Camden improves its ISO rating
By Susan Scholl

Camden-Jackson Township Volunteer Fire Dept. Chief Chuck Foreman reported that following the audit of last spring's Indiana Public Protection Survey, the town's ISO (Insurance Services Organization) rating had improved to a Class 6. He reported the change at the Aug. 15 meeting of the Camden Town Council.

Before the audit, Foreman said that Camden had a mid to low Class 7 rating.

It was the department's goal to improve to Class 6, however, he said they missed a Class 5 rating by only 2.5 percentage points.

Foreman credited the positive result to a lot of hard work by the fire department, Jerry Snavely and Jay Dee Cree. He said certification of the town's fire truck also helped improve the rating.

The classification is used for underwriting and calculating insurance premiums and is expected to save residents on their homeowner's premiums.

The new rating goes into effect on Oct. 1.

A public hearing was held prior to the regular meeting to discuss proposed fees for trash removal for the town. Council President Ralph Rohrabaugh said rates have not increased since 1992.

Waste Management, the only bidder for trash removal, said that their costs have significantly increased.

After the meeting, a special meeting was held to adopt Ordinance 2006-2, setting trash rates per household at $10.75 for 2006-2007 and $11.00 for 20072008. Service will remain the same with no bag limit, yearly clean-up and dumpsters.

Joyce McCarty with Starr Development gave an update on the housing grant. She said that two of the original homeowners who had signed-up had dropped out, but that they had already done the interviews and replaced them. She expects the bid process to wrap-up in six to eight weeks.

"We want to have everything complete by the end of the year," McCarty said. "This is really fast turn-around."

McCarty suggested that the town office begin taking names of those interested in participating in the next phase.

"We need an estimated 19 interested homeowners," she said.

The housing project is for owner occupied, low to moderate income, housing rehabilitation.

Chuck Mullendore, a spokesperson for the Camden Fall Festival committee, said that vendors are still signing-up and "everything is rolling along" for the Sept. 9 event.

Melissa Red Elk said that the winner of Camden's Little Rising Star Contest will be announced Aug. 26 during the Miss Camden and Little Miss and Mister Contest while the judges deliberate. There are eight Rising Star contestants.

Lee Click requested clarification of whether an easement and rightof way on the south side of East Main Street is really private land being used in a public manner. These alleys are between the Clingenpeel and Arion properties and Pizza King and the Tristan properties.

Town attorney Anne Briggs told Rohrabaugh that "as long as it's been there as an alley, it can't be closed."

Various maps show the area in question differently.

The town will work with Click to remedy the situation.

Town officials accepted the quote of $3,500 submitted by Kingery & Son Construction for masonry repair on the Community Building.

Ken Smith was present to answer questions regarding the wastewater project.

Carroll County Economic Development Director Daryl Smith attended and introduced himself.

The hearing for the 2007 budget will be held Aug. 26 at 7 p.m., with the adoption meeting on Sept. 12 at 7 p.m.