Do We Really Need To Beat That Dead Horse? Again?

The Camden County Commission recently embarrassingly discovered that TWENTY years hasn’t been enough time for County Staffs to figure out how to qualify for FAA funding for the replacement Saint Marys airport.

The letters they received from the Georgia Department of Transportation pointed out 5 defects in Camden’s submission.

(Click on the images to read the FAA and GaDOT letters)

The letters they received from the Georgia Department of Transportation pointed out 5 defects in Camden’s submission. Did it really take the GaDot review to point out that “The preferred sites identified (Sites A and 10) contain significant towers and other obstructions in close proximity that would materially affect approach procedures.”  So they didn't even understand they're planning a dangerous airport? The DOT also points out that “Critical cost elements” appear to be missing. Not only did Camden’s submissions contain location risks, but they didn’t even provide the information of development costs “to support determination of financial feasibility.” Much like when the County built their own gun range on land not zoned in Camden County for gun  ranges, they simply got important things wrong in their official submissions about the airport. The County ultimately rezoned the gun range but they won't find the FAA so accommodating. We all know that there’s nobody in Camden government that can operate an airport. Now we know they can’t even understand the written requirements needed to apply for the Federal funding they keep harping about.

The airport was always a stretch of the imagination as a public benefit.

For instance, the 2022 AIRPORT JUSTIFICATION STUDY claimed the Camden airport would be only 11 miles from White Oak Conservation’s Front Gate in Yulee, Florida. That’s news to us because Camden voters STILL have no idea where County Government wants to put the airport. The Airport Justification Study stated the Camden County airport would serve White Oaks clients who come to visit rhinoceros, giraffes, and zebras. Maybe visitors will even stay in a Camden County motel? But never mind, the White Oak website plainly states, “White Oak is not open for tours and public events as we focus on expanding our wildlife and conservation education programs along with renovations of the property.” Their websites are very vague about offering a “retreat” which is not described. Maybe the guests are actually visiting to play on White Oak’s new Pat Dye golf course that reportedly has no African wildlife on the fairways and greens. In fact, White Oak has a webpage promoting their “summer camps” but the last entry is for 2015. And how many of their “interns” who live within the required 50 miles will fly to work?  Camden residents can’t even pay for a tour of the place, but we can build an airport for them.

The consultants want us all to believe our replacement airport “will play a vital role in supporting the economic development” at Hyundai’s car factory that’s 165 miles - as the crow flies - from where we live. Maybe soccer families will fly in often to play on the

We tried to get copies of the required tax documents for the 17 airplanes they implied were located on our tax rolls, but none of the listed owners had filed their Georgia-required aircraft tax returns. But we should build an airport for them?

Airport promoters also counted on long-gone Express Scripts and of course, the Cumberland Inlet project, that was supposed to be completed by next year.

And how about those costs to taxpayers – Be it the taxpayers who fund the Federal government or Camden County taxpayers? We learn from the above letters that Camden hasn’t even provided the FAA with necessary, or accurate, cost information. And we’re told by the Airport Justification Study that Camden taxpayers will bear at least $5 million in initial operating losses. But even that is obviously wrong. The Analysis claims that health insurance costs for the TWO airport employees will be a TOTAL of $11,748 for both in 2041. But the County’s HR manager’s report last night bragged about how much the County is saving with an actual average cost in 2026 of $21,501.12 for each County employee. We should worry about what else they got wrong.

Camden’s proposed General Aviation Airport cannot host scheduled airlines. The airport would only serve the owners of private planes. If those owners want an airport, let them build it and pay for it. The proposed airport offers nothing for over 60,000 Camden citizens who don’t own an airplane.

Most importantly, Taxpayers have had enough! We will not forgive elected government officials who think “Money Grows On Trees” in Camden County. Those papermill days are long gone.