Water efforts continue in Dunkirk (8/23/05)

DUNKIRK — Efforts to upgrade the city water system are continuing here.

At Monday night’s city council session Mayor Sam Hubbard reported that he and city water department assistant superintendent John Sampley and superintendent Dace Mumbower recently visited Converse, Ind. to tour that community’s water plant. They are considering the installation of a filtering system, similar to the one in Converse, at the Dunkirk plant and eliminating Dunkirk’s ozone treatment equipment.

Hubbard said he was very impressed with the Converse system which is similar to one recommended by Commonwealth Engineers, Inc., Indianapolis. The firm recently submitted a study to Dunkirk officials about possible ways to improve water treatment facilities in Dunkirk.

Concerning water system improvements of a more immediate nature, Mumbower presented two bills for payment Monday night concerning work needed to increase the output from Dunkirk’s well No. 4. One totaled $11,250 for a new pump, and the other was $20,145 for replacing the well shaft with stainless steel which is expected to last longer than galvanized pipe in light of what Mumbower described as Dunkirk’s “very hard, high in iron content, aggressive water.”

These improvements by Peerless Midwest, Westchester, are designed to increase the output of well No. 4 from less than 100 gallons per minute to 130 gallons per minute, Mumbower said.

Also the water department superintendent reported that he and Peerless officials were recommending about $4,300 worth of improvements to well No. 2, which would increase its output from about 60 gallons per minute to 100 gallons per minute.

Council members unanimously approved both projects with a payment schedule to be set up over a period of several months.

Hubbard added that both of these options were better than drilling a new well which would have an estimated price tag of $75,000.

Continuing to discuss city finances, Hubbard and city clerk-treasurer Jane Kesler noted that city department heads had submitted several proposals to trim their budget requests. For example, Kesler said, the fire department had trimmed its budget requests by $4,700, and the clerk-treasurer’s budget had been trimmed by about $3,000.

“With the cuts you’ve made and what Jane has come up with, we’re in pretty good shape,” Hubbard told council members Monday night. Also he said the city’s assessed valuation figure appears to be higher than originally projected, helping to improve the current financial picture.

Also at Monday’s meeting council members voted unanimously to accept the first reading of the city budget with the proposed cuts. Second and final reading of the 2006 budget is scheduled for 7 p.m. on Monday, Sept. 12 in city hall.

In other business at Monday night’s meeting council members:

•Agreed to support Pam Brown and her committee with their efforts to sponsor the annual Main Street U.S.A. festival and craft show on Oct. 1 at West Jay Middle School.

•Heard Councilman James Doughty point out that school is now back in session, and motorists should be cautious of children crossing streets to get to and from school buildings.

•Encouraged residents to bring their utility payment stubs with them to city hall when paying water and sewer bills. This will improve efficiency and make things easier for the clerk-treasurer’s office, Hubbard and Kesler said.[[In-content Ad]]