Dunkirk to buy cameras, radios

DUNKIRK — Equipment has been purchased for the park, street and utility departments with remaining federal coronavirus relief funds.

Now it’s the police department’s turn.

Dunkirk City Council approved an additional $68,624.24 Monday in American Rescue Plan Act dollars to be spent on new radios and a new camera system for police.

Mayor Jack Robbins shared two quotes with council Monday.

Motorola Solutions proposed a base radio station at the police department and six handheld, dual bandwidth radios complete with antennas and holsters for $51,424.24. Also, Robbins added, Dunkirk Police Department asked for $17,200 to install a new camera system at police headquarters.

“In their interview room, their microphones aren’t working,” said Robbins. 

Hopes are to upgrade the department’s camera system and microphones in the interview room and purchase additional hard drives for video storage space.

Council agreed to purchase the radios and new camera system using coronavirus relief funds from the federal American Rescue Plan Act dollars.

Answering a question from council, Robbins said after the purchases approved Monday, the city has about $28,000 in American Rescue Plan funds remaining. 

Also Monday, council heard a suggestion from council president Jesse Bivens to look into updating the city’s ordinances, specifically addressing a recent situation regarding unauthorized usage of 700 gallons of water from a city fire hydrant. 

“This gentleman (came) up and paid this ($935) bill, which was easily done, but for (the) future, we want to be able to have an ordinance that we can stand on,” said Bivens. 

City attorney Wes Schemenaur noted the city’s current ordinance prohibits meter tampering but does not address using fire hydrants. He agreed to look into Biven’s suggestions and present a draft of an updated ordinance to council at its next meeting.

In other business, council members Christy Curts, Dan Watson, Donna Revolt, Randy Murphy and Bivens:

•OK’d clerk-treasurer Kara Lowe to look into applying for the state’s Next Level Jobs employer training grant at no cost to the city. A representative of Alliance of Indiana Rural Water — it provides technical support for water and wastewater operators, and Dunkirk has been a member of it for years — presented a few other different initiatives for council to consider, including Alliance’s apprenticeship program and Alliance’s partnership with Indiana Finance Authority intended to offer grants to train the next generation and create more licensed utility operators.

•Were reminded Dunkirk’s Feel the Warmth of Christmas event is slated for 5:30 to 7 p.m. Monday, Dec. 2. Santa Claus will ride into the city on a firetruck and meet children at Glass Capital Chrysler Dodge Jeep RAM.  

•Heard from Lowe that deputy clerk Melissa Bantz turned in her resignation at the end of October. Lowe promoted clerical assistant Mary Eley to fill the role, and she said she probably won’t look to hire a new clerical assistant until the end of the year.

•Approved the following: an ordinance vacating an alley along High Street per a request from Jonathon and Natalie Cassel; paying $216,568.44 in total claims; spending $175 on 20 Christmas advertisements with WZBD/WPGW Radio; adjusting a bill $112.36 for an underground water leak at 529 S. Meridian St.

•Heard Robbins — upon request from Bivens — agree to reappoint Kathy Nelson to a five-year term on the advisory committee created when The Dunkirk Foundation merged with The Portland Foundation.

•Learned the city gave 36 turkeys to families who stopped by the turkey drop Saturday in downtown Dunkirk.