April bids set

DUNKIRK - Bids for a major water plant/main project will be opened early next month.

Jay County community development director Ami Huffman told Dunkirk council members Monday night that the city's consulting engineers, The Schneider Corporation of Indianapolis, will begin advertising for bids soon with a scheduled bid opening date of April 5.

Contracts could be awarded as early as April 12 when the council meets again. That award could depend on the engineer's recommendations, Huffman said Monday.

There will be two parts to bidding: Water plant improvements and distribution system upgrades.

The city was awarded a $625,000 grant through the Indiana Office of Community and Rural Affairs for the project, which is expected to top $1 million.

Also Monday, Huffman was granted authority to apply for other grants to help the downtown area.

One would fund improvements on facades to match original plans; another would fund streetscape improvements such as historic-style street lights, benches, trash containers and other visual improvements. A local match would be required, Huffman explained.

That match will come from economic development income tax funds, at the recommendation of the Dunkirk Industrial Development Corporation, which met Monday prior to the council.

Council member Judy Garr incorporated that proposal into her motion to support the grant funding application.

Also addressing the council were Dru Hall and Chuck Huffman of the Dunkirk Investment Group, which has been purchasing and rehabilitating older buildings in the downtown area.

Chuck Huffman said the seven-member group has identified several possible projects, but also would like "to encourage the city to step up and do some investing in the downtown itself - maybe purchasing a downtown building or two for rehabilitation."

He proposed that the council schedule an executive session in the near future to discuss specific land acquisition proposals with development group members. City attorney Bill Hinkle said such a closed-door session is permissible under Indiana state statutes under a provision relating to the purchase or lease of real property.

That session was not scheduled because councilman Craig Faulkner was not present. City officials wanted to schedule the executive session when all members could be present.

In other business Monday night, council members:

•Heard a recommendation from Ami Huffman, Garr and councilman Chuck Rife that the city a web site. This could be helpful with economic development issues as well as alerting residents about boil orders and other emergency events, they explained.

Rife said that he had been in contact with Craig Frazee of Portland about the idea. Frazee said he would be able to set up a city of Dunkirk web site for approximately $700. Frazee will be invited to make a presentation to the council March 22.

Councilman Eric Bowler said he would first like to see a breakdown of the total costs relating to maintaining the web site.

•Agreed to apply to become an Indiana Main Street Community. Ami Huffman said the costs would be minimal and joining this network of local communities across the state would be beneficial in applying for improvement grants.

•Heard Hunt announce that he was instituting a new procedure for audience members to address the council. To be placed on the council agenda in the future, persons should submit a request in writing at the city clerk's office prior to noon on the Wednesday before the council meeting.

Speakers will be limited to five minutes for each presentation, and "no speaker shall be allowed to appear more frequently than once every fourth meeting."

•Noted that the next meeting of the Dunkirk Park Board had been rescheduled due to the timing of spring break in the Jay School Corporation. The park board will meet at 5:45 p.m. March 31 in city hall. Garringer said Glass Days Festival Committee representatives will plan to be present at that meeting.[[In-content Ad]]