Vacant Property Will See New Life with Arista Residences |
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The DeKalb City Council has approved the latest investment in the City by a longtime local businessman.
An annexation and rezoning for the 61-unit Arista Residences on the northwest corner of Barber Green and County Farm Road was approved on a 6-0 vote by the DeKalb City Council on Jan. 24.
The project is by Pappas Development. Mayor Cohen Barnes thanked owner John Pappas for his latest investment in DeKalb, which the Mayor noted, goes back to Pappas previously owning the Tom and Jerry’s Restaurant.
“You, time and again, figure out a way to reinvest your money in this community, and you continue to grow the impact you make,” said Barnes. “I think a way to put it would be you’re a local boy who continues to invest in our community.”
City Manager Bill Nicklas noted each of Pappas Development’s previous projects have increased the value of the property on which they were built, lowering the property tax burden on existing residents.
“It’s hard to argue with the success that Pappas Development has had in filling Isaac Suites, Cornerstone and Plaza DeKalb,” said Nicklas.
No development incentives were sought for the project, which will bring new life to a property that has been up for sale for 18 years. The last business on the site, Buhr’s Landscaping, closed two years ago.
“This is an extremely efficient use of the space,” said First Ward Alderwoman Carolyn Morris. “I’m thrilled to see this proposal, this piece of land put to new and exciting use that very likely will revitalize the space and bring new traffic there.”
Nicklas said the property is not welcoming to commercial development since access from Barber Greene Road is limited to right-in/right-out turns only. He also noted there is already vacant commercial space available in the Route 23 corridor.
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Arista Residences will be the latest project in DeKalb by Foti Pappas (left) and John Pappas (center) of Pappas Development, shown here with Mayor Cohen Barnes. |
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Tenant-Landlord Regulations Revised
Family Business Completing Fifth Expansion
City Awarded $12 million from State for Transit Facility
Online Permit Submission Now Available
Grant Provides Mental Healthcare for 1st Responders
Human Services Funding Grows
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Basketball players are frequent passengers through DeKalb Airport during the winter. The NIU men’s basketball team arrived on Jan. 11 after their winning match-up at Kent State, followed by the Toledo Rockets women’s basketball team on Jan. 14. |
Get community news all month long by following the City of DeKalb on social media! |
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Revisions to Tenant-Landlord Regulations Approved |
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A series of changes to DeKalb’s tenant-landlord regulations has been approved to make the rights of tenants and landlords clearer.
One of the modifications approved Jan. 10 by the DeKalb City Council prohibits landlords from towing a tenant’s car because of unpaid rent. Joe Gastiger (shown above in photo) – chair of the City’s Human Relations Commission, which led the review of the regulations – said towing a tenant’s car just makes the problem worse.
“If you have somebody who has a job, but their kid is sick and so they have to miss a couple, three days of work, and then they fall behind on their rent, and then they can’t get to work because you’ve towed their car and they have to buy this out of hock and so forth, who does that serve?” asked Gastiger.
As the revisions were crafted, the Commission worked with representatives of the DeKalb Area Rental Association whose members are landlords and property managers.
“The Human Relations Commission was well aware that there are two sides of this conversation,” said City Manager Bill Nicklas. “It was a humbling experience. It made me very proud to be a resident of DeKalb – tough questions, tough conversations, amicable resolution.”
Also under the revisions:
• All rental agreements must be in writing, and landlords must provide a copy of the executed lease to the renter within one week. After that, landlords can be fined $50 each week if a copy is not provided.
• Every lease must include the City’s crime-free lease provision allowing landlords to begin eviction proceedings for violent or drug-related criminal behaviors and to ban guests who commit crimes.
• Landlords must disclose any unresolved code violations before a tenant enters into a rental agreement and must provide emergency contact information for the property manager.
• Tenants may make emergency repairs and are entitled to an end-of-lease walk-through as required under state law.
• Except for an emergency, court order or agreed inspection, landlords must give 12-hour notice before gaining access to a tenant’s unit, and access is limited to 8 a.m. to 8 p.m.
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Family Business Completing Fifth Expansion |
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Construction is complete on the new home in DeKalb for Wehrli Custom Fabrication.
An occupancy permit has been issued for the 112,000-square-foot facility on an 11.5-acre site on Harvestore Drive.
The new building is the latest milestone for the rapidly growing family business. Started in 2010 by CEO Jason Wehrli in a two-car garage, the company is now completing its fifth expansion.
“It has been a busy 24 months of planning and construction and the big day is finally near. Much thanks to the City of DeKalb and Krusinski Construction Company for their cooperation and efforts in our expansion and producing a stunning new facility for us to continue our growth. We are proud to call DeKalb home and excited to get settled in!” said Wehrli.
Jason works alongside his wife Brittany, and brothers Ryan, Mitchell, and Chad. The company specializes in high-performance diesel truck upgrades and repair, Jeep customization, UTV/SXS components, custom metal fabrication, CNC machining, and powder coating. The Wehrli family’s roots are in DeKalb County, and the expansion allows them to stay here. The new building will give the company three times more space than their current facility.
The company plans to be operating out of its new home by summertime.
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Visit the City's Employment Page to view and apply for open positions. For more info, contact Human Resources at 815-748-2398.
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The City is current accepting applications for the following positions:
Police Department Intern (Unpaid) – Summer 2022
Do you know a college student interested in a career in law enforcement?
The Police Department is offering an unpaid internship over the summer. The internship is designed to provide a comprehensive overview of the entire law enforcement process. The Intern will assist with a variety of programs, projects, initiatives, and administrative tasks to help align and support the department's mission. The Intern will complete a variety of ride-along and observation hours within each of the department's divisions. Work schedules may be between 20-40 hours per week over the summer to accommodate the needs of the intern and to assist with internship credit.
For more information, please click here to view the full job posting and application instructions. Initial review of applications will begin March 1, 2022. Position will remain open until filled. |
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City Awarded $12 million from State for Transit Facility |
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The City of DeKalb has been awarded $12 million for construction of a bus transit facility.
The funding was part of the Rebuild Illinois Round II awards announced by Gov. Pritzker on Jan. 26. The City is receiving the full amount requested for construction of a transit maintenance and operations facility.
This most recent funding is in addition to $5 million the City received from Round 1 of Rebuild Illinois 2020. City Transit Manager Marcus Cox said the $17 million in state grant funding will help continue moving the transit facility project forward while also supporting the City with future Federal Transit Administration (FTA) competitive grant applications.
“We're extremely fortunate to have been selected to receive such a substantial amount of Rebuild Illinois funding,” said Cox. “The money received will be used to support the ongoing and future costs of our Transit Maintenance and Operations Facility that will allow us to enhance the infrastructure of our transit system in order to better serve our passengers."
The new facility would be able to house the entire transit fleet for the DeKalb Urbanized Area. Currently, most of the 50 vehicles are parked outside with little weather protection, leaving them prone to costly maintenance issues.
The DeKalb City Council has appointed a seven-member committee to recommend a site for the transit facility.
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Online Permit Submission Now Available |
Online permit submission for the Building Division is now available and the payment portal will be live in the next couple weeks.
The process will streamline contractor submission and give tech savvy property owners the opportunity to not leave the house.
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Grant Will Provide Mental Healthcare for First Responders |
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A $10,000 grant awarded to the DeKalb Fire Department will provide mental healthcare for first responders.
The Fire Department, which received the grant from the DeKalb County Mental Health Board, had decided to share the benefits with the DeKalb Police Department.
The grant will make mental health consultations available to firefighter/paramedics and police officers. The Fire and Police departments routinely respond to traumatic incidents, such as traffic accidents or calls where a person has been wounded. The grant will make the consultations available if desired by the first responders.
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Receive important notifications from the City by signing up for ALERT DeKalb. Text, email, and phone messages are used to alert the public to emergency situations, severe weather, and traffic disruptions.
Users can also text ALERTDEKALB to 67283 to report criminal or suspicious activity and quality of life concerns.
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Important Information for Apple Watch Users |
Many of you may have seen a new commercial from Apple about their watches ability to call 9-1-1.
Since this commercial's release we have experienced an increase in 9-1-1 calls from Apple users wanting to test or confirm they're able to call from their watch. We also get accidental calls from Apple watch owners who do not realize this function exists; either by calling on accident by bumping the watch or by allowing kids to play with the watch.
If you find you accidently hit your button, stay on the line until a dispatcher answers. Please know that if you hang up before a dispatcher comes on the line the call still comes into the 9-1-1 center as an abandoned call. The dispatcher will then call you back and we ask that you please answer the phone to help us verify there is no emergency.
Each 9-1-1 call that comes into the 9-1-1 center is treated as an emergency until it is known otherwise. These "test" calls and accidental calls take time away from helping others experiencing emergencies.
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Human Services Funding Grows to Support More Organizations |
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DeKalb’s annual human services funding is growing to $200,000 so the City will be able to support seven more organizations, including three startups.
The human services funding approved by the DeKalb City Council on Jan. 10 includes a $50,000 increase over last year. The new funding is earmarked for organizations that have never received this grant before.
“I’m thrilled to see that we worked hard to include new groups,” said First Ward Alderwoman Carolyn Morris (shown in photo at left). “I think that there isn’t a lot of opportunity for those organizations to begin, and so this is a huge opportunity for some start-up money.”
The three start-up organizations receiving funding are:
B.L.A.C., Inc. - $10,000
Passion Pursuit, Inc. - $10,000
Sir Donald Foundation - $10,000
The three organizations are located in the Belonging Center, which is housed in the City-owned building at 217 S. Fourth St. Community Services Coordinator Joanne Rouse said the City funding will help the new organizations build a history of success.
“The fact that the City is willing to support them and to give them the opportunity to show us what they can do, I think will help them as they move forward,” said Rouse. “The more success they have, the more likely it is that other entities will also invest in their services.”
Four other organizations are receiving the human services funding for the first time. They are:
Barb City Manor - $2,000
Barb Food Mart - $10,000
Opportunity House - $2,000
St. Vincent de Paul - $6,000
DeKalb is also continuing $150,000 in funding support for 14 other organizations. They are:
Adventure Works of DeKalb County, Inc. - $10,000
Court Appointed Special Advocates (CASA) - $5,000
Community Coordinated Child Care (4-C) - $19,000
DeKalb County Community Gardens - $5,500
DeKalb County Youth Services Bureau - $25,000
Elder Care Services - $10,000
Family Service Agency of DeKalb County - $10,000
Fox Valley Community Services - $5,000
Hope Haven - $7,000
Kishwaukee YMCA – Camp Power - $12,000
Nguzo Saba Men’s Club - $5,500
RAMP - $5,000
Safe Passage - $11,000
Voluntary Action Center - $20,000
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City Hall will be closed on Monday, Feb. 21 in observance of Presidents Day. |
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Human Relations Commission
Feb. 1, 4:30 p.m. in the 2nd Floor Training Room at the DeKalb Police Department
Transit Site Selection Committee
Feb. 3, 9 a.m. in the First Floor Conference Room at DeKalb City Hall
Citizens' Environmental Commission
Feb. 3, 4 p.m. in the 2nd Floor Training Room at the DeKalb Police Department
Citizen Police Review Board
Feb. 3, 6 p.m. in the 2nd Floor Training Room at the DeKalb Police Department
Planning and Zoning Commission
Feb. 7, 6 p.m. in the Yusunas Room at the DeKalb Public Library
DeKalb Public Library Board
Feb. 9, 7 p.m. in the Bilder Family Room at the DeKalb Public Library
Transit Site Selection Committee
Feb. 10, 9 a.m. in the First Floor Conference Room at DeKalb City Hall
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Foreign Fire Insurance Tax Board
Feb. 14, 8 a.m. in the 2nd Floor Training Room at the DeKalb Police Department
City Council
Feb. 14, 6 p.m. in the Yusunas Room at the DeKalb Public Library
Transit Site Selection Committee
Feb. 17, 9 a.m. in the First Floor Conference Room at DeKalb City Hall
Planning and Zoning Commission
Feb. 22, 6 p.m. in the Yusunas Room at the DeKalb Public Library
Airport Advisory Board
Feb. 22, 7 p.m. in the West Community Hanger at the DeKalb Taylor Municipal Airport
Transit Site Selection Committee
Feb. 24, 9 a.m. in the First Floor Conference Room at DeKalb City Hall
City Council
Feb. 28, 6 p.m. in the Yusunas Room at the DeKalb Public Library
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To view agendas for City meetings, please go to the City's Agenda Center here.
To check for meeting cancellations and location updates, please check the City Website here.
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February Community Events |
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DeKalb Public Library
309 Oak Street
Virtual Tour of Costa Rica: Coffee
The library is hosting a series of virtual tours of Costa Rica. The first tour is all about coffee. It takes place in a coffee producing farm belonging to an enterprising Costa Rican family who created their own coffee brand.
Saturday, Feb. 5 at 11 a.m.
Register for the event here, and see all of the library's programs on its calendar.
Stage Coach Players
126 South Fifth Street
The Stage Coach Players have announced their full slate of shows for 2022 season.
New! There's always plenty to do in DeKalb. Find more events by visiting the Community Events Calendar on the City's website.
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Egyptian Theatre
135 North Second Street
The Second City
The Second City brings to DeKalb their newest show, "The Absolute Best Friggin' Time of Your Life." The Second City opened its doors on a snowy Chicago night in December of 1959, and the small cabaret theater has grown to become the most influential and prolific comedy empire in the world.
Saturday, Feb. 12 at 7:30 p.m.
Submit your event to be consider for the e-News Community Events Calendar by e-mailing here.
Get community news all month long by following the City on social media!
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City Hall
164 E. Lincoln Highway
Monday - Friday
8 a.m. - 5 p.m.
Police Station
700 West Lincoln Highway
Monday - Friday
8 a.m. - 5 p.m.
Public Works
1216 Market Street
Monday - Friday
7 a.m. - 4 p.m.
DeKalb Taylor Municipal Airport
3232 Pleasant Street
Monday - Friday
7:30 a.m. - 5:30 p.m.
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City Clerk 815-748-2095
City Manager's Office 815-748-2090
Community Development Department 815-748-2070
DeKalb Taylor Municipal Airport 815-748-8102
Finance Department 815-748-2000
Fire/Police Emergency 911
Fire Non-Emergency 815-748-8460
Mayor's Office 815-758-1886
Police Non-Emergency 815-748-8400
Public Works Department 815-748-2040
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