Council approves resolutions

By Shivangi Potdar

The DeKalb City Council breezed through its meeting Monday with most of the agenda’s motions winning by a landslide.

The council passed a resolution for extending runway 2/20 and a taxiway at DeKalb Taylor Municipal Airport in a project funded by federal, state and local funds.

Construction is scheduled to begin in August and be completed by next spring.

Another resolution was passed allowing DeKalb police to take vehicles when someone is arrested, has a revoked license because of a prior DUI or leaves the scene of an accident involving personal injury, reckless homicide or fatality.

Third Ward Alderman Steve Kapitan opposed resolutions allocating $35,000 to the DeKalb County Economic Development Corporation and $20,000 to the DeKalb Chamber of Commerce for tourism activities.

He proposed cutting $5,000 from each grant in light of the current budget situation, but both of the resolutions passed.

Kapitan also questioned the need for the city’s lobbyist in Washington, the Daley Policy Group, as it entails an extra spending of $60,000 a year.

Fifth Ward Alderman Pat Conboy said he saw the situation differently.

“I think because the budget situation is so dismal, we need through the effort of [lobbyist] Patty Daley to receive some assistance on Annie Glidden Road and other projects,” Conboy said.

Seventh Ward Alderman James Barr agreed.

“During the time of scarce resources, you have to take the few you have and leverage them,” he said.

Mayor Greg Sparrow said that in the 10 years that the city had contracted with Patty Daley, she had not raised her fees. Over the years, the city has received federal funding of about $21.1 million and has paid $566,309 to Daley, he said.

The resolution was passed authorizing the Daley Policy Group to provide legislative assistance for infrastructure projects.

The council also passed a consideration to enter a contract with Neumann Company Contractors to repaint the South Water Tank. It will be brought up at the next meeting.

Sixth Ward Alderman Dave Baker proposed to sell advertising space on the tank for painting of a logo to generate additional revenue.

City Manager Jim Connors was authorized to contact interested parties after looking into the cost and potential revenue.

A special meeting for the public’s input on budget matters was scheduled an hour before the city council meeting, but the meeting was adjourned quickly when citizens failed to show up.

The consideration of a request for a special census, estimated to cost $93,000, was approved. The census will generate an additional $250,000 in revenue for each year.

The council originally had scheduled another special meeting for next Monday in order to have three consecutive meetings for public input. The meeting was canceled and was planned to be held before the next city council meeting on July 27.

Sparrow suggested aldermen distribute flyers among their constituents to encourage them to attend the special meeting.