Archive for July, 2008

Chief Feithen to Hold Press Conference Today

Author: yinn

Jul 22

Police Chief Bill Feithen has sent ’round the following memo:

In our continuing effort to keep the media and citizens informed on the progress of the police facility project and the Citizens’ Police Facility Advisory Committee a press conference will be held on July 22nd , 2008 at 3:00 pm in the basement classroom of the municipal building.

The press conference will consist of a brief Powerpoint presentation presented to the City Council and community groups in past years but with updated information. A general summary of the work of the committee to date will be presented and a tour of the current police facility will be conducted. Council members and Citizens’ Police Facility Advisory committee are welcome to attend.

The Citizens’ Police Facility Advisory Committee will meet on Thursday, July 24th, 2008 for a final review of the space needs recommendation and funding options in preparation for the July 29th, 2008, 6:00 p.m. special City Council meeting.

I appreciate the heads up.

8 Comments
Filed under: Council/City Watch

Garage Orchestra Playing Fundraiser Tonight

Author: yinn

Jul 19

Update: It’s been canceled. See comments.

The Garage Orchestra will play it again this evening in Sycamore.

The Garage Orchestra’s next performance is at Pay-It-Forward House’s fundraiser “Meet Me At The Fair.”
when: Saturday, July 19 2008 at 5:30 PM
where: 719 Somonauk Street, Sycamore IL

Sounds outdoorsy. Hope the weather clears up.

1 Comment
Filed under: Calendar

FPC Meeting 7/22

Author: yinn

Jul 18

The next meeting of the Facilities Planning Committee will be Tuesday, July 22 at 6:30 p.m. in the District 428 Admin building. Be there or…you know. Guessing they’ll be talking some more about the new high school projections and what they’re going to do about them.

9 Comments
Filed under: Calendar, Dist 428

I Am a Chronic Nuisance

Author: yinn

Jul 18

You know how you look at a word too long and it suddenly doesn’t look spelled right to you? That’s “nuisance” to me right now. Whew! I heard a great idea yesterday [related to the proposed nuisance ordinance] and ran with it today.

The price tags belong to cafe’press; I am not profiting from the sale of the merchandise. Order right away and you can pay econo shipping and still get your stuff in time for the next City Council meeting. And if there’s anything else you want to see decorated with this declaration, let me know and I’ll add it to the shop.

Free speech rocks!

9 Comments
Filed under: Council/City Watch

RIP Thread

Author: yinn

Jul 16

Regarding the proposed, controversial Rental Inspection Program (RIP), I have obtained materials available at the website of the Tenants, Landowners, Community Rights Group (TLC), have talked with a couple landlords and have read about voluntary inspection programs in other college towns (such as here and here.)

While not necessarily opposed to a rental inspection program, I do think we should at least consider a voluntary model first. I also am inclined to think that a RIP predicated, as this one so obviously is, more on motivations of revenue enhancement than of community enhancement is doomed to be a big fat failure and a searing indictment of the way the city does business.

Also, nobody has really explained what is so lacking in Chapters 10 (Tenant-Landlord), 12 (Nuisance) and 13 (Building Codes)–besides draconian fines, that is–that we can’t possibly enforce what’s already on the books. Let’s have some thorough public hearings on the current state of code enforcement to find the real holes that need mending.

26 Comments
Filed under: Council/City Watch, Payment Due? | Tagged as:

Time for Some Campaignin’

Author: yinn

Jul 16

JibJab’s latest.

You might also enjoy The Founding Fathers. That’s a rap!

0 Comments
Filed under: General Happenings

DeKalb County Online: Rental Inspection Manager Hired Last Year

Author: yinn

Jul 13

Surprise! The City of DeKalb has been paying the “proposed” Rental Inspection Program Manager for the better part of a year now:

According to records obtained through a Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) request, filed by DeKalb County Online, the City hired an independent contractor, retired DeKalb Police Lt. James Kayes, to perform the duties of a Rental Inspections Manager in October, 2007. The contract, which runs through September, 2008, states that Kayes is paid $40 per hour for each hour of work he turns in on a bi-weekly basis.

The contract does not specify a limit to billable hours and includes reimbursement for expenses incurred by Kayes, plus use of a City vehicle and equipment. Kayes reports to the Community Development Director, Russ Farnum.

City attorney, Norma Guess, explained in a response letter regarding the FOIA request that the contract was approved by City Manager, Mark Biernacki. Her letter stated that the position and the contract was discussed by City Council during closed sessions and therefore the minutes regarding those discussions are not available to the public.

Mr. Biernacki is allowed to approve expenses of up to $20,000 per year without Council approval and Mr. Kayes has been paid up to about $6000 per month. Watch the monthly check registers and you do the math. [Update for clarification: If there is not a cap of $20,000 per year in the contract--and there's not--only the negotiations should have been private. The contract itself should have been approved in open session, a la Daley Group.]

25 Comments
Filed under: Council/City Watch, Payment Due?

Council Agenda 7/14/08

Author: yinn

Jul 12

The agenda packet is another 200+ pager due to sketches of the downtown ShoDeen plan and East Corridor work along with a number of proposed revisions to the liquor code. Consider this an open thread on any part of the agenda; however, I will confine myself for the moment to comment on a couple of inconsistencies that IMO are somewhat telling of the power relationships involved.

  • Council may cut its salaries by 10%, but give 34 managers COLA adjustments (pp. 89-94; 129-143).
  • The city may approve changes to the liquor code to force bar managers to live within city boundaries (p. 195), yet its own firefighters are allowed to live up to 18 miles from town.

    • The proposed liquor license fee hikes are ridiculous (p. 212). Will next up be the landlords, or will they hike the property tax first?

    30 Comments
    Filed under: Council/City Watch, Payment Due?

    News from the Tea Company

    Author: yinn

    Jul 9

    Have you visited the Tea Company lately? This referendum thingie is coming together.

    1 Comment
    Filed under: Council/City Watch, Local Campaigns, Political Campaigns

    Fortunate Son

    Author: yinn

    Jul 4

    To all the guys and gals who never phone it in.

    Happy 4th.

    0 Comments
    Filed under: General Happenings
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