Festival leaders resign positions

Dunkirk’s Glass Days Committee is in need of volunteers after its leadership resigned.

Dunkirk City Council learned Monday that several of the committee members stepped down from their positions over the weekend.

City council member Jack Robbins said he was called into a meeting Saturday where he learned that at least four or five of the current members were resigning. He said he didn’t know if all the members were stepping down.

“From what I learned Saturday, we’ve got contracts signed and bands for next year already, so we’re going to have to do this pretty quick,” Robbins said. “We’re going to have to get someone in charge.”

Next year’s 54th Glass Days Festival is scheduled for May 27 through 30.

Robbins said Cindy Shepherd, who has led the committee for the last seven or eight years, will stick around to train newcomers and help the committee get back on its feet. But the years and the fundraising work have taken a toll on her and the other members, he added.

“They’re burned out,” said Robbins, the city’s mayor-elect.

In a Facebook post on the Dunkirk Glass Days Festival page Monday night, Shepherd wrote that her family and the rest of the committee had decided to resign.

“Myself and our committee could never thank our supporters enough for always believing in us. We feel we served the community and the festival well,” Shepherd wrote. “We are just tired and are ready to see what we can do outside of Dunkirk Glass Days.”

Last spring, Shepherd, her family and the committee were preparing for the festival's launch when a strong storm swept through the city. Heavy winds blew over tents and vendors’ tables, damaged the stage and even caused an injury — Shepherd’s husband Mike was hospitalized after being thrown 25 to 30 feet.

The committee had to work overtime to make repairs, move events and clean up the downtown area.

After Monday’s meeting, Robbins said anyone interested in joining the committee can contact him at (765) 768-7284 or [email protected].

“Glass Days is something we’ve got to keep in this town,” he said. “Now we just need to get some new blood. I think we can do it.”

In other business, council:

•Heard an update on the citywide cleanup event that took place Saturday. Mayor Gene Ritter told council that residents filled up two dumpsters with trash. The outgoing mayor said he hoped council would continue the event in the future.

•Approved a resolution to transfer $19,707 from the local option income tax to police overtime.

•Paid $2,820 to Utility Supply for additional meter pits.

•Heard from wastewater superintendent Larry Wright that council likely will have to deal with the question of who is responsible for replacing improperly installed taps — the city or the homeowner. A current problem involves one resident’s tap that was installed across another resident’s property.

•Paid $899.65 to J&K Communications to repair an antenna with wind damage at the fire station. Also paid $641.89 to Donnelly Safety for equipment for the new fire truck.

•Learned that the plan to donate the retired firetruck to South Adams Schools has hit a snag. By Indiana law, the city is required to offer volunteer fire departments in Jay County the right of first refusal to surplus fire equipment. Bryant’s fire department has indicated it may be interested in the truck.

•Learned from clerk-treasurer Tina Elliott that with the city’s addition of online bill pay at pay.gov, the shutoff deadline for those two months past due will now be at 4:30 p.m. on the 15th of each month. Previously, the deadline was 10 a.m. on the 16th.

•Were reminded that park surveys are available at the city building.