DeKALB | Four aldermen leaving DeKalb’s city council talked about their time on the council and offered personal thanks to those who helped them along the way at Monday’s city council meeting.

Karega Harris, 1st Ward:

Alderman Harris thanked 1st Ward residents and fellow city council members. He singled out Alderman James Barr as the first person who supported him when he voiced a desire to run for city council. He also expressed gratitude to the city staff’s efforts, calling their work “above and beyond.”

“I’ve grown so much,” Harris said, talking about starting out as a 21-year-old college student to a more involved member of his community.

Steve Kapitan, 3rd Ward:

“We’ve made progress in many ways, but we have not communicated it,” Kapitan said. He went on to say he hoped the city’s efforts to get out the positives would bring people to appreciate DeKalb even more.

He spoke about entering politics 12 years ago by running for the 3rd Ward seat in a bid to save the post office. Kapitan thanked the city staff and 3rd Ward residents as well as all his fellow council members.

Patrick Conboy,

5th Ward:

Conboy started by joking that he had some good news. “I left my 40 pages of prepared comments at home,” he said.

Calling Mayor Frank Van Buer “a true blessing,” and his time with council wonderful, he continued saying, “I’ve made a lot of acquaintances that are very important in my life.”

He thanked 5th Ward residents, fellow council members and city staff.

James Barr, 7th Ward:

Barr thanked his fellow council members and city staff.

“We have a great council,” Barr said. “We’re headed down a very good road.”

He also thanked Mayor Van Buer as a friend and mentor and City Manager Mark Biernacki. As alderman of the 7th Ward, he talked about the relationship between NIU and DeKalb, calling the relationship very close.