NIU’s plan to implement a second-year residency requirement for incoming students is a game changer for DeKalb. As many as 800 students (by some estimates) could be removed from the private sector rental market. Increased vacancies at that rate could turn DeKalb’s rental housing upside down and that would send investment mortgage lenders into a noose-tightening frenzy.

It could also result in another aww shucks moment for the City of DeKalb’s revenue/expense projections for its re-proposed rental licensing, inspection, nuisance, etc., program.  It certainly warrants reconsideration or refactoring of any rental housing program or investment. (more…)

In Illinois silence is golden as is the vacated U.S. Senate seat once held by the sitting President. Even the childhood home of President Ronald Reagan, Dixon, can’t escape a system that is broke (in more ways than one), rewards the corrupt and punishes only those stupid enough to get caught.

A glimmer of hope for open, honest government emerged when Lisa Madigan got elected as Illinois Attorney General and in short order attacked public corruption by strengthening the Illinois Open Meetings Act and Freedom of Information Act. She created the office of the Public Access Counselor for the public to request a review of potential violations of transparency laws.

Here’s a copy of a recent Request for Review: (more…)

The 200 block of South Fourth Street has been victimized by a rash of repeat offenders ever since the Illinois Attorney General, Lisa Madigan, tightened open government laws in the fight against public corruption. The offenders file Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) requests for public documents that any citizen is entitled to review. The law requires that a FOIA officer be designated for each unit of government and respond to such requests within five business days.

The offense of filing a FOIA request is such an affront to the Home Rule City of DeKalb incoming FOIA requests are routed to their legal counsel to make sure filers do not receive any information about public policy that they are not legally entitled to review. (more…)

photo provided by Mark Charvat

My best guess is 120. Somewhere around 120 people showed up the 2012 Annual Meeting of the Electors of DeKalb Township. The late Pat Lavigne would have been proud and perhaps a little jealous of Eric Johnson, the current township supervisor, because this many residents haven’t been to a township meeting since before the 1970 Illinois Constitution Convention. The staff prepared the Township Garage for a large audience and the facilities were as accommodating as possible.

Voter registration rolls were checked to make sure all those who voted as Electors were indeed residents of DeKalb Township and registered voters. There was a slight delay to the 7pm scheduled start to the meeting but Lynne Kunde and Jodie Peterson checked the Electors in while Johnson, John Huber (Road Commissioner) and John Heitiko (tax assessor) made sure the elderly among the Electors had a chair to sit in for the meeting. Seats were limited.

As expected the outcome of the advisory referendum questions was determined with the election of the moderator. Mark Charvat nominated Kay Shelton. Obviously he wanted the questions on the ballot. Elizabeth Bass was nominated by Curtis Wood, an associate professor with the NIU Division of Public Administration and frequent contributor to the Center for Government Studies. Proof there were neutral Electors in attendance was provided with the nomination of Eric Johnson. Bass was elected moderator by a wide margin. (more…)