News
Tuesday, November 11, 2014
NorthernStar.info H @NIUNorthernStar H 815-753-0105
Businesses propose alternative plan for inspection ordinance Jessica Christofersen Staff Writer
ney Mike Coghlan gave the City Council an ordinance that represents what some business owners want out of a controversial inspection ordinance Monday. The Commercial/Industrial Building Responsibility Code Ordinance, which would require commercial and industrial businesses to be inspected annually at the owner’s expense, was proposed at the Sept. 8 City Council meeting. Coghlan is an attorney for the DeKalb County Home Builders Association as well as businesses from whom City Manager Anne Marie Gaura has been getting input on the ordinance.
I have good news for you: You don’t need all this input and staff drafting because I already met with them. We do not want the Gavin Weaver | Northern Star city staff being our spokes- Members of the DeKalb Municipal Band perform a Christmas song Monday at the City Council meeting in the DeKalb Municipal Building. The DeKalb Municipal Band is celebrating its 160th anniversary, making it the oldest band in the person. Mike Coghlan FOCUS DeKalb attorney
Coghlan said he met with his clients and drafted their ideas into the ordinance he submitted. “I have good news for you: You don’t need all this input and staff drafting because I already met with them,” Coghlan said. “We do not want the city staff being our spokesperson.” Sixth ward Alderman Dave Baker said he would like to start with Coghlan’s ordinance in its entirety and change it from there. During the meeting, 1st ward Alderman David Jacobson asked if there are City Council members who still want the Commercial/ Industrial Building Responsibility Code Ordinance. Jacobson
state. The band was invited to City Council to be publicly commemorated.
asked if the city should continue to spend money trying to figure out the specifics of it if the timeline to implement it is pushed back. There was no outward response to Jacobson’s question from the other City Council members. Gaura will meet with five groups that represent businesses on Nov. 21. Then, a revised proposal will be given at the Dec. 8 City Council meeting. A public hearing will be held at the Jan. 12 City Council meeting. A revision of the ordinance will be proposed at the Jan. 26 City Council meeting. If necessary, a second public hearing will be held on Feb. 9. The timeline was approved with five votes in favor of keeping the timeline the same and two against.
Tax levy A property tax levy that would be used for some street lighting and also to fund a portion of required pensions for full-time employees was addressed at the meeting by finance director, Cathy Haley. The initiative was passed four to three and will be addressed further at the Nov. 13 Joint City Council and Finance Advisory Committee Meeting meeting.
Participants These are the groups that are meeting with City Manager Anne Marie Gaura to continue discussing the Commercial/Industrial Building Responsibility Code Ordinance:
• DeKalb County Economic Development Corporation • DeKalb Area Rental Association • DeKalb Chamber of Commerce Municipal band •DeKalb County Building and The DeKalb Municipal Band perDevelopment Association formed at City Council to celebrate • FOCUS DeKalb
its anniversary. The band, which is 160 years old, played a Christmas piece in Theatre, 135 N. Second St., as a funpreparation of its Dec. 13 concert. draiser for the Palmer Family MuThe concert will be at the Egyptian sic Education Scholarship Fund.
H2O 2Go promoter wants $5 fee Sustainability cost would fund project Margaret Maka Staff Writer
DeKalb | Joshua Nixon, promoter of the water bottle initiative H2O 2Go, is proposing an optional $5 sustainability fee for students to contribute to fund the project in the future. Nixon, senior energy and environmental technology major, began going from store to store in 2011 asking local businesses to donate in exchange for advertisements on refillable plastic water bottles distributed for use at hydration stations. He received a call from NIU’s Marketing and Communications Department offering to underwrite his costs, and in 2012 he received his first shipment of 2,000 water bottles for distribution to students. This year, Nixon approached the department again and received 2,500 reusable water bottles. “H2O 2Go is trying to reduce the amount of plastic water bottles that people are using because people
City Crime The following was taken directly from area police and fire department records, or from DeKalb County court records. Anyone mentioned is presumed innocent until proved guilty in a court of law. Nov. 2 • Michael A. Cornely, 22, of DeKalb, was charged with driving on a suspended/revoked license. • Richard S. Bolin, 45, of Kirkland, was charged with theft. • Travis R. Echelbarger, 24, of Rochelle, was charged with DUI, drug paraphernalia and possession of cannabis more than 10 grams. • Danny L. Setser, 53, of DeKalb, was charged with disorderly conduct.
DeKalb | FOCUS DeKalb attor-
“
3
don’t realize how much oil and work and water and energy go into actually making these bottles,” Nixon said. “People say, ‘Oh, I’m just going to recycle this.’ It takes energy to break down that bottle, and it’s just really an environmental burden for something that you can just get out of the tap.”
“
H2O 2Go is trying to reduce the amount of plastic water bottles that people are using because people don’t realize how much oil and work and water and energy go into actually making those bottles.” Joshua Nixon H2O 2Go Promoter
Nixon said he is trying to increase awareness of the initiative by having hydration stations placed throughout campus. There are about 25 stations, each of which last up to 30 years. Nixon said each filtered water hydration station costs $1,000,
but the biggest cost is installation, which runs $1,000 to $3,000, with each fountain’s average total cost $3,000. Nixon said the fountains usually only take a few weeks to install, especially if they’re covering an existing fountain. Junior German major Sarah Scott said she uses the DuSable Hall hydration station three times a week because it’s more cost-effective than using disposable bottles. “They help save on plastic waste, help the environment, all that good stuff,” Scott said. “It helps save on money and whatnot, and then you’re not lugging 5,000 pounds of water everywhere.” Students can use the BPA-free reusable bottles handed out by H2O 2Go or refill their own bottle at the motion-activated hydration stations. The stations also have counters that total how many water bottles are saved per station, with some reaching 2,000 to a couple hundred thousand, Nixon said. Sophomore communication major Emerald Bean said she uses
H2O 2Go stations
Locations include: • New Residence Hall • Stevenson Hall • Neptune East • Recreation Center • Holmes Student Center, Blackhawk Cafeteria the hydration stations and likes them because they’re easier to use than traditional fountains. With graduation at the end of the academic year, Nixon said he hopes to find a successor who can manage the responsibilities surrounding maintaining the hydration stations. “I think that I’m bringing awareness to something that people hadn’t thought about at all before,” Nixon said. “Talking to people one on one I feel like is the biggest impact. Even though I can’t talk to that many people at a time I still feel like trying is more important than saying, ‘Oh, I can’t do much, so I might as well do nothing.’”
Nov. 3 • Candis M. Rush, 26, of Aurora, was charged with driving on a suspended/revoked license. • Rigoberto Banuelos, 28, of DeKalb, was charged with driving on a suspended/revoked license. • Deon P. Grant, 26, of DeKalb, was charged with criminal trespassing to land. Tuesday • Aaron G. Destefano, 19, of Johnsburg, was charged with theft. • Devione M. Cannon, 18, of Calumet City, was charged with theft. • Summer R. Gomez, 19, of Beloit, was charged with theft. • Jessica R. Dixon-Smith, 20, of DeKalb, was charged with forgery. • Taylor R. Banks, 23, of DeKalb, was charged with possession of cannabis. Wednesday • Denny Ma, 20, of DeKalb, was charged with false report of offense. • Mark A. Williams, 20, of DeKalb, was charged with theft and burglary. • Jacob B. Garcia, 26, of DeKalb, was charged with false report of offense. • Keiquan D. Mitchell, 18, of DeKalb, was charged with burglary. • Mariah G. Jones, 22, of DeKalb, was charged with domestic battery. • Mark K. Griffin, 19, of Park Forest, was charged with ordinance. • Jalyn C. Gordon, 19, of Sycamore, was charged with possession of cannabis. • Amelia Gould, 49, of DeKalb, was charged with aggravated DUI with no valid license. Thursday • Jermaine L. Arnold, 21, of DeKalb, was charged with disorderly house. • Michael A. Tune, 26, of DeKalb, was charged with aggravated assault, aggravated battery, cruel treatment of an animal, domestic battery, parole violation and unlawful restraint. • Amanda M. Setien, 25, of DeKalb, was charged with DUI. • Hernica M. Jackson, 26, of DeKalb, was charged with theft.