Dunkirk tries to cut budget (9/13/05)

DUNKIRK — More belt-tightening is needed to reduce the city budget here by about $180,000.

Due to a projected reduction in the city’s assessed valuation, Dunkirk city clerk-treasurer Jane Kesler and Mayor Sam Hubbard are looking for more ways to trim the original $1.5 million estimate for the general fund, despite several cuts already agreed upon by department heads and council members.

As a result, council members decided that rather than approve the 2006 budget proposal Monday night as planned, they would schedule a special meeting for 6 p.m. Monday, Sept. 19, to review the figures once again before adopting a budget prior to the deadline date of Sept. 20 as required by state law. The special meeting will be held in the Dunkirk city council chambers.

Kesler suggested that one way to trim the budget substantially would be to slash $107,000 from the trash collection fund and instead bill property owners individually for that service by adding a $7.50 a month charge for trash collection to the city’s water and sewer utility bills.

However, council members balked at this idea, saying that people would think their water bills were being increased.

Councilman Larry Smith said he saw numerous problems with the proposal. Smith added that he would plan to take a vacation and be out of town, if the council went ahead with the idea.

“I’m not crazy about getting an extra $7.50 on my bill, too,” Kesler said.

“You’re paying that in property taxes now, but then you would be paying it on the water bills,”

See Budget page 5

Hubbard said.

Citizen Pam Bunch raised the question of how this change would affect people who rent.

Also Smith questioned the possibility that some people might want to hire their own trash removal service, rather than use BestWay Disposal Co., the city’s contractor, and make the $7.50 monthly payment. As an example, Smith pointed out that one city resident, Jack McClain, operates his own trash collection business.

In other action at Monday night’s meeting, council members:

•Listened to a presentation by Steve Bender, Dick Lautz and Wayne Bailey, representing Commonwealth Engineers, Inc., of Indianapolis. They provided a detailed proposal concerning possible changes for the city water plant, eliminating the ozone treatment equipment, in an attempt to improve water quality. Their proposals were taken under advisement by the council members, pending further study.

•Heard the mayor remind everyone that the public hearing on the future of the Indiana Bureau of Motor Vehicles license branch in Dunkirk was slated for 7 p.m. Wednesday in the West Jay Community Center. He urged as many people as possible to attend.

•Agreed to extend the city’s health and medical benefit insurance policy for city employees for a fourth year with Anthem Blue Cross and Blue Shield through the Stafford Insurance Group, Inc., of Muncie. Michael Stafford explained that even though there had been a modest rate increase for the policy, the city would actually be paying less for the next year’s coverage because the city now had fewer employees and the average age was lower.

•Heard Hubbard announce that Dunkirk police officer Jon Zigler had been appointed to also serve as city health and safety officer, responsible for the enforcement of city ordinances regarding tall weeds and building and property maintenance regulations.[[In-content Ad]]