Dunkirk OKs new charge (11/14/06)

DUNKIRK - Just in time for the holiday season, residents will be receiving a new charge of $8 per month on their water and sewer bill to cover the cost of trash collection.

The new charge, approved during summer city budget deliberations, will be added to each of the city's 1,200 water bills.

City council members unanimously approved the ordinance Monday night, so there would be enough time to have the new $8 charge included on Dec. 1 water bills, payable by Dec. 15.

Dunkirk clerk-treasurer Jane Kesler said the move is necessary because the 2007 budget calls for collecting the $8 fees rather than funding the trash collection service with property tax revenue as in previous years.

City attorney William Hinkle presented the ordinance amendment at Monday's meeting, as requested by the clerk and council members.

The ordinance states, "Each person who receives metered water service, provided by the city with the exception of an industry or business which has privately contracted for the removal of garbage and rubbish, shall be charged a fee."

This fee will be $8 a month, and any bill which remains unpaid after the 15th of the month shall be charged a penalty of 10 percent, the ordinance continues.

Payments made will first be applied to the garbage collection fee.

Consequently, if a resident receives a bill for $108 and pays $100, the missing $8 will be subtracted from the water and sewer portion of the bill, allowing the city to place a lien against the property for nonpayment.

Due to the need to pass the ordinance in time to meet billing deadlines, council members interrupted their regular meeting Monday night to read through Hinkle's proposal and then unanimously approved it with minimal changes. The most significant change called for basing the $8 charge on the total number of water meters at a location, regardless of how many containers were placed at that location for trash collection purposes.

Hinkle explained that additional amendments could be made to the three-page document later, but Monday night's approval would allow for bills to be prepared in time for payments to be received before the new budget year starts in January.

In other business at Monday night's session, council members:

•Unanimously approved final reading of an ordinance to vacate an unimproved portion of Hoover Street between Ohio Street on the north and an alley on the south. This was requested by Mark A. Church.

•Unanimously approved final reading of an ordinance to vacate portions of an unimproved street and alley in the area of Moore Avenue and Broad Street where petitioners John and Holly Faulkner are in the process of building a new home.

•Listened to complaints about dogs barking and howling late at night and during the early morning hours along West Washington Street in Dunkirk. One resident said he has not received a good night's sleep in six months because of the problem. Mayor Sam Hubbard said city police and animal control officer have been called in the past about these problems, and they will continue to monitor the situation. Hinkle said the issue of raising fines for problems related to misbehaving pets could be reviewed again.

"We'll do everything legally we can do to help you out," Hubbard told the residents.

•Listened to a presentation by Dunkirk resident Danny Monroe about a proposal from his employer, Brumond Smith Nursery, Inc., of Muncie to donate a 10-foot tall tree in memory of former Dunkirk resident and military veteran Phil Wells to the city park system. Hubbard said that city officials would be glad to work out the details of this offer.

•Heard a report from city street department superintendent Howard Fisher, calling for the elimination of parking on both sides of Pearl Street between Main Street and the Westlawn Elementary School parking lot. This would help with traffic and snow removal operations, Fisher said. Police Chief Arnold Clevenger agreed that this would serve as a possible solution to some of the traffic problems in the area when parents drop off and pick up students.

Also Fisher proposed setting aside funds to pave sections of Jay and Commerce streets in the spring.

•Agreed to consider an additional budget appropriation of $403 to cover additional costs of operating the concession stand at the city pool. A hearing on the appropriation is set for 7 p.m. Nov. 27 at city hall.

•Approved the sale of a 1992 Dodge pickup truck, no longer needed by the city park department, to city resident and water department superintendent Dace Mumbower. Mumbower submitted the high bid of $109 for the truck, which is no longer in running condition.[[In-content Ad]]