of St. Marys
The Director of the Planning & Building Dept.,
Wiley King, has one inspector and claims to be
trying to hire a second one.

City of Woodbine
They don't have a building inspector's staff, their
inspections are done by Kingsland. So, you may
add a zero here.

Camden County
The County Building and Zoning Dept. has one
inspector.

These bring a total of four (4) inspectors to
take care of the whole countywide load. Naturally
that nothing should stop Matt or Wiley to fill in
for some field inspections when they are done
with their daily paperwork, record keeping, plan
reviewing and permit issueing (laugh). I must also
say here that in spite of my having put Wiley on the
chopping board a few times, he is the better prepared
of the two. In the scale of 1 to 10, I consider Wiley a 5
while Matt can hardly get to a 1-1/2.

Another thing, generally speaking the county is
considered elsewhere as the "big brother" of the
municipalities for being better equipped and
manpowered, but not in Camden County, here the
county is the Cinderella of the bunch.
********************************************
ALERT * ALERT * ALERT * ALERT
********************************************
DON'T FORGET THE MASTER PLAN
MEETING ON JULY 26, 2005 AT
6:00 P.M. CAMDEN COUNTY ANNEX
GROSS ROAD NEXT TO LIBRARY
IT'S YOUR COMMUNITY, YOUR
VOICE AND YOUR MONEY......
********************************************
SANDY SEZ:
God helps those who help themselves.
Use the skills you were given and speak
out against injustice.

Have a Great Day......

Sandy Feller
County Commissioner
District 4

"Working for the future without forgetting the past."