Dunkirk to change insurance

DUNKIRK—Council members agreed to change insurance companies for city employees for a less expensive rate and to include dental and vision coverage.
Members also learned from Dunkirk Mayor Dan Watson at their meeting Monday that the grant application to pursue senior housing in the city will be submitted Friday.
Aaron Walters of Barnum-Brown Insurance Agency in Dunkirk presented a monthly rate quote of $11,381.46 from United Healthcare. The town currently pays $14,600 per month for 18 employees to Physicians Health Plan (Sagamore) from Fort Wayne.
Deductibles will change from $1,000 for single and $2,000 for family to $500 and $1,000 respectively. Maximum out of pocket will change to $4,500 for single and $9,000 for family from $4,000 and $8,000 respectively. The new plan would take effect Saturday.
“If it was close it would be a no-brainer. Plus we’re giving them their dental back, we’re giving them their vision back,” Watson said in support of the change.
There was discussion about whether primary doctors could be kept with the new insurance, and Walters said he would check with each employee when filling out their applications. Council members Tom Johnson, Judy Garr and Jack Robbins agreed to accept the new plan. Jesse Bivens and Lisa Street were absent from the meeting.
“I’ll get to work right away on it,” Walters said.
Watson said the Dunkirk Industrial Development Corporation met to discuss the grant for senior housing in the town that Buckeye Community Hope Foundation is applying for with help from Jay County development director Ami Huffman and financial commitments from the city and county. The housing project is planned for the west side of Main Street between Center Street and the railroad tracks.
The grant would pay for three quarters of the $4.3 million project. Jay County Commissioners will loan $150,000 for the project and the city will pay $110,000 of that amount through an economic development income tax (EDIT) grant.
“Things are looking real good,” Watson said of the chances of receiving the grant, which is based strictly on a point system and is not subjective.
In other business, council members:
•Heard from Watson that clerk-treasurer Phonnie Kesler has written a letter requesting $19,702 from Jay County Commissioners’ infrastructure fund that will be used for repairs for Dunkirk City Pool. Watson will give the letter to commissioners on Monday.
•Agreed to accept bids of $300 for a property at 154 Moore Ave. and $500 for a property on 321 South St. City attorney Bill Hinkle will prepare a resolution to accept the bids.
•Agreed to give $100 to West Jay Optimist Club for the Head Start Christmas party.
•Accepted a bid of $2,450 from Bob Ford to collect leaves each Saturday through Nov. 21. Residents are asked to bag leaves and set them by the curb.
•Transferred extra funds of $900 and $906, at the request of Johnson, to pay for labor that was done at Dunkirk City Park and agreed to set a pole at Webster Depot Park for a light to be installed.
•Learned that hydrant flushing was completed on Friday and a new hydrant needs to be installed in front of Dunkirk Water Department, 312 N. Meridian St. Testing and generator maintenance are complete.
•Heard from Robbins that he issued a zoning permit to tear down a house and one to build a storage shed.
•Agreed to pay claims 2088 to 2167 totaling $154,779.83.