City Council approved in the Fiscal Year 23-24 budget several changes to City of Camden utility rates. The changes include: $3.00 increase of electric meter base charge, $3.00 increase of water meter base charge, 5% electric rate increase, 20% water rate increase, and 18% sewer rate increase. City of Camden utility customers will notice these changes on bills dated September 1, 2023 and beyond.
The City of Camden is seeking applications to fill four open seats, one on the Board of Zoning Appeals, one on the Planning Commission, and two on the Board of Construction Appeals. Only City of Camden residents are eligible to apply; the deadline for applications is Friday, September 1.
The Board of Zoning Appeals consists of five members, who shall be appointed by City Council for overlapping terms of four years. The Board of Zoning Appeals hears and decides appeals where it is alleged there is error in any order, requirement, decision, or determination made by the Zoning Administrator. This Board also has the authority to grant variances if certain conditions are met.
The Board of Adjustments and Appeals (Board of Construction Appeals) consists of five members, who shall be residents of the City serving three year terms. The Board of Construction Appeals addresses and resolves matters occurring under the Fire Prevention Code, the Building Code, the Electrical Code, and the Plumbing Code.
The Planning Commission consists of seven members, who shall be residents of the City serving four year terms. The Planning Commission seeks to guide and accomplish a coordinated and harmonious development of the City of Camden in accordance with existing and future needs, best promote the efficiency and economy in the process of development. The Planning Commission’s responsibilities include: prepare and revise periodically a comprehensive plan for the City, prepare and recommend to City Council ordinances promoting orderly development in accordance with the comprehensive plan, administer the City Zoning Ordinance, Chapter 157, and review and recommend needed changes in ordinance and map of the City, to advise, and where appropriate to assist, the Building Inspector of the City as to interpretation, administration and enforcement by him of Chapter 156 and 157 of the Code of Ordinances, to hear and recommend to the City Council all requests for changes in zoning boundaries and requests for relief from zoning requirements, and to recommend to the City Council changes, additions, or deletions to the Zoning Code and map and new ordinances pertaining to zoning as it appears advisable.
Applications are available here or at City Hall, 1000 Lyttleton Street.
The following are two documents provided by Raftelis in regards to the Utility Rate Study.
The Camden Fire Department, joined by state and national dignitaries, held a ceremony marking the Cleveland School Fire’s 100th Anniversary on May 17, 2023. It was the deadliest school fire in American history at the time, and remains the deadliest in South Carolina history.
The Cleveland School fire occurred on the evening of May 17, 1923, while a school play was underway and a large crowd of students, teachers, family members and residents of the community were seated in the auditorium on the second floor of the rural school. Caused by an oil lamp that fell and ignited the stage, the crowd had to access a narrow, winding staircase to get down to the only exit out the front of the wooden structure.
The fire killed 77 people, including 41 children, and injured many others. The fire department was called, but due the rural location of the school, it arrived too late to save many of the victims. The fire had a devastating impact on the community, and it led to changes in school safety regulations. In the years since the fire, many schools have been built with multiple exits, and fire drills have become a regular part of school life.
Fire Chiefs from Camden and Kershaw County were joined by descendants of the victims of the tragic fire, along with Governor Henry McMaster, Senators Thomas McElveen and Penry Gustafson, SC State Fire Marshal Jonathan Jones, and National Fire Sprinkler Association President Shane Ray, and other dignitaries for a ceremony at the monument, followed by a service at Beulah United Methodist Church.
The Camden Police Department is proud to announce that it will be pursuing state accreditation through the South Carolina Law Enforcement Accreditation (SCLEA) program. The memorandum of understanding was submitted to SCLEA on May 8, 2023 to begin the process.
Interim Chief Darren Norris stated, “The Camden Police Department is dedicated to providing the highest level of service to our community. Pursuing accreditation through the SCLEA program is a significant step towards ensuring that our department is operating at the highest standards. It demonstrates our commitment to excellence in law enforcement and building trust and confidence with the community we serve.”
During the accreditation process, the department will be reviewing and ensuring compliance with the requirements set forth by the SCLEA standards. This will include implementing best practices, improving management practices, community engagement, and enhancing officer safety, among other important operational standards.
Accreditation provides numerous benefits for the department, including increased community trust and confidence, accountability, and a framework for continuous improvement. The department believes that pursuing accreditation is essential in maintaining and improving the quality of service provided to the community.
The Camden Police Department is excited to take this important step and looks forward to working with the SCLEA throughout the accreditation process.
The Camden Police Department has announced its increased focus on enforcing commercial truck route violations within the incorporated city limits of downtown Camden. Over the past 30 days, the department has stopped in excess of 200 trucks and issued warnings in an effort to curtail these violations. The bulk of these violations are occurring between Broad Street and York Street, as well as Broad Street and DeKalb.
According to Sergeant Carl Smith, who has been overseeing the traffic enforcement effort, “We take the safety of our community seriously, and that’s why we’re cracking down on commercial truck route violations. Our goal is to promote compliance with designated truck routes and traffic laws, to protect our city’s infrastructure and citizens.”
Additional signage and awareness efforts have also been put in place to prevent further violations. Effective Friday, May 19, 2023, officers will begin issuing citations for violations of § 71.16 TRUCK TRAFFIC. The ordinance outlines the routes designated for commercial trucks within downtown Camden, and the consequences for violating these routes.
The Camden Police Department urges all commercial truck drivers to adhere to the designated routes, as well as all traffic laws and regulations. Violators can face citations and fines, and continued violations could result in more severe consequences.
“Here in Camden, we understand that the hardworking truck drivers provide goods and equipment that are vital to our communities. However, we also have to ensure the safety of our citizens and enforce the laws that are in place to protect our city’s infrastructure. Our efforts to enforce commercial truck route violations are not meant to be punitive, but rather to promote safety and ensure compliance with traffic laws and designated routes,” stated Interim Chief Darren Norris.