Road district pledges funds for deputy

Camp Sherman Road District 18 has pledged $10,000 to be used if needed to help keep Deputy Dave Blann on duty in the face of a potential Jefferson County budget shortfall.

The money would become available if the road district serial levy vote passes on Tuesday, May 19. The levy is to fund road maintenance, plowing and improvements in Camp Sherman and the surrounding area.

Eighteen people gathered Thursday evening, March 26, for the Road District 18 meeting at the Camp Sherman fire hall. Norm Scott represented Camp Sherman residents in proclaiming the need to maintain Blann's job as Camp Sherman Deputy Sheriff.

Besides providing law enforcement presence, Blann plows the county roads in winter and cleans county culverts. He would also help maintain the district's roads and culverts.

The three-member Camp Sherman Road District 18 committee voted 2-1 to support Secretary Chan Cathcart's motion setting up a special one-year trust account to be used if necessary in support of maintaining the deputy sheriff's position at Camp Sherman.

Charles Kern sided with Cathcart favoring the action; Lee Farm, chairman of the committee, voted against.

With a carryover amount of $3,000, Road District 18 will obtain an additional $5,913 from a previous levy plus approximately $8,888 if the new levy passes. More than $17,000 would then be available for fiscal year 1998-99, $10,000 of which would be saved in the trust.

The district election on Tuesday May 19 needs at least a 50 percent Camp Sherman voter turnout to validate passage of this levy.