Re-elected DeKalb 6th Ward alderman gives update during first ward meeting of second term

DeKALB – The sixth ward alderman for the City of DeKalb gave his first public update in a ward meeting this week since winning re-election for the seat, and with it some updates on a number of local developments.

DeKalb Sixth Ward Alderman Mike Verbic, who ran unopposed for the seat in the April 6 consolidated election, said during the Wednesday ward meeting his first four years as alderman were a learning curve for him and weren’t without its challenges.

“Now, with a second term, I have a lot more that I know what to expect,” Verbic said.

Verbic said he’s looking forward to working with the new sitting City Council, including Second Ward Alderwoman Barb Larson and DeKalb Mayor Cohen Barnes.

“We have a lot going on,” Verbic said. “No doubt about it.”

DeKalb Police Chief David Byrd, whose first day on the job was May 3, and Julie Jesmer, founder of the litter clean-up group Trash Squirrels in DeKalb, also attended and participated in the sixth ward meeting. DeKalb City Manager Bill Nicklas also was present for the meeting.

Home2 Suites

Verbic said Home2 Suites, the hotel near Annie Glidden Road that opened its doors during the COVID-19 pandemic, has been busy, despite city hotel and motel tax revenue being down overall.

“It’s really worked out well,” Verbic said. “There were certainly concerns from the ward prior to the development of Home2 Suites, but I will say that those neighbors that had been concerned are still in contact with me and are very impressed with how things are going.”

More specifically, Verbic said residents have told him they have been impressed with how the site is managed – everything from snow removal to just being tidy and quiet, yet busy.

“It’s just such a win for the whole community and, really, for Ward 6,” Verbic said.

Though the hotel hasn’t had a lot of customers because of travel restrictions due to the pandemic, Nicklas said the hotel has opened its doors at no charge to first responders who had to quarantine, including those who were exposed to the virus but were waiting on COVID-19 test results.

“They didn’t want to go home and they didn’t know where to go and, if they were a firefighter, they couldn’t stay at the firehouse,” Nicklas said. “So they put them up and did that for two months without charging them. And that was during the peak of it, so we had several dozen people, easily, in that period and they had to stay for a period of days.”

Lincoln Tower

Verbic said one challenge the ward has been facing is how Lincoln Tower residents have been treated by Hunter Properties.

“We’re moving along with everything that we can do as a city to support those residents who certainly, in my tours of the building and everything that has been shared with me, it’s a number of people being taken advantage of,” Verbic said.

Verbic’s comments came after the City of DeKalb declared earlier on Wednesday its intent to purchase the Hunter Hillcrest apartment and commercial property, pending eventual city council approval. The action is the first of such following a recent settlement agreement with local landlord Hunter Properties.

Verbic said he is unaware of any plans for the city to purchase Lincoln Tower anytime soon.

Travel Inn demolition

Verbic also said the former Travel Inn site near the intersection of Annie Glidden Road and Lincoln Highway is demolished.

“Officially, today, I believe the site is now clean and clear,” Verbic said. “So let’s hope that that can be re-developed sooner into something that’s great for the City of DeKalb, for Ward 6 and, certainly, one of our busiest corridors in the city.”

Verbic said he is not aware of any tangible plans for the privately-owned site. However, he said he was excited for the potential for revenue to come from annual graduation traffic, for example.