Barber Greene and Peace Roads may be the next big commercial intersection.

The 52.7 acre area of land formerly occupied by Caterpillar, and most recently by AGCO Corporation.

City Manager Mark Biernacki said he anticipates a gas station and other commercial development in this area in the next few years.

The annexation of this property will generate $7,000 in property tax revenues and $15,250 in utility taxes for the city.

With the upcoming change in city leadership, the council will issue a certificate of appreciation to DeKalb Mayor Greg Sparrow.

Sparrow, who served the city for 22 years in his capacity first as 7th Ward alderman and now as mayor, will end his term on May 9.

The council will also express their appreciation for 4th Ward Alderman Mike Knowlton, who is being replaced by Donna Gorski.

The council will also approve the building of a Verizon cell tower on the property of the Immanuel Lutheran Church, 511 Russell Road.

“This is unlike any cell tower you’ve seen,” Biernacki said. “What’s proposed is a steeple bell tower to mask the ugly cell tower.”

In the next few months the city will be conducting studies addressing quality of life issues.

The city has faced drainage problems around the Pleasant Street area west of Peace Road.

The study, which will cost the city more than $12,000, will be completed within two watershed areas north of Pleasant Street between North 14th Street and Peace Road.

The area is an impounded area which causes water to flood the backyards of Vienna Boulevard residents, Biernacki said. The study will try to identify solutions.

The city also has a truck traffic study in the works to assess the growing number of trucks running through the city.

The rise in traffic was due to the increase in toll rates and growing industrialization of the area Biernacki said.

The two studies should be completed by July 1 if everything goes as planned, he said.

The city council will also assist first-time home owners to finance mortgages.

By May 1, the city must declare how the 2005 volume cap will be used, Biernacki said.

The volume cap is a tax-free bonding authority that is allocated by the state based on a city’s population.

It provides private funding for residential and industrial projects within the city

DeKalb received $2.2 to 2.3 million for the fiscal year 2005, Biernacki said. This year’s entire cap will be directed towards housing projects.

“Within the community someone can buy the bonds at a competitive interest rate,” he said.