Ready for a move (12/04/07)

DUNKIRK - Moving day is approaching for city hall - at least temporarily.

A temporary move to another nearby downtown location was approved by a split vote at a special meeting Monday of the city.

By a margin of 3-1, council members approved an agreement to rent the southwest corner office at 202 S. Main St. for $150 a month from former Dunkirk Mayor Grant Fager Jr.

The new location is on the southwest corner of Main and Commerce streets; city hall is on the northeast corner of that intersection.

The change was approved over the objections of clerk-treasurer Jane Kesler, who said that the new site was not as large as the current one. She asked that the issue be tabled until the next city council session Dec. 10, allowing more time to review other possible sites.

She noted that possibly a section of the old Todd Opera House building in downtown Dunkirk or the former license branch structure and parking lot on South Main Street could be used as a temporary location for city hall.

Council member Tom Johnson, who requested Monday night's special session, said, "It's time to move.

"We ain't got time. We've been dragging our feet. We've been told to get out of that building, and we've been twiddling our thumbs," Johnson said.

Visibly upset by the suggestion that more time to study the situation was needed, Johnson said that he was concerned about the health of city employees and the public, especially after last week's report from environmental consultant Leemon Ward, who painted a gloomy picture of the current situation.

"I went to a lot of trouble," Johnson said Monday night, noting that he had contacted Fager about the lease and also inspected the current city hall for about an hour and a half Sunday with Ward and Jay County engineer Dan Watson.

The city's first priority should be to temporarily quit using the building until corrective steps are taken, Mayor Sam Hubbard agreed.

"Yes, we're putting everybody at risk," Johnson said.

City officials have been discussing since August the need for such a move, complaining about the odor, mold, mildew and health problems relating to pigeon droppings and sewage overflows and odors in the current city hall at 131 S. Main St.

For the last few weeks the city clerk-treasurer's office has only been open half-days, and city council meetings have been held in the West Jay Community Center. That may continue as the new site is only large enough for the operations of the clerk-treasurer's office.

Hubbard and Johnson said that the police department had enough room to set up a temporary office for the mayor while the clerk-treasurer's office was relocated to the nearby Fager building. Also present at Monday's council session was Dunkirk mayor-elect Ron Hunt who said that he thought the police department office would be acceptable.

However, Kesler said that she didn't think the Fager building was large enough for the clerk-treasurer operations. Kesler said she still wanted to pursue other options.

"It might be a little tight, but they could fit in there," Johnson said.

Watson said that he had been in contact with Wayne Bailey of Commonwealth Engineering, Indianapolis, discussing the possibility of securing some grant funds to help with the needed repairs at the current city hall. While some council members objected to the idea of entering into a one-year lease arrangement for the temporary location, Watson said it might take as long as a year to obtain grant funds and correct the current problems at city hall.

Watson added, "The biggest complaint I hear is people don't want the city hall moved away from downtown. We don't need another empty building downtown."

Also in connection with the temporary location, Watson said, "You can't beat the rent - $150 a month."

Councilwoman Connie Whetsel added, "I don't think you're going to find anything any cheaper."

Hubbard said, "I really would like to see us sign the lease tonight and get the ball rolling."

Making the motion in favor of the temporary move, councilman Craig Faulkner told Kesler - "You'll only be there temporarily."

Shortly thereafter, Hubbard asked if there were any other ideas to propose.

Johnson responded, "I said what I wanted to say."

The motion to approve the lease agreement was approved by a margin of 3-1 with Faulkner, Johnson and Whetsel voting in favor of it. Councilman James Doughty voted against the plan, indicating he was not in favor of a one-year lease. Councilman Larry Smith was absent from the meeting.[[In-content Ad]]