Dog on duty in Dunkirk

DUNKIRK - The newest member of the city police force is now officially on patrol duty.

Police dog Dalton, an 18-month-old Dutch shepherd, and his handler, Patrolman Bobby Johnson, passed their certification test Thursday, making them eligible for patrol duty as a team, Mayor Ron Hunt reported Monday night.

Saturday night Johnson made a traffic stop and Dalton discovered a stash of marijuana, Dunkirk Police Chief Dane Mumbower said after the council meeting. Mumbower said criminal charges are pending.

The Dunkirk Board of Public Works and Safety has scheduled a special meeting for 5 p.m. Wednesday in the city police station. Items affecting the police department will be discussed, Mumbower said.

In other business, council members:

•Unanimously approved a list of 2010 budget cuts, as submitted by department heads at the request of city council members last week.

These cuts, totaling $15,400, will affect line items in six different city departments including police, fire, clerk-treasurer, health, parks/pool, and the mayor's office.

The mayor's share of $218 will be cut from its promotion of business account.

Other departments will use a variety of accounts to make the cuts that are necessary due to a reduction in tax revenue for this year.

•Agreed with a proposal from Jay School Corporation to extend a water line near Westlawn Elementary School to the outdoor nature laboratory being developed there in honor of the late Rev. Jerry Nelson, a former pastor and school corporation employee.

Representing Jay School Corporation, Brad DeRome explained the plan to council members, saying school officials intend to pay for water used at the site as well as installation of the water line extension, but were requesting that the $725 water tap fee, covering the installation of a new water meter, be waived.

Clerk-treasurer Jane Kesler said she would not recommend waiving the fee due to state regulations.

Hunt said he would allocate $725 from the mayor's promotion fund to pay for the cost of the tap-in fee, rather than have the school corporation pay it.

•Heard a report from councilman Tom Johnson that the tentative date for opening the city pool is Sunday, June 6. Johnson noted that the city may have to replace the water slide at the pool because it had developed cracks which could not be repaired. Johnson said he wanted to discuss this matter with the city park board before taking any action.

•Listened to an update from council representative Judy Garr about the city's water system improvement project. She said that construction work should begin soon, as preparations were proceeding as planned.

•Were presented with copies of a report by councilman Chuck Rife relating to improvements needed at the city wastewater treatment plant. Rife said he wanted the mayor and council members to look over the report for action at a future meeting. Rife said the total cost of the improvements is about $500,000.

•Agreed to reduce the number of cell phones for city employees from 21 to nine as a cost-saving measure. This idea was initially approved at last week's budget session when council members voted to limit cell phone use to department heads and other select employees such as police officers, the mayor and dog catcher.

•Sanctioned Dunkirk resident and park board president Oma Scruggs as the chairperson for Independence Day holiday activities at the city park this summer. She will be in charge of the committee that will organize Fourth of July activities at the park. Dunkirk Volunteer Fire Department members will continue to be in charge of the fireworks display.

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