Kesler selected for Dunkirk blight work

DUNKIRK — A contractor has been chosen to tear down blighted properties in the city.
At the recommendation of Mayor Dan Watson and Jay County community developer Ami Huffman, Dunkirk City Council voted Monday to have Kesler Excavating LLC do the work for $79,000, which was the lowest of five bids for the project.
Dunkirk was awarded an Indiana Hardest Hit Fund Blight Elimination grant of $176,000 to raze the homes.
Watson also opened bids for paving from Milestone Contractors for $179,367.50, E & B for $217,677 and Brooks Construction for $204,000.
“I will review those and make a recommendation at the next council meeting,” Watson said.
Paving is planned for all streets at Dunkirk City Park and in the Shadyside addition as well as Commerce Street, West Washington Street between Main and Angle streets, Eaton Pike from Main Street to Layne Drive and Hoover Street from Ardagh to West Jay Community Center.
Fleis and Vandenbrink has been working on the pipe erosion problem at the Dunkirk Wastewater Treatment Plant. Council decided to follow the engineering firm’s recommendation to pay United Piping $20,710 and Sydney Electric $15,800 to complete the work.
Watson said he was asked if the wastewater treatment plant could pump and haul sewage from Redkey at a cost of $1,564 per day when its new wastewater treatment plant if being constructed.
The town is planning to budget $25,000 into its bid for the work, and Watson asked council for its input at the next council meeting.    
In other business, council members Tom Johnson, Jesse Bivens, Judy Garr, Lisa Street and Jack Robbins:
•Named Matt Weaver to the board of directors of West Jay Community Center.
•Agreed to pay $841.65 for acid at Dunkirk Community Pool and $4,605 to repair a leak at the pool.
•Agreed to pay $370 to Cook’s Nursery for mulch.
•Heard that Dunkirk Police Department handled 179 complaints and drove 4,235 miles in June.     
•Agreed to pay claims totaling $234,946.95.