From celebrating those who give back to considering new ways to communicate with residents, the August 4 Camden City Council meeting reflected both the people who strengthen the community today and the decisions shaping its future.
Community service took center stage Tuesday evening as Camden City Council recognized an organization that has spent more than two decades turning a love of music and dance into meaningful support for its neighbors.
The Camden Lugoff Area Shag Society, better known as CLASS, received a proclamation honoring its commitment to philanthropy, fellowship and the preservation of South Carolina’s cultural heritage.
Since 2005, CLASS has donated more than $108,000 to nonprofit organizations throughout Kershaw County. Those contributions have helped local organizations provide food, healthcare and other critical services to residents who need them most.
Representatives from the Community Medical Clinic and Food for the Soul attended the meeting to thank CLASS for its continued generosity. Their remarks offered a reminder that the organization’s impact reaches far beyond the dance floor.
The evening’s celebrations continued with recognition of two young women preparing to represent Camden throughout the coming year.
Calissa Bowers was recognized as Miss Camden’s Teen 2027. A student at North Central High School, Bowers plans to become a business owner and certified public accountant. Her community service initiative, “Pieces of Possibility,” focuses on autism awareness, education, advocacy and support.
Grace Entzminger was recognized as Miss Camden 2027. Ensminger will attend Central Carolina Technical College before transferring to the University of South Carolina and plans to pursue a career in healthcare. Through her community service initiative, “Need to Breathe,” she hopes to raise awareness of lung diseases and support those affected by them.
As Camden prepares to move into a new City Hall next year, one resident has made sure the current building and the people who work there will not be forgotten.
Council thanked Bob Hunt for creating a detailed diorama of the current City Hall, complete with photographs of City staff. The piece will be displayed in the new building, carrying a snapshot of today’s City Hall into its new home.
That connection between Camden’s past and future was also reflected in the recognition of three employees whose combined 50 years of service have helped keep the City working each day.
Dale Harper of the Streets Department was honored for 25 years of service, Fire Dept. Capt. Jason Floyd for 15 years and Det. M. Wright of the Camden Police Department for 10 years.
They were joined by Director of Utilities and Public Works Jack Thornsberry, Camden Fire Chief Eddie Gardner and Police Chief Jack Rushing. Although each employee serves the community in a different role, their work affects the services residents rely on, from maintaining City streets to responding during emergencies and helping keep Camden safe.
The meeting then shifted to routine business, with Council approving all consent agenda items without objection. The agenda included Accommodations Tax Committee funding recommendations and a resolution authorizing the consumption of alcoholic beverages at Christmas in August. Council also reappointed Morton “Jay” Hudson and Travis Hall to the Planning Commission and Larry Graham and Linda Shaylor to the Board of Zoning Appeals. All four terms expire August 31, 2032.
Public comment brought another piece of Camden’s history into the conversation.
Joe Counts, speaking on behalf of the Gentleman’s Club of Kershaw County, asked the City to consider naming the street leading to the Camden train station in honor of the late Sidney Butler.
Looking ahead, Council gave initial approval to changes governing billboards and digital signs within the City.
The proposal would prohibit new billboards while creating a path for some existing billboards to be converted to digital displays. One proposal under consideration would remove two existing billboards in exchange for converting a third, located on the American Legion property near DeKalb Street and Chestnut Ferry Road, into a digital display.
For residents, the broader significance lies in how public information could be shared in the future. The changes would allow digital signs on property owned by the City, county, state and school district, giving public agencies another way to communicate timely information, community announcements and emergency messages.
The proposal must return to Council for a second reading before it can take effect. Before the meeting concluded, City Manager Matt DeWitt reminded residents that the Camden Police and Fire departments would join agencies from across Kershaw County for National Night Out, beginning at 6 p.m. at Woolard Technology Center. DeWitt noted that the event was also the reason Council convened at 5 p.m., rather than its usual 5:30 p.m. meeting time