Dunkirk signs to be assessed

DUNKIRK — The city may be getting some new street signs.
Dunkirk City Council on Monday approved a contract for Fleis & VandenBrink Engineering to assess all street signs in the city for compliance to new federal standards.
It also approved dates for this year’s Glass Days festival.
Council members Tom Johnson, Jesse Bivens, Judy Garr, Lisa Street and Jack Robbins agreed to a $35,000 contract with Fleis & VandenBrink for the review of street signs. Ninety percent of the funding for the study will come from federal and state sources, with the city picking up the remaining 10 percent.
The firm will check all signs to determine whether or not they meet federal safety standards, such as those for reflectivity. The report will then be sent to the Indiana Department of Transportation for review.
Dunkirk Mayor Dan Watson said if the study shows a need for new signs, they would likely not be installed until late 2016.
Council also approved the scheduled dates of May 27 through 30 for Glass Days.
Committee members said they have raised $15,000 that they plan to use to bring three bands to the festival. Council members agreed to donate $750 to the festival at Watson’s suggestion.
In other business, council:
•Agreed to pay $1,288 for 80 hours of unused vacation time to Dunkirk Police Chief Dane Mumbower and $1,013.76 to officer Donnie Miller for 72 hours.
•Learned that asbestos inspections are done on blighted properties in the city and checks by the Environmental Protection Agency have also been completed. The work is part of the process for Indiana’s Hardest Hit Fund Blight Elimination Program, from which the city received a $176,000 grant to clean up nine properties.
•Agreed to make a water bill adjustment of $849.76 for a rental property at 107 Rick Drive and allow the resident three months to pay the remaining balance of $748.92.
•Agreed to sponsor a table for $300 at the Jay County Chamber of Commerce Community Awards Banquet on March 5.
•Agreed to allow Bivens to purchase a regulator and filter for the Dunkirk Wastewater Treatment Plant not to exceed $3,000.
•Agreed to pay $90 to Maureen Miller to put city court information on the doors of the city building and to repair a sign on the building.
•Paid claims totaling $176,601.89.