Camden to apply for grants for home and wastewater improvements
Comet staff report

Two public hearings preceded the July 10 meeting of the Camden Town Council.

The first was an Indiana Housing Grant meeting. The town is applying for the Community Development Block Grant in order for qualified homeowners to make improvements to their homes. Joyce McCarty explained that 14 applications have been received for home improvements which can include windows, siding, handicapped accessibility, and code violations.

McCarty said the grant will be submitted by Aug. 15 and award winners will be announced in late October. The hearing was part of the grant process.

The second hearing was also a condition of the wastewater project. The town is applying for a Community Development Block Grant to make improvements to its system. Grant writer Amy Miller said that the town's match of the $500,000 grant will be $250,000. She explained the grant scoring process and reminded residents that letters of support for the project count in that process. Deadline for submitting the grant is Sept. 13 for award notification in November.

Any resident who would like to submit a letter may contact clerk-treasurer Pat Casserly who has sample letters available.

The council approved $600 as Camden's share of costs for a marketing plan for Carroll County. Carroll County Chamber Director Sana Booker said the Hoosier Heartland Highway will bring many changes to the county. The Comprehensive Land Use Plan that is currently being put together and a unified marketing plan will help the county maximize opportunities, yet maintain the county's values.

Jeff Sieber reported that everything is set for Camden's 175th anniversary celebration on July 21-22. The committee has been meeting twice a week and has a fun weekend planned.

Two streets will be closed on Saturday during the festival. They are Cumberland from Water to Armstrong and James from Armstrong to Ohio.

Melissa Red Elk said that the Camden Fall Festival committee could use some more help. She urged anyone interested to contact her. She also said that there will be booths at the festival, along with musical entertainment and games.

Council president Pete Wagoner encouraged anyone interested in replacing their sidewalk to inquire at the town office about the town's new Sidewalk Construction and Financing Policy.

"We've tried to make it as attractive as we can to get people interested," said Wagoner. "We'd like to get enough people interested to get started this summer."

Wagoner reported on the June 11 Delphi Community

School Corporation board of trustees meeting. He said Tracie to county marketing Swayze presented a petition bearing 300 names requesting the board reopen the issue of closing the Camden School as a K-5 facility. That request was denied.

"I don't see anything we can do," said Wagoner. "The board has the authority, backed by state law, to make those decisions. They did acknowledge that Camden was their best performing school. We'll continue to monitor the actions of the school board."

Copy fees charged by the town were lowered from 20¢ per page to 10¢ per page.

A joint meeting with the Jackson Township trustee will be held in August.

The next council meeting will be Aug. 14 at 7 p.m. in the town office.