Council considering

DUNKIRK — Council members have some thinking to do.

Dunkirk Mayor Jack Robbins asked city council at its meeting Monday to take sometime to review information and consider a contract with Jay County Humane Society for animal control services as well as a possible increase in sewer and water rates for 2024.

Robbins presented a proposed contract from Jay County Humane Society, which is in the process of renovating the former Fastenal building on the west side of Portland as its new headquarters. The humane society has been handling animal control services for the county and City of Portland since 2021 following the retirement of longtime animal control officer Bill Fields. The new facility is part of a plan to provide animal control services for the county and all of its municipalities.

The contract proposal calls for Dunkirk to pay $18,000 annually for the first three years of animal control service and $15,000 annually each year after that.

Robbins asked council members to review the contract for discussion at an upcoming meeting.

Later in the meeting Monday, council president Jesse Bivens also encouraged council members to research animal control and come to the next meeting with their thoughts on the issue. Council member Bryan Jessup concurred, saying he had some initial concerns. (He mentioned service only being provided during limited hours.)

“I think this is a really big decision,” Jessup said.

Robbins noted that Dunkirk currently has about $17,000 budget annually to handle animal control.

The mayor also asked council members for their thoughts on 2024 water and sewer rates.

Bivens suggested council consider a small increase in order to avoid the need for a major increase down the road.

“In years past, we’ve not done it, and we’ve had to go a large portion,” said Bivens. “I think we need to stay with a 1%, 2%, 3% each year …”

The city’s five-year master utility plan calls for an increase of between 2% and 5%, Robbins said after the meeting.

In October 2022, city council approved two 2% increases for the city’s water and sewer rates. (One had been voted on but never put into effect for 2022 and the other was regularly scheduled for 2023 as part of the master utility plan.)

A 2% increase from the current rate would amount to an additional 47 cents per month to the minimum rate for water and 33 cents per month to the minimum rate for sewage.

Also Monday, Robbins noted that forms will be distributed to department heads this week in order for them to prepare information for the 2024 budget.

In other business, council:

•OK’d the following: an updated amount of $9,134 for Peerless Midwest for well work; the use of Dunkirk City Park and its concession and restroom facilities for the 3-on-3 DCP Tournament (previously known as the Zach Hummer Memorial Tournament) on Aug. 5; payment of claims totaling $205,797.03.

•Approved a $23,560 contract with Culy Contracting of Winchester to install two newly purchased fire hydrants. The hydrants being replaced date from the 1920s and do not have an accessible tap to allow city workers to handle the work in house.

•Heard from Robbins that he does not yet have a timeline on the replacement of awnings at the city building. At its previous meeting, council approved having Advanced Sign & Awning Fabrication of Muncie to handle the work at a cost of $3,575.