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A new salt barn was the first thing Dunkirk's planning and development director mentioned Tuesday when asked about projects his office is currently working on.
Vince DeJoy couldn't physically attend the Economic Development Committee meeting but called in with a report. Councilman Michael Civiletto, the committee chair, asked him to talk about projects that have seen some movement lately. DeJoy gave a similar report at Mayor Kate Wdowiasz's department head meeting the previous week, but neither Civiletto nor any other Common Council members attended that.
DeJoy said he is working on a state funding application due Friday for a new road salt storage shed on Lucas Avenue. He said the current salt site is "a dilapidated wooden structure" that is close enough to Crooked Brook to cause contamination fears.
The city has a quote of $237,500 for the shed and $436,131 total for the entire project, including site work. DeJoy said the Department of Public Works would do as much work on it as possible, to cut the labor costs.
"That would be a fantastic win for the city" if it gets the state grant for the project, he said.
DeJoy then mentioned that a road use agreement on Seventh Street Extension for a new Battery Energy Storage System is nearing completion.
He said "a couple projects are full speed ahead" in the city's Downtown Revitalization Initiative.
The city is planning new docks at the Dunkirk Marina under the DRI. "We're looking at an alternative design we feel could offer more docks and get the project done much earlier -- hopefully in time for the next boating season," DeJoy said.
He went on to mention the DRI's Small Business Fund. Projects were completed at three city businesses, another one is ongoing, and two more are on deck.
Finally, a formal groundbreaking is "sometime soon" for Regan Development's apartment building project on Fourth Street and Washington Avenue. DeJoy wants to get New York Gov. Kathy Hochul here for the ceremony. Hochul visited Dunkirk in January 2023 to announce the city's $10 million DRI award.
Nicole Clift, the city's Community Development Block Grant coordinator, reminded that the city has CDBG funding for a sidewalk project between Third and Seventh streets. The work will focus on Central Avenue, with six businesses and the post office slated to get new sidewalks. Clift said construction should begin within the next month.
Civiletto subsequently wondered if the city should focus a little more on beautifying Main Street. "Central Avenue hasn't been our business district for five decades. Main Street is our business district now," he said.
The Fourth Ward councilman also expressed frustration that people compare Dunkirk's downtown to Fredonia and Westfield. Those villages have a concentrated business district, whereas Dunkirk's is more spread out, he said.
A notable attendee of the Economic Development Committee meeting was new Comptroller Tracy Smith-Dengler. She said before the meeting began that as part of her city government learning process, she is trying to attend as many Common Council committee meetings as possible.
Smith-Dengler did not comment during the meeting, except to state at one point that she is basically attending committee sessions as an observer at this time.