Dunkirk adjusts police OT

DUNKIRK — One ordinance change earned quick approval.

Another will take some time to consider.

Dunkirk City Council on Monday approved an ordinance amending the city’s personnel policy for police overtime and received a copy of a potential ordinance to regulate utilities that seek to make cuts in city streets.

The police overtime change came as a result of updates to the city’s handbook last year. The handbook updates indicated police do not get overtime until they have worked 43 hours. Mayor Jack Robbins said New Focus, which worked with the city on the handbook, explained that 43 is the standard set for police officers by federal law.

Council members at that time agreed they would prefer to continue to have overtime start at 40 hours. Monday’s ordinance approval formalized that policy, with council members Jesse Bivens, Christy Curts, Dan Watson, Donna Revolt and Randy Murphy unanimously in favor.

City attorney Wes Schemenaur also presented council with a draft of an ordinance that would require a permit for anyone altering the street’s surface or installing/repairing above-ground or below-ground utilities in the right of way. It lays out a permit application process, fees, fines, bond requirements and an indemnity agreement.

The topic was discussed multiple times last year as gas lines were being replaced in the city.

Schemenaur said the proposed ordinance is modeled after similar requirements that are in place in Albany and Muncie. He encouraged council members to review the document and suggest potential changes to adjust the ordinance to best fit Dunkirk’s needs.

Also Monday, Mayor Jack Robbins laid out some goals for the year. He said he’d like to see all ordinances, including the city’s zoning codes, updated by the end of 2024. 

He added that he’d like to see livestreaming and recording equipment in operation by the end of the year. (State law will require that all meetings be livestreamed and recorded beginning July 1, 2025.)

In other business, council:

•Heard from Curts that the city’s fire department will host a chili supper and gun raffle from 4 to 7 p.m. Feb. 3. The charge for the supper is $6.

•Learned from Curts that new self-contained breathing apparatus units have been delivered to the fire department. All of the county’s fire departments partnered to receive an $815,545 Assistance to Firefighters Grant through the Federal Emergency Management Agency to purchase the equipment. Curts added that a goal for 2024 is to work toward the purchase of a new tanker truck.

•Heard compliments from Robbins as all five council members attended training last week through Accelerate Indiana Municipalities.

•Approved the following: payment to Peerless Midwest for rehabilitation work on pump No. 1 at the water treatment plant at a cost of $19,872; the purchase of chlorine monitors from BL Anderson for the water treatment plant at a cost of $8,536; payment of claims total $219,448.16.