Ordinance updates proposed

DUNKIRK — The city is considering some changes to its water ordinance.

City attorney Wes Schemenaur presented a proposed update to the water ordinance to Dunkirk City Council during its final meeting of 2024 on Monday.

Schemenaur explained that the proposed ordinance updates were put together in consultation with the city’s water department and clerk-treasurer Kara Lowe. 

“Some of these haven’t been changed in a long time,” he said. “Some of these fees are pretty old.”

He reviewed the key additions and changes, which include:

•Adding a $20 fee for those who fail to meet for a scheduled appointment with water department staff

•Instituting a meter antennae replacement of $8 for those that are lost or damaged.

•Increasing the after-hours service call fee to $50 from the current $35

•Creating a $100 tampering fee in addition to the cost of repairs and any water usage for anyone who accesses water pits without authorization.

•Adding a temporary user fee of $50 plus the cost of water

•Changing to a $50 disconnection fee for late payment

•Implementing a $1,500 fee for fire hydrant tampering. The section regarding fire hydrants would also include a requirement for a fire hydrant use agreement. There would be a $1,000 fee for anyone who doesn’t use an approved air-gap back-flow device.

Schemenaur explained that there was a situation that came up with a resident who accessed a fire hydrant without authorization.

“That’s what brought a lot of this on,” said council president Jesse Bivens. “That one is really important.”

Schemenaur asked council members Dan Watson, Christy Curts, Randy Murphy and Bivens, absent Donna Revolt, to review the ordinance and follow up with any questions or concerns. Council members can then discuss the proposed updates at their Jan. 13 meeting and potentially vote on the ordinance changes at their Jan. 27 meeting.

Also Monday, council approved the purchase of a John Deere Gator utility vehicle from Reynolds Farm Equipment of Muncie at a total cost of $12,600 for the city’s parks department using federal coronavirus relief funds through the American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA). 

It also approved purchasing new electric heaters for the city building at a cost of $5,331.58 and spending the city’s remaining $3,714.95 in ARPA funds on the purchase of water meters. (All ARPA funds were required to be allocated by the end of this year and spent by the end of 2026.)

In other business, council:

•Approved the purchase of a John Deere Gator utility vehicle from Reynolds Farm Equipment of Muncie at a total cost of $12,600 for the city’s parks department using federal coronavirus relief funds through the ARPA. It also approved purchasing new electric heaters for the city building at a cost of $5,331.58 and spending the city’s remaining $3,714.95 in ARPA funds on the purchase of water meters. (All ARPA funds were required to be allocated by the end of this year and spent by the end of 2026.)

•Learned from Robbins that the city plans to apply for Community Crossings grant funding through Indiana Department of Transportation. The application will be for paving Pleasant Street on the west side of the city, Fourth Street, D Street and Lincoln Avenue between Main and Angle streets. Choice One Engineering will handle the application. The city also plans to pave some alleys in the downtown area. 

•Heard Robbins explain that the city’s five-year master utility plan called for looping current dead-end lines on Elm, Hickory and Main streets as well as installing a new line along Blackford Avenue. He has reached out to Kenna Consulting regarding the project.

•Discussed vacating an east-west alley between Hoover and Indiana streets. Schemenaur said it was thought that the alley had been vacated decades ago but it was not recorded at the courthouse.

•Heard from Robbins that the city has a position open for a full-time firefighter.

•Approved the transfer of funds as needed to avoid having negative fund balances at the end of the year.

•OK’d the transfer of $5,000 back to the sewage department to fix an overcorrection made earlier this year.

•Approved the payment of claims totaling $164,979.08.