First meeting serves as intro

DUNKIRK — At the first meeting of the city’s new board of public works and safety, its members were updated on the city’s departments and heard about upcoming projects. 

New Dunkirk Mayor Jack Robbins, chair of the board, also explained its purpose. The other members are Dunkirk City Council member Lisa Street and former mayor Dan Watson.

Previously, Dunkirk City Council’s five elected members each oversaw a specific city department. Now, those departments report to the board of public works and safety, which has the authority to approve purchases, make decisions for the departments and hire personnel for the police, street, water, wastewater and fire departments. Dunkirk City Council will still have to approve the claims docket to pay the bills, and will be in charge of any additional appropriations needed for the departments.

“I know there’s a little confusion,” Robbins said. “We will run day-to-day operations of all departments. Anything that’s been appropriated to your department, we will take care of.”

The board requested updates from each department head at Thursday’s meeting. All were present except fire chief Steve Fields, who was on duty. 

Police chief Dane Mumbower, who was recently reappointed to the position by Robbins, told the board that upcoming expenses for the department will be cameras for the building, a system for dispatchers to record phone calls and new weapons and body armor. He said he is working at reducing overtime expenses, though he pointed out that it is impossible to completely eliminate them.

Mike Kreps, superintendent of the street department, said he is ready for snow — whenever it decides to show up. The pickup truck and plow purchased by council last year have arrived, and there is plenty of salt on hand.

The water department is currently under the direction of assistant superintendent Brad Barger while superintendent Dace Mumbower is on leave. Barger told the board that Indiana will now conduct water loss audits to make sure water is not going unaccounted for. That will require monitoring water usage by city departments, especially the wastewater treatment plant. Barger also told the board he anticipates having to purchase a new pump, which could cost around $13,000, for the water plant soon.

The big issue this year at the wastewater treatment plant will be taking care of an overabundance of chloride, superintendent Larry Wright said.

He told the board that it can’t be treated with a chemical; the plant instead needs to figure out the source of the chloride and limit it.

The board voted to extend advertising by two weeks for the full-time position of a firefighter for the fire department. The city has only received one application during the previous two weeks, and will now post on social media as well.

In other business, the board:

•Heard that the next meeting will be on Feb. 13. 

•Approved reimbursement agreements for the Dunkirk Police Department’s two new police officers.

•Were reminded by Dane Mumbower that the city’s crime watch program meets at 7 p.m. the third Wednesday of each month at city hall.

•Paid Donley Safety $905 for safety equipment for the fire department.