Sewer project complete

DUNKIRK — A sanitary sewer rehabilitation project on the city’s southwest side has been completed.

Mitch Hansel of Fleis & Vandenbrink Engineering informed Dunkirk City Council on Monday that Insituform Technologies of Indianapolis recently completed the Layne Addition project and doubled the warranty on the pipes to two years.

Also, council learned a sidewalk grant could include the cost of street lights at a housing addition, approved several board appointments and heard from the mayor about recent events he attended.

Hansel said the last two lots for the Layne Addition project had to be completed by Humbard Construction at a cost of $8,950 because the area had to be dug up to find the lateral sewer lines in which to put access of cleaning. Council approved paying the invoice to Humbard and also to Insituform for $64,728.69. Insituform was the contractor chosen for the project in June for a total project cost $351,374.90.

A retainer for $13,459 is being held until spring when seeding will be done. Hansel said the project is $73,000 under budget at this point.

The board also agreed to pay Fleis & Vandenbrink Engineering $209.70 for Hansel’s fees.

“That’s wonderful. Good job,” Mayor Gene Ritter said.

Council member Jack Robbins informed the group that street lights for Quincy Place could be included in a project to create a sidewalk connecting Quincy Place to West Jay Middle School and other landmarks.

The city was informed in October that is will receive $67,200 from Indiana Department of Transportation to add sidewalks on Highland Avenue between Johnson Street and Speedcat Alley to connect Quincy Place, Dunkirk City Park, West Jay Community Center and West Jay Middle School. The grant will cover about 52 percent of the project’s estimated cost of $128,700.

Council members Jesse Bivens, Bryan Jessup, Tom Johnson, Lisa Street and Robbins approved naming Dan Watson to the redevelopment committee to replace Tim Kesler, who moved out of the city.

Ritter also told council that redevelopment committee member Brenda Brumfield is resigning effective Dec. 31 and will need to be replaced.

Council also approved the re-appointment of Ron Fuller, Rose Morgan and Chris Rodgers to the West Jay Community Center board.

Ritter told council he recently attended Dunkirk’s chapter of A Better Life - Brianna’s Hope held at First American Baptist Church.

“I was very impressed, very touched. I think it’s doing them a lot of good. It seems to be working. It’s a very faith-based thing,” Ritter said.

In other business, council:

•Donated $100 to West Jay Optimist Club for its Head Start Families for Christmas.

•Heard the Dunkirk Police Department handled 188 complaints and drove approximately 4,679 miles during November.

•Agreed that the police and fire departments have to use their vacation time by the end of the year or be paid for it according the the employee handbook.

•Approved paying Digital Alley $4,025 for a camera for the Dodge Durango for the police department.

•Heard from Johnson that the county’s bicentennial committee has leftover money and is purchasing a tulip tree for a park in each city in the county.

•Were reminded by Bivens that Health and Safety officer Rick Buckner has to follow a certain procedure when filing weed liens. He must fill out complaint forms and give a copy to clerk-treasurer Tina Elliiott, fill out a violation notice, send an invoice, then file the weed lien. Ritter said he will make sure Buckner is following all the steps and will also check on his receipt book.

•Approved paying $1,199.65 to replace valves and nozzles on a firetruck for the Dunkirk Fire Department and spending $1,300 to send volunteers Richard Long and Jim Millikan to rescue truck training.

•Heard that Robbins ordered new street signs because eight were were stolen and five were damaged.

•Were informed by resident Al Curts that Ideal Builders replaced all mailboxes at Quincy Place after he informed the company that they were falling apart.

•Agreed to keep the next meeting at 7 p.m. Dec. 26. Because Christmas falls on a Sunday, Dec. 26 is considered the national holiday.

•Was informed by Elliott that donations will be taken at the city employee Christmas dinner to help a family in need.

•Paid claims totaling $163,469.07.