Fifth Ward Alderman Ron Naylor seems very proud that the FY2011 budget is down $700,000 from FY2007. I went through those budgets and counted more than 40 positions eliminated since FY2008 — but, assuming a little hiring has been done this past fiscal year, let’s say we’re down about three dozen. There’s been virtually nothing…
Category: City Watch
Reduction in Force Outcomes
DeKalb’s FY2011 budget included a Reduction in Force (RIF) plan to close a budget gap of a couple million. Here is how it played out for about a dozen AFSCME union members who got laid off as part of the RIF in June 2010. [table id=12 /]
Council to Vote on More Econ Development Help
Council members will vote Monday on a resolution to outsource economic development services from Hopkins Solutions, LLC. Hiring an economic development director was recommended by the financial consultants’ (EPI) report released May 2009. The Roger Hopkins who established Hopkins Solutions last year is probably none other than the past director of the DeKalb County Economic…
City Managers’ Contracts
The Sycamore City Council will decide Monday whether to renew the city’s contract with its city manager, Bill Nicklas. Residents of DeKalb might well ask when the contract with its own city manager expires. The answer is: Never.
Big Fat Correction
I am guilty of too much talk and not enough homework done this week. There is indeed a scenario in which Alderman Ron Naylor paid the Ellwood House room rental for a 5th Ward meet-up, even when there’s a “RM RNTL 5TH WARD 1/19/10 MTG” note in the city’s check register. The scenario is more…
Naylor Disputing City Paid for Ellwood House Ward Meeting
[Update: Please read the Big Fat Correction I’ve made to this story.] Well, I just had an interesting phone conversation. It seems an online comment I made about Ron Naylor’s letter to the Daily Chronicle about his upcoming ward meeting at Ellwood House — specifically, that he should pay the room rental this time! —…
Statements of Economic Interest, 2011 City of DeKalb Candidates
Five of the candidates for alderman had no disclosures to make (“N/A” for all items) on their Statements of Economic Interest (SEI). Three did, and the table lists them in the order they appear in a PDF file. Because I’ve shortened both disclosure item descriptions and explanations in the table, a sample of an original…
Extended Comment on the Advisability of a South 4th Street TIF
I left a comment at DeKalb County Online in response to 5th Ward candidate Rob Fischer’s possible support for a new TIF. Says Mr. Fischer: TIF’s are one of the most powerful tools municipalities have at their disposal to renovate neighborhoods. My wife and I were just talking the other day about how the city…
Residents Fleeing DeKalb
First of all, please visit DeKalb County Online for a terrific summary of the latest local population data and housing vacancy rates. The 2010 Census constitutes a smack up the side of the head for the ivory tower types whose 2011 Commercial Notebook includes the prediction that DeKalb’s population would be found to exceed 50,000.…
What’s Wrong with Corn Fest is the City of DeKalb
There has always been a group that embraces Corn Fest and another that leaves town. However, public sentiment against Corn Fest Committee seems to be reaching an all-time high with the latest decision to continue it at the airport. But the real problem here is not so much the Committee as the City of DeKalb,…