Dunkirk applying for grant money

DUNKIRK — The city will seek grant funding to help with local paving projects.

Dunkirk City Council on Monday approved plans to move forward in seeking Community Crossings grant money from the state for road paving projects this year.

It also approved a number of supply and equipment purchases for city facilities.

Mitch Hansel of Fleis & Vandenbrink discussed plans with council to roll over leftover funds that were awarded as part of an Indiana Department of Transportation Community Crossings grant, and use it to re-apply for additional road paving funding from the same program this year. The grant program is awarding funds this year on a 75 percent basis from the state, 25 percent match from the city. The city will use $96,000 it received from the state as its match for a grant application this year, potentially yielding a total of $384,000 in paving money.

Council was in favor of the idea, and plans to continue to pursue Community Crossings funds in the future. Council member Jack Robbins said it would be ideal if the city can coordinate other utility improvements with the paving projects, to reduce costs across the board.

“We need to have meetings on this with all the departments and councilmen, and kind of get a plan of what improvements we can see and how you can save money by going ahead and doing it while we’re there,” Robbins said.

Council approved a $10,000 appropriation to pay engineering fees for Fleis & Vandenbrink to help plan and manage the grant application and project.

Also approved Monday were a number of supply and equipment purchases for the city’s departments. Council member Tom Johnson opened a pair of bids to remove three trees and some stumps at the city park that pose a safety hazard. The contract was awarded to the $900 low bid from Newsome’s Tree and Stump Removal.

Council members Jesse Bivens, Robbins and Johnson, absent Lisa Street and Bryan Jessup, also approved a pair of purchases proposed by Johnson for the city pool. Those were a $1,670 booster pump replacement from Spear Corporation and $845.11 in pool acid from Brenntag.

Bivens also proposed a pair of equipment purchases that council approved, for a $2,229 polymer control pump and ditch switch from E Solutions, and a $1,844.84 pulsar sensor from E Solutions.

In other business, council:

•Heard from water department superintendent Dace Mumbower that Umbaugh and Associates will present a water rate study report to city officials at 2:30 p.m. Thursday.

•Approved the purchase of 24 crime watch signs at a cost of $550.

•Discussed that the city fireworks show is scheduled for July 1 at Dunkirk City Park. In the case of rain it will be held July 8.

•Approved an ordinance creating a 30-minute maximum temporary parking spot on Lincoln Avenue for a family that needs handicap access.