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DeKalb council approves $225,000 in human services grants, CDBG plan and several vehicle purchases
Summary
At its Jan. 27 meeting the DeKalb City Council approved a $225,000 human services grant pool, a $40,000 ARPA supplemental grant to the Voluntary Action Center, a Community Development Block Grant plan and multiple capital purchases including buses and police vehicles.
DeKalb City Council on Jan. 27 approved a package of funding and procurement measures that included $225,000 in local human-services contracts, a $40,000 one‑time grant to the Voluntary Action Center and the city’s annual Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) plan, along with capital purchases for transit and public safety.
The council passed Resolution 2025‑009 to continue annual human‑services funding from the city’s general operating budget, and approved a one‑time $40,000 supplemental grant to the Voluntary Action Center (Resolution 2025‑010) paid from remaining ARPA funds. City staff also secured council approval for the five‑year CDBG consolidated plan and the 2025–26 annual action plan (Resolution 2025‑011), using an estimated CDBG allocation of $352,979 for the coming program year.
Council members also approved capital contracts and purchases: a master purchase contract to buy six heavy‑duty transit buses (five diesel and one hybrid) under a Gillig LLC master contract (Resolution 2025‑012), purchases of water meters and radio transmitters from Badger Meter (Resolution 2025‑013), and authorizations to buy six police vehicles from local dealers (Resolutions 2025‑014 and 2025‑015). Separately, the council voted to accept a negotiated termination and settlement with MetaNet for outstanding franchise fees (Resolution 2025‑016).
Why it matters: the human services grants underwrite local nonprofits that provide food, clothing and shelter; the VAC supplemental grant was described by staff as a one‑time rescue for Meals on Wheels and related services. The CDBG plan steers federal block grant funds toward public facilities, housing rehabilitation and limited public services. The transit purchases and related decisions shape the city’s fleet and capital program for the next decade.
Votes at a glance
- Resolution 2025‑009 — Authorize human services funding agreements totaling $225,000 for calendar year 2025. Moved by Alderman Perkins; seconded by Alderman Larson. Roll call: 7 ayes, 0 nays. Outcome: approved.
- Resolution 2025‑010 — Supplemental one‑time human services grant of $40,000 to Voluntary Action Center to cover a shortfall in Meals on Wheels and related programs (paid from ARPA fund 110). Moved by Alderman Perkins; seconded by Alderman Larson. Roll call: 7 ayes, 0 nays. Outcome: approved.
- Resolution 2025‑011 — Approve Community Development Block Grant five‑year consolidated plan (2025–2029) and the annual action plan for program year 32 (April 1, 2025–March 31, 2026) with a projected allocation of $352,979. Moved by Alderman Zazada; seconded by Alderman Powell. Roll call: 7 ayes, 0 nays. Outcome: approved.
- Resolution 2025‑012 — Authorize master contract and addendums to purchase up to six Gillig heavy‑duty buses (five diesel, one hybrid) not to exceed $4,118,400. Moved by Alderman Larson; seconded by Alderman Powell. Outcome: approved (roll call recorded as affirmative).
- Resolution 2025‑013 — Waive competitive bidding and purchase Badger water meters and radio transmitters not to exceed $80,000. Moved by Alderman Larson; seconded by Alderman Zazada. Roll call: 7 ayes, 0 nays. Outcome: approved.
- Resolution 2025‑014 — Authorize purchase of two DeKalb Police Department vehicles from Galena Dodge and upfitting equipment not to exceed $87,407. Moved by Alderman Larson; seconded by Alderman Furbick. Roll call: 7 ayes, 0 nays. Outcome: approved.
- Resolution 2025‑015 — Authorize purchase of four police vehicles from Cooney’s Dodge not to exceed $178,001.16. Moved by Alderman Perkins; seconded by Alderman Zazada. Roll call: 7 ayes, 0 nays. Outcome: approved.
- Resolution 2025‑016 — Authorize Metronet franchise agreement termination and settlement; staff reported a negotiated settlement just under $19,000 and an estimated total to the city near $22,000 across years. Moved by Alderman Burbick; seconded by Alderman Larson. Roll call: 7 ayes, 0 nays. Outcome: approved.
What council said: City Manager (unnamed in the meeting transcript) briefed the council on the history of the human‑services program and said the annual grant pool, begun in 1998, is intended to “meet basic emergency needs such as food, clothing, and shelter” and support preventative programs that promote self‑sufficiency. On the VAC supplemental request the manager recommended using remaining ARPA funds in fund 110 to pay the one‑time grant.
On the CDBG plan staff presented a breakdown of the annual allocation and said the city’s CDBG funding has fallen in recent years (staff cited an allocation decline from over $400,000 in prior years to the estimated $352,979). The annual action plan includes modest public‑services funding, housing rehabilitation and administrative support for the city’s community development coordinator.
On fleet and capital purchases the finance director provided a net‑present‑value look at diesel versus hybrid buses over a 10‑year life and staff recommended a 5‑and‑1 (five diesel, one hybrid) purchase to balance capital cost, fuel savings and the city’s interest in reducing emissions.
What’s next: contracts and grant agreements will be finalized per the resolutions; the CDBG annual action plan will be implemented in FY 2025. The Gillig bus purchase proceeds through procurement and required federal concurrence and environmental reviews before delivery.
Ending: The council completed the votes unanimously; the next regular meeting will carry forward implementation items and routine follow‑up from staff.
