Council approves EDIT plan

The five-year plan for the city’s economic development dollars has been approved.

Dunkirk City Council heard and OK’d the plan for the city’s share of the economic development income tax (EDIT) draw at its meeting Monday.

Council members also discussed utility adjustments for charges incurred during the coronavirus pandemic.

The county collects a percentage of residents’ adjusted gross income, which is then disbursed to its municipalities and earmarked for development projects. Every five years, Jay County Development Corporation updates the Jay County Economic Development Capital Improvement Plan detailing how these EDIT funds can be used.

After hosting a public hearing Monday in Dunkirk, Jay County Development Corporation executive director Travis Richards presented the proposed 2021-25 plan to council.

According to projections (calculated before the coronavirus pandemic), Dunkirk is expected to receive $78,750 each year in EDIT funds, which is 8.2% of Jay County’s total EDIT draw.

As laid out in the plan, the EDIT money can be used on spec buildings, the development of industrial land, the acquisition of land for industrial, residential and commercial use, investment in the downtown area, revolving loans for area businesses, blight eradication, support of the Dunkirk Industrial Development Corporation and as a match for grants such as Indiana Department of Transportation’s Community Crossings program.

“We are not going to do all these things in a five-year period. We know that,” Richards said. “We just want to make sure these are broad enough that we’re not going to miss any opportunities over the next five years. So this just tells us what we are allowed to do.”

Richards recommended that the city direct the money to Dunkirk Industrial Development Corporation (DIDC), which in turn can oversee economic development for the city.

“Now, the beauty of committing to DIDC is, if DIDC is in agreement, we can do whatever we want with that money that falls in those eight guidelines,” he said. “We don’t have to specify X amount for this project, X amount for this project, it makes it a lot easier for us.”

Council approved Dunkirk’s portion of the improvement plan as presented.

Also discussed Monday were amendments to the city’s water ordinance to notify landlords of their tenants’ overdue bills and allow for adjustments related to the pandemic.

Roy Bunch, who owns several rental properties in the city, received a water bill close to $5,000 when one of his tenants recently moved out. There was an above-ground faucet leak on the property that was not fixed, resulting in the large bill. Normally, the city would have shut off the water for nonpayment; however, Indiana Gov. Holcomb’s executive order prohibited utility shutoffs for several months during the coronavirus pandemic.

Bunch told council he was not aware of the leak or the large bill until his tenant moved out. He asked if there was any recourse for the amount owed.

Currently, the city ordinance only allows for adjustments on underground water leaks. However, council members noted the unusual circumstances and decided to look into changing the ordinance to allow for adjustments in special cases, such as a declared state of emergency. Council approved a payment plan for the bill while it works on amending the utility ordinance. It also decided to begin notifying landlords when their tenants are past due on utility payments.

In other business, council members Jesse Bivens, Tom Johnson, Lisa Street, Bryan Jessup and Kevin Hamilton:

•Decided to switch back to twice-monthly council meetings, which will take place at 7 p.m. on the second and fourth Mondays of each month. The change will go into effect in November. Clerk-treasurer Tina Elliott noted that the once-monthly meeting schedule was interfering with her ability to pay bills on time, as they require council approval.

•Heard from Pam Robbins, treasurer of the Dunkirk Public Library Board of Trustees, who informed council that the library is planning extensive interior renovations, including the addition of a conference room. She asked council and Dunkirk residents to write letters of support for the project, which will be used for grant applications. Residents can drop off or send their letters to the library over the next month.

•Gave final approval to the 2021 budget, which is proposed at $1,760,045.

•Heard that the Dunkirk Board of Works and Public Safety had selected a bid from Fuqua Chrysler Dodge Jeep RAM of Dunkirk for a new 2021 Dodge Durango police vehicle. The cost, which includes lights, sirens and other accessories, is not to exceed $36,000. It will be paid for out of the city’s Local Option Income Tax fund, which currently has $178,183.70.

•Approved water bill adjustments for a Dunkirk resident and for the Boy Scout Cabin for underground leaks.

•Set trick-or-treat hours from 5:30 to 8 p.m. Oct. 31. A trunk-or-treat event will be hosted from 5:30 to 8 p.m. Oct. 31 at the Dunkirk City Park; prior to the event, Dunkirk Crime Watch will have a costume contest at 5:15 p.m. When organizing the event, Elliott consulted with Jay County Health Department about pandemic safety regulations.

•Amended the utility ordinance to state that water bills must be paid within 28 days or the utility will be shut off. Last month, council decided to enforce the one-month due date for utility bills; previously, residents were given two months before shut-off.

•Heard that Street, who recently sold her home, will have to resign on Nov. 26 if she is unable to find a home to rent within her district by then. She told her fellow council members she consulted with the Jay County Election Board.

•Approved transfers of $17,000 for the purchase of new playground equipment and $6,000 for a new roof for the Depot Park pavilion.

•Paid claims of $29,608.53. Also approved payments of $11,300 to Mantz Electric of Marion for rebuilding a pump at the water plant and $9,700 to Beam, Longest and Neff for consultation on the wastewater treatment plant’s chloride issue.