While neatly wrapped presents may not be on the agenda, city officials are hoping DeKalb’s 150th birthday celebrations next year prove to be a benefit to the city.

The celebrations will aim to focus on DeKalb’s historical highlights as well as bring people back to the community to celebrate the city’s anniversary, 2nd Ward Alderman Kris Povlsen said.

“The goal is to celebrate, like a birthday party,” Povlsen said. “An offshoot is that we’ll bring in tourism and shed a positive light on the community.”

City council members proposed a 13-member ad hoc committee to examine possible programs and activities for the celebrations, City Manager Mark Biernacki said.

The committee will be made up of two city staffers, one city council member, seven representatives from DeKalb organizations, such as the Ellwood House and NIU and three at-large members.

DeKalb resident Jim Schnieder said at a city council meeting that local realtor Dewitt Osgood should be considered for a spot on the committee.

Biernacki said he anticipated the committee would work on getting private donations from corporate sponsorships and other sources.

The city has already set aside $15,000 from the general funds to be used for marketing the sesquicentennial events, Biernacki said.

Biernacki said while he envisioned the celebrations would include events such as a parade, it was too early to tell and the decision would ultimately be left up to the community and city council.

The events would likely take place over an extended period and not just one day, Biernacki said.

The city’s exact founding date is not known.

Originally named Buena Vista after a battle in the Mexican-American War, the city that would become known as the birthplace of barbed wire was officially incorporated as DeKalb sometime in 1856. The name DeKalb honors Baron Johann de Kalb, a war hero who perished in the American Revolutionary War.