Dunkirk water work continues (01/27/2009)

DUNKIRK - Pressing on with plans to secure state grant and loan funds to repair and improve its water plant and distribution system, city officials here are continuing to call upon residents to write letters of support for their cause.

Councilwoman Judy Garr and Jay County community development director Ami Huffman are seeking letters, as well as damaged articles of clothing and photographs illustrating problems with Dunkirk water quality.

They said they plan to include such items with the city's grant application currently being prepared by Huffman. A preliminary draft of the application was submitted to the Indiana Office of Community and Rural Affairs earlier this month, Huffman told Dunkirk council members Monday night.

"Basically, we're on line with the grant and loan application process," Garr said.

Huffman said a public hearing in connection with the grant application will probably be scheduled for the end of February or beginning of March.

Also Garr said that regarding proposed federal economic stimulus funds, Dunkirk officials are monitoring developments in Washington D.C. and want to be prepared with "a shovel-ready project. We want to get our name in the pot," Garr said.

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

•Re-elected Craig Faulkner to serve another term as council president. He will preside over meetings in the absence of the mayor.

•Learned from Mayor Ron Hunt that city resident D. J. Cassel has been appointed to serve as part-time zoning administrator.

•Agreed to renew the city employee health insurance policy for another year with United Health Insurance through the Stafford Insurance Agency of Muncie. Michael Stafford explained that the monthly premium under the renewal would increase by about 7 percent to $14,280.

"I think it's a very acceptable renewal in these times," Stafford said.

Stafford said the present state of the economy and the fact that city officials had budgeted last year for a 12 percent maximum increase.

•Approved hiring Dunkirk area resident Stacey Arnold for the pretreatment coordinator/lab assistant position in the wastwater treatment department.

•Agreed to purchase two new pumps from Environmental Equipment of Fountaintown for the wastewater treatment plant. They will replace two pumps which have been in service at the plant for 27 years. Cost of the pumps, including installation, will be $9,980, wastewater treatment plant superintendent Tim Kesler said.

•Accepted the lowest of three quotes for cutting down 13 trees and removing 16 stumps from E & T Tree Service of Dunkirk. The E & T quote was $2,400, compared with a quote of $2,425 from Tucker Tree Service, Hartford City; and a quote of $2,545 from Newsome Tree Service, Dunkirk.[[In-content Ad]]