CAMDEN — Village Council discussed capital improvement projects, fencing ordinances, and voted to schedule a performance by the U.S. Air Force Band of Flight during its bi-monthly meeting Thursday, April 1.
Mayor Karen Moss updated council on a planned walking path to be built along U.S. 127, saying that she and village resident Kate Duskey had asked Rep. Rodney Creech to reach out to the Ohio Department of Transportation (ODOT) on the village’s behalf in order to expedite the project.
Village Administrator Rusty Wilson said that Doug Kramer, of Greenville-based civil engineering firm Kramer & Associates, is awaiting approval from ODOT before beginning work on a bridge located along a portion of the path.
“But [Kramer] told us last fall that the bridge plans were a go,” council member Jeff Steele said.
Council member Debbie Hickman agreed.
“I’m thinking Doug is having a failure of memory on this,” she said. “Why don’t you tell him the council is getting very upset? Very edgy.”
Steele had stronger feelings on the matter.
“It seems like all our projects, we get put on the back burner, so maybe it’s time we look for someone else to do our projects,” Steele said.
Wilson agreed to reach out to Kramer again to further discuss the issue. Moss asked to be kept apprised of those conversations.
Also during Thursday’s meeting:
Moss stated she had reached out to the U.S. Air Force Band of Flight to see if the village would be able to schedule a performance over the summer. The group previously performed during Camden’s bicentennial celebration in Aug. 2018.
“He said, ‘You’ve got me just in time, because my phone is ringing off the hook,’” Moss said.
Hickman made a motion to schedule a performance on Saturday, July 24 at 6 p.m., which was seconded by Judy Michael and approved by unanimous vote. The event will be free of charge and open to the public.
Local landlord Chuck Moore addressed council regarding a fence being installed on his neighbor’s property. Moore stated that he and his wife have bought several houses in the village and fixed them up to be rented out.
Moore stated that the fence being constructed would obstruct the view from Moore’s own property, and could potentially cause a safety issue if fire department or other emergency personnel needed to gain access.
“Whoever lives there will have to walk down to the end of their front porch just to look down the street,” Moore said. “And if there was a fire or medical issue, they’d have to run all the way around the house and come in through the alley.”
Moore stated that close neighbors should be consulted when such a fence is being installed. Wilson agreed, saying that the ordinance governing fence construction needs to be updated. Steele agreed to speak with Camden Fire Chief Josh Forrer about the potential safety issue.
Village Council meetings take place the first and third Thursday of each month at 7 p.m. at Camden Town Hall, located at 56 W. Central Ave.
