The DeKalb Area Women’s Center is taking reservations for sale space all this week, for only $5 for the whole weekend. Call 815-758-1351 or e-mail: dawc@niu.edu.
Archive for July, 2010
LUST at First & Locust
Author: yinnJul 30
On July 22, 2010, the City of DeKalb received a No Further Remediation (NFR) Letter from the Illinois Environmental Protection Agency for the property it owns at First and Locust streets (AKA “skating rink site”).
[A]n NFR Letter signifies that compliance with all applicable regulatory requirements has been achieved, all corrective action (if any) has been completed, and no further corrective action is necessary for the protection of human health, safety and the environment.
Filed under: Council/City Watch, Energy & Environment, TIF | Tagged as: Freedom of Information Act, TIF
The Library Fund
Author: yinnJul 29
The DeKalb Public Library’s annual budget is part of the City of DeKalb’s budget and has to be approved by City Council.
In Fiscal Year 2008, which began July 1, 2007, a significant change was made in DPL’s budget that went unremarked. That year and each year since, the Library has not been projecting/budgeting all of its revenues. Here is what the change looks like:
| FY2007 | FY2008 | FY2009 | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Property Tax | 1,076,000 | 1,210,000 | 1,520,000 |
| Non-Res Dues | 3,000 | 0 | 0 |
| Fines | 30,000 | 0 | 0 |
| Invest. Interest | 20,000 | 0 | 0 |
| Refunds/Reimb | 1,000 | 0 | 0 |
| Library Sales | 8,000 | 0 | 0 |
| Donations | 13,000 | 0 | 0 |
Library Investigator
Author: yinnJul 24
Ah, the good ol’ days, when you didn’t mess with your library and your library didn’t mess with you.
BOOKMAN: You took this book out in 1971.
JERRY: Yes, and I returned it in 1971.
BOOKMAN: Yeah, ’71. That was my first year on the job. Bad year for libraries. Bad year for America. Hippies burning library cards, Abby Hoffman telling everybody to steal books. I don’t judge a man by the length of his hair or the kind of music he listens to. Rock was never my bag. But you put on a pair of shoes when you walk into the New York Public Library, fella.
JERRY: Look, Mr. Bookman. I–I returned that book. I remember it very specifically.
BOOKMAN: You’re a comedian, you make people laugh.
JERRY: I try.
BOOKMAN: You think this is all a big joke, don’t you?
JERRY: No, I don’t.
BOOKMAN: I saw you on T.V. once; I remembered your name–from my list. I looked it up. Sure enough, it checked out. You think because you’re a celebrity that somehow the law doesn’t apply to you, that you’re above the law? Read the rest of this entry
Filed under: Snark/Humor | Tagged as: open thread
‘MacGyver’ Bombs Found in Rockford
Author: yinnJul 22
[Update 5:45 p.m.: Authorities have two teen suspects.]
No one was hurt when a homemade bomb exploded inside Woodman’s grocery store early Tuesday.
Another bomb, undetonated, was found inside a car in the Wal-Mart parking lot later the same day.
Filed under: General Happenings | Tagged as: winnebago county
Town Council Meeting Protocol Statement
Author: yinnJul 18
It has been brought to my attention that the Town Council of Fairfax, California, follows a meeting protocol that is printed on every regular meeting agenda and recited at each meeting as faithfully as the Pledge of Allegiance. Long story short, a Fairfax Council member recently viewed portions of a DeKalb City Council meeting on YouTube and I ended up with a copy of the Fairfax agenda for the July 7 meeting as a result.
MEETING PROTOCOL
The Mayor shall maintain order at the meetings in accordance with Robert’s Rules of Order and the Council has a responsibility to be a model of respectful behavior in order to encourage community participation and citizen input at Council meetings. The Council and the audience are expected to refrain from using profane language and/or ridiculing the character or motives of council members, staff, or members of the public and to maintain the standards of tolerance and civility. Read the rest of this entry
Filed under: Goo-goo Files, Honor Roll
Taj Mah-Library
Author: yinnJul 17
[Updated 7/18 with links to more coverage, at bottom.]
Dimensions, features and amenities planned for the new DeKalb Public Library have been lifted from “A Building Program for the DeKalb Public Library,” September 19, 2009. The plan is to build an 89,000 square foot facility that serves 70,000 people, based on projections of 2% growth per year out to 2030. Building and participant details come after the jump. Read the rest of this entry
Welcome Juliet
Author: yinnJul 16
Juliet is sized a tad bigger than what I would expect for a grape tomato but smaller than a Roma. Last night she ended up in a salad of just-snipped shredded basil, red onion, avocado, tuna and white beans.
We’re having fun with the salads this summer. Earlier this week, it was a mango slaw with mint and lime that had to be tasted to be believed. The rule is that something from the yard has to be thrown in.
Use this space as an open thread if you like. There seems to be a lot going on in our gardens and out. I see the DeKalb Public Library is the latest unit of local government sent to the doghouse, and that the synthetic skating rink is being dismantled. Is the Fire Department’s deal with NIU on your mind?
Filed under: Garden Blog | Tagged as: open thread
Post-Meeting Open Thread
Author: yinnJul 13
So, what did we learn from the latest Council meeting? We learned that, even though Fairview Drive residents have spoken at three meetings, made phone calls and sent letters and e-mail to them, one or more Council members perceived little opposition to forced annexation because the residents failed to arrive as an angry mob last night.
After talking with a few — they are my neighbors and some of them are my friends — my take is that they know a done deal when they see one. This was confirmed in fact by their new alderman, who remarked that the annexation’s been in the works for six months.
City’s Response to Request for Review
Author: yinnJul 11
The following is the City of DeKalb’s response to the Illinois Attorney General’s Public Access Counselor regarding its denial of a Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) request for the names of Council members who participate in the City’s health insurance plan. Click on any page of the letter to see a larger image of it.
- Chicago-Kent Center for Open Government asks AG's Public Access Counselor to review "ongoing violations" of OMA. http://t.co/RdMHKhQ7 14 hours ago
- Get acquainted with the DeKalb Area Rental Association. DARA has just launched its new website. http://t.co/nE1w4gJF 1 day ago
- Cash mobs: new way to buy local and make friends. http://t.co/U8yBI3y9 1 day ago
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