City seeks building transfer

Development is in the works in Dunkirk.

One step in the process started with Jay County Commissioners on Monday. Commissioners agreed to move forward with a resolution to transfer real estate to a nonprofit organization.

Dunkirk Industrial Development Corporation owns the former Stewart Brothers Furniture Store at 304 S. Main St., explained county attorney Wes Schemenaur. He noted there have been several proposals for developing the building over the years. 

“One of the issues that’s come up repeatedly is there’s a building directly to the south of there that’s in pretty bad shape, and the idea would be, the DIDC could get the title to that and then be able to do something about it …” Schemenaur said.

That could involve tearing down the building and utilizing the empty lot as additional parking space or for future development.

The building, located at 303 S. Main St., has been in a tax sale twice. Commissioners currently hold a tax sale certificate for the property.

Schemenaur noted that because the county has the tax sale certificate, it is allowed to transfer it to a nonprofit organization such as Dunkirk Industrial Development Corporation.

“This is the first step in that process,” said Schemenaur.

In order to move forward, Schemenaur added, the county needed to agree Monday to begin the process of transferring the property to a nonprofit organization or the public.

Next, the county will accept applications from nonprofit organizations for the building, with applications to be reviewed at a public hearing. From there, the property could be transferred to a nonprofit organization.

Plans are to hold a public hearing regarding the matter at commissioners’ next meeting Jan. 27.

Schemenaur said Dunkirk Mayor Jack Robbins and Dunkirk Industrial Development Corporation president Dane Mumbower plan to come to the Jan. 27 meeting to share information about their hopes for the property and the former furniture store.

Also Monday, commissioners heard an update from community coordinator Nate Kimball regarding the county’s owner-occupied rehabilitation program, an effort to repair homes with new roofs, heaters or other necessities.

Kimball shared plans for the county to begin accepting bids this month for the next round of projects in the $1 million program mainly funded by an Office of Community and Rural Affairs grant. A few previous requirements for bidders have been changed, he noted, in an effort to streamline the process. The county will hold a pre-bid meeting with contractors at 10 a.m. Thursday. Commissioners will open bids at their next meeting Jan. 27.

Also, commissioners approved claims totaling $50,376.52 for services from construction engineer Egis in relation to work completed for the owner-occupied rehabilitation program.

In other business, commissioners Chad Aker, Duane Monroe and Doug Horn:

•Recognized Larry Nuckols, a Jay Emergency Medical Service employee who died Friday evening after suffering a heart attack while on duty. Nuckols served 32 years as a paramedic for Jay County, as well as 24 years in the U.S. Army. “He went doing what he loved to do, but I just wanted to recognize Larry for (his service),” said Aker.

•Agreed to pay $720 for programming from Matrix Integration in order to set up 10 new email licenses for commissioners and Jay County Council members. Aker explained plans to create generic email addresses so that they may be easily transferred as candidates take and leave office. Information technology worker Randy Cleaver will assist in creating the addresses for county officials.

•Approved the following: an agreement with Forte for credit card services at Jay County Treasurer’s Office; an annual report from Jay County Board of Finance; Jay County Highway superintendent Bob Howell bidding up to $17,000 for a forklift for his department; purchasing paper for Jay County Courthouse from Four-U Office Supplies of Celina, Ohio, for $2,590.60; and several claims, including $16,581.25 for animal control services from Jay County Humane Society and $100 for creating an additional cash drawer at Jay County Clerk’s Office.

•Appointed Aker as commissioners’ president, Horn as drainage board president and Monroe as drainage board vice president.

•Made various board appointments, including Ted Champ, Carl Walker and Horn to Jay County Redevelopment Commission, and assigned commissioners to oversee different county departments.

•Reappointed Patricia Moore to Dunkirk Public Library Board.