Aug 29
Save Sunday afternoon on the 14th for Kite Festival 2008. Bring, make or buy a kite and join the fun. And fun it will be, with Ivan Krpan emcee!
Where: NIU “North 40″ at Lucinda & Kishwaukee Drive
When: Sunday, September 14, 11a-4p
Cost: Free, but VIP parking is $3
Other: Bring your own chairs; food available
Aug 27
Is it just me, or are you surprised, too, that Mayor Polvsen hasn’t wrapped up the 2nd Ward aldermanic appointment? It is too bad that the 2nd Ward had no representation Monday night.
Both Ivan Krpan and Ed Pevonka have notified me that they have formally requested consideration for the spot. However, unless something has changed quite lately, neither has received a response, much less been interviewed. I know of no one else in the running and wish, as usual, that the process would open up a bit.
Aug 25
The Setup
The spring didn’t look good for tomatoes. In spite of the new greenhouse digs, the right germination temperature could not be reached. So much for starting beefy heirlooms. I was forced to buy, late, little Better Boys and Romas and didn’t expect much but now but the babies are overtopping 5-foot trellises. It is indeed the Year of the Tomato che’z yinn. Read the rest of this entry
Aug 23
Whew, good thing I added that “Honor Roll” category the other day:
DeKalb Police Chief Bill Feithen informed staff at the Daily Chronicle this week about the arrest of a DeKalb Police officer and subsequent disciplinary actions taken. The officer was charged with driving under the influence Aug. 10 by Illinois State Police officers, who were called to a two-vehicle accident when responding DeKalb Police officers found an off-duty officer was involved with the accident. Police departments cannot investigate their own officers, which is why the state police were called in. The willingness to be open about affairs within a department says a great deal about the DeKalb Police Department’s commitment to the community, even if it draws criticism.
Criticism?! For what, failing to hire teetotalers? Please. They followed the book even when it was one of their own, then were completely open about it. All city departments should operate this way.
Aug 21
There were meetings about police station funding and the new schools last night. I am very interested in the new station but since I wrote a letter about the high school it seemed fitting to attend the latter meeting.
The core size of the high school, at 3000, is treated as a done deal by the Facilities Planning Committee. Last night they were trying to decide on initial classroom capacity and it looks like they’ve landed on 2500. One member cautioned against “lopping off” classroom space as it would cramp the style of his wife the teacher, who knows ever so much more about educating our kids than we do so would we please just leave all this to the professionals.
Here’s what the professionals have in store for us:
Yours truly was paid a huge compliment when, at the end of the meeting, it became apparent that several FPC members had spent a whole day analyzing my letter so they could ambush me with it. Read the rest of this entry
Aug 20
We’ve talked about corporate accountability before, in the context of the Target warehouse. Target received the EDGE tax credit from the state in exchange for providing a certain number of new, permanent, full-time jobs and its annual progress reports are posted at this site. A recent check, in fact, shows good numbers for all the EDGE recipients in DeKalb:
CST Industries (DeKalb incarnation = Engineered Storage Products)
All three companies have created and maintained a greater number of jobs in our city than promised. Well done.
Aug 14
The Facilities Planning Committee will meet again Wednesday, August 20, at 6:30 p.m. Question: How many guests from the general public does it take to prevent heckling of FPC members who want to talk about downsizing the core of the new high school in response to the latest enrollment projections? Answer: More than 3.
The DeKalb Area Women’s Center is still in need of cleanup help resulting from the blown-over chimney. They haven’t had an estimator out so I’m not talking about getting on the roof yet, just about picking up the rubble from the ground. Let me know which of the next 3 weekends (NOT including this one, the 15th-16th) you’d be willing and able to join a work crew and whether a Friday or Saturday would suit you best. You can commit yourself here or via e-mail (yinn422ATyahooDOTcom). As soon as we have a group and a date I’ll find out whether we’ll need to rent a Dumpster so if anyone has inside info on that, let me know.
Aug 12
Congratulations to Acting Mayor Povlsen. Of the group comprising City Council, he is the best choice.
That’s not to say I will be agreeing with him anytime soon. For example:
Top issues that he will be moving forward are working with the liquor industry on revising the city’s liquor code and working with landlords on creating a rental unit inspection program, Povlsen said.
Wrong! DeKalb’s top priority is to ensure its long-term financial health and the place to start is with the police station. Along with making decisions about funding the building of the facility, we must figure out how and why we failed to save up for it during the past 7-years-plus.
And I’d really, really appreciate it if council members would stop bragging about the property tax rate remaining the same for 15 years. During the times of our heaviest growth and increased home values, it should have been reduced, as this would have been an example of growth paying for itself. But because they spend every penny, because they think it’s fine to go into debt to build, and because they have consistently refused to adjust anything downward during booms, our leaders have relegated the concept of growth paying for itself to the status of myth. Too bad.
On to the skating rink! Read the rest of this entry
Aug 8
Info on the 2008 Buy-Way sales here. DeKalb Area Women’s Center (DAWC) events in conjunction with the Buy-Way begin noon today and run ’til 9, then tomorrow 12-3 p.m.
Aug 6
WEEKS AGO I heard that 4th Ward Alderman Donna Gorski was considered a front-runner for acting mayor to fill out Mayor Van Buer’s term.
Rumors being nearly as essential to the average informed DeKalbite as air, this was just something to file away mentally. It didn’t seem reasonable. Ald. Povlsen is not only the senior member of Council, he shows a bit of aptitude in leadership including consideration of his constituency and the courage to buck staff from time to time.
As of today, however, I have heard from no fewer than 4 people (whom I have no reason to believe to be talking together) that Ald. Gorski is the consensus pick—if by “consensus” one means that staff would love to see the deferential Donna in place and most of Council could be expected to go along with it. Such is the nature of my own personal brand of denial that it took awhile to see this “non-reasonable” possibility, as I would find the fact of it—if fact it is—to be breathtakingly cynical.
But it is still not clear to me that the majority of council members would fall into step with such a plan if it exists. We have seen significant acts of independence and a couple surprises lately, possible indicators of aldermanic awareness that the interests of city administrators and those of other residents have parted ways and that they are making a choice for one side or another on many a vote.
In short, IMO there’s no done deal, and next Monday’s meeting is not to be missed.