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Township communications lead details outreach, events and 175th anniversary plans
Summary
DeKalb Township staff summarized community outreach and communications channels at the Sept. 16 meeting; the township plans a Nov. 20 ribbon cutting to mark its 175th anniversary and listed fall events including a free tire‑recycling day and fair housing session.
Kim Barrios, DeKalb Township’s community relations and event coordinator, told trustees on Sept. 16 that her work covers event planning, volunteer coordination and public communications, part of an effort to raise awareness about township services.
"I am the community relations and, an event coordinator for DeKalb Township," Barrios said, and described responsibilities that include logistics (parking, restroom capacity, signage), volunteer management and using tools such as Canva and email/text lists for outreach.
Barrios told trustees the township’s distribution lists have grown to more than 100 and the township Facebook page has risen from roughly 670 followers to about 2,500 in four years. She described using partner calendars (the chamber, DeKalb County Convention & Visitors Bureau), local media and neighborhood platforms to reach seniors and other residents.
The supervisor’s office also listed a series of upcoming events and services: a free tire recycling event (weekend, 9 a.m.–noon), a Fair Housing information session on Oct. 2, a document shred event on Oct. 4, and a utility bill clinic on Oct. 8 with the treasurer and Citizens Utility Board.
Supervisor Mary Hess announced the township will mark its 175th anniversary on Nov. 20 with a ribbon cutting at 5:15 p.m. and a small reception to follow. Staff said a commemorative logo will be released on social media and historical items will be shared over the following weeks.
Why this matters: better outreach can increase resident awareness of services such as free notary, job‑coach support and human‑service applications; event logistics and accessibility decisions affect seniors and people with limited mobility.
Trustees asked practical questions about parking and accessibility at large events. Barrios said the township limits attendance through appointments, uses staff parking to preserve visitor spaces and is exploring funding options to install automatic door openers to help seniors enter the building.
