Annexation process advances

DUNKIRK — The city should be ready to vote on annexation in January.

Dunkirk City Council took a step in the process Monday, formally approving a resolution regarding the fiscal plan for annexation.

The city has been working toward a project to construct apartments on a new street to be build on about 10 acres of property located east of Dollar General (1001 S. Main St.) Dunkirk Industrial Development Corporation owns the property.

Council members were presented with the financial plan in November, with city attorney Wes Schemenaur saying then that the analysis from financial advisory firm Baker Tilly showed “no meaningful additional cost” because police and fire service are already provided and sewer and water lines are already in place. He reiterated those details during Monday’s meeting.

Following the presentation of the financial plan, the council voted Nov. 11 to approve a petition to proceed with the annexation. Monday’s vote to formally approve the financial plan was the next step in the process, with Schemenaur saying a vote on annexation would likely be set for January.

Council members Jesse Bivens, Christy Curts, Dan Watson, Donna Revolt and Randy Murphy unanimously approved the plan.

Dunkirk Mayor Jack Robbins noted that once annexation is complete, the city can continue work on creating a tax increment financing (TIF) district for the property, which will capture taxes on the increased value after development to be used by the city’s redevelopment commission on targeted projects. Schemenaur said the process of creating the district could be complete by mid-2026.

Robbins added that next steps will also involve utility work and seeking a developer for the planned 32 apartment units.

Council members also approved year-end payouts for unused vacation time for the police and fire departments.

Clerk-treasurer Kara Lowe expressed concern about the requests — 552 hours of overtime from the police department for $18,775.36 and 95 hours from the fire department for $1,540.91. She noted that the city handbook indicates that vacation time must be used and will not be paid out at the end of the year, but that the council has not stuck to that policy. She added that one officer took no vacation time in 2025, saying she believes in some cases it is a purposeful practice with the expectation that the unused vacation time will essentially become a year-end bonus.

Lowe argued that the payouts are not fair to employees of other departments, who are told to use their vacation time.

Robbins noted that there would likely still be some challenges with a full staff of six police officers. The department currently has four and will be down to three as of Jan. 2 with one away at Indiana Law Enforcement Academy.

Curts shared Lowe’s concern about the officer who took no vacation time.

Bivens, the council president, said he has talked to Police Chief Dane Mumbower, saying he is also frustrated by the situation but doesn’t currently have a better solution to keep shifts covered. He cautioned that the situation will likely continue to occur and encouraged council members to bring forward any suggestions they might have.

The council ultimately voted 5-0 to pay out the unused vacation time.

In other business, council:

•Approved the following: an $11,012 contract with American Pump Repair for repairs to the fine screen equipment at the wastewater treatment plant; a $9,000 contract with Pavement Solutions of Middletown for crack sealing Industrial Drive (and other streets, if possible); and payment of claims totaling $412,159.92. 

•OK’d a water bill adjustment of $728.41 for 631 Lincoln St. There was some discussion about the adjustment, as water department superintendent Brock Farmer said he had informed the property owner about the leak in September and it took months for them to take action. The property owner said they did not receive the notifications.

•Agreed to change the fund from which $29,350 will be used to install pickleball courts at Dunkirk City Park. The park board requested the change to allow more flexibility to complete other projects. The council had approved the funding at its previous meeting.