Support sought for water grant (02/24/2009)

DUNKIRK - City council members are continuing to seek public input about water quality in anticipation of applying for $600,000 in federal and state grant funds to improve Dunkirk's water plant and infrastructure.

A public hearing is scheduled for 6:30 p.m. on March 9, immediately before the next council meeting in Dunkirk City Hall, 131 S. Main St.

Jay County Community Development director Ami Huffman explained at Monday night's Dunkirk City Council meeting that she will be applying for the grant funds later in March, and comments from city residents and business representatives about the need to improve the city's water system would be helpful in securing those funds.

Also Huffman encouraged persons to write letters of support about the need for water system improvements. She said they could be directed to her office in Portland, council member Judy Garr or Dunkirk city clerk-treasurer Jane Kesler.

Kesler said that Huffman was also encouraging residents to bring examples of discolored clothing or bottles of murky-looking water to the March 9 public hearing.

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

•Heard a request from representatives of Dunkirk-Redkey Veterans of Foreign Wars Post 7081 for permission to lease the former Jay County Emergency Medical Services building, owned by the city, as a meeting place. The old JEMS building is located at the southeast corner of Main and Washington streets.

VFW representatives said they were willing to pay for utility and maintenance costs.

City council members took the matter under advisement, pending further review.

•Noted that the city will probably continue to be under a boil order for water usage through the end of this week, as a result of a major water main break over the weekend.

The boil order was put into effect after a four-inch water line broke in the area of the Ohio Street mobile home park, and water pressure in the city's system dropped dramatically, Kesler said.

Water for drinking or cooking should be boiled before it is used, she explained.

•Approved the adoption of a new five-year master plan for city parks.

•Appointed six people to new two-year terms on the West Jay Community Center board of directors. They are Tom Johnson, Carmel Jones, Connie Whetsel, Jim Bob McEwen, Chuck Huffman and Kip Hayden.

•Noted that antenna equipment for the new Dunkirk Fire Station and Jay Emergency Medical Services facility had been delivered. Once the new antenna apparatus is functioning, fire department personnel will be able to operate out of the new building in the Dunkirk Industrial Park, councilman Craig Faulkner reported.[[In-content Ad]]