Dunkirk blight bids are opened

DUNKIRK — Bids were opened Monday to determine who will tear down the blighted homes in the city.
Mayor Dan Watson opened envelopes from contractors during the Dunkirk City Council meeting, with the lowest from Kesler Excavating LLC at $79,000 and the highest from Lawrence Excavating at $144,719.
Dunkirk was awarded an Indiana Hardest Hit Fund Blight Elimination grant of $176,000 to raze the homes.
Other bids were Taylor Construction & Excavating at $89,920; TJ’s Concrete Work LLC at $89,225; A. Landon Excavating at $93,447; and Yardberry Landscaping and Excavating Company at $144,500.
“I would like to let (Jay County community developer) Ami (Huffman) take these to review them and come back with a recommendation at our next council meeting,” Watson said. The next meeting will be July 13.
Huffman also gave an update on the Stellar Communities grant application that is due June 30. The application is Dunkirk’s third attempt at a Stellar grant.
Dunkirk is asking for $1.5 million from the Indiana Office of Community and Rural Affairs to move the Dunkirk Public Library and Dunkirk Glass Museum to the old Stewart Brothers building, $501,360 in tax credits from Indiana Housing and Community Development Authority for a senior housing complex and $574,859 from Indiana Department of Transportation for lighting and safe routes to school.
“We’ve been working from our plan getting all the updated estimates and everything,” Huffman said of the 70-page application.
Huffman said a consultant from the Strategic Development Group was paid from a $10,000 grant to help with the process.
“It’s been a pretty positive experience, so fingers crossed, so far so good,” Huffman said.
Councilman Tom Johnson said the leak is fixed at Dunkirk Community Pool and the pool should open no later than June 29.
Orientation for employees will be held today, and Johnson is waiting for water sample results. The pool had to be drained and refilled after the leak was repaired.
In other business, council members Johnson, Jesse Bivens, Judy Garr, Lisa Street and Jack Robbins:
•Paid $3,730 to Wilson Electric to fix the air conditioner at the Dunkirk city building.
•Learned United Way of Jay County, Community and Family Services and Second Harvest Food Bank will hold a free food tailgate from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. July 15 at West Jay Community Center.
•Agreed to pay $550 to Knight’s Body Shop to repair the computer on a wastewater treatment plant truck.
•Heard Drew Huffman was hired as a part-time employee for the Dunkirk Water Department and sewage plant.
•Agreed to pay $202 each for three helmets and $92 each for two suspension kits to Sentinel Emergency Solutions for Dunkirk Volunteer Fire Department.
•Heard lights have been installed on the new cruiser for the Dunkirk Police Department.
•Heard from Dunkirk clerk-treasurer Phonnie Kesler that a water bill payment drop box has been installed at the green space near DOK Laundromat at 111 S. Main St.
•Agreed to pay claims of $175,268.96.