City of DeKalb

The DeKalb City Council approved a rezoning request for a medical cannabis dispensary. 

Chicago-Based Justice Grown wants to open the facility at 650 Peace Road.  However, it now requires a license from the state’s Department of Financial and Professional Regulation.  This is permitted by the state's medical cannabis pilot program, which was approved in 2013.

Some DeKalb residents are petitioning for the Metra system to offer service to the city.  

DeKalb’s City Council approved rezoning for the Cornerstone Project Monday. 

DeKalb officials are examining the results of a study with recommendation on how to make the local airport more self-sufficient.  

Sixel Consulting's report notes DeKalb Taylor Municipal Airport  has an annual economic impact of nearly $11 million, and generates 81 jobs.  However, it relies on annual subsidies from the city to balance its budget.  

 Homefield Energy will offer around $87,000 in refunds to  5,900 customers who were overbilled.  

The Daily Chronicle reports an aggregation contract approved by the city council was supposed to lower rates by 12.9%. beginning in July.  However, the company didn’t enter the change into their system.  As a result, affected residents were billed at the old rate of 7.237 cents per kilowatt hour in July and August, rather than 6.307 cents per kilowatt hour.    

Local veterans and volunteers recently repainted a World War II-era tank in DeKalb's Memorial Park but, in the process, covered up the stenciled name "Donna" that identified the memorial relic.

That slight will soon be rectified,  according to  American Legion Post 66 Commander Daniel Gallagher, whose organization was responsible -- along with the Veterans of Foreign Wars and others -- for refurbishing the tank.

The DeKalb Library's new addition will be open for business January 18, 2016. Pastor Leroy Mitchell and Library Director Dee Coover will speak at the soft opening ceremony, with a day of activities planned. A magician will perform and members of the Black Male Initiative at Northern Illinois University will read to the children throughout the day.

The DeKalb City Council is debating whether its members should get a pay raise.

The Daily Chronicle reports Alderman Dave Baker wants to increase council members' pay from $5,400 per year to at least $12,000. He says paying more would encourage more candidates to run for the positions.

The council is expected to discuss the proposal at its meeting Monday.

Three local attorneys are expected to run for the State's Attorney seat for DeKalb County. They are former State's Attorney Clay Campbell, Hinckley attorney Charles Rea, and Sycamore attorney Rick Amato. Amato held the position in 2003 and Campbell in 2012.

The newcomer to the race is Charles Rea.  Current States Attorney Richard Schmack hasn't announced whether he will run in the Democratic primary. Campbell announced his bid earlier this year in May.

Marcia Sweigert was sworn in as DeKalb City Clerk at Monday night’s Council meeting. She was appointed by Mayor John Rey and received unanimous approval by the Council.

Sweigert starts her duties immediately, and her interim appointment will end this spring. The Clerk’s office is up for election on April 7th. Officials elected at that time will begin serving in May.

The recent swing in temperatures is resulting in a mixed-bag of news for northern Illinois residents.