Dunkirk employees get 3 percent hike (6/28/05)

DUNKIRK — A 3 percent across-the-board pay hike in 2006 for all hourly city employees will be granted by council members here, following action taken Monday night.

Departmental supervisors had asked city officials for some direction concerning possible pay increases for employees before the 2006 budget preparations had progressed much further, and council members responded Monday night with the 3 percent figure.

Dunkirk Mayor Sam Hubbard said he didn’t think there would be any raises for elected officials, but then Councilman Jim Doughty suggested that perhaps city clerk-treasurer Jane Kesler should also be granted a 3 percent raise. Discussion on that topic was tabled, however, as Hubbard said he first wanted an opinion from city attorney William Hinkle about the different requirements for granting a raise to an elected official versus an hourly city employee.

In other business at Monday night’s meeting, council members approved spending $18,000 to get the city’s Well No. 4 back in operation. Water department superintendent Dace Mumbower explained that the well casing had been deteriorating, and a new stainless steel pipe was needed. Mumbower said that the $18,000 figure to repair the well with the stainless steel casing from Peerless Midwest Inc. of Westfield was a better option than spending approximately $75,000 to drill a new well.

Well No. 4 quit pumping about a month ago, Mumbower said. Once the repair work is done and the required health tests prove satisfactory, the well will be put back in service immediately, the superintendent said.

Council members unanimously agreed with Mumbower’s recommendation. Well No. 4 dates back to 1972, but it is one of the city’s major water-producing wells, Mumbower said.

“Now this won’t get rid of the rusty water situation in town, but it will make sure we have water,” Hubbard said.

Also at Monday night’s meeting, council members:

•Listened to Hubbard report that petitions are circulating in the community in support of keeping Dunkirk’s Bureau of Motor Vehicles license branch open. “If anyone has not signed one of these petitions, please do so,” Hubbard said. A public hearing on the issue will be scheduled sometime later this year, he added.

•Proclaimed the week of July 11-16, as Bicycle Safety Helmet Week in Dunkirk. During that week, city police will be on the lookout for youngsters wearing helmets as they ride their bicycles. Once they are spotted, the bicyclists with helmets will be rewarded with a coupon, courtesy of Jay County Hospital for a free ice cream cone from the Speedcat Cafe in Dunkirk or Dairy Queen in Portland.

•Approved a $1,500 donation to the Dunkirk Beautification Committee to help support the summer concert series in Webster-Depot Park.

•Granted $300 to the Dunkirk Fourth of July Committee to help fund the committee’s activities on July 4 in Dunkirk City Park.

•Approved a bill of $5,328 from Southwestern Fire and Safety, Jasonville, for uniform gear for new volunteer firefighters Ryan Cross, Paul Brown, Chris Crystal and Megan Blumenhorst.[[In-content Ad]]