DeKALB – The DeKalb City Council met on Monday and residents discussed a proposed plan to allowing police patrolling services on public transit.
POLICE OFFICERS ON PUBLIC TRANSIT LINES
DeKalb residents voiced their concerns over the proactive patrolling services provided to DeKalb County Transit starting in January. Announced by the DeKalb Police Department, $50,000 will be allocated to fund voluntary overtime taken by police officers to carry out these patrols.
Alicia Iverson, a DeKalb resident, opposes the plan. She believes it will have negative effects.
“I genuinely don’t think having police patrols on the buses will ingratiate the police to the community. I think it will scare the community,” Iverson said.
Iverson believes the money could be better spent on other security measures.
‘“Focusing on lighting the bus stops would be an excellent idea,” she said. “You could install the lighting with the new bus shelters you already have planned for this year.”
Chris Falco, a DeKalb resident, believes the plan is unnecessary.
“I think there’s much more useful things to use, such as expanding routes or times or services, not really police overtime for something that doesn’t exist currently,” Falco said.
Mike Neuenkirchen, transit manager for the City of DeKalb, explained the rationale behind the plan.
“There was a recent federal directive established back in September of 2024 about having proactive steps to take to address assaults on transit workers,” Neuenkirchen said. “It’s not intended to be a punitive thing. It’s a proactive partnership with our police department.”
COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT BLOCK GRANT
The 2025-2029 Five Year Consolidated Plan, required by the Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) covers housing and community development needs in DeKalb. The total cost is approximated to be $352,979.
This will include eight objectives that address issues such as sustainability, availability and accessibility, adequate shelter and supportive services for vulnerable groups, increasing resources to homeless persons in a cost effective manner, address housing needs for homeless, support for seniors, special needs and low-income people to allow for decent and independent living, promote neighborhood revitalization programs in identified priority areas, and increase economic opportunity by making affordable childcare, employment training, non-traditional education and more available.
The 2025 Annual Action Plan consists of five major activities for the first year of the CDBG: Forgivable loans of no more than $5,000 to low/moderate income homeowners for repairs and repayable loans of no less than $10,000 for extensive projects, a maximum of 15% of annual grant for funding of selected public service agencies, funding for large-scale infrastructure improvements for low-moderate income residential areas, removal of condemned/abandoned buildings for the purpose of neighborhood safety and growth of property value, and a maximum of 20% of grant allocation to support salary of Community Services Coordinator and general grant administration costs.
SOCIAL SERVICE FUNDING
The allocation of grants to various local social service agencies was approved.
The top three largest recipients are Voluntary Action Center, Safe Passage and Barb’s Food Mart. Based on the funding agreement, they will receive $25,000, $18,500 and $18,000 respectively.
A resolution for a supplementary human services grant of $40,000 to the Voluntary Action Center was also passed.
DeKalb Mayor Cohen Barnes expressed his support for the resolution.
“This is a shortfall that could potentially impact this need that so many in the community absolutely depend on,” Barnes said. “That’s why I agreed to put this on the agenda.”
NEW POLICE CARS
The City Council unanimously approved two resolutions for the purchase of six police vehicles. The DeKalb Police Department will buy two police vehicles from Galena Dodge, a Charger and a Durango totalling an estimated $87,407 including upfitting costs, and four Dodge Durangos from Kunes Dodge totalling an estimated $178,162.80. The total cost will be $265,569.80.