Elliott resigns

DUNKIRK — The city will be getting a new clerk-treasurer.

Following Monday's Dunkirk City Council meeting, Mayor Jack Robbins shared that clerk-treasurer Tina Elliott has turned in her resignation.

It is effective March 12.

“It is with great sadness and great jubilation that I am sending this notice,” said Elliott in the letter. “I appreciate all that allowed me to give back to the city that raised me. Dunkirk is my hometown and I took great pride in serving it much the same way it has served me.”

Robbins said Elliott has turned the letter in to Jay County clerk Jon Eads and that Jay County Democrat party chair Joel Bowers is also aware of the resignation.

By state law, such vacancies are filled by a caucus of the party of the departing officeholder. Such a caucus must be held within 30 days of the vacancy. (In cases in which fewer than two precinct committeemen are eligible to be members of a caucus, the party’s county chair fills the vacancy.)

Elliott became clerk-treasurer on Jan. 1, 2016, after being selected by Democrat precinct committeemen to replace Phonnie Kesler. Kesler resigned from the position during summer 2015, but her resignation came after the deadline to remove her name from that year’s election ballot. She was unopposed in the general election.

 (J.T. Phillips had served as interim clerk-treasurer following Kesler’s resignation.)

After serving Kesler’s four-year term, Elliott earned her own term when she defeated independent Kelly Watson and Republican Jay Miller in the 2020 general election. She was re-elected without opposition in November.

In other business:

•Council members tabled discussion of an ordinance regarding regulations for cutting streets for utility work or other projects. Dan Watson suggested a special meeting to discuss the proposed rules.

•Christy Curts issued a reminder that Jay County's Purdue Extension office is partnering with local fire departments to offer emergency preparedness for rural families training sessions in March. Dunkirk Fire Department will host a farm emergency management program on Tuesday, March 5. A first-aid session will follow on Thursday, March 7. Both sessions will run from 6 to 8:30 p.m.

•Robbins said demolition of the caretaker’s house in Dunkirk City Park is expected to begin soon.

•Council approved the following: payment of 340,886.99 in claims; a $14,000 additional appropriation for equipment to fill new self-contained breathing apparatus tanks that were purchased via an Assistance to Firefighters Grant through the Federal Emergency Management Agency; and vacating the alley to the west of Mt. Tabor Community Church, 216 W. Pleasant St.

•Donna Revolt reported that a resident has requested that the basketball courts at Dunkirk City Park be named in honor of Rick McFarland. (Robbins noted that such a change would be a park board decision.)

•Randy Murphy noted that new wayfinding signs have been installed to point toward the library/glass museum.

•Jesse Bivens congratulated water department superintendent Brock Farmer Brock Farmer on the birth of a son last week.