City looking to lease base

DUNKIRK - City officials will be accepting proposals this month for a long-term lease on the city-owned former Jay Emergency Medical Service base, 301 S. Main St.

Local Veterans of Foreign Wars Post 8071 leaders have already expressed an interest in leasing the facility for a headquarters, but because the one-story structure is owned by the city, a public bidding process must be followed.

The Dunkirk JEMS station was recently relocated to the new combined fire/EMS facility in Dunkirk's Industrial Park on the east side of the city.

The VFW post is searching for a new location, as the Dunkirk Union Hall, where the group has met the past few years, was recently sold to MJS Mortuaries. MJS plans an expansion into the former union hall.

The council approved requests for lease proposals Monday, as prepared by city attorney William Hinkle.

Proposals will be accepted at city hall, 131 S. Main St., through the close of city business hours on Tuesday, May 26.

The proposed lease agreement, as prepared by Hinkle, calls for the applicant to be responsible for making all necessary repairs and doing all the maintenance work to keep the building in good shape.

Hinkle added that a lease period of about 25 years is being suggested.

The proposed lease will require the city to maintain insurance on the building. The consent of city officials will be needed before it can be sub-let, Hinkle added.

Proposals submitted will be reviewed by the council May 26 at 7 p.m. That meeting is being held on Tuesday because of the Memorial Day holiday May 25.

In other business Monday, council members:

•Heard Mayor Ron Hunt report he has removed Dace Mumbower as superintendent of the water department and made Howard Fisher, superintendent of the street department, part-time water superintendent until a new full-time superintendent is named.

Mumbower continues to be a laborer with the water department.

Hunt said the water department superintendent's position will be advertised and current city employees are eligible to apply.

•Learned that city animal control officer, Zach Crouch, has resigned after about two months on the job. Hunt said he is currently looking for a replacement for that post.

•Heard a report from councilman Tom Johnson that the tentative date for the opening of the city swimming pool is June 9.

Johnson also said the Dunkirk Park Board will meet Wednesday, May 20 at 5:45 p.m. to avoid a conflict with Glass Days the following week.

•Directed that the city's share of Economic Development Income Tax (EDIT) funds from Jay County officials should be routinely turned over to the Dunkirk Industrial Development Corporation unless a special exception is made and voted upon by the council.

•Appointed newly sworn-in city councilman Chuck Rife to supervise the operations of the wastewater treatment department. Rife reported that he has already completed a tour of the plant.

•Adopted a policy that if a city department digs in an area such as a street or right-of-way, that same city department is responsible for restoring that area to its former condition.

Councilman Eric Bowler described this as the city's "if you dig it, you fix it" policy.

He said previously the street department was being held responsible for making practically all the street repairs. Now if the city water or sewer departments have to dig up streets or rights-of-way to make repairs, that department will be responsible for making the street passable.[[In-content Ad]]