On April 10th residents who reside in DeKalb township will have a historic opportunity to participate in one of the only remaining forms of pure democracy that still exists and it only happens once a year. If you are a registered voter in the city of DeKalb, you will have the opportunity to vote to place three very important advisory referenda questions on the November general election ballot.

1. “Shall the City of DeKalb continue to operate as a City Manager form of government?”
2. “Shall the City of DeKalb continue to be a Home Rule city?”
3. “Should the DeKalb Public Library become a library district instead of a municipal library?”

All three of these issues have been intensely discussed by the citizen’s of DeKalb and DeKalb Township for quite some time, but local leaders, including DeKalb Mayor Kris Povlsen have chosen to ignore the discussion. The irony is that Mayor Povlsen constantly insists that he wants to hear from the public on important issues affecting the city, but when citizens come forward at city council meetings and express an opinion that he disagrees with, Mayor Povlsen will often ignore or lecture the speaker. Too an extreme, a few weeks ago, he had representatives from the NIU center for Black Studies escorted out of the city council chambers by police.  A travesty! (more…)

Another public hearing was held Thursday, March 29th in the Legislative Center of DeKalb County concerning an amendment to the Special Use Permit held by Stonehouse Park in rural Southern DeKalb County. About 40 people, mostly neighbors, attended the public hearing, requiring extra seating to be brought in.

After the first public hearing on this issue February 9th, it was sent to the Planning and Zoning Committee with a recommendation from hearing officer Ron Klein to accept the amended Special Use Permit with conditions, including a capacity limit of 500 people. The Committee sent it back for another public hearing for more information when the owners of the park stated they could not operate their business plan with a capacity that low.

Owners of Stonehouse Park, Gregg Larson and Steve Cecchin opened the public hearing with a presentation comparing the park to the Sandwich Fairgrounds. Hearing officer Klein rejected the comparison stating that the Fairground is much bigger and better organized, doesn’t hold music festivals and also does not allow alcohol on the premises.

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Nary a Woodward or a Bernstein would dare to make my newest prediction:

The 2012 Annual Meeting of the Electors of DeKalb Township will set a 20-year (at least) record for attendance.

That’s because at the April 10, 2012 meeting the following questions to be placed on the general election ballot to be held November 6, 2012 are on the agenda as action items.

1. “Shall the City of DeKalb continue to operate as a City Manager form of government?”
2. “Shall the City of DeKalb continue to be a Home Rule city?”
3. “Should the DeKalb Public Library become a library district instead of a municipal library?”

If approved by the DeKalb Township Electors one or all three of the above questions will be on the November ballot as advisory referendums. (more…)