Dunkirk to bring back its curfew

DUNKIRK — Another incident of vandalism at a city park prompted local officials to take action.
Dunkirk City Council agreed Monday to take a variety of steps, including a curfew, in an effort to keep the city safe.
Council members also took a step toward a downtown lighting project, started a separate fund for street paving, heard a presentation about the upcoming bicentennial celebration and learned a church property may be given to the city.
Mayor Gene Ritter informed council that the wooden train at Webster Depot Park was spray-painted with graffiti. He said he has talked to Police Chief Dane Mumbower and city attorney Wes Schemenaur about reintroducing the curfew.
“They’re lowlifes that do stuff like that,” Tom Johnson said, who is council president and also oversees the parks department.
Johnson and council members Jesse Bivens, Bryan Jessup, Jack Robbins and Lisa Street were in agreement with the mayor to reintroduce the curfew and better control loitering in the city.
Schemenaur will write an update to the city ordinance setting a 9 p.m. curfew for those 12 and younger and 11 p.m. for 13 and 14 year olds. The curfew for 15-to-17-year-olds will be 11 p.m. Sunday through Thursday and 1 a.m. Saturday and Sunday.
The planned ordinance would allow police to stop those who are out after curfew, question them and call their parents if needed. Police may also be able to issue tickets.
Council also discussed putting up a sign that states Webster Depot Park closes at 10 p.m. as well as adding a sign to the green space on Main Street.
The city is also applying for a grant to pay for decorative lighting on Main Street between Highland Avenue and Chestnut Street. The city’s cost for the project would be $325,000, and Ritter and the council agreed to set aside $50,000 per year with a goal of installing the lighting in 2021.
The project had been included in Dunkirk’s Stellar Communities application, but the city decided to move ahead on its own after not making the state’s finalist list this year.
Robbins reported that the city has received about $135,000 in local option income tax (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. At his request, council agreed to put $104,506.41 into a fund for paving, to transfer $24,721.87 to the equipment fund and to donate $7,200 to the mayor’s promotional fund.
Sandy Bubp and Vicki Tague of the county’s bicentennial committee told council about events that are being planned.
A plaque will be presented to the city at a celebration Sept. 27 at Jay County Fairgrounds, and a project to research all former mayors of Dunkirk is near completion.
Also, West Jay Middle School band will play with the East Jay Middle School and Jay County High School in the parade on Sept. 27 in Portland, the Jay County bicentennial logo will appear on all sports shirts for West Jay Community Center and Dunkirk junior league uniforms, and jewelry is being made by Dunkirk resident J.T. Phillips.
Council agreed to donate $750 to the committee and will choose a representative to accept the plaque of behalf of the city.
“We really appreciate your time and effort,” Ritter said.
Ritter also reported that he has met with Bill Kiesel, who is asset manager of the former Plymouth Church. He told the mayor the church may be given to an organization or business in town or he may have it torn down. Ritter asked him not to tear it down, and council discussed possible uses for the building, including as a new home for Dunkirk Public Library, The Glass Museum or Brianna’s Hope.
In other business, council:
•Signed a letter of support for Ami Huffman to pursue an Indiana Department of Transportation grant for $25,700 for new sidewalks in town after clerk-treasurer Tina Elliott got letters of support from the schools, police department and insurance.
•Agreed to pay $50,545 for a truck and snow plow for the street department. The total includes the truck from Fincannon Ford in Hartford City, a snow plow from Wright Way Collision Repair in Albany, hydraulics work from Robinsons Truck Bodies & Equipment in Eaton and a $19,000 trade-in for the old truck.
•Heard from Mitch Hansel of Fleis & Vandenbrink Engineering that an Indiana Department of Transportation Grant is available to fix roads, but the city would need a asset management plan in order to apply.
•Discussed again the possibility of starting a tax increment financing (TIF) district.
•Agreed to have Schemenaur check with Jay County Development Corporation executive director Bill Bradley about a tax abatement with Ardagh Group.
•Paid $1,812.75 to Utility Supply for a new trash pump for Dunkirk Water Department.
•Donated $500 to the new chapter of “A Better Life – Brianna’s Hope,” which will hold its first meeting at 6 p.m. tonight at First American Baptist Church.
•Heard from Jessup that fireworks will be held July 2.
•Agreed to allow the Dunkirk Fire Department to have a boot drive on May 27.
•Agreed to barricade part of the alley behind First American Baptist Church during Glass Days.
•Heard that two or three more lifeguards are needed this summer at the pool, which will open on June 6.
•Paid claims of $187,096.08.