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Northern Star

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The Student News Site of Northern Illinois University

Northern Star

The Student News Site of Northern Illinois University

Northern Star

Council to continue building ordinance talks

By Northern Star Staff | November 9, 2014

A meeting between business owners and City Council members to continue discussing the progression of the Commercial/Industrial Building Responsibility Code Ordinance will be held 10 a.m. Nov. 21.The ordinance would require commercial and industrial businesses...

Focus DeKalb attorney Mike Coghlan speaks about how he thinks a portion of the original material within the Commercial/Industrial Building Responsibility Code Ordinance is unconstitutional and discusses proposed amendments during a meeting Wednesday at 1719 Sycamore Road.

FOCUS DeKalb wants more business-friendly ordinance

By Margaret Maka | November 6, 2014

Focus DeKalb attorney Mike Coghlan speaks about how he thinks a portion of the original material within the Commercial/Industrial Building Responsibility Code Ordinance is unconstitutional and discusses proposed amendments during a meeting Wednesday at 1719 Sycamore Road.

Dan Watkins, owner of Herbal Embers, 161. E Lincoln Highway, looks on Tuesday at his shop. Watkins said a proposed ordinance that asked business owners to pay for yearly inspections could hurt entrepreneurs. “I hope we can open up lines of communication between the city and businesses,” Watkins said. “I believe in this community, but small businesses walk a thin line, and I have to do what’s best for my business.”

City delays vote on business inspections

By Jessica Christofersen | October 29, 2014

Business owners balked at an ordinance that would require businesses to pay for a yearly inspection, leading to the postponement of a vote on the ordinance.The postponement of voting on the Commercial/Industrial Building Responsibility Code ordinance,...

Pass/Fail: City Council saves homes from zones; steam outage will leave students cold

By Carl Nadig | October 29, 2014

PassCity Council decided to exclude the John and Harrison Street neighborhoods from a proposed enterprise zone.These neighborhoods are sacred to the city’s identity. These streets are meaningful to the people who live or have lived in the area. The...

Diane DeMers, resident of the Ellwood Historic Neighborhood, expresses her concerns over the implementation of a enterprise zone in DeKalb at a Monday City Council meeting in the DeKalb Municipal Building. DeMers brought photographs of a strip mall at the corner of Annie Glidden Highway and Hillcrest Drive to show attendees what an enterprise zone could create in the Ellwood Historic Neighborhood. An enterprise zone is an area within a community where companies receive incentives, including tax credits and exemptions.

Oct. 27 City Council meeting

By Gavin Weaver | October 28, 2014

Diane DeMers, resident of the Ellwood Historic Neighborhood, expresses her concerns over the implementation of a enterprise zone in DeKalb at a Monday City Council meeting in the DeKalb Municipal Building. DeMers brought photographs of a strip mall at...

Diane DeMers, resident of the Ellwood Historic Neighborhood, expresses her concerns over the implementation of a enterprise zone in DeKalb at a Monday City Council meeting in the DeKalb Municipal Building. DeMers brought photographs of a strip mall at the corner of Annie Glidden Highway and Hillcrest Drive to show attendees what an enterprise zone could create in the Ellwood Historic Neighborhood. An enterprise zone is an area within a community where companies receive incentives, including tax credits and exemptions.

Locals push against enterprise zoning

By Kristin Maglabe | October 28, 2014

The John and Harrison Street area will be excluded from DeKalb’s proposed enterprise zone, a move that was announced at City Council Monday.Enterprise zones are areas within communities where companies can take advantage of special state incentives,...

Attend meeting for John Street

By Diane DeMers | October 26, 2014

As a 25-year resident of the Ellwood Historic Neighborhood, I am very concerned about what lies ahead for this beloved cluster of older homes and majestic trees burrowed between NIU and downtown DeKalb. The fate of the John Street area of this neighborhood...

Mayor John Rey speaks Monday about the job opening for the position of city clerk at the City Council Meeting in the DeKalb Municipal Building. The seat has been vacant since the resignation of Liz Peerbook in late September. 

City Clerk position open

By Kristin Maglabe | October 13, 2014

Mayor John Rey is officially looking for a city clerk.The seat has been left open since the early resignation of Liz Peerboom in late September. At City Council Monday, the mayor said anyone interested in the position should contact him, and said “a...

DeKalb Library Director Dee Coover updates City Council members on the status of the library’s 2014 fiscal year Monday at the council meeting in the DeKalb Municipal Building, 200 S. Fourth St. Coover spoke about DeKalb’s Big Read Month in October and she told council members the groundbreaking ceremony for the DeKalb Library expansion was a success.

Library to use $15K grant for Big Read Month

By Jackie Nevarez | September 23, 2014

DeKalb Library Director Dee Coover updates City Council members on the status of the library’s 2014 fiscal year Monday at the council meeting in the DeKalb Municipal Building, 200 S. Fourth St. Coover spoke about DeKalb’s Big Read Month in October and she told council members the groundbreaking ceremony for the DeKalb Library expansion was a success.

DeKalb Police Chief Gene Lowery awards officer Jeffery Winters, during Monday’s City Council meeting, for an act of kindness and call to service.

Vote delayed for safety, cost issues

By Northern Star Staff | September 9, 2014

City Council has postponed voting on an ordinance that would change the way the city inspects commercial and industrial businesses.The ordinance would require commercial and industrial businesses to be inspected annually at the business owner’s expense....

Smoking ban could lead to litter in city

By Northern Star Editorial Board | September 7, 2014

If DeKalb is going to implement an ordinance that bans people from smoking within 15 feet of patios in public places, it should be ready to compromise by giving smokers other options for where to put their cigarette butts and ashes.Before Thursday, it...

Anti-smoking ordinance debate continues

By Mitchell Spence | September 3, 2014

Some are still worried about a potential loss of business from an ordinance that will ban smoking on patios starting Thursday.Smokers will be required to move 15 feet away from patios in public spaces, which some think will send patrons elsewhere or cause...