Dunkirk to form a TIF district

DUNKIRK — The city is moving ahead to become a Stellar designated community.
Mayor Gene Ritter informed Dunkirk City Council on Monday evening that he wants to form a redevelopment committee to create a Tax Increment Financing (TIF) district in the city, a step that should aid in the process of getting a future Stellar Community designation that the city finished as the runner-up for last year.
Also, clerk-treasurer Tina Elliott told council about the status of two certificates of deposit for the city, the mayor gave an update about the status of the July 4 fireworks display and a member of Dunkirk Beautification Committee addressed council about its summer concert series.
The mayor will serve on the redevelopment committee, a group required for the formation of a TIF district, and also appointed local residents Gary Glogas and Ron Fuller. Council agreed to appoint Brenda Brumfield, Tim Kesler and council member Jesse Bivens.
“We feel that we were so close last year … so we feel like we need to take that momentum and carry it forward and try to do a couple things that we were told could've helped us get that designation,” said Ritter. “So we are going (to) go forward with it.”
Dunkirk finished second in August to North Liberty in the competition for communities with populations of fewer than 6,000 for the Stellar Communities designation through Indiana Office of Community and Rural Affairs. Winning would have provided millions in grants and tax credits for projects in the city.
Ritter has contacted municipal attorney Sue Beasley of Bingham Greenebaum Doll, an Indianapolis law firm, to help with the process at an approximate cost of $20,000.
The mayor said the redevelopment committee will designate a business area to pull into the TIF district, current tax rates will stay the same and added tax benefits would go into a fund that would go toward redevelopment of the area.
“It would help bring new business and jobs into the city and if you have a really strong community you’re more likely to get companies wanting to come here and enjoy that strength of community,” Ritter said.
Elliott told council that two CD’s are set to roll over on March 5 at Citizens State Bank in Dunkirk — one for $193,745.98 at 0.15 percent interest and another for $21,520.64 for 0.1 percent. Bivens asked her to get a few quotes from other banks on interest rates before rolling them over.
Ritter and Brian Jessup, who oversees the fire department, met with John Willoughby, head of the volunteer fire department, and said the Dunkirk Fire Department may not be able to hold its annual fireworks show at Dunkirk City Park because of lack of funds.
The fireworks cost approximately $8,000 and firemen haven’t been able to collect enough funds in the past at boot drives and other fundraisers. Ritter and Jessup said firefighters have used some of their own money to purchase fireworks in the past. Ritter is going to work with volunteers to have regular boot drives scheduled, and Jessup urged residents to give at the boot drives and at donation jars place throughout the city.
“We need to try to support these guys,” Ritter said.
Council granted permission to Donna Revolt of the Dunkirk Beautification Committee to schedule the summer concert series to be held at Webster Depot Park and made its yearly $500 donation to help fund the concerts. It also agreed to cook and serve refreshments during one the concerts along with West Jay Community Center board.
Revolt said the committee is in the process of applying for a Johnson Grant and if received it plans to have a mural created on the green space wall, add eight planters and purchase more Christmas decorations, all on Main Street in the downtown, and extend the concrete pad at the park for a grill.
Bivens asked Revolt to put the items in writing and submit them to Elliott for future reference. Revolt will also get more information about the mural.
In other business, Tom Johnson, Jack Robbins, Lisa Street, Bivens and Jessup:
•Were informed by Elliott that an executive session is scheduled for 7 p.m. Monday to discuss the city’s policies and procedures manual.
•Rezoned a property at 201 E. Commerce Street from residential to commercial. Owner Rock Fuqua of Fuqua Chrysler Dodge Jeep had the house torn down on the property and is using is for a car lot.
•Were reminded by Johnson that a recycling dumpster sits south of West Jay Community Center for recycled materials only and residents can place trash items in a dumpster by the park garage at Dunkirk City Park.
•Appointed Judy Geesaman to the Dunkirk Foundation board.
•Were reminded that Ritter’s office hours are 9 a.m. to noon the first and third Saturday of each month.
•Heard that Ritter appointed Ted Darr as animal control officer.
•Agreed to make a water bill adjustment of $46.62 for a property at 209 S. Second St. because of an underground leak.
•Approved claims totalling $118,097.23.