DeKALB – The City of DeKalb will discuss Monday changes from the 2010 to the 2020 Census due to the loss of 3,805 people within the last 10 years.

The State of Illinois requires political wards to be nearly equal in population, according to Sept. 13 City Council agenda. 

DeKalb is split up into seven wards and the sixth ward lost the most people with 2,060 residents. Because of this, ward six only has 4,177 people while wards two, four and five have over 6,000 people living within them. 

If the wards were to be split up evenly, they would average 5,756 people in each, according to the city council agenda. 

“The challenge is always to take into account the general prescription of the state legislature while recognizing that a ‘perfect’ distribution would require ward lines in the middle of city blocks and awkwardly laying across natural and infrastructure barriers,” according to the agenda. 

Contract award possible for Curran Contracting Company

City Council will consider passing a resolution to award Curran Contracting Company with a construction services contract for $1.7 million for Illinois route 23 and Gurler Road improvements. 

The city is developing the Ferrara Candy Company logistical site, which requires the intersection of route 23 and Gurler Road to be upgraded. 

The intersection will have to be widened for trucks to turn and to allow all motorists to be able to maneuver through the intersection safely, according to the agenda. 

If approved, the final project will have to be completed by the winter while excavation, drainage and pavement work must be completed by this fall, according to the agenda. 

The Illinois Department of Transportation Economic Development Program will grant the project $1.49 million and if it exceeds that amount, Ferrara Candy Company will cover the price, according to the agenda. 

The City Council meeting will be held at 6 p.m. Monday at the DeKalb Public Library, 309 Oak St., in the Yusunas Meeting Room.