New rules approved

DUNKIRK — New rules for solicitation are in place.

Potential changes regarding fees and tax rates will wait.

Dunkirk City Council approved updates to the city’s ordinance regarding solicitation at its meeting Monday while tabling, or removing from the agenda altogether, several discussions.

The updated solicitation ordinance calls for a $20 fee for a permit, which would be valid for 14 days. Permit applications must be filed at least five days in advance of soliciting.

A background check, to be performed by Dunkirk police, will also be required. Anyone with convictions for crimes of violence, burglary, theft or a sexual offense can be barred from receiving a permit.

Mayor Jack Robbins noted that it is the preference of Dunkirk Police Chief Dane Mumbower that the background checks be handled by local police.

Council members Jesse Bivens, Dan Watson, Christy Curts, Randy Murphy and Donna Revolt unanimously approved the ordinance. It will need to be published in the newspaper before going into effect.

They also revisited several topics that have been on the agenda for multiple meetings, including the possible reduction of the city’s stormwater fee, the creation of a water meter fee and updates to the golf cart ordinance.

Bivens said he feels the stormwater fee should not be changed at this time because of uncertainty about the need for work for a planned apartment complex on the city’s south side. He suggested removing the item from the agenda and revisiting it later in the year.

Other council members agreed, saying they would not want to reduce the fee only to need to increase it again to cover potential project needs.

Bivens advocated for a water meter fee, saying it’s clear the city needs to generate funds to cover the cost of future replacements. But, he said, it’s unclear how much the fee should be in order to meet those needs.

Watson suggested the addition of any fee should be handled at the same time the council addresses its water and sewer rates. He also asked where the city stands in regard to planned projects in its master utility plan.

Robbins said he would review the plan and report back to the council.

Bivens, Watson, Curts, Murphy and Revolt then tabled the water meter fee and agreed to remove the stormwater fee from future agendas.

They also tabled proposed updates to the city’s golf cart ordinance, with Robbins saying Mumbower needs more time to provide input.

In other business, the council:

•Awarded a $148,076 contract to Brooks Construction of Fort Wayne for paving work related to an Indiana Department of Transportation Community Crossings grant. Streets to be paved are Pleasant Street on the west side of the city, Fourth Street, D Street and Lincoln Avenue between Main and Angle streets.

•Approved the following: starting the process to make the intersection of Washington and Broad streets a four-way stop; an agreement with consulting firm baker Tilly for work relating to annexation of land on the south side of the city and a contract not to exceed $5,000; a resolution allowing the city to make payments via electronic transfer; an ordinance recertifying council districts with no changes; a $200 sponsorship for the city’s softball field; a $200 sponsorship for the Dunkirk Moose Lodge’s back-to-school program; Payment of $371 to law firm Barnes and Thornburg for work related to the city’s new tax increment financing (TIF) district; $245,983.70 in claims.

•Heard from Revolt that Erin Moore has been hired as manager of Dunkirk City Pool with Kenzie Clayton as assistant manager. She said there are enough lifeguards and other staff hired for the 2025 summer season.

•Learned from Curts that the fire department will be participating in West Jay Elementary School’s field day Friday.

•Decided it will not have a second meeting in May. (The regularly scheduled meeting falls on Memorial Day.) Council’s next meeting will be at 7 p.m. Monday, June 9.

•Heard from water department superintendent Brock Farmer and Bivens about the idea to offer field trips to the department for students. Farmer attended a similar event in Hartford City.