Seeking support

DUNKIRK — The city hopes to receive grant funding to demolish a downtown building.

It needs community support to help secure those dollars.

Dunkirk City Council heard an update on plans for the former Green Building at 303 S. Main St. during its meeting Monday.

Ceann Bales, executive director of Jay County Development Corporation, explained that grant applications through Indiana Office of Community and Rural Affairs open Sept. 18. An initial deadline is set for Oct. 24.

She noted that a public hearing is required before that deadline and suggested it be held in conjunction with the council’s regular meeting on Oct. 13. She said it is important for the grant application that members of the public voice support for the proposal to tear down the building.

“We need people here,” Bales said.

A second public meeting will be required in November or December, with the final application deadline in mid-December.

The city plans to seek $275,000 to tear down the blighted building. If it receives the grant, the city will provide a 10% match. (The council gave Mayor Jack Robbins permission to move forward with the grant process at its last meeting.)

Robbins noted that he talked to Ron Morton, who owns the adjacent H&R Block building that shares a wall with the Green Building. Robbins said Morton wants to keep H&R Block in place.

The city will send Morton a letter notifying him of plans to move forward with demolition of the Green Building. Officials discussed negotiating with Morton to reach an agreement to secure the H&R Block building if the Green Building is taken down.

Bales also told council members Christy Curts, Dan Watson, Donna Revolt and Randy Murphy, with president Jesse Bivens absent, that JCDC is also working to help identify potential grant funding to help with the renovation of the former Stewart Brothers Building through the United States Department of Agriculture or Indiana Office of Community and Rural Affairs. Rock Joak LLC is renovating the building with plans to have commercial space on the first floor with apartments above.

Robbins reported that a flow test to determine if there is sufficient water pressure to support a fire suppression system in the Stewart Brothers building will be held Wednesday.

Council also held its public hearing on the city’s 2026 budget, with no comments from members of the public or the council.

The budget is proposed at $2.64 million, which is down from $2.7 million in 2025. (The budgets in 2024 and 2025 both involved spending of federal coronavirus relief funds from the American Rescue Plan Act.)

The bulk of the budget — $1.76 million — is in the general fund, which went up by about $50,000 from the previous year. Other major funds include $362,400 in motor vehicle highway, $168,000 in trash and garbage pick-up and $150,000 in economic development income tax.

Council also approved an amendment to the 2026 salary ordinance to add a pay rate of $14.42 per hour for firefighters working to cover shifts during vacations or paid time off.

A vote on adoption of the budget is planned for the council’s next meeting on Sept. 22.

In other business, the council:

•Approved a $25,000 downtown revitalization loan for Zach Crouch, who plans to renovate the former Plymouth church at 326 S. Main St. as commercial space. The location, which will be known as Glass Capital Commons, already has a daycare in operation in part of the space. The no-interest loan will have a payback period of five years.

•Learned from Murphy that new signs are in place for the four-way stop at Broad and Washington streets. The council voted in June to make it a four-way stop. It was previously a two-way stop with through traffic on Washington Street.

•Heard from Robbins that a new pump has been installed in well No. 2, which the city’s water department plans to put back into service. He said the last step before starting the pump is to have Peerless Midwest test the water. The added pump will increase the city’s capacity.

•Discussed modifying an alley on the north side of MJS Mortuaries, 221 S. Main St., to make it one way going west and to vacate an alley at property owned by Michael Bubp at 215 E. Commerce St. Votes on those changes are expected at the next two council meetings.

•Heard from Revolt that painting and other updates for the shelter house at Dunkirk City Park have been completed. Trees were also removed along the walking trail at the park as well as at Webster Depot Park.

•Thanked The Portland Foundation for its $2,500 grant for the city’s annual Independence Day fireworks display.

•OK’d water bill adjustments of $593.10 for 124 W. Center St., $187.49 for 403 E. High St., and $54.74 for 222 E. High St.

•Approved payment of claims totaling $163,532.75.

•Received a thank you from Dunkirk Moose Lodge Kids Committee for sponsoring its back-to-school event.