The Downtown DeKalb Council estimated about $100,000 each year will be needed to revitalize downtown DeKalb and develop the central business district.

DeKalb Council President Lance Hansen told about 50 property owners and merchants at Matthew Boone’s, 122 S. First St., Thursday night that DeKalb’s image and upkeep of downtown is the organization’s first priority.

Part of improving DeKalb’s image is paying a maintenance person about $34,000 each year to keep downtown clean and to shovel sidewalks in front of shops, DeKalb Council Secretary Bob Bradbury said.

Carolyn Hayes, owner of Gallery-Plus, 518 E. Lincoln Hwy., said, “I pick up my own garbage and shovel my own sidwalk. It takes me 10 minutes and it doesn’t cost me $34,000.”

Planting flowers and raising the American Flag on appropriate occasions would improve downtown’s image as well, Bradbury said.

However, Nancy Sisler, owner of Hillside Restaurant Downtown, 121 N. Second St., said, “Flowers and trees won’t make the problem go away.” Selling the right products the right way will bring customers to the stores, not the cosmetics of the town, she said.

John Perry, a property owner, said, “I am against planters because they become vomiters and trash collectors, and we (citizens) can’t afford them.”

Another method to revitalize downtown is paying more than $34,000 to hire a professional leader who will devise a plan to restore the downtown, DeKalb Council Treasurer Larry Beaty said.

Hansen said this is to have coordinate affairs in the town becauase the retailers do not involve themselves.

DeKalb attorney Roger Hayes, 511 Girard St., expressed his concerns that the businesses east of Fourth Street and Lincoln Hwy. will not be included in the revitalization.

Carolyn Hayes said a bridge or an underpass needs to be built by the railroad tracks to connect the east part of downtown to the central part.

Tom Smith, owner of DeKalb Confectionary, 149 N. Second St., said there were several flaws in the organization’s bylaws, including it does not define the boundaries of downtown, and it does not define what qualifications a board member needs.

But, the bylaws do state the salary a board member will be paid, Smith said. “I don’t think we have a good article (bylaws),” he said.

Board member Robert Denton said the bylaws can be changed, but initial bylaws needed to be drawn up.

Funding for the organization might come from six sources such as memership dues, donations and grants, which will be used to fund one-time costs, Beaty said.

He said other funding opportunities are different taxes, tax increment financing funds, contractual relationships and federal, state and local grants.

The organization has received $25,000 as “seed money to get started” from the tax increment financing fund, and $10,000 has been donated through the membership drive, Beaty said.

Perry said in reference to a special service taxing district, “I’m against double taxation.” He said property owners started paying the tax in 1980. In 1983 the tax totaled $660, and in 1986 they paid $1,279.

“We (the organization) haven’t spent a nickle yet,” Hansen said.

An important aspect for the plan to work is for the community to cooperate and have positive attitudes toward the revitalization effort, he said.

He said, “From here we (the organization) will continue. Now, we will regroup and get some more input.”