Dunkirk to hire officers

DUNKIRK — City police will be getting some reinforcements.

Dunkirk City Council and Dunkirk Board of Works on Monday approved hiring two part-time police officers to help with staffing issues.

The city’s ordinance allows for a police department staff of six. The department had five officers before letting one go early this month. With another of its officers expected to head to Indiana Law Enforcement Academy in the coming weeks, the department would have been down to just three.

“We can’t run the city with three,” Mayor Jack Robbins said at Monday’s council meeting.

The board of works — Jesse Bivens, Dan Watson and Robbins — and city council — Bryan Jessup, Kevin Hamilton, Christy Curts and Bivens, absent Tom Johnson — both approved hiring two part-time officers at a rate of $30 per hour as needed until full-time officers can be brought on staff. (The hiring is contingent on possible further board action to amend the salary ordinance to include the part-time positions, if required.) Robbins said the part-time officers will cover weekend duties.

Both the board of works and council also approved the purchase of a new truck for the street department and a 2% increase in fire protection rates for area townships.

The new truck, which is being purchased from Moser Motors at a cost of $42,683, will replace the department’s 2001 vehicle. It will be paid for from the 2022 budget, with delivery expected during the first half of next year.

The fire protection contracts were approved for Richland and Knox townships in Jay County, Jackson Township in Blackford County and Niles Township in Delaware County. The new totals come in at $5,610, $1,721, $3,264 and $2448, respectively.

Council also handled several issues related to the city’s parks, including approval for tearing down the caretaker’s house. The house has been vacant for about a year, and the park board voted to have it torn down. (That decision required council approval.)

Park Board member Eva Kreps indicated that plans no longer call for a park caretaker, but rather for those duties to be handled by the city’s street and parks department. She said the house is in disrepair.

Council approved having city employees handle the demolition. (The board of works had previously approved $3,000 for dumpsters for the debris.)

Council members also gave the OK for the city to host a fall festival for Halloween on the afternoon of Saturday, Oct. 30, at Dunkirk City Park. The city’s trunk-or-treat event will follow from 6 to 8 p.m. (The city’s public trick-or-treating hours will also be from 6 to 8 p.m. Oct. 30.)

At the board of works meeting, Mike Kreps of the city’s street department informed the board that Dunkirk City Pool has been drained. Painting and maintenance will follow.

Robbins noted that the city has approached Jay County Commissioners for funding for a new liner, water pump, lifeguard stations and other equipment totaling about $85,000. That request was discussed at the commissioners’ meeting earlier in the day (see related story), but no decision was made.

In other business, council:

•Was informed that the city will hold its public hearing on the 2022 budget at its Sept. 13 meeting. The budget is then slated for adoption at the Sept. 27 meeting.

•Heard public hearings on the city’s five-year park plan are slated for 5 p.m. Sept. 8 and 5 p.m. Sept. 22.

•Learned from Robbins that the city has received the first half of its coronavirus relief funding through the American Rescue Plan Act, about $255,000. He also noted that the city hopes to hear about its State Water Infrastructure Fund grant application this week. If that funding is approved, it could combine with the rescue plan funding to allow the city to move forward with wastewater, water and stormwater projects.

•Heard questions from resident Danny Monroe regarding animal control. He was informed that city ordinance does allow for officers to shoot dogs if they are being aggressive and are a threat to safety. “It’s a last resort,” said city attorney Wes Schemenaur. He was also told that cats are not allowed to roam and that the city’s animal control officer will seek to handle such situations if a specific complaint is filed.

•Approved paying the following: $5,567 to Michael Todd & Company for new signs in the area of West Jay Elementary School; $1,512 for the border around the new playground equipment at Dunkirk City Park; $7,287.40 to Culy Contracting for water line work.

•OK’d the transfer of $1,240 to the sidewalk project fund from the salt fund.