Just in time for Sunshine Week, I’ve re-scored the City of DeKalb’s website transparency score from scratch. Does it come anywhere near the Illinois Policy Institute’s score of 88.1 points? No. But at least I have found out why. Check out the scoring rubric, here. This is the one I used both in December 2010…
Tag: Freedom of Information Act
What Is the DeKalb City Attorney Talking About?
In the course of a year I submit to the city at least a half-dozen requests under the Illinois Freedom of Information Act (FOIA). The vast majority of requests for information are filled as a matter of routine. Every once in awhile, though, the city denies something I’ve asked for by citing an exemption under…
Something Odd About the Public Library Construction Grant Program
Because the local library applied for a state construction grant in 2012, I decided to read up on these grants. One result of the research is doubt that all the money from a new library grant “pot” has all gone to libraries — but I am having a difficult time finding out for sure. This…
NIU Enrollment by Campus — Er, Mostly
When we talk about NIU enrollment we are usually referring to the enrollment at all four campuses, which is the number NIU must report to the state. With a drop of 4.9% as we had this year, a lot of questions come up. Hypothetically speaking, what if DeKalb had lost 10% but nobody knew because…
DeKalb’s Population Illusions
**Update: DHS enrollment projections for next year have been corrected from 17,000 to 1,700 and I appreciate receiving the email heads up.** Possibly the worst argument in support of the land swap deal between District 428 and Shodeen is this: The land near [DeKalb High School] offers more promise for the district than Kiwanis Park.…
A Visit to DeKalb County’s New Website
DeKalb County put its new website online this week. The county says the overhaul was not made in response to the Illinois Policy Institute’s recent grade of D-, but has been in the works for about a year. DeKalb County has put lots online for quite some time, but finding it or even getting a…
Daily Chronicle Still on Top of NIU Resignation Story
In “NIU hired outside firm to investigate employees” we learn that NIU paid about $25,000 for investigations into what have previously been described as serious allegations of misconduct. A contract between the university and Sycamore law firm Foster & Buick Law Group shows that attorney John Countryman was hired June 4 to investigate “named individuals…
Corn Fest Has a Liquor License. Guess Where the Bar Is?
DeKalb Corn Fest, Inc. now has its own liquor license, and its own special permit to serve liquor at Corn Fest in the great outdoors. My companion and I saw them about 5:30 p.m. We had to request to see these documents, because they weren’t posted anywhere: not at the gate to the beer garden,…
Lots of Good FOIA and OMA Action in Winnebago Forest Preserve District
*Update 10:45 p.m.: Olson is out as district president! The story is here. But that’s not all! Find bonus Chuck Sweeney here with free shipping!* The Rockford Register Star used the Freedom of Information Act to obtain e-mails to and from Winnebago Forest Preserve district president Randy Olson that trace the process of creating a…
The “Coffee Fund” and NIU’s Curious Behavior
Thank you, Daily Chronicle, for revealing that there indeed is more to the Northern Illinois University Finance & Facilities/Convo shakeup than just a couple of dudes simultaneously deciding they were ready to move on. DeKALB – Separation agreements for two former Northern Illinois University administrators show they were paid tens of thousands of dollars and…