Dunkirk working to fix sewer issues

DUNKIRK — A long workday for city employees Wednesday brought the Dunkirk one step closer to fixing issues with its stormwater lines.

Dunkirk Board of Works heard an update Thursday about a project to reroute stormwater lines.

It also learned that Dunkirk Police Department will be hiring again after the resignation of one of its officers.

Earlier this year, the city was warned by Indiana Department of Environmental Management that it was discharging too much treated water from the wastewater plant. Overages often occur after heavy periods of rain.

The city has been working to inspect the city’s stormwater lines for damage and infiltration, repairing as necessary.

Six employees from the wastewater, water and street departments worked for about 11 hours Wednesday to fix one such issue at Angle and Washington streets.

“We had two 8-inch stormwater lines that run on both sides of the street … and they were tying into a manhole and then going through a private property,” said Dunkirk Mayor Jack Robbins. “And the line on the private property went bad and so we had to reroute the two 8-inch lines into the main 24-inch stormwater line running down Angle Street.

“So we just eliminated the private property line.”

Last year’s purchase of a camera system to inspect the lines helped with the project, he noted.

“It’s going to be a lot better. It’s a problem we didn’t know we had,” Robbins said. “So our new camera system we got, by going in both sides, we saw exactly what the problem was, we could tell where it was blocked.”

The board also learned that police officer Adam Curtis, who was hired in the fall, has resigned. Dunkirk Police Department is now down two officers from its usual six and will be accepting applications to fill at least one of the positions.

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

•Approved the purchase of a R900 Belt Clip Receiver from Utility Supply Company to read meters. The cost of $2,700 will be split by the water and wastewater departments.

•Heard that the employee hired to work full-time for the parks department has been transferred to the street department. Robbins said the park board did not like the arrangement and will return to hiring part-time help.

•Learned that two new signs will be installed at each end of the city to help direct truck drivers. Also heard that the two welcome signs at each end of city will be updated by a local Boy Scout working towards his Eagle Scout rank.

•Heard that the city is making an effort to mow overgrown lawns at vacant homes.