Council eyes improvement

DUNKIRK — City officials continued progress on improvements, especially in the downtown area.
Dunkirk City Council agreed Monday to help Dunkirk’s V.F.W. Post with renovations to its building.
It also heard from Mayor Dan Watson about grants being pursued in an effort to add senior housing and tear down homes in disrepair, learned Jay County Commissioners have provided funding to make repairs at Dunkirk City Park, discussed a possible flood program and held a public hearing for its 2015 budget.
Jim Floyd and Maurice Jones, members of the V.F.W. Post in Dunkirk, asked council members for $3,000 to install a metal roof on its building, located at the southeast corner of Washington and Main streets. Council had previously given the organization $5,000 that came out of the proceeds of the sale of the former fire barn. They used that money to purchase materials for the roof. New siding has already been put on the building at a cost of $12,000.
“We need a roof now, but we’re out of money,” Jones said of the roof of the former JEMS building that has leaked since the city leased it to the V.F.W.
Council members Tom Johnson, Jesse Bivens, Judy Garr and Jack Robbins, with Lisa Street absent, agreed to give $1,400 from the budget to the V.F.W. and transfer additional funds for the remaining $1,600.
The mayor informed council members that he and Ami Huffman, Jay County community developer, are continuing to work on a grant, due Nov. 1, to fund senior housing to be built on Main Street.
We “have several people interested in it,” Watson said.
He also said Huffman has submitted a blight grant application to the Indiana Housing and Community Development Association that would pay to have 10 blighted houses torn down in town.
Watson said Jay County Commissioners have given $19,000 to the city for work at Dunkirk City Park. Council agreed to put a new roof on the bathhouse at the park and purchase new picnic tables. Johnson, who is in charge of the parks, plans to get estimates for both projects.
Watson has talked with Ralph Frazee, Jay County Emergency Management director, about a flood program with the Department of Natural Resources. The program would require an application to sent to FEMA, which would decide what areas of the city are a flood plain and required to buy flood insurance.
“I guess it’s something I think we don’t want to just jump into,” Watson said, adding that a representative from the DNR should talk to council members.
There was no public comment on the budget, which at $1.24 million is $29,000 more than the 2014 budget. Adoption is scheduled for council’s Oct. 13 meeting.
In other business, council members:
•Heard from Watson that a $1,000 donation was given to the Dunkirk Fire Department, by Mosey Manufacturing, to thank it for helping at a fire at the factory. The money was put in the fire equipment fund.
•Agreed to pay $7,965 MK Betts Engineering and Contracting. It is owed that amount from recent renovations at the Dunkirk Wastewater Treatment Plant.
•Heard from Dace Mumbower, superintendent of Dunkirk Water Department, that he will get estimates for a new computer that was recently damaged by lightning.
•Agreed to pay a claim of $566 for a uniform camera for the Dunkirk Police Department. Officer Mike Kreps has agreed to use his clothing allowance to pay for the camera.
•Learned water meters have been installed at the new Family Dollar building.
•Agreed to make a water bill adjustment of $88.64, from a $212 bill at 324 Short St., because of a leak, and to give a three-month extension on a $600 water bill to another resident, with $300 already being paid, and an agreement to try to pay $100 per month and revisit the issue in three months.
•Heard Robbins say a Drug Take Back program will be from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Saturday at Dunkirk CVS. There will be a drop box for unwanted or old medicine.
•Set trick-or-treat hours from 5:30 to 8 p.m. Oct. 31, with a rain date on Nov. 1.
•Agreed to pay claims totaling $176,343.51, which included a claim of $1,823 that was omitted in last month claims docket.