Dunkirk to pursue housing

DUNKIRK — The city plans to pursue a downtown housing project.

The mayor hopes to hire a familiar face to help with the effort.

Dunkirk City Council on Monday gave Mayor Jack Robbins approval to pursue housing for a city-owned parcel downtown and hire former Jay County Community Development director Ami Huffman to assist with seeking funding for such a project.

Robbins explained that the city needs housing.

“We’re out,” he said. “I think everybody knows that.”

Dunkirk Industrial Development Corporation (DIDC) owns the property at 102 through 108 N. Main St. It took control of the property — it sits just north of the railroad tracks — in late 2021 after the roof on the building that previously stood there collapsed.

The mayor added that he isn’t sure what type of housing will best fit the property, but that with DIDC meeting next week he wants to get the process started.

“I’d like to see something up on that empty lot,” said Robbins.

He noted that utilities are all in place for the property.

“I think this is a good idea,” said council president Jesse Bivens.

Council members Bryan Jessup, Tom Johnson, Kevin Hamilton, Christy Curts and Bivens unanimously approved moving forward with pursuing a housing project.

The property was the former site of Watson’s Sporting Goods. The building that previously stood there had also housed a barber shop and Bennett’s bar.

Huffman spent 15 years in the Jay County Community Development role before resigning from the job in November 2020. She had come under fire from some in the community because of a comment made on Facebook regarding an “American Patriots Day” event in Portland. She now works as a grant writer and administrator for Open Door Health Services.

During her time in community development in Jay County, she worked with Dunkirk on Stellar Communities efforts — the city was a finalist in 2015 — and various Indiana Department of Transportation Community Crossings grants and multiple rounds of blight elimination projects.

“I think she’s did Dunkirk a good job and she’s more than willing to help us find some funding for this,” said Robbins.

Council members also approved waiving fees and using the city’s electronic sign for advertising for Brenda Brumfield to organize a community-wide rummage sale Aug. 11 through 13.

Brumfield made the requests, explaining to council that she had not seen anyone else in the process of organizing such an event. She chose the dates to coincide with the start of school and to work in tandem with Redkey Gas Boom Days on the same weekend.

She said she would create a list of those participating and advertise it in hopes of bringing in shoppers.

In other business, council:

•Heard from Robbins that he expects to get a list of planned 2024 gas line work in the city from Centerpoint soon and will pass that information on to council and the public. He emphasized the need to know plans so as not to pave streets only to have them torn up during gas line improvements.

•Learned from Robbins that the city will be storing a former bank clock. Dunkirk Historical Society has expressed interest in utilizing the clock. (It had been at Minnetrista in Muncie.)

•Approved the following: Contracting with Advanced Sign & Awning Fabrication of Muncie for replacement of awnings on the city building at a cost of $3,575; Continuing a payment plan for Dorothy Lewis, who had a $2,700 water bill following a leak;

•Learned from Robbins that inmates from Jay County Jail have been working on cleaning out ditches around Dunkirk City Park and may also be painting curbs in the downtown area.

•Was reminded that there will be a Jeep show Saturday led by Glass Capital Chrysler on Commerce Street.

•Heard from Robbins that Dunkirk City Pool opened Sunday. The facility is scheduled to be open from noon to 6 p.m. tonight and Friday, noon to 8 p.m. Thursday and noon to 11 p.m. Saturday. Quarter night will be from 6 to 8 p.m. Thursday and DJ night will be from 7 to 11 p.m. Saturday at a cost of $5. Daily admission is $3. Robbins noted that pool hours will be updated on the Dunkirk Indiana City Park page on Facebook.

•Approved $305,195.02 in claims and $48.78 for mileage related to purchasing supplies for the city pool. (It also approved mileage necessary for additional pool supplies through the summer season.)