Dunkirk talking about new library

DUNKIRK - Grant applications to build a new, larger city library and make improvements in the downtown area will be prepared in the next few months.

Separate discussions on these two ideas were major topics at Monday night's standing-room-only city council meeting.

Both proposals received unanimous approval from council members to move forward with the planning process.

Dunkirk head librarian and Glass Museum executive director Ailesia Franklin addressed the council about the need to build a new, larger library. She said there were major space problems at both the library and adjacent Glass Museum. "We are out of room in both areas," Franklin said.

Franklin explained that in order for the library board to apply for a state planning grant, it had to go through the city council as legally the library is a branch of city government.

She said the library board members have already discussed applying for a $50,000 planning grant from the state with Jay County Community Developer Ami Huffman acting as the grant writer.

Approximately $5,600 in local matching funds will be needed, and Franklin said initial plans call for obtaining that amount from library funds and money to be raised by the Friends of the Dunkirk Library and Glass Museum organization.

As part of the grant application process, a committee consisting of two library board members, two city council representatives and two members of the public will need to be formed, Franklin said.

Council member Judy Garr said that all the funds for the project will need to flow through the city, and that's why it was going to be important to have council members on the committee. Dunkirk Library Board members are appointed, while city council members are elected.

Councilman Tom Johnson questioned whether a grant application on behalf of the library might interfere with any competing applications from the city.

Johnson noted that city officials were thinking about preparing a grant application for a new fire department pumper truck.

Huffman said that she had not been aware of that idea previously.

Garr said that one option to be explored about the library and Glass Museum was to move them onto Main Street where they would be more visible. This was suggested in a recent downtown revitalization plan for Dunkirk.

One option being considered is locating the library or Glass Museum or possibly both in the vacant Stewart Bros. Furniture Store building at the southwest corner of Main and Washington Streets. Currently the Dunkirk Economic Development Corporation, with the city's backing, is in the process of trying to acquire the Stewart building through a tax sale process, DEDC representative Chuck Huffman explained.

However, Franklin said library officials want to start the planning process without any preconceived notions, intending to consider all the possible alternatives.

Also addressing the council Monday night was Greg Beumer of Beumer Consulting LLC, representing the Dunkirk Investment Group. He asked permission to work with Huffman to apply for a downtown improvement grant, also with the backing of the city.

This will be a $500,000 grant with the city supplying $50,000 in matching funds from Economic Development Income Tax (EDIT) revenue, Buemer said.

Garr made a motion to proceed with this plan, using the EDIT funds as the city's share. That motion was also approved unanimously.

In other business Monday night, council members:

•Heard a report from Johnson that plans call for opening the city pool for the summer season on Sunday, June 6. Charges at the pool will be the same as last year, Johnson said, noting that hours at the pool will be slightly different. Johnson said the pool will be open from noon to 9 p.m. with the exception of very hot days when the pool will open at 11 a.m.

Also council members voted to replace the water slide at the pool with a better, safer model from W.M.S. Aquatics. Purchase price including shipping was approximately $2,700 with a three-week delivery date. Johnson said this was the best of four quotes received.

•Listened to a report from Garr that preparations were proceeding as planned for the start of construction on the city's major water system improvement project. She also noted that city water rates were scheduled to increase, starting June 1. This will be a 20 percent hike with an average monthly bill for 533 cubic feet of water, increasing from $29.75 to $35.70.

•Noted that city council members will be manning the concession booth for the Aug. 14 concert at Webster-Depot Park, featuring Thunder Road, formerly known as R & R Classics.

•Heard that the city is planning to have paving work done this summer on Hoover Street in front of the West Jay Community Center, and Blackford Avenue between Main and Meridian Streets.[[In-content Ad]]