Camden progressing on wastewater upgrade
By Theresa Replogle Contributing writer

Grant writer Ken Smith presented an update on the wastewater treatment upgrade at last Thursday night's meeting of the Camden Town Council. Smith said that he is working through the final permit.

"I am working every single day to get this thing taken care of," Smith said.

With the current condition of the wastewater treatment system, Camden would not be able to renew its permit with IDEM to discharge into the creek.

The total cost of the project, $820,000, is five percent higher than previously estimated, according to council president, Pete Wagoner. The cost will be lessened by a grant of $500,000 received from The Community Focus Fund. The remaining $320,000 is to be financed, pending final approval, through a bond issue from the state revolving fund.

Wagoner also announced that the bid for the work was granted to Robert E. Crosby Construction of Fort Wayne. The contract cannot be finalized until approval for the bond is received, he said.

Camden citizens will see water rates go up with or without the upgrade, said Wagoner. The council introduced ordinance 2008-6 which would amend wastewater rates. Based upon the study done by Therber and Brock, the average monthly bill, rated upon four thousand gallons usage would be $28.45. This amount, pointed out Wagoner, is still 40% below the average rate being paid in Indiana towns having less than one thousand residents.

The council read and passed Ordinance 2008-4A. This was the ordinance passed last month which authorized the issuance of the revenue bonds for the sewer project. Some wording needed to be changed from the previous ordinance and it passed on all three readings.

Fall Festival

Wagoner said that due to a lack of man power and some iffy weather, the Camden Fall Festival was not held. He said that it was postponed, but never rescheduled. Wagoner said that the town of Camden does not sponsor the fall festival. The town only supports it by blocking off streets and putting out porta-potties.

There have been some complaints, Wagoner said, that some vendors had prepaid to have booths at the festival, but have yet to receive a refund.

Jeff Sieber representing last year's organizing committee wanted to counter some rumors that are going around about last year's event. He said that his committee presented financial results to the council and there was no money made on the event last year.

"We were kind of appalled that something that took 23 years to build was destroyed in one day," Sieber said.

Wagoner said that in the future, the town may require a performance bond for anyone who wants to use the town's name for such an event.

Trick or Treat Night

The council set Friday, the 31st, from 6 to 8 p.m. as trick-or-treat time.

Indiana Housing Grant

Wagoner announced that several housing projects were underway with some getting close to completion. The total cost of all of the projects is $216,000 with each project costing on average of $15,000, he said.

Temporary water cut offs

A hydrant beside the phone office is being replaced. It was an older model that does not have a shut off valve, so in order to replace it, the water on that side of the street must be cut off for a half day on Oct. 15.

Other business

The town approved rezoning for 378 E. Cumberland from residential to light industrial. Richard Fite has purchased the property with the intent of building rental storage units. The request has already passed the Area Plan Commission.

"This is going to be a significant improvement for that area," Wagoner said.

The town sent out ten letters to residents who were in violation of local weed, and trash ordinances.

Steve Mullin was awarded the Ralph J. Rohrbaugh scholarship to attend Leadership Carroll County.