Dunkirk awards contract

DUNKIRK — A contractor has been chosen for the sanitary sewer rehabilitation project at Layne Addition.
At the recommendation of Mitch Hansel of Fleis & Vandenbrink Engineering, Dunkirk City Council on Monday chose Insituform Technologies of Indianapolis for the project.
Hansel also suggested ways to alleviate flooding in the city, and council granted permission for community development director Ami Huffman to begin the process for an Office of Community and Rural Affairs grant.
The Layne Addition sewer project will include installing trenchless pipe lining, sanitary sewer pipe and lateral clean-outs. Insituform was the low bidder at $351,374.90.
Mayor Gene Ritter, who was absent from the meeting, will need to sign the contract for the project.
“They do this all over the country,” Hansel said. “They’re one of the biggest sewer lining companies …”
Hansel suggested creating a regional detention pond near the intersection of Washington Street and the railroad tracks to stop water from backing up in the storm sewer and causing flooding in the city. He also suggested a curtain drain with a 1- to 2-foot deep trench. Dirt from the pond would be piled behind the trench to hold the water before it goes into the storm sewer.
The city doesn’t currently own the land suggested for the pond site.
Board members Tom Johnson, Jesse Bivens, Bryan Jessup, Jack Robbins and Lisa Street agreed to have Huffman apply for a $30,000 Indiana Office of Community and Rural Affairs study grant. It would pay for video work for some of the city’s sewer lines.
In other business, council:
•Agreed to advertise for summer help for the water and wastewater department. The city is looking for someone to work 10 hours per week for each department. Council also agreed future seasonal hiring should be up to the department head and supervisor.
•Were given an updated curfew ordinance by city attorney Wes Schemenaur to review.
•Agreed to pay $1,078.30 for start-up costs for Dunkirk Community Pool.
•Heard a food give-away will be held from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. on July 20 at West Jay Community Center.
•Paid $885 to United Piping for a flow meter discharge pump for the wastewater treatment plant; $241 for shipping charges to Utility Supply Company for riser rings for manhole covers for paving; and $865 to fix an overhead door for the street department building.
•Agreed to a contract with Waste Management of Muncie for 2017 for trash pick-up in the city. The rate includes a 3 percent increase from this year and will be $11.08 per container.
•Heard that $1,430 was made at a fundraising dinner at Mount Tabor Church. The money will be used to purchase toddler swings and playground equipment for Dunkirk City Park.
•Heard a special distribution local option income tax (LOIT) update public meeting will be held at 6:30 p.m. June 27.
•Made a water bill adjustment of $188.42 for Bill Pearson and tabled one for a rental for Kent Taylor and one for Kyle Cook.
•Paid claims totaling $201,178.37.