DeKalb council approves CDBG plan, $300K in human services funding, water well repair and multiple arts projects
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Summary
At its Jan. 26 meeting DeKalb's council adopted its CDBG annual action plan, approved $300,000 in human services grants (one abstention), waived bidding for up-to-$225,000 repairs to Well No. 11, and approved several America250-funded public-art and lighting projects.
DeKalb — The DeKalb City Council on Jan. 26 approved a slate of resolutions affecting federal program administration, local social-service funding, water infrastructure and downtown public-art improvements.
CDBG annual action plan: City staff presented the Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) one-year action plan and noted the federal allocation will be finalized later this winter but is expected to be near $400,000. Council adopted Resolution 2026-010 to approve the action plan consistent with the city's five-year consolidated plan.
Human services funding ($300,000): Council approved Resolution 2026-011 to allocate $300,000 in local human services funding to area service agencies for 2026. City staff said the program received approximately $608,000 in funding requests and used a five-member review team and scoring rubric to make recommendations. The resolution passed by roll call; Alderman Smith recorded an abstention.
Well No. 11 repair (waiver of competitive bidding): Faced with the recent failure of the motor on Well No. 11, staff asked the council to waive competitive bidding and authorize an agreement with Lane (Lane Christensen/Lane Company) for repairs not to exceed $225,000. City staff said Well No. 11 is the city's top-producing well at about 2,000,000 gallons per day and that repairs may require pulling the submersible motor. Council approved Resolution 2026-012 to waive bidding and proceed with the repair contract.
Airport consulting services: The council approved a five-year retainer agreement with Crawford, Murphy & Tilly and McClure for engineering consulting at DeKalb Taylor Municipal Airport to assist with federal and state funding applications and airport projects (Resolution 2026-013).
America250-funded arts and beautification projects: As part of the council's America250 allocation, the council approved three arts-related expenditures: an architectural improvement incentive payment for emergency repairs at 214 E. Lincoln Highway of $6,378.88 (Resolution 2026-014); a walkway lighting installation designed by Alisa Bonner not to exceed $53,400 (Resolution 2026-015); and a downtown mural services agreement with Kristen Sandlin not to exceed $38,500, for which the city has applied for a 50/50 matching grant from the National Endowment for the Arts (Resolution 2026-016). Staff and council clarified that the walkway lighting and mural were funded from the city's America250 program budget (sales-tax derived allocations within the program fund).
Votes at a glance: - Resolution 2026-010 (CDBG annual action plan): passed (roll call recorded in meeting). - Resolution 2026-011 (Human services funding, $300,000): passed; Alderman Smith abstained. - Resolution 2026-012 (Waiver & Well No.11 repairs, not to exceed $225,000): passed. - Resolution 2026-013 (Airport consulting retainer): passed. - Resolution 2026-014 (Architectural improvement incentive, $6,378.88): passed. - Resolution 2026-015 (Walkway lighting installation, not to exceed $53,400): passed (funded from America250 allocation). - Resolution 2026-016 (Mural services agreement, not to exceed $38,500): passed (city applied for NEA matching grant).
What's next: staff said more specific project budgets and grant details will follow once federal CDBG allocations arrive and once Pilot and other developers submit detailed plans. City Manager Bill Nicholas also introduced Matt Anderson, who will start Feb. 2 as the new director of Water Services.
