Plans call for restaurants

DUNKIRK — A decision about funding to help with the development of a pair of new restaurants will come in two weeks.

At Monday evening’s meeting, Dunkirk City Council tabled a decision on funding for help with plans to add a barbecue and Mexican restaurants at the Todd Opera House building on Main Street.

Council also approved funds to repair cracks at Dunkirk City Pool, selected a quote for street paving and finalized a contract with the city’s volunteer firefighters.

Developers Ray Willey and Bill Brown presented a redevelopment plan to council for opening two restaurants on the first floor of the Todd Opera House building. They have been opening restaurants for 36 years, starting with a family pizza chain and focusing on rehabilitation of historic buildings. They own a building that is leased to Firehouse BBQ and Blues in Richmond and, along with other associates, have eight buildings in New Castle, where they’re started a pair of restaurants.

“New Castle was on the ropes, their downtown was at a tipping point where we felt it could go either way,” Willey said. “They felt strongly about saving the Jennings building, it was a very iconic, historic landmark … somewhat like the Todd building is.”

The initial development would include opening the two restaurants on the ground floor of the building, and then could continue with a second phase that would add an entertainment venue on the second floor.

Willey and Brown requested that the city provide a $75,000 loan, which would turn into a grant as long as development stayed on schedule. An additional $75,000 loan would also be provided by Dunkirk Industrial Development Corporation.

In addition, they asked for a 15-year tax abatement on the property.

“If I had a hat on, I’d take it off for them,” said council member Jack Robbins, who traveled to New Castle last week to visit the Jennings building and see the renovation efforts. “I was really impressed with what I saw down there. My only concern right now is protecting our money.”

The project also received the blessing of Bill Bradley, executive director of Jay County Development Corporation.

“I think the work that’s been done in New Castle has shown itself to be exemplary,” Bradley said. “I think for Dunkirk, at this point in time, this is something worthy to be considered. This group has a good reputation.”

Council expressed that many of its concerns with the proposal had been alleviated in discussions with the developers, but they tabled the proposal until they can see the development agreement and finalize the details of the deal. Council preliminarily scheduled an executive session to discuss the proposal on March 22, and will make the final decision on the proposal at its March 27 meeting.

Council members Jesse Bivens, Lisa Street, Tom Johnson, Bryan Jessup and Robbins also approved plans for a project to replace the decks at the city pool. Johnson said the county health inspector had expressed some concerns with large cracks that were developing in the deck.

Johnson received a quote from Mid-States Concrete of Portland for work to fix the damage, totaling $50,080. Council voted to approve the work, and expects it to be completed by the time the pool opens in June.

Council awarded a $90,127,60 contract for repaving Angle Street between Pleasant and Main streets, Arlington Street from Jay Street to the city limits, Grand Street between Arlington and Broad streets and Railroad Street between Broad and Washington streets to Milestone Contractors of Portland. Part of the project will be paid for with $56,300 the city was awarded from Indiana Department of Transportation Community Crossings grant program last year.

Robbins explained that grant funding comes after the projects are completed. Council originally had planned to pave seven streets, but when quotes were above their estimates they chose to pave four streets.

Council also approved a new contract for the city’s volunteer firefighters.

The $24,280 contract includes a 3-percent increase to match municipal pay raises. Jessup noted that the fire department spent more than the value of the contract for equipment during the previous year out of its own budget, and stressed that it will affect 25 volunteer firefighters.

Council also gave a $500 general donation to the volunteer firefighter fund for use on Fourth of July celebrations.

In other business, council:

•Discussed issues with the city’s Ford Explorer police vehicle. Council heard four bids to replace the water pump, purchase a used engine or purchase a new engine. Council opted to purchase a new engine for $5,167.43, which will have a three year parts warranty, from Hopkins Auto of Portland.

•Heard a request from Bivens for volunteers in conducting a rate study March 25. Volunteers will go door to door and ask a series of three questions to the city’s residents.

•Approved a $300 donation to support the city’s Easter egg hunt, a $500 donation to the Fourth of July Committee and a $250 donation to the Dunkirk Public Library for its summer reading program.

•Approved a $8,457.47 expense to Utility Supply Company to repair two wells and add risers for some of the city’s water meters, a $1,829.06 purchase of a new fuel pump from Dragway Equipment of Albany for the city’s dump truck, $1,384.62 for repairing a variable frequency drive at the city’s water plant and a $616.50 purchase of a new precision controls transmitter.

•Approved claims totaling $108,984.49