Dunkirk will take Quincy streets

DUNKIRK — Miscommunication dating back more than 20 years had some city streets on the verge of being up for sale.

They will instead be dedicated to the city.

Dunkirk City Council on Monday agreed to pay back taxes and accept ownership of the streets in Quincy Place.

Council also held its public hearing on the 2024 budget.

City attorney Wes Schemenaur told council that the Quincy Place streets — Hart Drive, Shrack Lane and Merry Court — were up for tax sale but were subsequently pulled. He explained that the issue dates back to the early 2000s when there was discussion amongst Dunkirk City Council to accept ownership of the streets, but their dedication to the city was tabled and never voted on.

The Biggs Group, Decatur, which built the development had unknowingly continued to pay taxes on the streets until they sold the final properties in Quincy Place. With Biggs no longer owning any lots or houses in Quincy Place, the taxes on the streets then went unpaid. That led to them being set for inclusion in the tax sale.

Schemenaur said the solution now is for the city to pay the $4,639.81 to settle the back taxes and then accept ownership of the streets. (He noted that the city has already been taking care of street and utility maintenance in the area on the northeast side of the city.) He said he has been in contact with Biggs representatives and the firm has agreed to sign the dedication of the streets to the city.

Council members Jesse Bivens, Bryan Jessup, Christy Curts, Tom Johnson and Kevin Hamilton unanimously approved paying the taxes and accepting ownership of the streets.

Also Monday, council looked at Dunkirk’s budget for 2024 that has been advertised at $2.74 million, up from $2.05 million. It includes $1.63 million in the general fund, $510,698 in American Rescue Plan Act spending, $312,01 in the motor vehicle highway fund and $90,000 in economic development income tax.

Jessup questioned the increase while noting that the bulk of it comes in the form of spending federal coronavirus relief funds from the American Rescue Plan Act.

(The funding is being used on the detention pond and storm sewer project that is currently under construction.) Removing those funds, the budget increase is about $178,000 (about 8.7%) from the current year.

Mayor Jack Robbins and clerk-treasurer Tina Elliott said the increase comes mostly from employee raises and increasing costs across the board.

The only question about the budget during the public hearing came from Tracy Layman, Dunkirk Police Pension Board secretary, who asked about a recent change the pension board approved. Robbins and Elliott said the information has been forwarded to the state board of accounts for its review.

Council members passed the budget unanimously on first reading. They will vote on final adoption at their Sept. 26 meeting.

Robbins also reported that Broad Street is now open after it had been closed for storm sewer work. The project has progressed to A Street, moving toward Rick Drive and Second Street. Once storm sewer line work is complete, construction on two detention ponds will begin.

In other business, council:

•Heard from Jay County Development Corporation executive director Travis Richards regarding the state’s Regional Economic Acceleration and Development Initiative (READI) 2.0 program, which offers funding for projects with a focus on population growth, income growth, educational attainment, housing and increasing childcare capacity, innovation activities and private investment. The East Central Region, which encompasses eight counties including Jay and Blackford, is in the process of gathering public input to put together its application. Regional applications will be due in February.

•OK’d a request from Donald and Kathy Miskinis to vacate an alley between their properties at 350 W. Pleasant St. and 349 W. Washington St. The agreement to vacate the alley includes a restriction on building structures over existing utilities and an easement to allow the city access for utility work.

•Following a question from Johnson, agreed to discuss a possible golf cart ordinance for the city at its next meeting.

•Was introduced to Nate Kimball, who Jay County Commissioners hired recently through East Central Indiana Regional Planning District as the county’s new community coordinator.

•Tabled discussion of the updated city handbook. It will be discussed at the next meeting.

•Heard a presentation from Stephanie Patterson of Jay County Drug Prevention Coalition regarding its various programs. The organization will host Hopefest from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. Saturday at Jay Community Center. A Parent Cafe is scheduled for 4:30 to 6 p.m. Sept. 18 at Jay County Public Library and a Creative Arts for Veterans event from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. Sept. 23 at the Jay County Campus of Arts Place. The organization offers a variety of other service. For more information, visit jcdpc.org.

•Learned from Robbins that the project to install a sidewalk along Highland Avenue from West Jay Elementary School to Dunkirk City Park is complete.

•Heard a request from Johnson to replace a light bulb and adjust the alignment of lights to properly illuminate the flags in the center circle at Dunkirk City Park.

•Approved the following: payment of claims totaling $116,342.37.