Grant funding sought (08/28/07)

DUNKIRK - Another step toward the revitalization of downtown was taken Monday night by members of the city council.

Expressing interest in Dunkirk resident Nancy Robbins' vision to capitalize on the city's Gas Boom heritage and make the downtown more attractive to tourism and related businesses, council members voted to seek $5,000 in economic development funds to obtain a matching $50,000 planning grant from the Indiana Office of Rural Affairs.

Robbins made the request for the grant funds with the backing of Dunkirk Improvement Committee members who recently held an open meeting to discuss her plan in detail.

On Monday night the Dunkirk council unanimously agreed to refer the request to the city's recently reorganized economic development commission, which is appointed by Mayor Sam Hubbard, to see if the commission would approve spending downtown revitalization funds to obtain the possible state grant.

The motion was made by council member Connie Whetsel who is also a member of the economic development commission. If that group approves the idea, it will forward its recommendation to the city council for further action.

Robbins said that her downtown plan involves property along Main Street between Pleasant and Center streets.

Jay County Community Developer Ami Huffman was present at Monday's council session, and she offered to help write the application for the planning grant.

Several members of the Dunkirk Improvement Committee were present at Monday's council session, including longtime city resident Leo Glogas who commented, "We do need to revitalize our downtown."

Mayor Sam Hubbard quickly added, "I agree." These statements were followed by Whetsel's motion.

In other action Monday in the standing-room-only council chambers, neighbors from Dunkirk's southeast side complained about a recent wave of vandalism.

They suggested that perhaps a Neighborhood Watch program could be organized, and Hubbard said he would investigate that possibility.

Karen McCarthy, owner of Dunkirk Flowers and Gifts, 305 S. Broad St., told council members that her business and vehicles have been targets of numerous incidents of vandalism late at night or in the early morning hours. McCarthy said at first, she thought that perhaps someone just didn't like her personally, but later she discovered that similar acts of vandalism were happening to other persons in the neighborhood as well.

Neighbors said that in the past, not all the acts of vandalism have been reported to police, but now that feeling was changing.

Hubbard promised to have police clamp down on curfew violations in the area, and noted that the curfew for juveniles on Friday and Saturday was 1 a.m. and 11 p.m. throughout the rest of the week.

Dunkirk resident Ailesia Franklin said that she thought vandalism problems in the community as a whole were "escalating," pointing out such problems also existed on the west side of town.

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

•Conducted a second public hearing concerning the city's application for a $500,000 grant to construct a combined fire station and Jay Emergency Medical Services facility in the city's industrial park on the east side of town.

Huffman chaired this portion of the meeting. Persons generally agreed that the new facility was needed, although some expressed a desire that the facility be located in the downtown area and not the industrial park.

"As mayor if it was at all feasible to have it downtown, I'd support that, but this is a good alternative," Hubbard said.

•Listened as Dunkirk resident Lisa VanSkyock criticized the city police department for not acting quickly enough on her complaints. She also raised questions about police procedures.

Hubbard said he would discuss the matter with Police Chief Arnold Clevenger who was present at the council meeting, but declined to discuss the specifics of her allegations in the open forum.

•Approved an ordinance calling for stricter enforcement of weed control regulations.

•Tabled a proposed ordinance relating to garage and yard sale restrictions, pending more discussion and some revisions.

•Agreed to grant city attorney William Hinkle a 2.5 percent pay increase along with all the full-time city employees.

•Approved an increase in animal control officer Charles "Butch" Parfitt's pay from $100 a week to $115 a week, with the provision that he keep mileage records for his use of the city animal control truck. The move was aimed at restricting Parfitt's use of the city truck for personal business.[[In-content Ad]]