Dunkirk hires two officers

DUNKIRK — The police department will soon have a full roster of officers.

Dunkirk Board of Works and Public Safety approved the hiring of two new police officers at its meeting Thursday, bringing the number of officers back up to six.

It also heard an update on the city’s effort to combat excess chloride at the wastewater treatment plant.

The police department received 13 applications for the open positions, police chief Dane Mumbower told the board. He said he was impressed by the number of applications, especially as other police departments face difficulties hiring.

“Departments across the nation are absolutely struggling to even get people to apply,” Mumbower said.

The two new hires are Tristan Midlick, who has previous law enforcement experience, and Joshua Schroder, who has worked in corrections.

Also on Thursday, the board heard that engineering firm Beam, Longest and Neff will visit the wastewater department Monday. BLN has been contracted to determine the source of excess chloride, which Indiana Department of Environmental Management has noted in the city’s wastewater discharge. The chloride could be coming into the plant from area businesses or could be caused by a problem at the plant itself. An engineer will test several local industries and will also inspect the wastewater treatment plant.

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

•Heard solutions to recent noise complaints about drivers playing loud music in their vehicles. Mumbower told the board that if residents can identify the driver, they can report the offending individual to the police department.

“The officers can act off of a witness statement because it’s a city ordinance violation,” Mumbower said.

•Discussed hooking up homes outside of the city limits to the city’s sewer system. According to city attorney Wes Schemenaur, residents outside of the city can connect to the system if they pay for the installation and maintenance of the sewer lines.

•Paid several claims: $2,354.04 to Utility Supply Company for supplies for the water department; $2,6040.50 to Right Way Automotive for air conditioning repairs for two police vehicles; and $1,579 to TNT Electronics for pager repairs for Redkey Fire Department. Also approved paying up to $1,500 to Rich’s Auto Repair for repairs to a police department car’s hydraulic valve lifter.