Museum asks for council to help with roof

DUNKIRK — After announcing The Glass Museum’s roof is in dire need of repairs last week, library board president John Crosbie turned to council for help.

Dunkirk City Council on Monday heard from Crosbie, who oversees the library and museum, about securing funding to help contribute to the repair that is estimated to cost at least $30,000.

“We’re in a dilemma. We have a roof on the museum that is shot,” Crosbie said. “We don’t have the money to fix it, but it needs to be done.”

Crosbie asked council to help the museum obtain county economic development funds from NextEra’s Bluff Point Wind Energy Center project.

Mayor Gene Ritter asked Crosbie whether or not the board has looked into an Indiana Office of Community and Rural Affairs (OCRA) grant. Crosbie, along with council member Jack Robbins, said the repairs are time sensitive and can’t wait that long.

In 2015, the city requested more than $1.8 million from OCRA to renovate the former Stewart Brothers Building to house the Dunkirk Public Library and The Glass Museum through the Stellar Communities Program, which is designed for small communities looking to advance community and economic development.

Over time, the roof’s leaking has worsened, Crosbie said. Recently, the library board put around $20,000 into repairing the library roof, which is why it can’t afford to make the estimated $30,000 to $57,000 in repairs the museum roof needs.

“There’s places up there that if you’re not careful, you’ll be in the museum,” Crosbie said.

City attorney Wes Schemenaur said he would look into requesting wind farm economic development funds to help with the project but said it’s likely Crosbie will have to go to Jay County Council and/or commissioners to make such a request.  

County commissioners seemed receptive to the idea at their meeting earlier Monday.

“I think we should do the Dunkirk money (from NextEra),” said commissioner Barry Hudson. “And they haven’t even asked yet. ... We need to be supportive.”

Jesse Bivens, council president and president of The Dunkirk Foundation, told Crosbie to call the foundation after Monday’s meeting to see if it could help secure funding for the repairs.

Also Monday, council agreed to commit $70,757 as matching funds for an application for a Community Crossings Grant for paving and sidewalk improvements on Lincoln, Commerce and Washington Streets. The deadline to apply for the current round of Community Crossings grants is Friday.

If the city receives the grant — awards are expected in late October or early November — its commitment will cover 25 percent of the cost with the other 75 percent from the state.

In order to be able to bid out the work right away if the grant is received, council approved a $19,790 design plan by Fleis & Vandenbrink, which would prepare plans, specifications, cost estimates and bid documents for the project.

“There’s no loss in designing it and getting it what we call ‘shelf ready,’” said Jay Stankiewicz, Fleis & Vandenbrink Fort Wayne office manager. “What the benefits are is that when November comes around and you are awarded the funding, we can put the projects immediately out the bid.”

Stankiewicz said the invoice for the project will come next year and if the city isn’t approved for the funding, it will be able to use the plan for the next round of applications.

In other business, council:

•Finalized 2018 trick-or-treating hours. Similar to years past, trick-or-treaters can collect candy from 5 to 7 p.m. on Halloween.

•Learned the estimated $5,000 water line repairs for Dunkirk City Pool will begin Thursday. The repairs, council member Tom Johnson said, should take about a day. Then, the pool will be drained and prepared for next season.

•Approved the purchase of an $1,800 dual scale for the water department. The scale is used to keep weight measurements of chlorine.

•Heard the sale of 142 Angle St., which the city acquired through a tax sale, to Floyd and Vicki Coons has been finalized.

•Was told The Dunkirk Foundation awarded Dunkirk Beautification Committee a grant to replace benches throughout the city. The benches have since been placed across the city by the wastewater, water and street departments.  

•Learned there will be a public hearing on the city’s 2019 budget during the Oct. 8 regular council meeting.

•Heard the preliminarily date for the beginning of demolition of blighted houses is Oct. 4.