Could it be that Camden developers have kidnapped their kids and grand kids and threatened them with bodily harm?

That's about the only thing I can think of that would explain the truly astonishingly boneheaded decision taken by 4 out of five county commissioners tonight. The lone, dissenting voice of sanity was that of an impassioned Commissioner Steve Berry. I would tell y'all the whole sorry tale tonight but I fear I might damage the keys here on my new ergonomically correct, Microsoft keyboard. Tune in sometime tomorrow when I've cooled down. Camden Watchdogs - you do not want to miss this! Good morning. Item 2 on the agenda for last night's meeting read as follows: "Development Impact Fee Ordinance - Discussion concerning Program." That seems fairly innocuous, right? Wrong! It turns out that six local real estate developers and builders had written letters to the commissioners (each commissioner had copies of said letters) in which they apparently (I'm working on obtaining copies of the letters) whined once again about the impact fees. They apparently suggested that the impact fees, which, according to a statement made by Commissioner Keene, amount to about 1.5% of the cost of a $150,000 home, were a major factor in the turn down in housing starts in Camden County. To my amazement, no sooner had St. David, the patron saint of good ol' boys, broached the idea of suspending the impact fees than Sears, Zell, and Keene all rushed to issue statements in support of the idea. Already amazed, I was utterly flabbergasted when Commissioner Keene suggested that they they make the suspension retroactive to January 1 - of 2009! That's right, they actually intended to REFUND all of the fees they've collected to date. Naturally, in his impassioned argument against this astonishingly boneheaded idea, Commissioner Berry said that it was incredible that in these austere times, they were actually thinking about giving the fees back. St. David's response was that since the fees had been instituted in 2009, they had only collected $48,000. He said, "Why, Mr. Berry, that would not even build ten feet of road," ergo "we might as well give it back." Early on in his hopeless attempt to bring the other four to their senses, Berry said that this was the sort of thing that made him want to pull his hair out. Berry also asked them what would happen if during the suspension, some well finaced developer showed up and "took y'all up on your offer" and wanted to build 500 homes? Who would pay for the resulting infrastructure. "The taxpayers, that's who!" Soft hearted / headed Commissioner Sears likened the idiocy to "our own stimulus package." Zell pretty much said that it couldn't hurt to give it a try. If my memory serves me, Berry reminded them that in the course of studying how to enact the fees, the related expense, including hiring a consulting firm, had already cost the taxpayers $100,000. They were not impressed. In fact, Rainer had the very consultant there last night to advise them how to most easily affect the suspension. It turns out that they can simply amend the schedule of fees so that they all read zero. St. David is trying to peddle the fiction that when it comes time to re-instate the fees, it can be easily reversed. Does any sentient Camdenian actually believe that while David Rainer is in office, the fees will EVER be reinstated? At the final public comments section, I made the following comments: "Good evening commissioners. My name is Jay Moreno. I reside at 501 Victoria's Circle in St. Marys. You know, I've been watching these commission meetings pretty regularly, either in person or on cable, since I moved here in August of 1993. I've been sitting here trying to remember if I've ever seen this body take a more boneheaded decision than the one you've taken tonight regarding impact fees. While the decision to wait as long as y'all did to finally hire a true professional like Mr. Howard remains at number one, this insanity tonight is clearly a strong number two. Commissioner Berry is absolutely correct on this. I find it very curious that the agenda item reads 'Discussion concerning program.' Truth in advertising would have required it to read 'Discussion concerning suspending the program.' Y'all got away with it tonight but I can guarantee you that between my blog and a letter to the Tribune and Georgian, I will see to it that the taxpayers - including the Watchdogs - are alerted in time to let you know their feelings on this before and during the next meeting. I realize that these builders are big time supporters of some of you, but there are far more of us taxpayers than there are of them. Thank you." I'll see if I can't post the letters later today. In the meantime, please spread the word.