Matthew 6:3 is part of the Sermon on the Mount. In the King James Version of the Bible the text reads:
But when you do merciful deeds,
don’t let your left hand know what your right hand does,
(The World English Bible explains that Jesus’ words speak to how one should give charity.)
But in Camden County, saying that “the left hand doesn’t know what the right hand is doing” is a common modern idiom explaining the ongoing state of confusion and failure of communication and coordination between the Public Service Authority (PSA), St Marys, Kingsland, Woodbine, and Camden County.
Most folks have noticed the present state of affairs between these parties is both confused and failing. The November PSA Board Minutes tell us that Camden County’s PSA Board representative June Maxwell “inquired if the board has spoken with Matt Zink with the county concerning the list of park projects, as they (the County) are in the process of updating the parks.” Camden County Commissioner Lannie Brant (another PSA Board Member) said “the county has set money aside to update the parks. With the PSA already having money obligated to the parks and upgrades, we don’t need to butt heads on it.”
What in the world could Lannie Brant mean?
“Butt heads” with whom? Doesn’t “the County, the PSA, and the Cities operate within a written agreement which set forth the mutual and reciprocal rights, duties, obligations, and performances for each?”
2018 PSA Intergovernmental contract
How else could the City Councils and County Commissioners agree on how the couple of million dollars they send the PSA each year are used to maintain, sustain, and provide programs for parks in our cities and throughout the County?
Oh. That’s right.
The current written agreement between the parties DOES NOT “set forth the mutual and reciprocal rights, duties, obligations, and performances for each.” In fact, except for a
formula for how much each government body owes to the PSA, the current 2018 contract STATES NOTHING about “the mutual and reciprocal rights, duties, obligations, and performances for each.” The "agreement" means whatever the PSA says it means. That's straight from the horse's mouth.
PSA Minutes also tell us that Vice-Chairman Haughn agreed with Kingsland’s PSA Board Member Alex Blount that “the role of the PSA is the parks and recreation programs for the public.” But that, “Other things have taken away the ability to provide the product our residents need.”
That admission is a miracle in and of itself. A true revelation of mission failure from the PSA after only 12,054 days of funding by Camden taxpayers!
For instance,
1.
We know from a Brunswick News story that the County and PSA discussed reopening the Pro-3 Mini-Golf. That centrally located mini-golf course (think fancy “putt-putt”) would provide year ‘round entertainment for many Camden residents and tourists. But the Pro-3 Mini-Golf course has been allowed to fall to ruin. Its bones are still good so it can be rehabilitated as a year-round, outdoor recreation facility for our families, date night, birthday parties, and visitors, IF the PSA, cities, or County recognize the need for recreation that is not centered on the PSA Rec Center or team sports. And, of course, the PSA would have to return the former Golf Pro Shop building to its original purpose rather than its current use as a PSA worker hangout and storage room.
2.
In late 2022 (after 31.5 years of its existence), the PSA Board heard from coaches that Camden County’s traveling baseball teams could not host baseball games because other teams would not play on our substandard, poorly maintained PSA ball fields. We’re certainly hopeful that embarrassing condition has been fixed.
3.
Eighteen months ago, PSA Chair Terry Landreth introduced his Board to Georgia’s Statewide Comprehensive Outdoor Recreation Plan (SCORP). However, PSA minutes and Georgia Department of Natural Resources records indicate that unless has been done recently, no Camden government agency has been awarded Georgia DNR matching grants available to rehab outdoor park facilities. Instead, Commissioner Ben Casey proposed spending $600,000 from County tax payers. The state Land and Water Conservation Fund (LWCF) matching grant would reduce taxpayers share to only $300,00 for rehabilitating the Browntown Park Wilderness Boardwalk that’s closed due to a decade of neglect impairing visitor safety.
4.
Although the PSA charges $25.00 an hour for users to turn on the lights for night play, a citizen complained to the Board that 54 of 64 light sections were not working at Kingsland’s Howard Peebles Park pickleball courts. The PSA explained that at first a lightning strike and then warranty disputes prolonged the unavailability of lighted courts for adults who wanted to use the park after work. Does the PSA charge only $3.91 per hour when only 15% of the lights work?
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