DeKalb Mayor Cohen Barnes, First Ward Alderwoman Carolyn Morris, Second Ward Alderwoman Barb Larson, Third Ward Alderman Tracy Smith, Fifth Ward Alderman Scott McAdams and Seventh Ward Alderman Tony Faivre were joined May 9 at a special meeting at the Hunter Hillcrest shopping center by former Mayor Jerry Smith, Northern Illinois University Chief of Staff Matt Streb, representatives of Opportunity DeKalb, members of the NIU Greek community, City staff and members of the public.

DeKalb Mayor Cohen Barnes says the demolition of the Hunter Hillcrest shopping center shows the City is serious about securing safe living conditions for all residents.

Despite years of efforts by the City to improve conditions at the building through code enforcement measures, the previous owner allowed the business and residential structure on West Hillcrest Drive to fall into disrepair. Undeterred and convinced the conditions were unacceptable for its residents, City officials purchased the building and provided relocation assistance to its tenants so the structure could be razed.

The DeKalb City Council held a special meeting May 9 outside the vacant shopping center to mark the start of demolition. Crews began taking down the building the following morning, and demolition of the structure was completed on May 16. The parking lot on the property is also being removed.

Mayor Barnes said while there are many landlords in the City who care for their tenants and properties, those who do not will not be tolerated and the demolition should send that message.

“If you are going to behave poorly in this community, this is an example going forward of the response you’re going to get from the City of DeKalb – period,” said Barnes. “We’ll go out of our way to make it difficult for you – period. And if we have to tear a building down board by board, brick by brick, it doesn’t matter to eliminate that particular situation in order to create a safe, wonderful community.”

Ceremonial sledgehammers were created for the special meeting with the name of the shopping center’s previous owner, Hunter, printed on the faces. While all but one of the sledgehammers will now be used by Public Works, Barnes said one will hang in City Hall next to the shovels used for recent ceremonial groundbreakings.

“I want to make sure that there’s a sledgehammer now next to those shovels as a constant reminder for myself and for Council right now, but then for future Mayors, Council members, City Managers and City staffs,” said Barnes. “If you’re here to bring benefit to our community, (you will) never find a better partner. But if you’re here to do harm, that is the ultimate recourse that we will have as a City.”

Demolition of the shopping center is the City’s latest investment in the Annie Glidden North neighborhood. The shopping center property along with the former site of the long-vacant Campus Cinemas building, which was also demolished by the City, will create an L-shaped site for redevelopment opportunities.

The final portion of the Hunter Hillcrest shopping center building came down on May 16.

In This Issue

The Huntley Middle School/Clinton Rosette Middle School Band was among the units in the Memorial Day parade, which returned after a two year absence in accordance with COVID-19 guidelines.

A large crowd turned out for the parade and program on the Ellwood House lawn honoring military service members who made the ultimate sacrifice in service to our country.

DeKalb property owners saw a drop in their tax bills, and City officials plan to drive taxes down further.

Property tax bills that were sent out in early May showed the total tax rate for property in DeKalb Township dropped 3.77 percent from around $11.50 per $100 of equalized assessed value (EAV) on last year’s bills to $11.07 this year.  

The reduction includes a 7.73 percent drop in the City’s rate from $1.07 to $0.99. That means a home with a market value of around $300,000 will pay $65 less to the City.

“I think the numbers speak pretty loudly,” said City Manager Bill Nicklas at the DeKalb City Council meeting on May 9. “This council has for a number of years now been aiming very aggressively at reducing the City’s tax rate and in that way, the City’s portion of the aggregate rate.”

There are opportunities for further reductions in taxes as recent economic development successes raise the community-wide EAV. Mayor Cohen Barnes (shown in photo above) said he looks forward to conversations with other taxing bodies on taking advantage of those opportunities.

“This is a singular moment in our community that all taxing bodies could really step up and do what’s right by the taxpayer and further reduce our tax rate, at least get us down to a competitive tax rate with our surrounding communities,” said Barnes.

As part of an update of the City’s Financial Plan, the Council can set policy on collaborating with other taxing bodies on taxes and set markers for future tax rates.

The lane reconfiguration project to improve safety in downtown DeKalb is set to begin next week.

Traffic control devices will be placed out on Friday, and work to narrow Lincoln Highway from First to Fourth Street to three lanes, including a center turn lane, is scheduled to begin Monday.

During the construction, downtown businesses will be able to remain open, and there will be no extended closures of Lincoln Highway or any downtown street.

As the road is narrowed, the street-scaping on both sides of the roadway will be widened, making the downtown more pedestrian friendly and providing businesses with more space for sidewalk sales and setting out tables and chairs.

The project is scheduled to be completed ahead of Corn Fest.

Community Works Together to Beautify Downtown

Downtown DeKalb merchants, Master Gardeners and DeKalb High School students are working together to beautify about a dozen areas located in the City’s Central Business District.

The projects were done over two weekends in May. About 30 people representing a dozen downtown businesses and organizations along with Second Ward Alderwoman Barb Larson gathered Saturday morning, May 21, in Van Buer Plaza to plant hundreds of colorful annuals in the downtown’s in-ground planters.

Assistant Public Works Director Andy Raih welcomes the extra hands and thanked the group for their work. Raih said the businesses will be responsible for maintaining the beds and Public Works will water the plants. 

The project originated from the Downtown Merchants group and the City’s Citizens’ Community Enhancement Commission. Commission Member Melissa Beck brought her daughters to help plant. 

“I wanted to beautify the downtown by adding some color,” Beck shared.

Brenda Lehan, owner of S.O.A.S. Apparel and Design and her daughter Sarah were happy to join the project by adding bright flowers to an area near their business. 

“I think beautification downtown is important - however we can help the city is a good thing,” said Lehan.

Dimensions Dance Academy participants Christine Jouris and Jenny Frances took charge of one of the beds on Second Street. 

“We like to involve ourselves in community service,” Frances shared. 

On May 14, more than a dozen University of Illinois Cooperative Extension Master Gardeners continued a twenty-year-plus tradition of collaborating with Public Works to plant nearly 50 containers scattered throughout downtown. 

The Master Gardeners primarily focus their efforts on education and volunteer their time at nearly a half dozen sites including demonstration gardens and projects involving food donation/community gardens, according to Extension Program Coordinator Connie Handel. 

Master Gardener Kay Robinson, Sycamore, now retired from a Human Resources career, enjoyed digging in the soil as she and Kristen Borre, Sycamore, a Northern Illinois University anthropology instructor, planted flowers outside the DeKalb Police Department on West Lincoln Highway. 

“I’m passionate about gardening,” Robinson said. Borre, a Master Gardener for eight years, said that while she enjoys planting flowers – she loves vegetable growing more and hopes others will take time to learn. “I want to get more people to grow food and improve food security,” Borre added.

Lidia Vitello, Elburn, shares the experience each year with her husband Jim (shown in photo above). Both are retired NIU chemistry professors. 

When asked why she participates each year, Vitello shared, “To bring beautiful plants and flowers to many people.”

On May 13, Sarah Peterson’s DeKalb High School horticulture students also participated in the downtown planting project. The group grows the flowers in their school greenhouse, which they then add to planters near the DeKalb Public Library. 

Next year, Peterson shared she would like the students to think about planting pollinator plants in the containers to attract butterflies.

30 people representing a dozen DeKalb businesses and organizations planted the downtown’s in-ground planters on May 21. The Master Gardeners and DeKalb High School horticulture students planted in the downtown earlier in the month.

Children can experience flying during the Young Eagles Flights event hosted by the DeKalb Young Eagles 421 at the DeKalb Airport from 9 a.m. to 11 a.m. on Saturday, June 4.

Kids 8 to 17 will be given a free 15 minute flight (weather permitting) around the DeKalb/Sycamore area. A parent or legal guardian needs to sign a waiver.

Then on Sunday, June 5, drive in or fly in for the EEA 241 pancake breakfast from 8 to 11:30 a.m. at the DeKalb Airport.

New Firefighter/Paramedic Sworn In

The DeKalb Fire Department swore in David Koelper as a firefighter/paramedic at Station Number One on May 16. Koelper was then pinned by his mother. View more photos of the swearing-in ceremony on DeKalb Fire Department Facebook Page.

The DeKalb Police Benevolent & Protective Association will host its 21st annual charity golf outing.

The outing will be at River Heights Golf Course on Saturday, July 9 at 1 p.m. 4-person teams will play in a scramble format. Cost of $70 per player includes golf, riding cart, lunch before golf, and dinner after golf.

If you would like to sponsor a hole, donate a raffle prize, enter a team, or join an existing team as an individual, please contact Cmdr. Chad McNett at the DeKalb Police Department at before June 27. There are several sponsorship levels available. 

We look forward to raising money for charity and seeing you all at this fun community event.

Cmdr. McNett can be reached at 815-748-8439 and chad.mcnett@cityofdekalb.com.

The City of DeKalb’s suspension of fares will expire on June 30, 2022.

In response to the COVID-19 pandemic, the City of DeKalb suspended the collection of fares for all its fixed route bus service and paratransit services on Wednesday, March 18th, 2020. 

After 835 days of free fares, the City of DeKalb Transit System will resume collecting fares on Friday, July 1, 2022, on both Fixed Route and Paratransit services.

All riders on the fixed route service must enter through the front door to pay their fare. We recommend that you exit through the rear door when possible. Please remember that masks are now optional when riding the DeKalb City Transit and Paratransit buses.

Officer Long is congratulated by Mayor Cohen Barnes at her swearing in on May 16.

Officer Antrobus is sworn in at the DeKalb Police Department on May 20. 

Mark your calendars! National Night Out will be back this year and takes place on August 2 at the Walmart in DeKalb. We'll be sharing more information on the event as the date nears.

June Community Events

DeKalb Chamber of Commerce

DeKalb Farmers' Market

The DeKalb Farmers’ Market is in the heart of Downtown DeKalb and features vendors that provide the community with locally grown produce, bread, baked goods, olive oil, honey, coffee, flowers, food trucks and live music. Enjoy and support over 25 local vendors.

Van Buer Plaza

Thursday, June 2-September 22

Learn more here.

Stage Coach Players

126 South Fifth Street

Something Rotten!

Stage Coach Players (SCP) brings the smash Tony winning musical, Something Rotten! all the way from 1595 London to DeKalb. The hilarious musical follows Nick and Nigel Bottom, as they struggle to find success during the Elizabethan Renaissance when their contemporary, William Shakespeare, ruled the stage.

June 9-19

Purchase tickets here, and view the theater's full schedule.

Trash Squirrels Clean Up

Meet at the NIU West Lagoon/Lorussos Lagoon for the group's seventh clean up of the season. Look for the Trash Squirrels/There's Fun in Store Tent. Trash bags, pullers, wagons, gloves, safety vests and beverages will be provided.

Saturday, June 4 from 10 a.m. to 12 p.m.

See the group's Facebook page for more collection dates.

Egyptian Theatre

135 North Second Street

ABBAFab

ABBAFab is a stunning tribute to of ABBA and some of the greatest music produced in the 70s and 80s including monster hits such as Waterloo, Fernando, Honey Honey, Dancing Queen and countless others.

Wednesday, June 22 at 7:30 p.m.

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

DeKalb County Pride

Multiple local organizations will host a free Pride event at the Egyptian Theatre. Attendees are invited to wear their favorite Pride attire, bring a decorated Pride sign for the march, and to come show support for the LGBTQIA+ community.

Thursday, June 23rd

6:00 p.m. - Doors open at the Egyptian Theatre

6:30 p.m. - Short Pride march Downtown DeKalb (start/end at Egyptian Theatre)

7:00 p.m. - Free showing of the film “Tangerine” (for mature audiences)

After movie - post-film discussion led by a panel

DeKalb Public Library

309 Oak Street

Friends of the DeKalb Public Library Summer Book Sale

Choose from an astonishing selection of great quality hardcovers and paperbacks. There’s a wide selection of DVDs, audiobooks, and music CD’s. Sunday is the $5.00 a bag blowout sale.

All proceeds are used for library books, materials, and programs.

June 24-26

More information on the event can be found here, and see all of the library's programs on its calendar.

Submit your event to be consider for the e-News Community Events Calendar by e-mailing here.

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.