Camden gets new Public Works Director

— The City of Camden has its new Public Works Director.

Last month, former Camden Public Works Director Shamir Dorsey resigned and moved to Texas with his fiance. After serving as the interim director of public works, Kevin Franklin will fill the role.

Franklin is a native of Monticello but has lived in Camden since 1995. He attended college and played basketball for Coahoma Community College in Clarksdale, Ms.

Since moving to Camden, Franklin has been an active member of the community and involved various sports and band activities with his children and volunteered as a coach for peewee sports. He also established the Lynette Franklin Scholarship Award in honor of his late wife. Franklin is the recipient of the African American Historical Commission of Camden’s Timeless Dreamer Award.

In his earlier years in Camden, Franklin worked as a produce manager for Brookshires before working as a senior expediter at Lockheed Martin. He then started his own yard servicing company before accepting the job as the Parks and Recreation Supervisor last spring. In that time, Franklin played a heavy role in the revitalization of the softball fields and establishment of a softball league at Carnes Park as well as maintaining the Carnes Park Pool.

Franklin was also essential in pushing to get Carnes Park up and running after a severe storm system left extensive damage to the Camden area in late June.

Franklin said that the resurfacing of the basketball courts has been approved and that it will go as planned. He added that the Kids Golf project is already underway an that there will also be a place for children to play with frisbees.

“Nothing is possible without God,” Franklin said. “I’m thankful to God, Mayor (Julian Lott), Assistant Mayor (Amy Perrin) and Shamir Dorsey for giving me the opportunity back in March. Of course, I’m thankful to my wife, Lydia, and my family. I’m excited about this new role. We are going to keep moving forward and I’m going to do all I can on my part to make Camden the best it

can be.”

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