Camden Council makes appointments
By Jennifer Archibald Staff writer

Camden officials Town of Camden officials are pictured above: Front - Pat Casserly, clerk-treasurer. Back, l-r - Pete Wagoner, Richard Fite, Andy Kelly. Fite and Kelly were sworn in as new council members. Wagoner was re-elected council president, and Fite was elected vice president. Photo provided

Camden Town Council had its first meeting of the year on Jan. 10.

Pete Wagoner was re-elected president of the council, and new councilman Richard Fite was elected vice president, both for four years. The third member of the council, also new, is Andy Kelly.

Anne Briggs was re-appointed as town attorney for a four-year term.

The following other appointments were made (with term of office in parentheses):

Camden-Jackson Library Board - Diane Wertz (2007- 2010).

Carroll County Economic Development Corporation - Bob Overman (2008-2010), Robert McCain (2008-2011), and Richard Fite (2008-2009).

Carroll County Board of Zoning Appeals - Pat Baker (2008-2011).

Carroll County Area Plan Commission - Pete Wagoner (2008-2011).

Carroll County Emergency Management Commission - Richard Fite (2008-2011).

Carroll County E-911 Commission - Chuck Foreman (2008-2011).

Carroll County Animal Control Commission - Andy Kelly (2008-2011).

Although currently there is no county-wide animal control, a Camden representative was appointed in anticipation that some local towns and townships may come together for that purpose.

The council approved yearend transfer of funds and a 2007 encumbrance. Clerk-treasurer Pat Casserly said $20,500 was encumbered for street work (crack and slurry sealing).

"That means we'll use '07 money instead of '08 money," she said. Trained Red Cross volunteers

Ten Camden volunteers have completed American Red Cross shelter training as a preparedness measure. The Camden Community Building, which now has a generator, will be offered as a community shelter in case of an emergency. The trained volunteers will man the shelter. Those who have taken the training are Scott Wagoner, Henry Wilburn, Linda Red Elk, Judy Peters, Karen Rodgers, Camilla Downing, Charlotte and Joe Wallace, Kathy Snavely, and Pat Casserly.

Tom Cooper, with the disaster services committee of the Tippecanoe chapter of the American Red Cross, requested use of the Community Building/emergency shelter for a disaster training session. He said the shelter will be set up for a mock tornado disaster. He asked for Camden to provide volunteer victims, and for involvement by the local fire department and the town marshals, as well as the local trained volunteers. Cooper said this would be a realistic scenario because Tippecanoe County Red Cross could respond if a shelter needed to be set up in Camden following a tornado.

"It's a chance to see how the Red Cross volunteers work together," he said.

The council agreed to the use of the building for the training session, which will be March 8 or April 5.

Fite said if a real shelter was set up in the Community Building, he thought the two small restrooms would be inadequate. He asked about grants to improve the situation.

Ken Smith of Municipal Civil Corp. was present at the meeting and said he would look into possible grants and report to the council at its next work session.

Smith also reported on the next round of Community Development Block Grants. He said in the last round, Camden missed securing such a grant for wastewater improvements by only six points. He said a new application will be submitted in March.

The town, through Star Development, is also pursuing another Indiana Housing Grant.

Councilman Wagoner stated his support for extending State Road 75 north to join the Hoosier Heartland Highway, with the idea of an industrial park at the intersection, which would benefit Camden.

Beginning this year, the council has changed its meeting dates to the second Thursday of each month. The next regular meeting will be Feb. 14 at 7 p.m. in the Community Building.

The council also set a work session for Jan. 31 to discuss goals for 2008, to hear from the trained volunteers on how to improve the building for emergency preparedness, and to hear about grant opportunities.