Dunkirk takes next step in process

DUNKIRK — The city is another step closer to removing nine abandoned homes.
There was no opposition at a public meeting Monday to tearing down the houses, clearing the way for the next step toward using Indiana Hardest Hit Fund Blight Elimination Program grant funds to help clean up Dunkirk.
Jay County community developer Ami Huffman told those in attendance the next step is to have Indiana Department of Emergency Management inspect the nine homes — at 316 W. Jay St., 349 W. Washington St., 325 E. High St., 217 N. Main St., 221 E. Railroad St., 324 Shatto St., 325 E. North St., 219 N. Indiana St. and 826 S. Franklin St. — for hazardous materials such as asbestos and lead paint. The bidding process is expected to follow early in the spring.
Dunkirk City Council member Jack Robbins asked about filling in the basements of two blighted homes, and Rayanna Binder of Indiana Housing and Community Development Authority, which is administering the grant, said regular backfill dirt will be sufficient.
The city was awarded a $176,000 Hardest Hit grant in October to deal with the nine homes as part of a round that saw $12 million distributed throughout the state.
City council met following the public hearing and agreed to sell the nine blighted properties to Dunkirk Industrial Development Corporation for $100 each. Dunkirk gained ownership of the properties from Jay County Commissioners through the tax-sale process.
After the blighted homes are demolished, plans call for the properties to be offered to adjacent owners at a cost of a few hundred dollars. Those that are not purchased will be maintained by the city as green spaces or “pocket parks”.
Robbins told the board Tracy Layman, who has served as Redkey’s police chief, has been hired to replace officer Jordan Alfrey, who resigned after one year with the Dunkirk Police Department. Alfrey still had two years left on his contract and will be required to reimburse the department for his training. Layman will begin his duties Monday.
In other business, council members Tom Johnson, Jesse Bivens, Judy Garr, Lisa Street and Robbins:
•Elected Garr as council president.
•Appointed police chief Dan Mumbower to the DIDC board following the resignation of Chuck Huffman.
•Approved a water bill adjustment of $223.60 for a leak at 207 Highland Ave.
•Granted a six-month extension on a past due water bill at 648 Hickory St. Residents are paying an extra $100 per month until the balance is paid.
•Heard from Bivens that 25 to 30 feet of pipe was replaced by employees at the Dunkirk Wastewater Treatment Plant to fix leaks at the plant.
•Approved transferring $2,189 from 2014 to the water operating expenses fund for the Dunkirk Water Plant. Heard from Garr that routine housekeeping and a backhoe inspection was done at the plant.
•Approved resolution 2015-1 from incumbered funds from 2014 of $1,385.73 to pay for three dumpsters for tearing down a house at Dunkirk City Park.
•Approved claims 2533 to 2655 for $217,527.1.