[{"_1":2,"_98":-5,"_99":-5},"loaderData",{"_3":4,"_26":27},"root",{"_5":6,"_17":10,"_18":19,"_20":21,"_22":10,"_23":-5,"_24":-5,"_25":10},"user",{"_7":8,"_9":10,"_11":10,"_12":-5,"_13":-5,"_14":15,"_16":-5},"roles",[],"isAuthenticated",false,"isPremium","planName","subscriptionStatus","featureFlags",{},"insightsBudget","isDevelopmentHost","userPreferences",{},"recaptchaSiteKey","6LcvOJcUAAAAAHsB-gPGfGktcRlKpH7OTIU_dMTD","isImpersonating","impersonation","affiliateStatus","isFreedomPortal","routes/v2/article/layout",{"_28":29,"_30":31},"notFound",true,"relatedArticles",[32,75,86],{"_33":34,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":40,"_41":42,"_43":44,"_45":46,"_47":48,"_49":50,"_51":52,"_53":54,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":60,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":66,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},"mediaId",6283562,"mediaKeyId","2587035-6b9a41f202a7663cc684095b43606f13","parentId",2587035,"title","Council presses landlord and says inspections, repairs needed before displaced tenants can return after November fire","audioSeconds",1352,"startMs",3618000,"endMs",4970000,"viewUrl","/Search/View?dp=1&key=2587035-6b9a41f202a7663cc684095b43606f13&start=3618&end=4970","thumbnailUrl","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2587035-6b9a41f202a7663cc684095b43606f13/thumbnail_3618000.jpg","articleUrl","/articles/6283562/DeKalb-City/DeKalb-County/Illinois/Council-presses-landlord-and-says-inspections-repairs-needed-before-displaced-tenants-can-return-after-November-fire","mediaUrl","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6283562-207d59894543076b952c2c4a211f6e64/orig.mp4?Expires=1771199042&Signature=TjGPwLbxSOkDuN7W87UWtEq~FLmJgT93-t6awz1yPJdpXH6fd3u8y2KXLkn1lwOxGeivkdvY2pwdYU3cynotbwdKJe0JGmfiRHKSIIG9V3LkYDiDIMlc2jzjE~eSCXcSg1L242T1TB44jlCTLnwNEr2i9tm1hwM~G0hJpVFkaKEBEHnak-OAnzDVG1gkgJIdJGLHRGuj9UdN0GoEuDFKx24L4vOtV~kypU8jenAx0Lym4JH2RWU4gJlHJLWw5HCWQoagApKSY8LGDYF1JejrPruCLBz-1ybKjTc3ekXxKJ4m2j8ZxhEgcm8zhrUX8p2D7MZYfEhdbTg~12CtogrdZg__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","author","City Council of Dekalb, IL","date","2025-03-12T15:51:48Z","article","Alderman Walker used the March 10 DeKalb City Council meeting to press city staff about delays in repairs and tenant re‑occupancy at multiple apartment properties affected by a November fire and related infrastructure failures.

\"There's this one lie after another lie from the terraces,\" Walker said during council discussion, recounting residents' complaints that management had not provided consistent information about re‑entry, hotel placements or repairs. Walker said some tenants were commuting from outside DeKalb and remained without clear timelines to return.

City Manager Nicholas and Assistant City Manager Bob Riddell said staff have held repeated meetings with the property owner and managers and that work tied to fire‑life‑safety systems must be completed before the city will allow residents to move back in. \"They need to fix their fire doors. They need to fix the lights. They need to fix the alarms,\" Riddell said. Nicholas said the city would not slow progress but would require contractors to restore sprinkler systems, repair damage and satisfy building‑safety standards before approving re‑occupancy.

Why it matters: Council members said hundreds of units are affected and that delays are causing ongoing hardship for tenants. City staff described the legal and administrative steps available: inspection reports, time for the owner to remedy code violations, fines and administrative hearings if repairs are not completed within the time required by code.

City Attorney and staff said enforcement is governed by property‑maintenance codes and the administrative‑hearing process, which provides legally required cure periods and procedural steps before the city can escalate enforcement. \"The law is the playbook for how we're supposed to proceed,\" the city attorney said, adding that the city has pursued cases against the property owner and is prepared to continue legal action.

Council direction and next steps: Council members asked staff to prepare a public briefing summarizing outstanding violations, inspections and enforcement actions so the council and the public could better track progress. Staff said they would assemble the records, noting earlier that the city has held weekly meetings with the property owner and that certain repairs — notably sprinkler restoration in the basement and correction of other life‑safety issues — are prerequisites to re‑occupancy. Staff also urged residents to file complaints directly with the building department to create the documentation that supports enforcement.

Ending: Council scheduled further updates, and staff said they will continue to press the owner for repairs and pursue administrative remedies where the owner does not comply. A precise timeline for re‑occupancy depends on the owner completing the life‑safety repairs and passing re‑inspection.","mediaType","Video","parentTitle","City Council Meeting for March 10, 2025","oneSentenceSummary","Alderman Walker raised resident complaints about management and delays in repairing three properties damaged by a November fire; city staff described outstanding life‑safety and sprinkler work, enforcement tools and the timeline for administrative hearings and inspections.","taxTitle","DeKalb City, DeKalb County, Illinois","taxId",4986,"location","headline","","shortSummary",{"_33":76,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":77,"_41":78,"_43":79,"_45":79,"_47":80,"_49":81,"_51":82,"_53":83,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":84,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":85,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},6283567,"Council approves vehicle, fire and transit purchases, zoning map, EV code changes and tobacco limit; waives some second readings",0,2429000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=2587035-6b9a41f202a7663cc684095b43606f13&start=2429&end=2429","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2587035-6b9a41f202a7663cc684095b43606f13/thumbnail_2429000.jpg","/articles/6283567/DeKalb-City/DeKalb-County/Illinois/Council-approves-vehicle-fire-and-transit-purchases-zoning-map-EV-code-changes-and-tobacco-limit-waives-some-second-readings","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6283567-5b49058adef201cfe7f284b87e9aea10/orig.mp4?Expires=1771199042&Signature=OisMnvgdb4tfTp9sxwmpZQ0oqqUsxwRQvzeQzEnRUXKX3vAym5i8HA8f-ULQEc1MbjmEvhobeeB0tv~pA2LAdHog1i~Taq4lPAtPUFlI5J4HWJE-5fcT4d4AK6Bu9BAEN6~FsYXaX2RLEiTszr2UCmSwl8Tjfabuz0MN8oofdBn6V5iuS-99Cs7F90pNK62owTbXqFZMI9eC09wsRT-JNmCDlkPJbhyLvwxwP90V5oVhJoK7DqFGUocnlylF-8yshW8N39nj8Uet7p9z4bD83ou72S7U1uqa03rthXAAa2vn5jeVBAcVG3zj-KDXSb4eSeuCthlyBuxZlUSXfbh2yw__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","The DeKalb City Council on March 10 voted to approve a group of resolutions and ordinances spanning public‑works vehicles, fire and rescue equipment, transit grant authorizations, and several land‑use and sustainability code changes.

Votes at a glance
- Resolution 2025‑025: Authorizes purchase of two Ford F‑250 pickup trucks for the Public Works Water Division in an amount not to exceed $137,399. Outcome: approved (roll call recorded as unanimous yes). Motion to bring to floor: not specified; roll call recorded as all present voting yes.
- Resolution 2025‑026: Authorizes purchase of Genesis E‑Force battery‑operated extrication equipment from Equipment Management Company in an amount not to exceed $54,320 using Ground Emergency Medical Transportation (GEMT) funding (Fund 1340). Moved by Alderman Larson; seconded by Alderman Verbeck. Outcome: approved (unanimous yes).
- Resolution 2025‑027: Authorizes payment to Municipal Emergency Services for three self‑contained breathing apparatus units in an amount not to exceed $26,100 using GEMT funding (Fund 130). Moved by Alderman Perkins; seconded by Alderman Smith. Outcome: approved (unanimous yes).
- Resolution 2025‑028: Authorizes the SFY26 Downstate Operating Assistance Agreement between the City of DeKalb and the Illinois Department of Transportation to secure state operating assistance for transit. Motion by Alderman Burbank; second by Alderman Larson. City manager said the state funding for transit in this program was notable and referenced a larger state allocation for SFY. Outcome: approved (unanimous yes).
- Resolution 2025‑029: Authorizes the transit manager to act as the authorized official to submit Federal Transit Administration grant applications and sign certifications and assurances on behalf of the city. Moved by Alderman Smith; seconded by Alderman Larson. Outcome: approved (unanimous yes).
- Ordinance 2025‑011 (first reading, waiver approved): Publishing the official zoning map of the City of DeKalb. Moved by Alderman Burbank; seconded by Alderman Larson. Council waived second reading and approved on the floor.
- Ordinance 2025‑012 (first reading, waiver approved): Amends the Unified Development Ordinance to allow electric‑vehicle charging stations across zoning districts and to join an EV readiness program. Moved by Alderman Burbank; seconded by Alderman Powell. Council waived second reading and approved on the floor.
- Ordinance 2025‑013 (first reading, waiver approved): Amends Chapter 64 to limit the number of retail tobacco store licenses in the city to four. Moved by Alderman Walker; seconded by Alderman Burbank. Council waived second reading and approved on the floor.
- Ordinance 2025‑014 (first reading, waiver approved): Renames the existing environmental commission award to the DeKalb STAR (Sustainability through Action, Resiliency and Responsibility) award. Moved by Alderman Larson; seconded by Alderman Powell. Council waived second reading and approved on the floor.
- Consent agenda: Included approval of minutes of the Feb. 24 regular meeting, accounts payable and payroll through March 10, 2025 (amount listed in agenda materials; transcript line contained an unclear numeric string and the exact dollar figure is not specified in the record), and other routine financial and bureau reports. Moved by Alderman Perkins; seconded by Alderman Burbank. Outcome: approved (unanimous yes).

Context and key points: City Manager Nicholas and staff emphasized that the Downstate Operating Assistance Agreement and the federal FTA certifications are essential to keep the local transit system operating; the manager noted the state's SFY allocation for transit had increased markedly. The council also described the EV ordinance as an implementation step following the environmental commission's sustainability recommendations and the city's decision to join regional readiness efforts.

What the votes do not yet do: Several ordinances were approved on first reading with second‑reading waivers; final codification and implementation steps will follow standard administrative processes. No ordinance or resolution in this set was reported as failing or tabled.

Ending: Council members said they will follow up with staff about implementation details, including grant administration and the timeline for publishing and implementing the updated zoning and EV code provisions.","At its March 10 meeting the DeKalb City Council approved multiple resolutions and ordinances including vehicle and safety equipment purchases, transit grant authorizations, the official zoning map, updates to allow electric‑vehicle charging stations, and a limit on retail tobacco stores.",{"_33":87,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":88,"_41":89,"_43":90,"_45":91,"_47":92,"_49":93,"_51":94,"_53":95,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":96,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":97,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},6283572,"DeKalb Police report shows zero homicides in 2024, highlights technology and social‑work response",1698,150000,1848000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=2587035-6b9a41f202a7663cc684095b43606f13&start=150&end=1848","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2587035-6b9a41f202a7663cc684095b43606f13/thumbnail_150000.jpg","/articles/6283572/DeKalb-City/DeKalb-County/Illinois/DeKalb-Police-report-shows-zero-homicides-in-2024-highlights-technology-and-socialwork-response","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6283572-96ae8e2fa7db886471a78669b8d0da5c/orig.mp4?Expires=1771199042&Signature=D2-LVVVRY1ibWs~bHSMiDgK6yyZip3wBOflKthXeS-xq~7AZYMXc4QU3szph7LXqeB14NKEYnwfRv1GX8rDGVI3LJ-5WVtyJh2V0QqeYrj3qsyaTtL00QBCUx6qbzK50NRSkohYcPtQqOIylwugaV~2Zp5oOp0rdt8zQS-4HMG59kU0y-~ExjoiVc8wYla1~19ORqDuGHdgc9RfekqbRNtD11nytCVo1iKQFnPawtkDwxQMnjJod~h~NlOAJ68o-tG3eN~gD~rjBRQJbRKvjTytj6i7BDbGTS7ByrRfWn78vCwc~EvOTWVIcJnMbtlM4lxJsGHP6T0AOrLVS4G8lBQ__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","Chief Byrd, chief of the DeKalb Police Department, presented the department's 2024 annual report to the DeKalb City Council on March 10, saying the city recorded zero homicides in 2024 and showing declines in several violent‑crime categories.

The report, Byrd said, also showed a reduction in confirmed shots‑fired calls from 24 in 2023 to 16 in 2024 and increases in proactive enforcement such as DUI arrests and warrant arrests. \"We went from 5 [homicides] in 2023 to 0 in 2024,\" Byrd said. \"This report is reflective of the hard work and professionalism that every member of the agency had displayed on a daily basis.\"

Why it matters: Byrd framed the 0 homicides statistic as the most important single crime indicator and credited several factors cited in the report: expanded staffing and high‑visibility patrols, interagency medical response that preserved life after violent incidents, new technology such as automated license‑plate readers (LPRs) and security camera footage, and the department's social‑worker program that responds to mental‑health‑related calls.

Byrd described several cases in which cameras and LPRs aided arrests, including a bank robbery captured on a transit bus camera that helped investigators identify and arrest suspects. \"When I talk about technology, safety cameras, LPRs, it is extremely effective, and I am glad that we have that technology in the city of DeKalb, which was approved by city council,\" he said.

The chief said the department increased DUI enforcement (from 74 to 102 arrests year‑over‑year) and carried out targeted prostitution and liquor‑law enforcement details that affect those offense categories. He also noted an increase in some financial crimes and said adult arrests overall rose as officers had more opportunities for proactive enforcement when calls for service declined.

Byrd highlighted programmatic changes the department has made: a social‑worker partnership that allows trained behavioral‑health staff to respond to certain calls, a K‑9 program used to locate illegal firearms, and a community engagement calendar that includes events such as Fun Jam in the Park and Citizens Appreciation Awards. \"The key to a safer DeKalb is to continue teamwork between the police department and the community,\" Byrd said.

Council reaction: Mayor Barnes and multiple aldermen praised the department. Barnes said the council's resource decisions helped the department expand proactive work across the city's zones; another alderman noted the large reduction in calls for service in Zone 1 and credited greater patrol coverage across other areas.

What the report did not resolve: Byrd and council members acknowledged remaining challenges, including domestic‑violence incidents that the chief said require broad community collaboration and continued evidence‑based charging where appropriate.

Ending: The department will continue to report crime data through NIBRS (the federal National Incident‑Based Reporting System) and provide updates to the council; Byrd closed by urging continued cooperation between police and residents to maintain the trends documented in the 2024 report.","Chief Byrd told the City Council that the DeKalb Police Department recorded zero homicides in 2024 and reported declines in many violent‑crime categories, while stressing the role of license‑plate readers, body cameras, K‑9 units and new social‑worker partnerships.","actionData","errors"]

Article not found

Council presses landlord and says inspections, repairs needed before displaced tenants can return after November fire

Council approves vehicle, fire and transit purchases, zoning map, EV code changes and tobacco limit; waives some second readings

DeKalb Police report shows zero homicides in 2024, highlights technology and social‑work response