New mayor is welcomed

DUNKIRK — There were new faces at Monday’s city council meeting.
Gene Ritter, who was elected as Mayor of Dunkirk in November, presided over his first meeting.
“First of all Happy New Year to everybody and appreciate you coming,” Ritter, a Republican, told council and a large group of visitors.
He thanked council for its patience as he learns his new job.
“Look forward to working with all of you,” he added. “Looking forward to getting my hands dirty and doing good things for Dunkirk.”  
He announced that he will be in his office from 9 a.m. to noon on the first and third Saturday of each month to hear any thoughts from members of the community.
“I want to be available,” Ritter said.
The meeting was also the first for new clerk-treasurer Tina Elliott, who was selected by Democrat precinct committeemen in December to replace Phonnie Kesler. The position was open after Kesler resigned last summer but it was too late to remove her name from the November ballot. Kesler was elected, and resigned again early this month.
J.T. Phillips had served as interim clerk-treasurer since August.
“Tina and I both have a lot to learn,” Ritter said.
The city also has a new attorney, with Wes Schemenaur taking over for Bill Hinkle, who had held the position for more than 40 years and stayed on for the last four at the request of former mayor Dan Watson.
“Things look pretty smooth,” said Schemenaur, who shares a practice with Hinkle. “Bill Hinkle’s right down the hall from me.”
He encouraged council members to call or email him with any questions.
Bryan Jessup attended his first meeting as the newest council member, replacing Judy Garr who chose not to run for re-election.
Ritter announced that he will keep Dane Mumbower as chief of police and Steve Fields as fire chief, and appointed former police officer Mike Kreps as superintendent of the street department.
He also assigned board members to oversee departments, with Tom Johnson in charge of the parks, Jesse Bivens the wastewater treatment plant, Jack Robbins the street department, Lisa Street the water department and Jessup the fire department. The mayor will oversee the police department.
Johnson was also elected as the new council president.
“The old man,” Johnson joked after being selected.
One of Ritter’s first acts as mayor will be to try to negotiate a fire contract with Knox Township, which has signed with Redkey and Pennville fire departments instead of Dunkirk Fire Department.
“I’m trying real hard to see if I can’t get that reversed,” Ritter said.
In other business, council:
•Agreed to send Ritter, Elliott, Bivens and Jessup to Indiana Association of Cities and Towns Boot Camp from Jan. 19 through 21 in Indianapolis.
•Decided to pay $100 per day to J.T. Phillips and Judy Garr to help Elliott learn her duties.
•Renewed a subscription with Personnel Concepts for $19 per year for labor laws.
•Agreed to pay two bills for $20,710 and $21,870 to United Piping for work done at the wastewater treatment plant.
•Approved a contract not to exceed $800 for Sidney Electric to replace three security lights on poles at the wastewater treatment plant.
•Agreed to pay $700 to T & T Electronics for batteries for pagers and antennas for the fire department.
•Decided to stop using a SuperFleet gas card for city vehicles and charge gas at Miller’s Dunkirk Pantry and Pak-A-Sak and receive a monthly bill.
•Paid claims totalling $144,424.09.