On the agenda: Dekalb meeting — data center (Aug 24)

CITY COUNCIL
REGULAR MEETING AGENDA
AUGUST 24, 2026
6:00 P.M.
DeKalb Public Library
Yusunas Meeting Room
309 Oak Street
DeKalb, Illinois 60115
In accordance with Chapter 2, “City Council,” Section 2.04, “Council Meetings,” individuals who wish to address the
City Council during this meeting must register with the City Clerk or Recording Secretary prior to the meeting’s start by
completing a Speaker Request Form. Each speaker will be allotted a maximum of three (3) minutes for public comment.
Additional details regarding the public comment process are available on the Speaker Request Form.

A. CALL TO ORDER AND ROLL CALL
B. PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE
C. APPROVAL OF THE AGENDA
D. PRESENTATIONS
None.
E. PUBLIC PARTICIPATION
F. APPOINTMENTS
None.
G. CONSENT AGENDA
1. Minutes of the Regular City Council Meeting of August 10, 2026.
2. Minutes of the Special Joint Meeting of the City Council and Finance Advisory
Committee Meeting of August 17, 2026.
3. Accounts Payable and Payroll through August 24, 2026, in the Amount of $3,389,536.80.
4. Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) Report – July 2026.
H. PUBLIC HEARINGS
1. Public Hearing for a Proposed Annexation and Development Agreement Regarding 160
Acres of Property Located at the Northeast Corner of Keslinger Road and Crego Road
(Commonwealth Edison Company).
City Manager’s Summary: The City has worked with Commonwealth Edison (“ComEd”) for more
than a year on the proposed annexation of approximately 160 acres at the northeast corner of
Keslinger and Crego Roads. ComEd purchased the property in summer 2025 and plans to
construct an electrical transmission substation as part of its Kishwaukee Area Reliability Expansion
(“KARE”) project. An annexation petition was submitted.

Assistive services, including hearing assistance devices, available upon request.

City Council Regular Meeting Agenda
August 24, 2026
Page 2 of 7

The Illinois Commerce Commission (“ICC”) determined the project is necessary to ensure reliable
electrical service for DeKalb and DeKalb County and issued a Certificate of Public Convenience
and Necessity (“CPCN”) on August 6, 2026. The approval followed ICC proceedings in 2025–2026
and earlier public open houses held in 2024. PJM, the regional transmission operator, incorporated
the KARE Project into its Regional Transmission Expansion Plan (“RTEP”) in July 2024.
The KARE project includes an approximately six-mile, double-circuit 345kV transmission line
extending from Waterman to DeKalb. This added capacity will support anticipated growth,
including NIU’s sustainability center, industrial and logistics development in northern DeKalb
County, future phases of the Meta data center, improvements at Nehring Electric, and the Edged
data center project. It will also enhance reliability during storms and high-demand periods.
Site improvements include a centrally located transmission substation and equipment yard, plus a
laydown yard or staging area in the southwest corner. The substation will be secured with an
eight-foot fence. The laydown area will accommodate equipment staging. Access will be provided
via three driveways along Crego Road, with minimal traffic once the facility is operational. A
stormwater detention basin along the southern edge will manage runoff. Along Keslinger Road,
proposed annexation and development agreement shows a 50-foot right-of-way dedication from
the centerline, a 20-foot public utility easement, and a 30-foot sanitary sewer easement.
The City’s 2022 Comprehensive Plan identifies the site for Industrial and Transportation/Utilities
uses and supports continued industrial and commercial growth in southeast DeKalb, which the
substation will help accommodate.
Incentives
a) The project qualifies for the state Enterprise Zone sales tax exemption on construction
materials.
b) Within one year of executing the annexation and development agreement, the City and ComEd
will work with local taxing bodies to establish an agreement to ensure that ComEd’s property
tax liabilities for the property shall not be greater because of the annexation.
c) Annexation and filing fees will be waived.
Planning Considerations
a) The project is consistent with the City’s 2022 Comprehensive Plan.
b) No interior roads will be publicly owned or maintained.
c) Private driveways will connect to Crego Road, with minimal daily traffic.
d) Stormwater runoff will be managed on site per the Christopher Burke Engineering plan.
On August 6, 2026, the ICC authorized ComEd to install, operate, and maintain the 345kV
transmission line and the associated 345/138kV Keslinger Substation. Under Illinois law, an
ICC-issued CPCN supersedes local zoning regulations for transmission facilities. A relevant
appellate court decision is attached.
Upon annexation, the property will carry the City’s default SFR-1 zoning classification; however,
zoning provisions in the Unified Development Ordinance cannot restrict ICC-approved
transmission facilities. As a result, ComEd has withdrawn its rezoning petition, concluding that it
is unnecessary due to the CPCN.

City Council Regular Meeting Agenda
August 24, 2026
Page 3 of 7

2. Public Hearing for a State of Illinois Vehicle Grant for City of DeKalb Public Transit
Division.
City Manager’s Summary: The City of DeKalb Transit Division plans to apply to the Illinois
Department of Transportation’s Consolidated Vehicle Procurement (CVP) program for five
paratransit vehicles totaling $595,000:
 Four 14-passenger paratransit buses – $520,000
 One ADA-accessible minivan – $75,000

IDOT requires applicants to hold a public hearing to receive comments on the social, economic,
and environmental aspects of the proposed purchase.
This hearing corresponds to Resolution 2026-072, which authorizes submitting the City’s
application to IDOT’s CVP program for capital assistance funding to acquire the paratransit
vehicles.
I.

CONSIDERATIONS
None.

J. RESOLUTIONS
1. Resolution 2026-070 Authorizing an Amendment to the Illinois Department of
Transportation Capital Grant Assistance Agreement (CAP-23-1261).
City Manager’s Summary: The City’s Transit staff request City Council approval of an amendment
to the IDOT Rebuild Illinois Capital Grant Agreement CAP-23-1261. The City received a total
award of $4,200,000 for fixed-route bus acquisitions (reference Resolution 2022-063), and prior
Council actions authorized the purchase of one E-Gen Flex hybrid bus and five diesel buses, with
final project costs totaling $4,064,155 (reference Resolution 2025-012 and Resolution 2025-100).
After the procurement, $135,845 remains unused. IDOT has approved reallocating this balance
toward the future purchase of a medium-duty paratransit bus, allowing the City to fully utilize
remaining grant funds and support long-term fleet replacement needs. The amendment would
have no impact on the General Fund.
City Council approval is recommended.
2. Resolution 2026-071 Authorizing the Submission of an Application to the Illinois
Department of Transportation’s Consolidated Vehicle Procurement Program for Capital
Assistance Funding to Acquire Paratransit Vehicles.
City Manager’s Summary: This resolution would authorize the Transit Manager to submit an
application to IDOT’s CVP program for five paratransit vehicles totaling $595,000 (four buses and
one ADA minivan).
The CVP program provides vehicles fully funded by state and federal sources, meaning no local
match is required. The City’s paratransit fleet is aging – four vehicles are out of service and 13
have exceeded their useful life – resulting in higher maintenance needs and reduced reliability.
Replacing five vehicles will help maintain dependable service and keep pace with operational
requirements, including daily and peak vehicle needs.
City Council approval is required to submit the application, and a second approval will be needed
if the City is awarded vehicles. Because CVP vehicles are fully grant-funded, the purchase will not
affect the City’s General Fund.
City Council approval is recommended.

City Council Regular Meeting Agenda
August 24, 2026
Page 4 of 7

3. Resolution 2026-072 Approving a Contract with Kinsale Contracting Group, Inc. to
Mitigate Environmental Hazards in the Monat Building at 148 N. Third Street in an
Amount Not to Exceed $26,325.
City Manager’s Summary: On May 11, 2026, the City Council authorized the purchase of NIU’s
Monat Building for $1.00 for the purpose of razing the property to make way for a new parking
area that could accommodate approximately 59 regular parking stalls and three handicap parking
stalls. In their decision, the Council considered the fact that the new parking would be very close
to the vacant city lot at Lincoln Highway and N. Fourth Street and could provide parking options
for office or restaurant patrons if the corner lot was sold for private redevelopment.
Prior to demolition, the removal of textured plaster, cementitious fittings, air cell pipe insulation,
floor tiles and mastic, carpet mastic, ceiling tiles, pip gaskets, and baseboard mastic that might
contain asbestos was estimated to cost as much as $215,000-$245,000. After preliminary
environmental testing, it was found that only a limited portion of the foregoing features contained
asbestos. Accordingly, Public Works Director Andy Raih was able to proceed to the bidding of the
environmental work with a reduced scope of work.
Two bids were received. The lowest responsible bid was submitted by Kinsale Environmental in
the amount of $23,325. The other bid from Indevcon was in the amount of $34,424. City Council
approval of an additional $3,000 cushion for the low bid of $23,325 is requested in case
undiscovered asbestos is located in objects that were not readily open to view.
City Council approval of a contract in the not-to-exceed amount of $26,325 is
recommended.
K. ORDINANCES – SECOND READING
None.
L. ORDINANCES – FIRST READING
1. Ordinance 2026-028 Authorizing an Annexation and Development Agreement Between
the City of DeKalb and Commonwealth Edison Company.
City Manager’s Summary: The applicant and property owner, Commonwealth Edison, requests
approval of an annexation and development agreement for 11275 Keslinger Road (PIN
11-01-300-001), a 160-acre vacant parcel in unincorporated DeKalb County contiguous to the City.
ComEd plans to construct a public utility substation with accessory uses, including a laydown or
staging yard and transmission and distribution facilities. The annexation petition is submitted under
65 ILCS 5/7-1-8 and is consistent with both the DeKalb County Unified Comprehensive Plan and
the City’s 2022 Comprehensive Plan, which anticipate municipal jurisdiction over contiguous
development.
Given current regional development activity – including ChicagoWest Business Center sites such
as Meta, Kraft Heinz, Ferrara, Amazon, Pilot, Goodyear, and expansion areas north of I-88 – the
Keslinger transmission substation will serve as a critical energy hub for DeKalb County for decades
to come.

City Council Regular Meeting Agenda
August 24, 2026
Page 5 of 7

The attached development agreement includes the following key provisions:
 The owner may begin preliminary grading, filling, and soil stockpiling with a City-issued site

development permit. Stormwater plans prepared by Christopher Burke Engineering exceed City
requirements and satisfy County standards.

 The benchmark plan shows the substation setback farther than City industrial setback minimums

and enclosed by an eight-foot protective fence.

 A 50-foot right-of-way dedication from the Keslinger Road centerline, plus a 20-foot public utility

easement and 30-foot sanitary sewer easement, is proposed.

 Topsoil will be used to construct a landscaped berm along Keslinger Road, with a detention

basin located behind it. A laydown yard at the southwest corner will serve as a safe staging area
for heavy equipment intended for installation within the energized substation.

 Three access points will be provided along Crego Road, with only intermittent operational traffic.

City Council Regular Meeting Agenda
August 24, 2026
Page 6 of 7

Incentives
a) Eligibility for the state Enterprise Zone sales tax exemption on construction materials.
b) Within one year of executing the annexation and development agreement, ComEd and the
City will work with local taxing bodies to ensure that ComEd’s property tax liabilities for the
property shall not be greater because of the annexation.
c) All annexation and filing fees will be waived.
Planning Considerations
a) The City’s 2022 Comprehensive Plan designates the site for Industrial and
Transportation/Utilities uses and supports continued industrial growth in southeast DeKalb.
b) No interior roads will be publicly owned or maintained.
c) Private driveways will access Crego Road, a public right-of-way.

City Council Regular Meeting Agenda
August 24, 2026
Page 7 of 7

On August 6, 2026, the ICC issued a Certificate of Public Convenience and Necessity (CPCN)
authorizing ComEd to install, operate, and maintain the 345kV transmission line and the related
345/138kV Keslinger Substation as part of the KARE Project.
Under Illinois law, an ICC CPCN for electrical transmission facilities supersedes local zoning
regulations governing their construction. A copy of the pertinent appellate decision is attached.
As a result, once the property at Keslinger Road and Crego Road is annexed, it will carry the City’s
default SFR-1 zoning classification by operation of law; however, the City’s Unified Development
Ordinance cannot be applied to restrict ICC-authorized transmission facilities. Because the CPCN
renders local rezoning unnecessary, ComEd has withdrawn its rezoning request.
City Council approval is recommended.
2. Ordinance 2026-029 Approving the Annexation of 160 Acres Located at the Northeast
Corner of Keslinger Road and Crego Road (Commonwealth Edison Company).
City Manager’s Summary: If the Council approves the annexation and development agreement
summarized above, then the Council shall not unreasonably decline to approve the act of
annexation as referenced in the attached annexation ordinance.
City Council approval is recommended.
M. REPORTS AND COMMUNICATIONS
1. Council Member Reports.
2. City Manager Report.
N. EXECUTIVE SESSION
1. Approval to Hold an Executive Session to Discuss the Purchase or Lease of Real
Property as Provided for in 5 ILCS 120/2(c)(5).
O. ADJOURNMENT

AGENDA PACKET