Well house fixes approved

DUNKIRK — Work will be done on well houses at the city’s water department.
Dunkirk City Council on Monday approved repairs on two well houses at the recommendation of Dace Mumbower, superintendent of Dunkirk Water Department.
It also discussed concerns about Dunkirk Community Pool and issues with tall grass on vacant properties.
Council president Tom Johnson and fellow members Jesse Bivens, Bryan Jessup and Jack Robbins, absent Lisa Street, approved updates on water meters and other repairs on well houses five and six at the water department.
A total of $13,550.13 will be spent on well house five, which also includes a video inspection, and $6,043.73 will be spent on well house six. The parts will be ordered from Utility Supply Company and labor will be done by Peerless Midwest, which maintains the well houses.
Johnson, who oversees the pool and parks, said the pool has been closed on different occasions for mechanical problems, a lack of lifeguards and inclement weather.
He received an unsigned letter complaining about the recent closings.
“After this letter I was very honked off,” said Johnson, who added that he has sometimes had to work day and night trying to maintain the pool.
“I just want to thank Tom for his efforts at the pool,” Bivens said.
Concerns about tall grass on vacant properties in the city were discussed with health and safety officer Rick Buckner.
Buckner said inmates from Jay County Jail are available to cut the grass and requested a mower for them to use.
“We’ve got the manpower now, but I don’t have the equipment,” Buckner said.
He said it has cost $500 to mow five properties because the grass was so tall a Bush Hog mower had to be used.
Bivens and Robbins said there are more properties that aren’t mowed than there have ever been. Council agreed that Buckner should have the properties mowed after a warning has been placed on the property for a week.
“Just make sure that red tag’s hanging on that house,” Robbins told Buckner.
Bucker also said two squatters are living in abandoned homes on Jay Street and Orange Avenue and was asked to call city attorney Wes Schemenaur about how to handle the issue.
In other business, council:
•In a special meeting about local option income tax distribution, agreed to put $600 into a motor vehicle fund, $7,200 into the general fund and use $128,624 for paving. The city received about $135,000 in LOIT money from the state as part of a one-time release of funds through House Bill 1001. Three-quarters of that money must be used for infrastructure improvements such as paving roads and fixing bridges.
•Heard from Mayor Gene Ritter that meetings for the neighborhood watch program are scheduled for July 12, 13, 19 and 20 at 7 p.m. at West Jay Community Center. Flyers will be handed out door-to-door with more information.
•Tabled a decision about having Fleis and Vandenbrink Engineering do a sanitary sewer design for $25,630 for Barbier Street. Bivens suggested council members talk with him or Larry Wright, superintendent of the sewage department, with questions.
•Agreed to pay $802.80 to Spears Manufacturing for a booster pump for the pool, $868.13 to Brenntag for acid for the pool and $610.29 to K&L Tractor Sales in Fort Recovery for mower repairs.
•Were asked to review an agreement by Barnum-Brown Insurance for non-city sponsored events at Dunkirk City Park and be ready to vote on it at the next meeting.
•Tabled a new curfew ordinance until Schemenaur is present.
•Approved a water bill adjustment of $131.43 for Kent Taylor and agreed to have clerk-treasurer Tina Elliott contact Kyle Cook about an overdue bill at a rental property for $453.67.
•Heard recycling containers for cans and bottles from Jay County Solid Waste Management District have been placed at the pool and junior league diamonds.
•Paid claims totalling $282.096.42.