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 emergency-assistance spending in June and about $7,000 in July. The board's emergency-assistance line is budgeted at $60,000 for the year; after four months of the fiscal year, the township had spent about $15,000. A separate homeless transition assistance line (security-deposit support for those leaving shelters) was budgeted at $4,500; trustees were told $3,100 of that amount has been spent so far.

On cemetery work, staff said they expect a fog-seal (chip-seal lock coat) to be applied to Oakwood Cemetery roads in the coming weeks to bind loose chips and make the surface more stable for winter. The board also discussed plans for a columbarium (above-ground urn structure) and was told the project will be bid because estimated costs will exceed $30,000. The supervisor said the township's attorney will prepare bid documents and the monument company is assisting with design concepts.

The township's new building is under construction and reportedly remains on budget, with concrete foundation work scheduled and a target completion around the first of the year. Township staff said they continue to work with title companies and banks on financing and closing matters; one bank needed additional information about township law and staff are evaluating alternatives.

Road-district staff reported most contractor road projects are complete; one paving effort remains delayed while Union Pacific processes insurance approvals that would allow the contractor to pave within 10 feet of railroad tracks. Nelson Road paving is finished, and the township continues fall pipe projects. The highway commissioner and staff also described a recent "Touch-a-Truck" event at Honors Elementary School in which children painted handprints under a grader blade as part of outreach.

Separately, the supervisor summarized a recent Joint Review Board meeting related to tax increment financing (TIF) districts. Trustees heard that Heartland Bank is a TIF project in TIF 3 and that TIF 4 — newly approved last year — has limited accumulated funds. Discussion topics included a preliminary environmental cleanup study for the former Pretano property on South Fourth Street and an inquiry about redeveloping the former White Hen/gas-station site at 8028/10 South Fourth Street; staff emphasized that, because TIF 4 funds have not yet accumulated, projects are not ready to be funded from TIF proceeds.

Trustees were also briefed on public outreach events: the township recently staffed a farmers market table and hosted a hearing-and-vision screening that served 20 people; staff reminded trustees of an upcoming senior summit on Thursday and a Committee on Youth meeting scheduled for Sept. 9.