The DeKalb City Council has approved an agreement to work collaboratively with the DeKalb School District to enhance school safety.

The agreement to add two School Resource Officers (SROs) at DeKalb schools, for a total of five, was approved unanimously by the Council on June 27. It had already been approved by the DeKalb School Board.

The duty to address behavior will not fall on the SROs alone. The agreement also requires the creation of a Code of Conduct, enforced by the School District, to be distributed to students and their parents.

“We need to make it a collaborative effort to get our schools where they’re safe,” said Second Ward Alderwoman Barb Larson (second from left in photo).

A community service program to be operated by the School District is also being developed under the agreement as well as a reciprocal reporting system for the sharing of data.

Not all of the work will be done in the schools. Mayor Cohen Barnes said the City will continue its work to improve the properties where students live and address crime, so students have a good environment to come home to after school.

“This is a collaborative effort between the School District and the City of DeKalb,” said Barnes. “We will do our part. We’ll expect you guys to do your part. We’ll be transparent on both sides, (and) hold each other accountable.”

There will be two SROs at the high school, one at each of the middle schools and one at the six elementary schools in the City limits. The new SROs are expected to be selected and trained by the start of next school year.

In This Issue

Several hundred people marched down First Street on June 23 during a parade held as part of Dekalb County Pride in downtown DeKalb. The event showing support for the LGBTQIA+ community also featured service provider booths, a movie at the Egyptian Theatre and a panel discussion.

Also last month, Mayor Cohen Barnes issued a proclamation recognizing June as LGBTQIA+ Pride Month in the City of DeKalb

Work continues on the southside of Lincoln Highway between First and Fourth Street.

New curbing has been poured and conduit has been laid. Earlier this month, crews installed new sidewalks meeting the most recent ADA standards.

Following prep work, color concrete will be poured in the five-foot strip between the existing paver space and the new curbs. This narrowing of Lincoln Highway to three lanes, including a center turning lane, will calm traffic while making the downtown more pedestrian friendly.

After the south side of the road is completed, the same work will be done on the north side. The road will then be resurfaced. 

Downtown businesses remain open during construction, and on street parking will remain on Lincoln Highway after the project, which is scheduled to be completed before Corn Fest.

The City will host the second and final open house to gather feedback regarding a draft of the City’s Comprehensive Plan update.  

The open house will occur on Thursday, July 14 from 4:30 to 6:00 p.m. at the DeKalb Public Library.

A comprehensive plan communicates a community’s goals and objectives, provides a blueprint for future land use, and serves as the basis for zoning, subdivision, and land use codes. A comprehensive plan typically consists of three components: 

• a history that includes an inventory and analysis of the community; 
• a formulation of goals and objectives for a period of time, usually five years; and 
• a future land use plan that explains the ways the community wants to grow.

The City’s draft plan also includes Urban Design Guidelines that make recommendations regarding appearance of the community as well as the layouts and functional relationships of our streets, neighborhoods, private and public buildings, common areas and open spaces.

Drafts of the Comprehensive Plan documents can be viewed here.

Questions can be directed to Planning Director Dan Olson 815-748-2361. Those who cannot attend the open house can e-mail comments on the draft plan to dan.olson@cityofdekalb.com or mail them to: Dan Olson, Planning Director, City of DeKalb, 164 E. Lincoln Hwy, DeKalb IL 60115.

DeKalb Fire Responds to Record Number of Calls

The DeKalb Fire Department strengthened staffing and technology while responding to a record number of calls last year.

Fire Chief Michael Thomas (right in photo) delivered the Department’s 2021 annual report to the DeKalb City Council on June 14. It shows a call volume of 7,446 responses, a 15 percent increase over the previous year and the most ever handled by DeKalb firefighter/paramedics.

To help meet the demand, the Department was awarded a $2.7 million federal SAFER grant to fund nine additional firefighter/paramedics. Chief Thomas said that will allow the minimum staffing level to increase to 14 by the end of the year.

Mayor Cohen Barnes said the influx of federal funding secured by the Fire Department is appreciated.

“That’s just great from a taxpayer perspective. I’m sure our taxpayers love every time you bring home some dollars from the outside. That offsets the burden for all of us,” said Barnes. “You guys do an amazing job at that.”

The Fire Department is also beefing up technology. New power load cot lift systems are being installed in ambulances, and two new fire engines and a new brush/utility truck are being delivered this year.

Thomas said the Department is also expanding the use of thermal imaging cameras, which can see through smoke.

“The thermal imager was very useful at last week’s fire Wednesday night where the first-arriving lieutenant found a victim unconscious through the smoke,” said Thomas. “The technology is really helping us do our job well.”

Thomas thanked DeKalb Firefighters Local 1236. Along with their daily work, Local 1236 worked with Fire Department administration on two grant applications, including the SAFER grant, and contributed more than $25,000 in donations and hours of volunteer time in the community.

The annual report can be viewed here.

Celebrate Fourth of July in DeKalb

The City of DeKalb and DeKalb Park District are excited to host the annual Fourth of July Celebration with an enhanced fireworks show!

Join us in Hopkins Park on Monday for this annual tradition along with some new daytime programming. See the full schedule below.

This year's fireworks show spectacular will be different from the normal show. 

It will feature color and pattern scenes, special effects, multi-layer effects including shooting comets and a glittering chandelier ending, Made in USA fireworks, pastel disco colors, and larger shells for everyone to enjoy from farther away. The fireworks show will be something you won't want to miss, so don't forget to bring your friends, family, and cameras because this is going to be an event to remember!

The DeKalb Young Eagles Chapter 241 and EAA Chapter 241 enjoyed successful events at DeKalb Airport over the weekend of June 4 & 5.

Fifty-seven children experienced flying through free flights by the Young Eagles on June 4. Then on June 5, more than 350 people drove or flew into DeKalb Airport for EAA Chapter 241’s pancake breakfast, which supports flight training scholarships for young pilots.

DeKalb Fire Recognizes Promotions

The DeKalb Fire Department held a badge pinning ceremony June 17 at Fire Station One to recognize promotions that have been earned since the start of the pandemic. The following promotions were earned:

• Deputy Fire Chief of Operations: Donald Faulhaber, Jr.
• Battalion Chief: Todd Stoff, James Carani and Luke Howieson
• Captain: Timothy Morey, Jason Pavlak and Wade Schneck
• Lieutenant: Noah Millard, David DeLille, Eric Blanken, Travis Karr and Robert Terry

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.

The DeKalb Police Department would like to remind residents in residential parking permit areas that permits expire on August 1.

Permits can be renewed at the station Monday through Friday, 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. A driver's license or lease with the address is required for renewal. For more information, click here.  

New water service lines are being installed through DeKalb’s Lead Service Line Replacement Program.

The third installation was on South Fifth Street. A new one-inch copper service line was bored across road and connected to a home. The Public Works Utility Division also installed a new tap and new, larger diameter water meter.

The program covers 100% of the cost of the service line replacement.

Residents suspected of having a lead service line were sent a letter about the program. Those interested in participating can contact the Water Division at 815-748-2050 or e-mail bfaivre@cityofdekalb.com.

The DeKalb Police Department is honoring community members who have assisted the police over the past year. Thirteen citizens received certificates during a ceremony at the Police Department on June 22. It was the Department's second annual Citizen Appreciation Day.

The City of DeKalb and Citizens’ Community Enhancement Commission (CCEC) have released two Calls for Artists soliciting proposals for public murals and seeking community members to transform utility boxes into vibrant and welcoming works of art.

The Public Murals Call for Artists is the product of a multi-year effort by the CCEC to create a program designed to enhance the aesthetics of the City, promote civic pride, highlight the community’s diversity and promote a spirit of belonging through public art.

“The public mural initiative is a wonderful opportunity for artists to participate in the cultural vitality of the City of DeKalb,” said CCEC chair, Brad Hoey. “Thanks to the city recently being awarded a T-Mobile Hometown Grant and to the investment of other community partners, we are able to launch this latest public art project and look forward to developing additional arts and culture initiatives in the future.” 

Two highly visible, City-owned properties have been selected as preferred sites for public murals.

The first site is the retaining walls along the South Annie Glidden Road railroad underpass. The location offers a large canvas with walls along both the northbound and southbound lanes of Annie Glidden Road and is the preferred site for a mural depicting a sense of welcoming, community pride and school spirit. The second is the south wall of the City Hall building. This site overlooks a busy public parking lot in the heart of downtown DeKalb.

A second Call for Artists has been released for utility box artwork to be created for three boxes in high-traffic areas of downtown DeKalb.

In the photo above, CCEC member Member Jeanine Holcomb stands next to a utility box in Van Buer Plaza. It is one of three utility boxes selected to be used for the public arts initiative.

The utility box project is part of the community’s efforts to make DeKalb a welcoming community where everyone feels a sense of belonging. Incorporation of these themes will be evaluated as proposals are considered along with the artwork’s vibrance and the originality and appropriateness for its site in downtown DeKalb.

It is preferred artists create designs in digital format that will be printed on vinyl and wrapped around the utility boxes by a third-party fabricator. Vinyl wraps are preferred for their durability and resistance to rust and graffiti. They also provide an opportunity for photographers and digital artists. Proposals to paint a utility box will also be considered.

All artists are eligible for both Calls for Artists, and the CCEC hopes the murals will become an opportunity to highlight the talent of local and regional artists.

Both the public murals and the utility box artwork will be supported through a portion of a $50,000 T-Mobile Hometown Grant secured by the City.

For the public murals, the grant will provide an artist stipend of up to $15,000 per mural to cover the artist’s design fee, supplies and, if necessary, travel. For the utility box artwork, the grant will fund creation and installation of the vinyl wraps or reimbursement of up to $150 per artist for paint and supply expenses if the box is painted.

For the utility box program, DeKalb County Community Gardens is providing a $150 incentive for each artist.

The Public Murals Call for Artists can be viewed here.

The Utility Box Artwork Call for Artists can be viewed here.

The deadline for submissions for both the public murals and utility box artwork is July 13, 2022, at 11:59 p.m.

The City is planning for the murals and utility boxes to be completed this fall.

The Unity Mural in the Lincoln Highway bike underpass was completed last summer. The City of DeKalb and Citizens’ Community Enhancement Commission have released a Call for Artists to create more public murals in the City.

July Community Events

Tour of Champions Drum & Bugle Corps Show

The City of DeKalb is proud to welcome the Tour of Champions Drum & Bugle Corps show. Huskie Stadium will host this fantastic night of family entertainment. See the top drum & bugle corps in the world in one of the Midwest’s finest & largest stadiums!

Huskie Stadium

Saturday, July 9

Box office opens a 5 p.m., doors at 5:30 p.m. and the contests starts at 7 p.m.

For more information, contact FunMEevents@aol.com

DeKalb Public Library

309 Oak Street

Badminton at the Library

Join Badminton World Federation certified coaches to learn more about badminton basics, including how to hold your racket, serving, and different types of shots. All badminton equipment will be provided.

Thursday, July 7 at 7 p.m.

Register for the event here, and see all of the library's programs on its calendar.

Trash Squirrels Clean Up

Meet at the NIU West Lagoon (behind Stevenson Residence Hall) for the group's tenth clean up of the season. Look for the Trash Squirrels/There's Fun in Store tent. Trash bags, wagons, pullers, safety vests and water will be provided.

Saturday, July 9 from 9 a.m. to 11 a.m.

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

Stage Coach Players

126 South Fifth Street

Agatha Christie’s A Murder is Announced

The Stage Coach Players present a classic Agatha Christie puzzle of mixed motives, concealed identities, a second death, a determined inspector grimly following the twists and turns, and Miss Marple on hand to provide the solution, at some risk to herself in a dramatic confrontation just before the final curtain.

July 14-24

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

Egyptian Theatre

135 North Second Street

BOO'ze & Spirits Flashlight Tour

What has led to the Egyptian Theatre being known as one of the most haunted buildings in town and in the top ten haunted theatres in Illinois? Join the Theatre staff as they share all the secrets and stories with a ‘balcony to backstage’ tour that focuses not only on the history of the 91-year-old building but also all of the Theatre’s ghostly guests.

Friday, July 15 at 8 p.m.

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

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.

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.