Camden Council sets tax rate; talks about school situation
By Jennifer Archibald Staff writer

The new tax rate for the town, and the Camden school situation were two subjects brought up at the Camden Town Council meeting on May 8.

Council president Pete Wagoner said the new tax rate was adopted at a special meeting April 23. He announced that the allowable rate for the general fund was $1.09 per $100 of assessed valuation, but the council set the rate at $1.05. Wagoner said the new rate is four cents higher than the current rate. The Cumulative Capital Development and Cumulative Sewer will add .06 cents for a total rate of $1.11.

Wagoner said a petition is being circulated by concerned citizens, pertaining to the school situation. The petition asks the Delphi Community School Corporation Board of Trustees to rescind its decision to move all Camden Elementary students in grades one through five to Hillcrest Elementary and use the Camden facility as an Early Childhood Center.

He said the petition can be signed in the town office, and called for volunteers to help circulate the petition throughout the entire school district. He said the petition will be out for the next few weeks.

Wagoner said he was speaking for himself and not as a representative of the town.

He stated that the school situation does have an economic impact on the town. He said, as an example, one family had planned to move to Camden and had made an offer on a house, but when they found out about the changes being made to the elementary school, they rescinded their offer to buy.

Also pertaining to the school, Wagoner said the council directed Anne Briggs, town attorney, to send a letter to the DCSC board of trustees in regard to Camden Elementary School property ownership.

Wagoner said Briggs researched the title to the school and found that the only deed recorded was in 1907, when the town of Camden deeded the property to Jackson Township. He said there is no record of a deed transfer to Delphi Community School Corp. He added that there might have been some kind of provision made in the 1960s, during consolidation, that didn't require a deed.

"We're not claiming that Jackson Township owns the school," Wagoner said. He explained that the town just wants some clarification or documentation concerning ownership of the school.

Wagoner said when the consolidation took place, the Jackson Township Park was used by the school for sporting events and was included in land needed for the school. He added that the only recorded deed for the park shows that it is owned by Jackson Township.

One paragraph in the attorney's letter reads "The Town is very concerned abut the future use of the Camden Elementary School properties as well as the violation of the agreement that possession, only, of the Camden property would be given to DCSC on the commitment that DCSC would operate a school for elementary-age children living in the townships served by the Camden School."

The town asked the DCSC board president Robert Resler to provide documentation by May 15.

The council approved a Capital Improvement Plan for 2007. Having such a plan is a requirement in order to receive and spend EDIT funds for town improvements. Another requirement is to pay a per capita amount in order to be a part of the county Economic Development Corporation. Camden clerk-treasurer Pat Casserly said Daryl Smith, executive di- rector of the EDC, will come and talk to council members at the next meeting, in June.

Wagoner said the biggest economic issue on the county level is the Hoosier Heartland Highway. He said he just learned recently that construction will start in 2010 in Lafayette, and be completed in Carroll County in 2012.

"Of course dates are always subject to chance," he said.

The council approved a junk and abandoned vehicle ordinance, which is published in this week's issue of the Comet. Attorney Briggs said it would go into effect 30 days after publication.

The ordinance says that any junk vehicle (defined in the ordinance) that is left out in the open on public property for five or more days, or on private property for 15 or more days, will be removed. The owner will be fined $50 and will be responsible for the cost of towing, storing, and disposing of the vehicle. Notices will be placed on vehicles that are found to be in violation of the ordinance.

Prior to this ordinance, letters were sent to properties which had junk vehicles or were otherwise unsightly. Wagoner said about 80 percent of those properties have been voluntarily cleaned up.

Jeff Sieber reported on the town's 175th anniversary celebration July 21 and 22. He said a schedule has been set for both days, and memorabilia will be available for purchase a month before the event. He said organizations and businesses have been great to take over various parts of the planned activities. They still need a volunteer group for clean-up after the celebration.

The council acknowledged that Jackson Township Livewires 4-H Club planted flowers in the town flower pots.

Council member Andy Robison announced that the Masonic Lodge will have a breakfast in the Community Building before the parade on June 2.

Street superintendent Jerry Snavely, asked town residents to let him or the town office know if they are seeing a lot of mosquitoes, so he can spray as needed.

An ordinance on the sidewalk replacement program will be acted on at the next meeting.

The next regular meeting will be June 5 (a week earlier than usual) at 7 p.m. in the Community Building.