Dunkirk making progress

DUNKIRK — Efforts to reduce chloride at the wastewater treatment plant have been promising so far.

Dunkirk Board of Works and Safety heard an update on the continuing work to bring the plant into compliance with state regulations.

The plant has been producing wastewater with high levels of chloride, which can pollute bodies of water. Excess chloride can’t be treated with a chemical, so the city has been working to determine whether the chloride is coming from area businesses or results from a problem at the plant itself.

While the city has been testing local factories, it has also changed its pumping procedure at the plant. Last month, the board heard that superintendent Larry Wright had increased pumping to two times a day instead of just once.

Dunkirk Mayor Jack Robbins said Thursday that it appears this change is working, with chloride levels reducing.

“If this keeps happening, I think we might have found the problem — it’s happening internally at the plant,” Robbins said. “But it’s going to take another month or two to really tell if that’s the big problem. We’re still testing all the factories too.”

In other business, board members Robbins and Lisa Street, absent Dan Watson:

•Signed a $3,500 agreement with Fleis & VandenBrink to update the city’s road ratings. It is required to remain eligible for the Indiana Department of Transportation Community Crossings grants.

•Approved a payment of $1,942.18 to Rich’s Auto Repair for steering rack and pinion repairs for the Dunkirk Police Department’s 2013 Ford Explorer.

•Heard that the street department is continuing to trim trees throughout the city.

•Learned that the sewage department is working to investigate and address a blockage on Moore Avenue.