Council rejects parking ordinance

DUNKIRK — City officials who were hoping for reserved parking adjacent to the city building will have to find another plan. 

Dunkirk City Council voted 4-1 Monday against the city official parking ordinance, which would have created reserved spots for city employees.

The ordinance would have created two parking spots on the north side of Commerce Street, east of Main Street, from 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m., Monday through Friday for city officials. It was originally introduced Dec. 10.

Council member Bryan Jessup, who voted against the ordinance, said he was opposed to it as it was presented Monday, but would like to offer an alternative for residents. 

“What I would like to see, if you guys would look at it, because I do recognize that … there’s a problem with parking at this building, and I think it’s going to get worse, but I don’t think we should be shutting the public out of parking near this building,” Jessup said. 

“I kind of wondered if you guys would entertain possibly changing it or doing a different one with city building parking. That lets the customers, people from the city, use it as well.” 

Ultimately council members Jesse Bivens, Tom Johnson, Jack Robbins and Jessup voted to quash the parking ordinance altogether. Member Lisa Street was in favor of the ordinance. 

“I agree with what Bryan said. I don’t think it should be for the city employees just solely, but they ought to have one spot … I think we should’ve went through with something on it,” Street said. 

Also Monday, council heard an update about the Todd Opera House from Mayor Gene Ritter. Ritter told council members the project “is moving forward” and expects to see hardwood floor in the dining room sometime in the next week or so. 

Later in the meeting, Robbins reminded council Todd Opera Building Group is obligated to have two restaurants in the building by the end of June. In its contract with the city, Todd Building Group is required to have two operating restaurants in the Opera House by July 1.

In other business, council members Bivens, Jessup, Johnson, Robbins and Street: 

•Tabled placing a handicap parking spot on Washington Street until the police department can take a look at it and determine if the space is fit for such use.

•Heard from Jessup that Ami Huffman and engineering firm Beam, Longest and Neff will meet with residents to discuss any issues they are having with flooding in their area at 3 p.m. Jan. 29 at the city building. The feedback will help the street and water departments work on their five-year plans. 

•Approved purchases, including two oxygen sensors from MSA Corporate Center and tires for the street department pick-up truck. 

•Appointed Dan Watson to the Dunkirk Industrial Development Corporation board. Watson succeeds Craig Faulkner. 

•Heard from Jessup the fire department will host its chili dinner from 4 to 7 p.m. Feb. 2 at the fire station. Tickets are $7 for anyone 11 and older and $4 for anyone 10 and under. 

•Pre-approved spending the fire department’s $3,000-clothing line item. 

•Voted to retain council department heads, including Bivens as wastewater; Jessup as fire; Johnson as parks; Robbins as street; and Street as water.

Additionally, council approved keeping Bivens as council president. 

•OK’d dates for the volunteer fire department boot drive to help raise funds for fireworks in the park. The drives will be March 8, April 14, May 3 and June 14. 

•Heard the police department responded to 1,863 complaints in 2018, which included 585 traffic stops, 213 citations and 82 criminal arrests. 

•Learned from Jessup the city passed Indiana Department of Environmental Management’s new biomonitoring tests. 

•Paid bills totaling $128,547.33.