Grant $ nearly ready

DUNKIRK — Blighted homes are a step closer to being torn down.
Dunkirk City Council learned Monday that the money the city was granted from the Indiana Hardest Hit Fund Blight Elimination Program will become available soon.
Also Monday, Mayor Dan Watson gave an update on Walnut Street flooding issues, and council approved a zoning change to allow storage units to be built in a residential area and OK’d the purchase of a new police vehicle.
Jay County community development director Ami Huffman told council she received an email Monday letting her know the city will soon be able to draw funds from the $176,000 blight elimination grant it was awarded in October. She will set up an account to play claims and it should be completed by the end of the month.
Huffman said she will have Jodi Hayes, administrative assistant for Jay County Development Corporation, work on invoices from the sale of nine properties to the Dunkirk Industrial Development Corporation. The next step will be to advertise for bids. The city will have bid packages available on its website.
The funding will be used to clean up the properties — 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., 826 S. Franklin St. — which will then be available for purchase by adjoining landowners.
Watson said residents of Walnut Street have asked what is being done to resolve flooding issues. The area was hit hard by high water during a heavy rain in August.
The mayor said he has two engineering firms putting together proposals to look at flooding issues and that brush and two or three beaver dams have been cleared from the area. He added that he doesn’t want Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) to do a study because everyone in the area will then be required to purchase flood insurance.
Council members Tom Johnson, Jesse Bivens, Judy Garr, Lisa Street and Jack Robbins also approved a recommendation from Dunkirk Planning Commission to rezone property at 240 Highland Ave. to be used for commercial use. Owner Dru Hall plans to build storage units on the property.
Council selected a quote for a new police cruiser from Fuqua Chrysler Dodge Jeep Ram in Dunkirk for $19,006 for a Dodge Durango. Robbins presented other quotes to council for $27,521 from Hiday Motors in Bluffton for a Yukon, $22,186 from Moser Motors in Berne for a Ford Explorer and $19,412 from Fincannon Ford in Hartford City.
A public hearing was held before Monday’s council meeting with Huffman discussing the application for an Indiana Office of Community and Rural Affairs (OCRA) regular round funding grant of $400,000 for the Dunkirk Public Library to be moved to Stewart Brothers building on Main Street. The grant would be used to renovate the bottom floor of the building. The application is due July 10.
In other business, council members:
•Learned from Robbins that 10 properties were sold in Dunkirk in a tax sale.
•Heard from resident Orrin Franklin that his sidewalk on Pearl Street needs to be replaced. Watson agreed and asked Robbins to look at the sidewalk.
•Tabled a matter from Ashley Beall concerning water issues at 223 Lincoln Ave.
•Heard from resident Richard Jones that the city may have left a line unhooked after he had new water lines installed at his home on 111 E. Washington St. He said his basement has flooded seven times and he has raw sewage coming in. Larry Wright, superintendent of the wastewater treatment plant, and former superintendent Tim Kesler will look into the matter.
•Got results of testing that was done at the city building after employees complained of eye irritation. Robbins said tests came back clear and that dust from the installation of a new furnace may have been the issue. He said fans need to be installed.
•Approved donating $175 for the youth soccer program at West Jay Community Center.
•Approved payment of claims totalling $201,336.19.