Northern Star
DeKALB – DeKalb City Council will take up a consideration at Monday’s meeting for contractor bids for the painting and repairing of the south water tower, 2851 Corporate Drive.
City Manager Bill Nicklas is recommending the award of the city painting contract to Chicago-based painting company Era Valdivia, who has made a bid of $1 million, according to the March 8 City Council agenda.
Era Valdivia’s bid exceeds the fiscal year 2021 budget allocation of $850,000 by $214,270, but the Fund 620 budget could absorb the difference and maintain a positive fund balance for FY2021, according to the agenda.
The city released a request for bids for the second time on Dec. 11, a previous one was released on May 29, but several DeKalb residents raised concerns at a July 13 City Council meeting regarding the previous bidder, Seven Brothers. Residents were concerned with the Michigan Department of Labor investigations into the firm’s prevailing wage practices, as well
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Grace Hou is the secretary of the Illinois Department of Human Services.
She explained that she and Deputy Governor Sol Flores came up with the idea for the grant during a conversation. Both have done community-based work and have experienced racial healing activities.
Then came the events of the past year.
“And so, you know, we re in the middle of the pandemic, and we continue to be in the summer. And then the images and the reports of the police brutality,” she recalled. “There was so much anguish, and hurt in Illinois, you know, protests, civil unrest.”
Northern Star
DeKALB – The Illinois Department of Human Services is providing a $30,000 Healing Illinois grant to fund local community work focused to help make headway for racial healing, according to a Tuesday news release.
The Dekalb County Community Foundation has also donated $5,000 in support of the Belonging creation. The grant is in partnership with NIU, the City of Dekalb, Family Service Agency, Ellwood Museum and the Dekalb County History Center, according to the news release.
The grant from the State of Illinois is aimed toward accelerating progress toward the creation of a Belonging Leadership Council and public art and engagement activities.
Credit Pixabay user GWizUk
Freezing pipes are a potential problem as Illinois enters the winter months and residents leave for the holidays.
The freezing water can expand and cause catastrophic damage to a plumbing system if precautions aren’t taken. Bryan Faivre is the director of utilities and transportation for the City of DeKalb. He said when people turn the heat down when leaving for vacation, it’s important to keep in mind what areas are getting that heat.
“So it’s important to ensure that not only is the heat on in your home to a sufficient level, but also that all areas in the home are being heated to that degree as well.”