The proposed new DeKalb Police Station is coming closer to receiving the funding it needs to begin construction.

DeKalb City Council voted Monday on a revised plan to pay for the bond needed to fund the $17 million station. The city needs to come up with $1.3 million per year for 20 years to pay off the bond. The proposal states the money will come from as many places as possible to spread the burden among the community. The general fund will provide $150,000. Three hundred thousand dollars will come from a .5 percent increase in the restaurant and bar tax, $750,000 will come from a utility surcharge and the remaining $100,000 will come from an increase in the hotel/motel tax and police fines. The plan does not include any increase in property tax.

The proposed utility surcharge will be determined by the size of utility meters. Ten-thousand-one-hundred-forty-seven of the 10,960 meters in DeKalb are the smallest sized meters. These meters will be charged the least because they are mostly single family residences, but because of the large number of them, it will make up the majority of the $750,000 of revenue.

DeKalb City Manager Mark Biernacki said they changed the way the surcharge was going to be implemented because if they used a flat rate for all meters, a single family residence would be paying as much of a fee as a factory or a 12-unit apartment because they all only have one meter.

The initial proposal had the utility surcharge making up $900,000 of the total $1.3 million cost. NIU would have to pay over $39,000 per year, but the university has expressed a great adversity to this proposal. Biernacki said he thinks the city should comply with NIU because it is such a high institution in the community.

Fourth Ward Alderman Donna Gorski said she understands NIU doesn’t want to pay so much money, but the student population makes up a big part of the community.

“A significant portion of the police activities are directed towards policing NIU students and let’s face it, they are a large chunk of our population,” Gorski said. “While I empathize with NIU being billed largely, at the same time they do represent about half our population.”

First Ward Alderman Bertrand Simpson said everyone is going through hard economic times, and while this project is expensive, it is greatly needed by the community.

“Our city has to go on.” Simpson said. “We need to move. I would be more comfortable giving greater scrutiny to the next 50 or 100 smaller decisions we have to make. As far as I can tell this is one of the biggest decisions in front of us with the greatest possible positive benefit; protection to the city.”

More council news

The council passed a consideration to allow $10,000 to low-income households in DeKalb so they can get discounts on supplies to weatherize their homes at Lowe’s, 2050 Sycamore Road.

A consideration was passed to hire the services of Baxter and Woodman to assist the Community Development Department in the three to four month period after the resignation of Community Development Director Russ Farnum.

City Council also approved the bid from Rockford Blacktop Construction Company for the demolition of 345 E. Lincoln Highway.

The bid of Elliott and Wood for the Second and Third streets Downtown Street Improvement Project was approved.

The council also approved the bid from EZ Glide for the purchase of a portable, synthetic ice skating rink to be constructed on the south east corner of First and Locust streets.

The purchase of 15 public transportation vehicles for Voluntary Action Center through the state purchasing program was approved.

City Council amended the municipal code to prohibit parking by non-residents on Hedge Drive, Loren Drive, Northern Court and University Drive.

The first reading of an ordinance was passed to rezone all properties bound by First Street on the west, Franklin Street between First, Fifth and Seventh streets on the north, Seventh Street on the east and Taylor Street on the south from Multi-family Residential to Residential Conservation District. This excludes 612 Grove St.

City Council passed the first reading of an ordinance that amends uses in light commercial and general commercial districts.

An ordinance to affirm a lease with option to purchase with Elliott and Wood Inc. for a portion of property at the east end of Industrial Drive was also passed.

A resolution to enter into agreement for joint operation of the synthetic ice rink with The Skate School LLC was passed.

City Council also authorized the commencement of Phase IV of Re:New DeKalb.