No deal done for Dunkirk (12/11/07)

DUNKIRK - Although the question of when and where Dunkirk's city clerk-treasurer's office will be moving at least temporarily, appeared to be resolved last week, it continues to hang in limbo today.

While the mayor and majority of council members agreed last week to move city hall offices to temporary quarters across the street, clerk-treasurer Jane Kesler continues to voice reservations and objections. So far nothing has been moved to the new location, and Kesler said Monday that she is continuing to try to locate a different site - more to her liking and the city's needs.

Kesler expressed her views several times Monday night as city officials and audience members, including mayor-elect Ron Hunt and Dunkirk Democratic Party leader Pam Bunch, questioned why the move to new quarters has yet to begin.

The move is necessary because several environmental consultants have told city officials in recent months that the present city hall building is not a healthy work environment due to sewer odor, mold, mildew and pigeon dropping problems which have to be resolved. Kesler and her assistant, Jacinda Jarvis, have been complaining about the working conditions since last August, and currently the city hall is only being staffed on a half-day basis with council meetings being held in the West Jay Community Center.

However, Kesler said Monday that while she would like to quit using the present city hall offices, she has numerous reservations about moving to the proposed new quarters at 202 S. Main St. Former Dunkirk Mayor Grant Fager Jr. owns that building. He has agreed to rent it as the new site for the city clerk-treasurer's office for $150 a month.

Kesler said Monday she would rather have a larger location including more room for her offices as well as an office for the mayor and a meeting room for city council sessions. Also she thought the Indiana State Board of Accounts may require more room for the storage of city records, but she was not sure of that.

In addition Kesler questioned if the plumbing in the 202 S. Main St. building's restroom was in working order.

After a lengthy discussion, councilman Tom Johnson said he would meet with Fager as soon as possible to clarify what needs to be fixed. Johnson said that Fager previously told him that he would do whatever was necessary to make the building satisfactory for the temporary move.

Kesler said that some of the office equipment at the present city hall may be "contaminated" and new desks and even computer equipment may need to be purchased.

Councilwoman Connie Whetsel said that she didn't see why such items couldn't be cleaned with bleach and then moved. Also council members said they felt the move could be completed by city personnel, possibly with help from personnel at DCS Computer Service, also located in downtown Dunkirk.

DCS employees could help with moving the city's computer system equipment, councilman James Doughty said.

Meanwhile Kesler said Monday that she is still interested in trying to find an alternative site. However, Johnson said that as far as he was concerned, this was "a done deal." Johnson said the council had already approved a rental agreement with Fager and the move should be made as quickly as possible.

Questioning why the move had not already begun, Bunch said, "I think it's time to do something."

Councilman Craig Faulkner said the goal a week ago at the special Dec. 3 meeting was to get a new location for the city offices. "Why are we still there then?" Bunch asked.

Kesler responded that she still wanted to consider one other building possibility but she didn't want to name the location. Dunkirk resident Penny Hunt said that it appeared the city was "dragging its feet." Kesler hesitantly replied, "Yes that's true, we are."

Faulkner and Hubbard said that providing a space for city offices is a council decision and the office at 202 S. Main St. is what the council decided.

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

•Approved an interlocal agreement with the city of Portland to borrow the city of Portland's Hydro-stop machine for about a month in connection with work on Dunkirk's Ind. 167 water main relocation project. This will prevent the city from having to issue numerous boil orders, city water department superintendent Dace Mumbower said. The cost will be $4,000 which should be reimbursed to Dunkirk by contractor, Jutte Excavating.

•Decided to change the date of the next council session, originally scheduled for Dec. 24, to 7 p.m. Friday, Dec. 28, in the West Jay Community Center.

•Agreed to accept bids for a new trash collection contract for city residents. The current contract with Best-Way is scheduled to expire at the end of the year. City attorney William Hinkle said the contract could be extended temporarily.

•Approved several purchase requests for the street department, as proposed by Doughty. These include repair of a leaky roof at the street department garage, a new truck bed liner to accommodate a salt spreader, and removal of six dead trees and stumps from various locations in the city.

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