Connecting the city to its citizens

At the conclusion of a recent Camas City Council workshop, Mayor Scott Higgins hinted that he would be unveiling some new technology at the Oct. 19 State of the Community address.

“We are looking forward to sharing some things with the community,” he said, humorously describing them as “top secret.”

On Monday, the citizens who attended the public event held at Camas High School got to hear exactly what he was talking about.

Higgins introduced the city’s first foray into the world of social media, micro-blogging and mobile device applications.

The city’s new free app, which has been in the planning stages for several months, is called CamasConnect It can be downloaded onto Android and Apple devices.

The mayor referenced semiconductor manufacturer WaferTech, which has been located on Prune Hill in Camas since 1996 and currently employs approximately 1,000 people. Its parent company, Taiwan-based TSMC, is the world’s largest contract manufacturer of computer chips.

“One of the greatest microchip makers for Apple products in the world is happening right up here off of Lake Road,” Higgins said. “They make chips that go into your Apple devices, your phones and your technology. So, it’s just only fitting to make sure that we as a city match the technology that is being produced right here in our community.”