Board of Trustees members were angry Thursday morning after hearing that NIU won’t have a say on DeKalb County’s future transportation policy.

“I think it would be very short-sighted for NIU to not have representation,” trustee Myron Siegel said.

Now that DeKalb County has a population over 50,000, federal law requires that a special committee – the Metropolitan Planning Organization – be formed to address transportation needs. This committee will handle money received through state and federal grants.

“Northern Illinois University and Cortland may participate in the discussion, but without voting rights,” Mayor Greg Sparrow told the Midweek.

The MPO is made up of six members. The city of DeKalb will have three representatives, while Sycamore, the DeKalb County Board and the Illinois Department of Transportation will have one representative.

“We need to be at the voting table,” trustee Robert Boey said, pointing out that the presence of NIU in DeKalb is responsible for a large part of the population. He also stressed that the Huskie Bus system – the only local public transportation system – is paid for by NIU student fees and therefore NIU should have a say on how funds are used.

Siegel expressed disappointment in the local government and is concerned that people are unaware of what the BOT considers a very serious issue for students and residents.

“For us not to have involvement would be political suicide for the local government,” Siegel said. “I don’t know why the local media hasn’t picked up on this issue.”

Student Trustee Jesse Perez said this is a major concern for all NIU students. He and Boey will deliver a letter early next week stating the board’s request for participation on the committee .

“I am confident this will get resolved,” Perez said.

The Board of Trustees also approved NIU President John Peters’ recommendations for budget requests. The requests now will be submitted to the Illinois Board of Higher Education for consideration.

Peters requested funds to renovate the Stevens and Wirtz buildings and to construct a new Computer Science and Technology Center.

“When a student asked me when construction will end,” Peters said, “My answer was ‘I hope never’.”

Also, the NIU Foundation officially gave Barsema Hall keys to the board, therefore bringing its role as a developer to an end. A formal opening celebration ceremony for Barsema Hall occurs at 11 a.m. Monday at the new home for the College of Business.

No one from the public registered to address the board during the required allotted time. Minutes from past meetings show that no requests to make statements before the board have taken place in the past year.