Township announces monthly legal-aid clinic, reports rise in utility emergency assistance and cemetery/road projects

At its Aug. 19 meeting, the DeKalb Township Board of Trustees heard a series of operational and community-service updates, including a new monthly legal-aid presence, rising utility-assistance demand and progress on cemetery, building and road projects.

Supervisor (identified in the meeting) told trustees that Prairie State Legal will use township space once a month beginning this fall to provide legal screening and limited representation for residents facing eviction or rental disputes. The organization, the supervisor said, is based in Rockford and serves the Northern Illinois region; the township will handle appointment scheduling and community outreach for the clinic and related October presentations on rent and discrimination.

The township's emergency-assistance program experienced a spike in July as customers faced utility disconnections by ComEd. Staff reported no…