Contract approved

DUNKIRK — The city hired a firm to handle issues at its wastewater treatment plant.

It’s still looking for options to update its master utility plan.

Dunkirk City Council on Monday approved a contract with Jones and Henry for work related to the wastewater treatment plant and tabled the master utility plan to get more information.

Council member Dan Watson, who oversees the wastewater department, noted that the city has had continued issues with chloride and phosphorus being discharged from the plant.

Jones and Henry, a Fort Wayne engineering firm, proposed a contract not to exceed $25,280 to update ordinances to set limits and penalties for phosphorus and chloride discharge. With no limits currently in place, the city is unable to do much to control the amount of those chemicals that are coming into the plant from users of the city’s sewage system.

The company will also develop a plan for treating the wastewater that comes through the plant to make sure levels of discharge of phosphorus and chloride are below the legal limits. If the city continues to fail to meet those restrictions it could risk fines from Indiana Department of Environmental Management.

Council members Jesse Bivens, Christy Curts, Randy Murphy, Donna Revolt and Watson unanimously approved the contract. (It had been OK’d by the city’s board of works earlier in the evening.)

Dunkirk Mayor Jack Robbins also explained that the city’s existing master utility plan runs through September 2024. He said he had sought a quote for updating that plan, but that it came in much higher than he and the board of works was comfortable with. (He did not provide a number.)

Robbins said he plans to seek additional quotes for the work. Council agreed to table the issue.

Council members also discussed an ordinance regarding cutting streets for utility work or other projects.

A draft version of the ordinance had called for firms to repave, rather than patch, any street that had more than three cuts in a single block. It also called for a permit process with an application fee. There is a provision that allows for work required in cases of emergency.

Addressing an issue raised at a previous meeting, Schemenaur suggested removing the “three cuts” rule and instead making each paving decision at the discretion of the board of works. (There had been concern about cuts running the length of the street not meeting the requirements for repaving.)

Watson also expressed concern about the permit fees — as written, they were $2,500 for above-ground work and $500 for below-ground. He said he feels the numbers should be reversed, while Murphy said he feels both fees are too high. Watson also questioned how many permits would be needed for a firm doing work in various areas of the city.

Schemenaur said he would adjust the proposed ordinance based on some of the concerns raised and ask them to continue thinking about the permit fees and structure. Council will revisit the ordinance in April.

Watson also asked about updates to the city’s golf cart ordinance that were discussed last year. They included the possibility of requiring a permit for driving a golf cart in the city.

Robbins said he needs to talk with the city’s police department regarding its thoughts on permits and procedures before council votes on any potential changes.

In other business, council:

•Agreed to be a challenger for the Broadband Equity, Access, and Deployment (BEAD) Program after hearing a presentation from Jay County Development Corporation executive director Travis Richards and Jay County Council member Cindy Bracy. Selected entities — government units, non-profit organizations and internet service providers among them — can challenge the Federal Communications Commission data regarding unserved (less than 25-megabyte uploads and 3-megabyte uploads per second) and underserved (100/20) locations. That data will be used to help determine funding allocations as the federal program has $42 billion to expand high-speed broadband access nationwide.

•Heard Watson ask about timelines for planned solar farms in the county. Schemenaur explained that companies are waiting for approval to join the power grid. He said the first construction may not begin until 2025.

•Approved the following: sponsorships of $300 for Dunkirk Public Library’s summer reading program and $250 each for Jay Community Center and Dunkirk’s softball league; payment of claims totaling $179,940.60.

•Learned Kara Lowe will fill in to handle clerk-treasurer duties following the departure of Tina Elliott, who turned in her letter of resignation last month. It is effective today. By state law, such vacancies are filled by a caucus of the party of the departing officeholder within 30 days of the vacancy.

•Heard from Revolt that Dunkirk City Pool is in the process of hiring lifeguards for the 2024 season.

•Rescinded a previous motion to pay $60 per month for council member email addresses and approved the correct amount of $66 per month.

•Heard from Revolt that the former caretaker’s home has been removed from Dunkirk City Park.

•Learned the Jay School Corporation junior high softball program will utilize the diamond at Dunkirk City Park.

•Was reminded there will be an eclipse-viewing celebration from 1 to 5 p.m. Monday, April 8.