The site has been compromised. In response, I’ll have to make the update I’ve been putting off. We’ll have better security but will probably lose the comments (hence the reluctance to update). See you soon.

Merry Fitzmas, everyone!

–Barb City Tea Company is having an open house and informational meeting on Tuesday evening at The House Cafe, 263 E. Lincoln Hwy., 6-8 p.m.

–DeKalb Area Women’s Center (DAWC) Holiday Shopping Fair runs 6-9 p.m. Friday and 9a-4p Saturday, 1021 State Street.

Thought you might need it after reading this.

The residing “leadership” at DHS is as ineffective and combative as any I have seen, mainly from the top. Staff is often disregarded, almost contemptuously so. Constructive input, normally valued in education, is consistently met with intense hostility. Valid concerns are routinely warped into that of enemy fire and met with swift, severe retaliation. An unhealthy obsession with power and authority has led to a palpable sense of resentment throughout the staff. It is no small wonder that there have been more union grievances filed against this leadership than any other in recent memory.

Students are treated with equal ignorance. As evidenced by abrupt dismissals of valued staff and the implementation of grade-school-like behavioral programs (i.e., Barb Stamps), student input is effectively nonexistent. In place of a healthy spirit, inspiring creativity, free expression, and opportunities for psychological/social growth, is leadership that inspires little more than apathy and rancor. It is this leadership, this environment, which has greatly contributed to DHS failing to meet [Annual Yearly Progress goals], four years running.

But this is an Open Thread–what else is on your mind? DeKalb salt shortage? TIF funds to First Rockford Group for facade improvements on Sycamore Road?

So much for my bon voyage posting being the last one! Here’s what’s happening at Lion’s Park:

1) A new, improved sanitary lift station is being installed. It will be placed higher than the old one, to prevent backup when the area gets flooded.

2) Some of Lion’s Park will be flooded intentionally to allow for skating this winter. I’m told this was planned before the Re:New-city project was hatched.

Whichever patch o’ disturbed dirt lies closer to the playground is probably the rink. ;-P

I never did get around to telling you about making sauerkraut or the Stranded Wind Project or the implications for the defense industry of an ailing manufacturing sector.

But even if I had, closing Citybarbs would still be hard. This blogging thing: I’ve made friends by it, and learned an awful lot. If it weren’t for the demands of campaigning I’d stay ’til they pried the keyboard from my cold dead fingers. Alas, some matters have to be handled off-line.

Thank you for coming and for making Citybarbs what it is. I will always be proud of the caliber of people and discussion to be found here.

Find the campaign website at fazekas4dekalb.com.

Thanks for all the thoughtful comments on the City Council & Outside Help post. Lots of food for thought there—I’m still munching.

This is a weekend open thread, meaning no topic is off-topic. I’ll kick off with a few questions that have arisen this week:

1) Pevo asks whether local contractors support the Construction Manager approach to building the police station or do they prefer Design-Bid-Build?

2) The new, improved Municipal Parking Lot 4 is laid with real brick. Can you use a regular snowplow on it?

3) I’ve been told that 15 or so good-sized trees have been planted on the lot now devoted to the skating rink at First & Locust. Does this say something about DeKalb’s commitment to finding a developer for this piece of property, or not?

There is plenty of controversy surrounding City Council’s decision to spend money for an outside financial consultant. Setting aside for the moment the fact that Council is willing to pay more than the budgeted amount–an issue in itself–the question is what exactly this action says about staff performance. Some say the move is a vote of no confidence, while others say the problems are such that an outside perspective is needed.

Many of us work in fields where, occasionally, decisions must be made to request outside help for dealing with problems that require a level of expertise not found in-house. It is a mark of professionalism to do so. So the question is: Is it reasonable to expect the in-house staff to anticipate and to generate solutions to our budget problems themselves? I say it is. If you disagree, you must explain to me a) what their main function is, and b) how neighboring communities avoided deficits.

As for going over budget to obtain help, iirc my first city-related letter to the editor (LTE) was a complaint about a mayor spending more on travel than was allotted. No mercy.

Petition circulators, signers and donations are needed.

You do not have to believe that Home Rule should be repealed to sign the petition, or to help circulate it. Obviously, you must agree that citizens have the right and should have the ability to decide the issue with authority.

If you agree we need your help. The Barb City Tea Company was formed at a grassroots level to get the Home Rule question on the April 09 ballot. It will remain a grassroots organization. We are looking for volunteers, who are registered voters in the City of DeKalb, to help circulate the petition.

We ask each volunteer for 50 signatures.

The Tea Company faithfully holds meetings every Tuesday at noon at 248 Palmer Court. Bring your lunch if you like.

Please note that the Tea Company limits each contributor to $150 in donation(s) to ensure its continued grassrootiness.

How about YOU choosing the topics this weekend.