City asks contractor to fix Stewart building edge (02/28/06)

DUNKIRK — City officials decided to take matters into their own hands on a public safety issue Monday, directing a local contractor to take down or secure a section of roof edging on the former Stewart Bros. Furniture Store building.

The edging is precariously hanging over a sidewalk and street at the southwest corner of Washington and Main streets, Dunkirk resident Eric Bowler told council members.

Bowler asked the council who was responsible for the upkeep of the structure now that the furniture business has closed.

Bowler said that he has noticed small pieces of wood falling to the ground. He asked if the building could be repaired or the nearby sidewalk and street blocked off.

Mayor Sam Hubbard asked Bowler if one of his company’s E & T Tree Service trucks could reach the top of the Stewart Bros. building so the situation could be corrected.

“You’re right. We need something done,” Hubbard said.

Bowler said that he would bring one of the E & T bucket trucks into the downtown area to tackle the project as soon as possible. Hubbard said the city would be willing to pay him for his efforts and then try to recoup that cost from the property owner, which is listed with the Jay County Assessor’s office as Stewart Bros. Inc.

At a meeting earlier this month, Hubbard said that city officials were going to be taking a look at the condition of some of the downtown buildings, especially those with absentee landlords. At Monday’s city council session Dunkirk Police Chief Arnold Clevenger said new health and safety officer Robert Bicknell was already trying to contact some of these landlords about the need to make basic improvements in the condition of their buildings. “These things are going to be addressed,” Hubbard said.

In other business at Monday’s night’s meeting, council members:

•Approved the purchase of three new pumps to replace older ones at the city’s wastewater treatment plant. Wastewater superintendent Greg Buckner said the new pumps will be the same brand, Chicago, as the older ones which date back to 1982.

Buckner said the price for the new Chicago pumps was also the lowest of three quotes. The pumps will be purchased from INvironmental Inc., Carmel, for a total cost of $20,800. It will take two to three days to install the pumps at a cost of $600 per day, Buckner said.

•Noted that the Dunkirk Improvement Committee would be meeting on the first and third Wednesday evenings of each month until further notice. The next meeting is scheduled for 6 p.m. Wednesday at Dunkirk City Hall.

•Reviewed a letter from the Indiana Utility Regulatory Commission, stating that the city’s request to withdraw from the IURC had been confirmed, as of Feb. 10.

•Agreed to publish a notice amending city ordinances, stating that the intersection of Haskell Road and county road 450 South will have a one-way stop sign. Traffic heading south on Haskell Road, which is along the east side of Dunkirk City Park, will stop at the curve intersection with 450 South. The change was made in an attempt to slow truck traffic to St. Gobain Glass Container Company. The appropriate sign will be erected there as soon as proper legal notices have been published, Clevenger said.[[In-content Ad]]