As the construction season comes to an end, more road improvement projects have been completed across DeKalb. Here are some of the recently finished projects.

Fairview Drive

Two islands have been constructed at the intersection of Fairview and Monticello Drive, and a three-way stop has been installed at the intersection. 

The project addresses concerns from neighbors about speeding and truck traffic. The islands slow traffic and discourage truck traffic while improving safety for pedestrians and those riding bicycles by allowing them to cross Fairview one half at a time.

Annie Glidden North

The City has furthered its investment in the Annie Glidden North neighborhood with two road improvement projects. Ridge Drive has been resurfaced from its west end to Normal Road.

A unique safety feature has also been added to Edgebrook Drive. A grass area has been built in the middle of the block with cul-de-sacs on each side. This will calm traffic while the grass area, along with the adjacent lot at 912 Edgebrook Dr., will create more space for neighborhood activities.

The projects are part of $4.4 million the City has invested in the Annie Glidden North neighborhood. Revitalization efforts have also included demolition of the vacant apartment building at 912 Edgebrook and razing the Campus Cinemas building and Hunter Hillcrest shopping center to create a combined lot for redevelopment.

The Knolls

New pavement has been laid in the main circle in the Knolls neighborhood. Resurfacing the remaining roads in the subdivision will continue over the next two construction seasons.

Market Square Shopping Center

Running errands is a smoother experience in the Market Square Shopping Center now that all the common drives in the retail area have been resurfaced.

The work is paid for by the shopping center owners through a Special Service Area. In 2020, after hearing concerns from residents about the condition of the roads in the retail area, the City created the special property tax district for the shopping center to fund road maintenance.

Route 23 & Gurler Road

New traffic signals have been activated to complete the safety improvement project at Route 23 and Gurler Road.

The intersection has been fully signalized and widened to add turn lanes so it can more safely handle traffic for the Chicago West Business Center. While a traffic study predicted most of the new industrial traffic will travel through the Peace and Gurler Road roundabout, it found that safety improvements at Route 23 and Gurler were still justified. State funding covered nearly all the project’s cost.

These improvements are in addition to the narrowing of Lincoln Highway through downtown DeKalb and the resurfacing of North 13th and 14th Street, north of Clark Street. Both of the these projects were completed earlier in the construction season.

In This Issue

A wreath was placed at the Soldiers and Sailors Memorial Clock during the DeKalb Veterans Day Ceremony on Nov. 11. The ceremony honoring all veterans for their service to our country was hosted by the DeKalb American Legion Post 66.

DeKalb’s property tax levy will lower the City’s tax rate while allowing for additional police officers.

The levy given final approval by the City Council on Nov. 28 is expected to lower the City’s tax rate by 7.4 percent. Based on estimates, the owner of a home with a base equalized assessed value (EAV) of around $107,000 would pay around $10 less to the City.

The DeKalb Public Library’s tax rate is expected to decline about one percent, and the combined rate will see an estimated 5.6-percent reduction from the previous year. These numbers are estimates until the community’s total EAV is finalized.

With the lower tax rate, DeKalb is taking the lead towards the goal of lowering the total tax rate in the City from around 11 percent now to 9.5 percent. Mayor Cohen Barnes said the board presidents and executives of the community’s other taxing bodies have been invited to a series of meetings to discuss reaching this goal.

“I’m looking forward hopefully to getting the support of all the taxing bodies to finally get us down to a tax rate we can all be comfortable with and competitive with,” said Barnes.

The Council has also given first reading to the Fiscal Year 2023 budget, which continues the City’s commitment to improving public safety.

The budget includes five additional sworn officers in the Police Department. Two will restore shift strength by replacing the officers who became School Resource Officers this year. Three additional hires will boost the number of patrol officers on the streets to respond to an increase in calls. Also, three telecommunicators will be added along with an additional firefighter/paramedic.

Even with new personnel expenses, the City’s property tax rate for next year’s collection is expected to drop as a result of new development in the City, particularly in the Chicago West Business Center.

The budget will also continue the City’s efforts to improve streets. Another $2.6 million is planned for street maintenance. This is on top of state-funded projects.

The budget can be viewed here.

Second reading on the budget will be held during the Council’s meeting at 6 p.m. Monday, Dec. 12 in the Yusunas Meeting Room at the DeKalb Public Library.

The vacant St. Mary’s Hospital building will be getting new life as an apartment complex.

The DeKalb City Council on Nov. 28 approved plans to convert the 100-year-old building at 145 Fisk Ave. to up to 32 apartments.

“This is a great use for a building that sat vacant for quite some time,” said Seventh Ward Alderman Tony Faivre. “I think it’s a great project.”

The parking lot behind the building will be restored. To accommodate traffic on Sycamore Road, access to the parking lot from Sycamore Road will be re-located further from North First Street and the access point will be restricted to right-in/right-out only. An access drive from Fisk Avenue will also be restored.

City Planning Director Dan Olson said the building will have local management who will visit the property daily.

“There’s a lot of nuisance problems there now, and the neighbors are very comfortable (with the plan),” said Olson. “I think it’s the best option for this particular building, have apartments in there and a local developer.”

The plans for the building include nine two-bedroom units and 23 one-bedroom units.

A rendering shows the proposed redevelopment of the St. Mary’s Hospital building at 145 Fisk Ave.

DeKalb Police Veteran Named Crime-Free Bureau Director

A 28-year veteran of the DeKalb Police Department has been selected to lead the City’s new Crime-Free Bureau.

Bob Redel, a Commander in the Police Department, was introduced as the Bureau’s Director at the Nov. 14 DeKalb City Council meeting.

Joining the Department as a Patrol Officer in 1994, Redel rose through the ranks, serving as Acting Police Chief from June 2020 through May 2021. 

City Manager Bill Nicklas said Redel has had an impressive career of public service where he gained a deep knowledge of the community while working with other agencies and showing compassion when making difficult decisions.

“In his decades of community work, Bob has come to know many of the community’s landlords and apartment managers,” said Nicklas. “He will seek accountability and fairness and will be dedicated to the collaborative process that recently prevailed in the revision of the Crime-Free ordinance.”

Nicklas said Redel’s leadership skills were nowhere more evident than during his time as Acting Police Chief, assuming the role as local activists gathered in protest over the murder of George Floyd. Redel’s first official act was to ask those present to kneel together in solidarity against police brutality in America. He then led the reorganization of the Police Department towards greater community engagement, transparency and behavior health programs.

Redel will bring his compassionate leadership to the Crime-Free Bureau. 

The initiative will hold landlords accountable if they refuse to take action to prevent crimes from occurring at their properties. At the same time, the program includes protections for crime victims. It will not apply to calls related to domestic and sexual violence, crime victims, child abuse or calls from disabled individuals and those in need of police services.

The program also recognizes landlords who are working to create safe places to live with the inclusion of provisions to make sure landlords are not fined when they show efforts are being made to prevent crime. 

Mayor Cohen Barnes said Redel brings the right balance to his new role.

“Bob, knowing our community for as long as he has and knowing the landlords, he’ll be able to work with all the great landlords to help them however we can,” said Barnes. “But then again, the problematic landlords that have caused us so much of a headache in our community, I’m really looking forward to dialing up our game when it comes to accountability in the City of DeKalb.”

Redel has retired from the Police Department and started his new position in City Hall.

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Hello, Huskers!

The University of Nebraska-Lincoln men’s club volleyball team arrived at DeKalb Airport Nov. 5 for a contest at Northwestern University. Their jet was rerouted from Chicago because of a presidential visit. 

The pilots complimented DKB, and talks are underway to encourage the Nebraska Huskers and other large conference schools to begin using DeKalb Airport to avoid the higher costs when flying into Chicago.

Help Keep the Wreaths Red

The DeKalb Fire Department is pleased to announce its 26th annual Red Wreath Program. Since 1986, DeKalb Fire Department has displayed lighted wreaths as a visual reminder of home fire safety during the holiday season.

On Thanksgiving Day, DeKalb firefighters displayed wreaths with all red bulbs outside each fire station. If an emergency fire incident related to the holiday season occurs, firefighters will replace a red bulb with a white bulb. This display will continue through January 1, 2023. Our community’s goal is to keep all the wreaths red.

Each time drivers and pedestrians observe the red wreaths at the fire stations we hope they are reminded to celebrate the holidays safely and Keep the Wreaths Red!

The leading causes of holiday fires include cooking, candles, electrical short circuits in 

decorative lighting, and combustible holiday decorations. Chimney fires and heating 

appliances such as space heaters also are a risk.

If you have any questions about the Red Wreath Program or would like any information about fire safety, please contact the DeKalb Fire Department at 815-748-8460.

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.

With winter approaching, we thought it would be a good time to send a reminder that there are a handful of ordinances that designate seasonal parking restrictions that residents should keep in mind. 

For residents who park on a designated snow route, all vehicles must be removed from the street during or after a snowfall in which there is an accumulation of 2 inches of snow or more. This prohibition remains in effect until such time as the street or alley has been plowed or the snow has been removed. Vehicles in violation are subject to a $75 fine.

All streets designated as a snow route are marked with a sign and can be found in the Municipal Code under Chapter 51, Schedule I. Residents and visitors to these areas are encouraged to sign up for Alert DeKalb as notices of snow emergency routes are sent when there has been an accumulation of 2 inches of snow or more. You can sign up to receive alerts here.

For all other streets in the City, within 48 hours after the deactivation of the Snow Routes, any vehicle parked on any public street within the City, or parked in any City parking lot, shall be moved from its parking space to another lawful parking location that has already been snowplowed. For the period starting at 48 hours after the deactivation of the Snow Routes and ending at 96 hours after the deactivation of the Snow Routes, it shall be unlawful to park on any public street or any City parking lot in a parking spot that has not been cleared of snow. It is also unlawful for any person to allow a vehicle to remain parked for more than 72 hours following snowfalls that accumulate more than 6 inches of snow. Vehicles violating these prohibitions are subject to a parking violation up to $75 dollars.

Residents are encouraged to refer to Chapter 51 of the municipal code for additional details.

Candidate petition packets for the April 4, 2023, Consolidated 

Election will be accepted from 8:30 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. beginning Monday, December 12, 2022, through Monday, December 19, 2022 (excluding weekend days) for the office of 

Alderman in Wards One, Three, Five, and Seven in the City of DeKalb, Illinois. 

Petition packets will be accepted by Executive Assistant and Recording Secretary Ruth Scott at the City of DeKalb City Hall, located at 164 E. Lincoln Highway, during the dates and hours noted above.

Candidates are asked to use City Hall’s Second Street entrance and proceed to the second floor to file their packets.

The DeKalb Public Transit System will be running a special bus to take families to see Santa’s arrival downtown to kick-off the holiday season. 

The fare-free bus is being put into service especially for the Lights on Lincoln: Santa Comes to Town event on Dec. 1. The bus will service approximately 50 bus stops throughout DeKalb with the bus arriving at Van Buer Plaza to see Santa illuminate the downtown holiday lights at 6 p.m. All stops along the route will be marked with fliers to indicate where passengers can board the bus. 

The route is being added this year to ensure that all families can participate in this annual holiday event. 

“DeKalb Public Transit is thrilled to be a part of this year’s Lights on Lincoln: Santa Comes to Town event. To join in on the festivities, the inside of the bus will be decorated so that passengers can enjoy the holiday spirit throughout the night,” said DeKalb Public Assistant Transit Manager Brian Van Hine. 

Beginning at 5 p.m., the bus will stop at various locations including: Seventh and Grove Street, Annie Glidden Road and Crane Drive, Varsity Boulevard and Regent Drive, Suburban Apartments on Twombly Road, Normal Road and Hillcrest Drive, Pleasant Street and 10th Street, 14th Street and East Dresser Road, and Seventh and Lewis Street. There will then be two round trips to take families home beginning at 7:00 p.m.

The full schedule is posted below and is available here. On the night of the event, riders can track the special bus on the City’s bus tracker. 

Those who come out to the event, hosted by the DeKalb Chamber of Commerce, Downtown DeKalb Merchants and City of DeKalb will hear carolers, and children will be able to visit with Santa at his house at North Second and Locust Street.

DeKalb municipal offices will be closed the following days:

• Friday, Dec. 23, Christmas Eve observed
• Monday, Dec. 26, Christmas Day observed

December Community Events

Downtown DeKalb

Lights on Lincoln &

Santa Comes to Town

Downtown DeKalb & Van Buer Plaza

Thursday, Dec. 1, 6 p.m.

Welcome Santa into Downtown DeKalb while enjoying decorative lights and hot chocolate. Santa's house will be open for visits after Santa arrives in Van Buer Plaza. The DeKalb Public Transit System will also be offering free, special bus rides to the event! Learn more here.

Dance Down Gingerbread Lane

Downtown DeKalb

Saturday, Dec. 3 from 5-7 p.m.

Live dancers from Dimensions Dance Academy in merchant storefronts along with holiday carolers, a scavenger hunt, food and drinks and meal deals. Find more information here.

Visits with Santa

Van Buer Plaza

Dec. 3, 10 & 17 from 11 a.m.-1 p.m.

Visit with Santa inside his house to share your wish list. Take a picture with Santa and take home a candy cane.

Merry Market

Downtown DeKalb

Saturday, Dec. 10 from 9 a.m.-4 p.m. & Sunday, Dec. 11 from 11 a.m.-3 p.m.

Get the perfect gift and be part of a great community event as you visit over 30 interesting and unique dealers. Find more information here.

Stage Coach Players

126 South Fifth Street

A Christmas Story

This production is based on the motion picture and features all your favorites, including the Red Ryder BB Gun, Ralphie and the prized lamp.

Dec. 8-18.

Purchase tickets here.

Egyptian Theatre

135 North Second Street

White Christmas

A 35MM showing of the holiday classic.

Sunday, Dec 11, 2 p.m.

Purchase tickets here. Learn about more events on the Theatre's Events Schedule.

DeKalb Public Library

309 Oak Street

Noon Year's Day Celebration

Celebrate the coming of the New Year by making a noisemaker and tossing confetti as noon approaches

Saturday, Dec. 31, 11 a.m.

See all of the library's programs on its calendar.

Get community news all month long by following the City on social media.

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     

8 a.m. - 5 p.m.