One year in

It’s been hectic.

But progress is being made.

That’s how Dunkirk Mayor Jack Robbins evaluates his first year in office.

The hectic nature of the year came not from the typical duties of being a mayor, but from dealing with the ongoing coronavirus pandemic. The goal, Robbins said, has been to work to make sure employees and residents are safe.

The city has fared well under the circumstances, said council member Jesse Bivens, giving a lot of the credit to Robbins.

“We’ve had so many things laid in front of us that were just roadblocks or speed bumps,” he said. “We’ve went through those fairly easy.”

As he looks at progress, Robbins cites the completion of the “Glass Capital of Indiana” mural, two Community Crossings grants that funded or will fund street and sidewalk projects, the addition of new businesses and Indiana Department of Transportation’s renovation of Indiana 167 (Main Street). He also mentioned the rehabilitation of the former railroad depot building, which will be on display to the public during an open house at 7 p.m. Jan. 27.

During his campaign, Robbins promised to act as a full-time mayor though the role is officially part-time. He said he’s tried to do that, and he appreciates the support he’s felt from Dunkirk residents.

“I don’t mind working all day long if I see people like that,” he said.

Among the changes he put into place early in his term was the implementation of a board of works and safety, something the city had not utilized in the past. It’s been an adjustment. Council members, including Robbins, had been used to overseeing a specific department.

Now they’re more tasked with taking a bigger picture view of city business with a focus on the budget and ordinances.

“I’m still getting used to running that way,” said Robbins, who now has board of works meetings at 6 p.m. ahead of council meetings at 7 p.m. on the second and fourth Monday of each month to help facilitate a smoother workflow. “I think it’s a program that will work but you have to have a couple years of people getting used to what they’re supposed to do.”

As for the challenges of being mayor, he said the biggest difference is the scope of the work. Instead of being in charge of a single department as he was while serving two terms on city council, now the buck stops with him.

Bivens applauded the mayor’s ability to be a good listener and work with stakeholders to find solutions.

A Dunkirk High School graduate, Robbins often says he bleeds green, the color of the Speedcats.

“I see that in him every day,” said Bivens. “It’s pretty reviving and joyful to follow him because he is a good leader and he involves everybody … That’s just been a blessing.”

As he looks to the remaining three years of his term, Robbins identifies two main goals.

One is to improve the city’s industrial park by extending utilities to make it “shovel-ready” and acquiring more land to allow for business expansion. (He said he’d consider the possibility of constructing a spec building as well.)

The other is to rehabilitate the Stewart Brothers Building and attract a business to the downtown site.

He said he’d like to get those things “done,” but then quickly caught himself.

“Not done,” Robbins said. “Get them full and expand, then keep going.”