Camden County Board of Commissioners Meeting
In a pivotal meeting held tonight, the Camden County Board of Commissioners discussed the future of the county’s beloved mini golf course. The special meeting, which began at 6 PM, attracted significant public interest as residents and community volunteers shared their views on whether to preserve the mini golf course or expand the adjacent soccer complex.
Public Input and Proposed Solutions
During the public input session, Ryan Levy, a volunteer with the soccer club and a seasoned parks and recreation professional, presented a practical solution to the parking issues that have sparked debate. “If we have lights, we’ve solved the parking problem before we’ve even paved the parking lot,” Levy suggested, advocating for evening games to reduce congestion caused by back-to-back scheduling. He added, “You do have a parking problem, but only for 20 minutes while one team is leaving and the other is arriving.”
Support for Expansion and Coexistence
While the commissioners unanimously supported expanding the soccer complex, they emphasized the possibility for both facilities to coexist. Commissioner Goodman dismissed comparisons to the mini golf course at Crooked River, highlighting that the old Pro 3 course offers unique features not found elsewhere. “The old Pro 3 golf course has features the Crooked River course does not,” Goodman stated.
Proposal for a Moratorium
Amid the discussions, Chairman Ben Casey proposed a moratorium to restrict public access to the mini golf course until a final decision is made. Commissioner Readdick backed this initiative, citing safety concerns: “It is not safe in its current state, and people should be barred for liability purposes.”
Agreement on Preservation
Commissioner Goodman raised an important question: “Can we agree to not destroy anything until we come up with a solution?” Several commissioners expressed their support for this approach. Commissioner Brant added, “For the county’s liability sake, I don’t believe anyone should be on the property.” Chairman Casey agreed, referencing O.C.G.A. Section 16-7-21(b)(2) to strengthen his position, and reiterated his support for the moratorium.
Uncertainty Surrounding the Moratorium
Despite the discussions, it remains unclear whether the moratorium is officially in effect, as no formal vote was recorded on the matter.
