WJCC to celebrate

DUNKIRK — West Jay Community Center is ready to celebrate.

Pam Robbins, the community center’s administrator, visited Dunkirk City Council on Monday to report that the facility will host an open house beginning at 5:30 p.m. Wednesday, Nov. 8.

West Jay Community Center will be showing off its new flooring as well as other improvements that have been made.

The event will include remarks by community center board president Derek Rodgers at 6 p.m. Dunkirk native Mark Hardwick will be the featured speaker.

Hardwick, CEO of First Merchants Corporation, is a 1989 Jay County High School graduate famed for hitting the game-winning shot in the Patriots’ upset of top-ranked Richmond. He went on to play at Ball State University, averaging 9.4 points per game and shooting 44% from long distance during his senior season.

In July, Hardwick was selected as part of IBJ Media's Indiana 250. The list recognizes the state's "most influential and impactful business and community leaders, representing public and private companies, law firms, universities, not-for-profits, government and community organizations."

“We hope everyone will come and visit our facility,” said Robbins, noting that there will be some giveaways and light refreshments will be served.

Dunkirk Mayor Jack Robbins also reported that Dunkirk Industrial Development Corporation has sold the property at 102 through 108 N. Main St. to Glass Capital Chrysler. The organization took control of the property in late 2021 after the roof of the building that previously stood there collapsed. It is now an empty lot.

Robbins said Glass Capital has already started work at the site. He added that the dealership plans to pave the lot and install lighting in order to make it the staging site for its pick-up trucks.

In other business, council:

•Heard from Jay County community coordinator Nate Kimball that households will be able to apply for up to $25,000 through the county’s owner-occupied rehabilitation program, which is being funded with the $1 million the county is receiving through Indiana Office of Community and Rural Affairs for being a part of the state’s Hoosier Enduring Legacy Program (HELP) that assisted with planning for how to spend federal coronavirus relief funds through the American Rescue Plan Act. He said the application has been sent back to Indiana Office of Community and Rural Affairs for final approval. The application is expected to be open in mid-November.

•Learned from Robbins that a firm that expressed interest in rehabilitating the city’s trailer park on Ohio Street has backed out of the project. Griffin Schermer had visited council’s Sept. 25 meeting to present initial plans, but Robbins said that effort has since fallen through.

•Heard from Brock Farmer of the city’s wastewater department that a softball tournament Saturday brought in more than $1,200 for Toys for Tots in addition to two truckloads of toys. “The entire concession stand is completely filled with toys right now,” he said. Council thanked Farmer for his efforts.

•Tabled proposed changes to the city’s handbook on Bivens’ request.

•Approved a sponsorship of $100 for Dunkirk Community Food Pantry.

•Heard from clerk-treasurer Tina Elliott that a certificate of deposit for the wastewater department was kept at Citizens Bank with a new interest rate of $5.2% for 12 months. Council last month approved allowing Elliott to seek a better interest rate for the CD.

•Approved payment of claims totaling $842,340.35.