Mayor gives council update

DUNKIRK — Mayor Dan Watson gave a progress report Monday after the city was selected April 7 as a finalist for Stellar Communities grant funding.
“Obviously the big news, the exciting news, for the whole, that we’ve been working on for the last three years. We were selected last week.  The lieutenant governor called and we were a finalist for the Stellar Community designation,” Watson said during Monday’s Dunkirk City Council meeting.
Council also learned Rock Fuqua wants an alley closed to extend his car dealership and heard an estimate from Barnum-Brown Insurance, Inc., for coverage for the city.
Dunkirk and North Liberty were selected as finalists for the Stellar Communities funding in the division of communities with fewer than 6,000 residents.
The Stellar Communities program is divided among three main groups — Indiana Housing and Community Development Authority (IHCDA) would provide funding and tax credits for the senior housing complex to be built north of the railroad tracks, the Indiana Office of Community and Rural Affairs (OCRA) would pay for the library relocation to the Stewart Brothers Building and the Indiana Department of Transportation (INDOT) would fund downtown lighting and tying West Jay Community Center and the two schools in Dunkirk to the downtown.
“This opens the door to so many other opportunities if you’re selected as a Stellar community,” Watson said
 As a finalist, the city will receive a $10,000 grant from IHCDA to be used for putting the strategic plan together that has to be submitted by June 30 as well as a site visit in July.

He and Jay County community development director Ami Huffman will attend a workshop Thursday in Indianapolis.  
Fuqua, owner of Fuqua Chrysler Plymouth Dodge Jeep in Dunkirk, purchased the former fire department building to the east of his dealership, and after a business opens in that spot he will need to move his used cars to provide customer parking.
He requested that council close part of the alley to the west of his showroom, between Commerce and Washington streets, for an additional 15 parking spaces.
Bob Brown, of Barnum-Brown Insurance, objected to the alley closing.
“It’s a downtown alley that carries a lot of traffic. I’m not in favor of doing this,” Brown said, noting that he would lose two parking spaces for his five employees.
Clerk-treasurer Phonnie Kesler questioned how the closing would affect trash pick-up in that area.
Despite the opposition, council members Tom Johnson, Judy Garr, Lisa Street and Jack Robbins agreed to authorize Fuqua to start the proceedings to close the alley, with Jesse Bivens casting the dissenting vote. Fuqua must petition to have the alley closed before the process can move forward.
Watson asked council to visit the site for further inspection and to discuss the issue with Fuqua and Brown.
Brown presented a breakdown of insurance coverage premiums by department for the city.
Two significant changes include a $1,240 drop in coverage for the fire department after the sale of the former fire station. Workman’s compensation medical coverage for volunteers of the fire department will increase by $486 for a total of $1,639.
The city package, excluding workman’s compensation is $2,224, with $1,523 for property coverage. Workman’s compensation is $4,059.
Brown recommended continuing coverage with Employers Mutual Company. Council tabled a vote until the next meeting.
In other business. council:
•Heard from Donna Revolt from the Beautification Committee that the summer concert series at Webster Depot Park will be June 6 through Aug. 15. Council made a $500 donation to the series.
•Gave donations of $250 to Jay Community Center for 5K runs, a $100 donation to Jay County Chamber of Commerce golf outing on May 1 for a hole sponsorship and a $50 donation to Dunkirk Public Library for its summer reading program.
•Granted a six-month water bill extension at 329 W. Pleasant St. for $100 per month.
•Heard that city attorney Bill Hinkle sent a letter to former Dunkirk police officer Jordan Alfrey to reimburse the city for the cost of academy training.
•Agreed to purchase light bulbs for Christmas decorations at Dunkirk City Park for $331.77 and heard that renovations to the pool shelter house are almost complete.
•Learned the final payment on a backhoe was made for the Dunkirk Water Department.
•Agreed to pay $1,610 to Wilson Electric for seven indoor replacement lights and renewed a generator contract with McCallister for $8,796 for three years at the Dunkirk Wastewater Treatment Plant. Bivens said the warranty with Fleis & Vandenbrink expires June 20 and they are scheduled to do a final walk-through inspection.
•Heard a quote from Marcum Maintenance to put two commercial ceiling fans in the Dunkirk City Building. Council asked Robbins to get a second quote.
•Paid a claim of $585 to Kesler Excavating to fix a plugged sewer at a residence.
•Paid claims 3138 to 3271 for $213,732.07.