Dunkirk council tables ordinance

DUNKIRK — City council will wait two weeks before taking action on a proposed ordinance change being pushed by Indiana Department of Environmental Management.

Dunkirk City Council on Monday tabled the ordinance, which would set new limits for grease and chloride discharge and increase fines for users who exceed those limits.

City attorney Wes Schemenaur presented the ordinance, saying the proposed changes are coming from Indiana Department of Environmental Management (IDEM). It would set a new limit for grease, fats and oils at 25 milligrams per liter, down from the current 100. The fee for treatment of anything over the limit would be $2 per milligram per liter, up from the current $1.

A limit of 221 milligrams per liter would be set for chlorides. (There is currently no limit.)

Lisa McIntire, assistant superintendent of the city’s wastewater treatment department, explained that the city has a limit of 340 milligrams per liter of chlorides coming into the plant. It has been in violation of that limit, leading to IDEM pushing for the issue to be addressed by ordinance.

Ardagh plant manager Aaron Wine and vice president of environmental compliance Richard Tomicek asked for time to make adjustments at its Dunkirk glass manufacturing facility. They indicated that it will take time to make adjustments to get under the new limits.