July 23, 2014 at 2:10 p.m.

Council approves waterproofing (11/25/03)

Should help with basement of Dunkirk city hall

By By Robert [email protected]

DUNKIRK — A project designed to waterproof the city hall basement and cut down on moisture, mold and mildew problems throughout the building won unanimous approval at Monday’s council meeting.

Included in the work will be the installation of a ventilation system to cut down on humidity levels in the structure which affect air quality and promote the growth of mold and mildew, city officials said.

The council approved a contract totaling $12,420 with Everdry Waterproofing of Fort Wayne to do the work which is expected to begin in a few weeks. Access to city hall and the clerk’s office will not be interrupted as a result of the project, city clerk-treasurer Jane Kesler said.

In addition to creating mold, mildew and air quality problems, the high humidity in the basement has caused paint on the first floor of city hall to peel and parts of the metal furnace in the basement to rust.

This work has been under consideration since last August when Everdry representatives first inspected the city hall basement and started the process of making recommendations to improve the situation.

Everdry representatives John Bartrom and Josh Ellinger presented their recommendations to council members at Monday night’s meeting. They said at one point it was suggested that a large pile of dirt in the basement be removed, possibly with help from Jay County Jail work-release inmates. However, the Everdry representatives told council members Monday that the new plan called for leaving the dirt but turning a section of the dirt-floor basement into a crawl space.

A retaining wall will be constructed to waterproof the basement, and there also will be sump pumps in use, Bartrom said. He added that Monday’s cost estimate was based on doing the work in the next few weeks, as the firm had another project to do nearby.

There will be a lifetime warranty on the work, and that warranty will be transferable if the building is ever sold, Bartrom said.

Due to city cash-flow problems, Councilman Dan Watson asked if the company could delay billing for the project until the start of the 2004 city budget year in January. Bartrom agreed to this plan.

Councilwoman Connie Whetsel made the motion to do the project, and Watson seconded it.

Bartrom said that in addition to drying up conditions in the basement, this project would also create some more usable storage space down there.

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

•Heard a report from Mayor Tom Johnson that the state’s Main Street improvement project was now slated for 2006.

•Approved payment of $280 from Economic Development Income Tax funds to cover back-taxes on two pieces of property which were recently acquired from William Landers of Pennville. These two buildings, located near Lincoln Avenue and Main Street, are slated for demolition.

•Agreed to purchase a new 2004 Ford F-150 half-ton pick-up truck for the street department for $14,224 from low bidder Wyent Ford of Elwood. Watson added that the city received three other bids ranging from $17,300 to $18,100.

•Tabled a proposal from the wastewater treatment department to build a 40-foot by 40-foot garage to house equipment including the city’s new catch-basin, vacuum cleaner machine. Council members agreed to seek new bids on the project, as the ones submitted Monday were not for comparable work.

•Agreed to purchase new boots for seven volunteer firefighters at a total cost of $750.

•Noted that the December park board meeting had been changed to 5:45 p.m. Dec. 16 in city hall.[[In-content Ad]]
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