The DeKalb community will not receive funds for a civic center this year.

The proposal for a center to hold both city of DeKalb events and NIU activities, including basketball games, was rejected June 29 by the Department of Commerce and Community Affairs, according to press office chief Lynn Morford.

Morford said DeKalb’s application did not meet the legislative intent of the civic center program.

She said the funding was intended for projects whose main function was for public entertainment, expositions and conventions.

DeKalb’s funding was rejected because the center was going to be used by NIU as an education and sports facility.

Illinois Sen. Patrick Welch said it was unfortunate that Gov. James Thompson, along with DCCA, did not approve DeKalb’s application. Welch said the involvement of a governmental institution, NIU, was the reason for the rejection.

However, Welch said legislation he sent to the governor would allow a university to be treated as other than a governmental institution.

Welch said he was sure the application would be resubmitted.

“I’m very disappointed,” said DeKalb Mayor Greg Sparrow.

Sparrow said he considered NIU’s involvement to be a plus because it would help keep the center financially secure, unlike others that are known to lose money.

Sparrow said a decision about resubmitting the applicaton would be made at the expo meeting Thursday at 8 p.m.. The deadline for the 1990-91 fiscal year is July 31.

Sparrow said if Welch’s amendment is approved then the original application can be resubmitted without modification. However, the governor has until September to veto or approve the amendment.

DeKalb 7th Ward Alderman Jeff Monroe said using NIU’s involvement as a reason for rejection is not fair to the students.

Monroe asked, “Since when is the NIU community not public (and therefore, part of DeKalb)?”

DeKalb 6th Ward Alderman Jamie Pennington said the rejection of the civic center funding is a big loss to the community.

“We are seeing development in DeKalb and we have the population base to support a civic center,” Pennington said.