Mayor trying to keep signal

DUNKIRK — The stoplight at the intersection of Main and Commerce streets is being considered for removal.

Dunkirk City Council on Monday heard from Mayor Gene Ritter about his continued effort to try and keep the stoplight at the intersection at the center of the downtown area.

Ritter told council members he sent a letter to the Indiana Department of Transportation, detailing reasons why the stoplight at the intersection of Main and Commerce streets shouldn’t be replaced with stop signs.

“I think, especially since some things are happening — we’ve got the Glass Capital Café here, the Sculpt Fitness, all that other good stuff starting to happen here — it’s just going to be a congested mess,” Ritter said after the meeting.

“That’s our main truck route. They’re wanting to just create a real problem if they do that.”

Ritter told council members Bryan Jessup, Tom Johnson, Jack Robbins and Lisa Street, absent Jesse Bivens, he plans on following up with INDOT by phone.

Also Monday, council members heard from Mitch Hansel, project manager with Fleis and VandenBrink, who updated the board about planned paving in the city.

Dunkirk received a $272,270.74 Community Crossings grant from INDOT for paving and sidewalk improvements for Commerce, Washington and Lincoln streets. Paving work was slated for Highland Avenue and Barbier Street.

When bids were opened in January, the lowest number was $432,417 from Brooks Construction of Fort Wayne. That left a wide funding gap, but because of savings elsewhere Jay County Commissioners agreed to commit additional funding to help the Dunkirk work move forward.

Hansel said work will begin sometime after the Glass Days festival, which ends in early June, and be complete by Nov. 1. 

Council also approved adjusting the city’s spending structure for department supervisors and members of council. Department supervisors will now be able to make $500 purchases without department head approval and members of council will be able to make $1,000 purchases without having to seek approval from council, said clerk-treasurer Tina Elliott.  

In other business, council:

•Rescinded a motion from the Feb. 25 meeting that approved $1,195 for purchasing a nozzle for the sewage department. The motion was later re-approved for the purchase of the same nozzle, with a new total of $1,524.98.

•Heard from Johnson the park board meeting is rescheduled for 3:30 p.m. April 3 at the city building. Johnson said the meetings will be at 3:30 p.m. every fourth Wednesday of the month from now on.

•Was reminded the Crime Watch Chili Cook Off will be from 6 to 8 p.m. Wednesday at West Jay Community Center.

•Learned John Crosby resigned from the library board and Chip Phillips has been named to replace him.

•Approved donations from the mayor’s promotional fund, including a $500 donation for the Dunkirk Jr. League and a $200 donation to the local Boy Scouts Troop 205 to host a mother-son dance. The dance is from 6 to 8 p.m. May 3 at Dunkirk American Legion. Tickets are $10, with limited availability and can be purchased by calling (765) 228-3965.

•Heard from water superintendent Dace Mumbower, who suggested amending a city ordinance that details how water will be furnished to temporary users. Mumbower said he wants to add a clause to the ordinance that states water will not be available for purchase when temperatures are below 32 degrees.  

•Learned applications for summer employment at the pool and park department will be available at the city building this week.

•Heard Jessup say he’s going to look into options for funding a new fire truck for the city.

•Learned the street department will begin to fill potholes with various patches to see which one works best.

•Set up two payment plans for residents who had above-ground water leaks.

•Approved payment of claims totaling $224,331.03.