Ardagh abatements to continue

DUNKIRK — A factory will continue to receive tax abatements.
Dunkirk City Council agreed to continue two abatements for Ardagh Group glass container plant at the recommendation of the tax payment advisory committee.
It also discussed the Stellar Communities program, the bidding process for tearing down blighted homes and the status of Dunkirk Community Pool.
Jay County Development Corporation executive director Bill Bradley informed council Monday that the committee met and “recommends that they are in substantial compliance with what they said they were going to do,” Bradley said.
Ardagh has made investments since its first abatement in 2008 totaling about $7 million and has increased its workforce by 15.
Dunkirk Mayor Dan Watson informed council members Tom Johnson, Jesse Bivens, Judy Garr, Lisa Street and Jack Robbins that Stellar focus group meetings will be held Wednesday at West Jay Community Center to receive input on Stellar projects and invited them to attend. The meetings will begin at 4:30 p.m., with businesses to join at 5:30 p.m. and the public is welcome at 6:30 p.m.
Dunkirk is one of two finalists in the division for communities of 6,000 or fewer in the Stellar Communities program and is seeking $2.6 million in grants and tax credits to fund senior housing and other projects in the city.
Watson also said a pre-bid meeting with contractors was held concerning tearing down blighted homes in the city. There were contractors that attended to ask questions. Bids are due June 22 and will be opened at that night’s council meeting.
Dunkirk received a $176,000 grant from the Indiana Hardest Hit Fund Blight Elimination Program in October.
Johnson informed council that Dunkirk Community Pool is not open because of a leak. He said Crown Concrete from Indianapolis is coming today to dig up the concrete so a rusted distributor box can be replaced. The pool will then need to be drained, cleaned and refilled.
“That’s basically where we’re at on the pool,” Johnson said.
“One of those unfortunate things and obviously we’ve got too much invested in it to let it go now, so we need to get it taken care of,” Watson added.Council also agreed to pay $1,129.65 for chemicals and $1,408.31 for paint for the pool.
  In other business, council:
•Donated $100 for the Crown City Kroozers car show Saturday at Dunkirk City Park.
•Agreed to pay $5,162 to Culy Fencing (formery Gabbard) to replace the fence and gates at Dunkirk Street Department.
•Heard from Johnson that 15 sugar maple trees, donated by Muncie Park Department, were planted at Dunkirk City Park.
•Tabled a decision on a maintenance agreement and repair a truck at Dunkirk Wastewater Treatment Plant.
•Learned four applications have been received for a part-time employee at the wastewater treatment plant and water department and interviews are being conducted.
•Heard from clerk-treasurer Phonnie Kesler that Delee Affolder and Billie Newsome are new employees at the Dunkirk City Building.
 •Paid claims totaling $330,301.40.