Dunkirk is OK'd to use funding on pool

Dunkirk may be the first to use its economic development dollars recently allocated by the county.

Jay County Council OK’d the City of Dunkirk to use $85,000 of its allocated $100,000 from wind farm economic development funds for repairs to its pool.

“We just need some updates,” explained Dunkirk Mayor Jack Robbins this morning. “It’s getting some age on it, it’s time for some updates, and we want to keep that pool. That’s (one of) our main attraction(s) to the city.”

The city plans to install a pool liner, which will cost about $60,000. Currently, the parks department has to paint the pool each year, but with a liner, it won’t need to paint it for about 10 years, Robbins said.

Other updates to the pool include a new grate system and replacing two lifeguard stands, all of which date back to 1969 when the pool was built.

Jay County Commissioners agreed Oct. 25 to use about $84,600 in federal American Rescue Plan Act monies for repairs to Dunkirk City Pool, but that decision was rescinded after Jay County Council on Nov. 11 approved a proposal to give economic development dollars from Bitter Ridge Wind Farm to municipalities. (Dunkirk and Portland will receive $100,000, and Redkey, Pennville, Bryant and Salamonia will receive $50,000. Each municipality must seek county approval before it is given its amount.)

Plans were for Dunkirk to use part of its economic development allocation for its pool.

(As discussed in a joint session between council and commissioners Monday, the American Rescue Plan Act dollars can now instead be used for several other countywide needs, such as child care, housing or a new Jay Emergency Medical Service/Jay County Health Department/Jay County Coroner’s Office building.)

Council’s OK to the pool repairs came after Jay County auditor Anna Culy brought up a request from the city to use its funds for park improvements. (Dunkirk is also hoping to purchase new playground equipment. If it is able to make that purchase before Jan. 1, it would save $5,600. Culy noted she’s not sure the county will be able to allocate that money until the beginning of the year.)

Also Wednesday, council member Ted Champ informed officials who were not present at the meeting Monday about council’s decision to allot up to $700,000 in American Rescue Plan Act funds toward renovations to the former Judge Haynes Elementary School building. Plans are to convert it into a new child care facility.

The Portland Foundation is heading the effort and will handle as much as $500,000 in architectural and engineering costs as well as in equipment and supplies. The City of Portland also heard a request Monday — it has yet to make a decision — for contributing $325,000 toward the renovations.

Council approved the 2022 salary ordinance. As detailed in the document, county employees will be receiving a raise between 2% and 6% next year, depending on their job classification. Health insurance costs will also increase, mostly on the county’s end, with Jay County covering $100,000. Insurance premiums for employees will go up about $2 per pay period.

Also Monday, council president Jeanne Houchins was appointed to the advisory committee for the IU Health Jay Hospital Legacy Endowment Fund. (Houchins was not at the meeting, so council noted if she would decline the role, it would appoint council member Ted Champ to the role.)

In other business, council members Ted Champ, Mike Rockwell, Faron Parr, Matt Minnich, Ray Newton and Harold Towell, absent Houchins:

•Appointed Carolyn Journay to another four-year term on Jay County Public Library Board. Her term will end in 2025.

•Made the following additional appropriations: $104,107.26 in economic development funds for Jay County Development Corporation projects and the towns of Salamonia, Bryant, Pennville and Redkey; $36,968 from a grant for a custodian at Jay County Jail; $10,000 for overtime wages at Jay County Jail/Jay County Sheriff’s Office; $9,154 from auction revenue for a replacement sheriff’s deputy vehicle; $4,682.70 for custodian wages; $3,500 from a grant for new tires and office equipment at Jay County Health Department; $1,500 in donations for resident activities at Jay County Country Living; $998 in donations for coronavirus supplies at Jay County Emergency Management Agency

•Made the following transfers for wages: $40,145.04 for Jay Emergency Medical Service; $13,529 for Jay County Jail; $6,800 for Jay County Surveyor’s Office; $2,130 for Jay County Auditor’s Office; $1,425 for Purdue Extension Office

•Made the following additional transfers: $4,200 for employer and group health insurance at Jay County Building and Planning; $450 for a communications contract for Jay County EMA; $268 for training at Jay County Community Corrections; $200 for gas, oil and lube at Jay Emergency Medical Service.