Dunkirk projects move forward

DUNKIRK — Projects are moving forward for a walking trail, improvements to the wastewater treatment plant and repairs to the police department roof.

Dunkirk City Council on Monday approved the various expenditures, including funding to pave the walking trails on the east side of Dunkirk City Park.

Mayor Jack Robbins told council the trails have been cut and filled with stone on the east side of the park. The next step is to have the trail paved, he said, presenting a quote of $35,090 from Brooks Construction of Fort Wayne.

Council members Jesse Bivens, Bryan Jessup, Tom Johnson, Christy Curts and Kevin Hamilton unanimously approved awarding the contract to Brooks.

They also approved having two new pumps in stalled at the wastewater treatment plant by Covalen of Indianapolis at a cost of $35,620.

Robbins explained that when changes were made to the wastewater treatment plant in 2012 it was modified to no longer recirculate water. That modification, along with a leak that has since been fixed, had contributed to the plant using more than 100,000 gallons of water daily. He noted that the city has been getting cited by Indiana Department of Environmental Management for the water use at both the water treatment plant and the wastewater treatment plant.

The pumps to be installed will recirculate the water and thus greatly reduce usage.

Also approved Monday was a total of $29,700 in repairs at Dunkirk Police Department. The city hired Goodhew's Roofing & Metals, Ridgeville, to repair and cap a wall and to install a new roof.

Robbins said the building currently has three leaks. Johnson indicated it has been about 20 years since the current roof was put on the building.

Also Monday, council approved ordinances to increase the city’s water and sewer rates each by 3% beginning Jan. 1. It also approved the city’s 2024 salary ordinance with 4% raises for employees.

In other business, council:

•Was presented with information regarding regulations in place in other municipalities regarding required street repairs after roads are cut for utility work. The topic has been brought up frequently as gas lines are being replaced in the city with more work planned for next year. Schemenaur referenced Muncie, which has a policy of complete repaving being required if four or more cuts are made in a single block.

•Heard the following from Robbins:

    —Rock and Kathy Fuqua have requested a Downtown Revitalization loan for work they are doing on the former pet store at 128 S. Main St., adjacent to the police department. Council plans to review the request at its next meeting.

    — The sidewalk along Highland Avenue from West Jay Elementary School to Dunkirk City Park is substantially complete. A walkthrough will be held Thursday to determine if any additional work needs to be completed. A project to put a new roof on the office at the sewage treatment plant is also complete.

    — A project to put a new roof on the office at the sewage treatment plant is also complete.

    —Work on retention basins and sewer lines as part of a $600,000 stormwater project on the south side of the city is underway.

•Received a packet of information from Schemenaur regarding golf cart rules in various surrounding communities. Council members last month began a conversation about the possibility of implementing a golf cart permitting system after they expressed concerns about safety.

•Briefly discussed a request from Donald and Kathy Miskinis to vacate an alley between their properties at 350 W. Pleasant St. and 349 W. Washington St. There are water and sewer lines along the alley, which will require the city to have an easement in case of the need for repairs. Schemenaur said he would start the paperwork for the process of vacating the alley.

•Approved a series of water bill adjustments for residents who experienced leaks. Also approved was a payment plan Chyanne McCowan and her father Randy after a leak in the house resulted in a water bill of nearly $3,000. Council also agreed to split the cost with Wilburn Neal for hiring a contractor to fix a water issue.

•Approved payment of claims totaling $862,596.54.