Vaccination Proof Not Required In Lake County Portion Of Village

BUFFALO GROVE, IL — Though the Cook County portion of Buffalo Grove is following countywide mandates that require patrons of businesses like restaurants, bars and fitness centers to show proof they've been vaccinated against the COVID-19 virus, the Village Board is opting not to do the same in Lake County.

The Lake County Board and Lake County Health Department have not established any proof-of-vaccination requirements for patrons like those being enforced in Chicago and suburban Cook County.

Trustee Andrew Stein said he had recently discussed the matter with a Lake County Board Commissioner, who said the county won't be implementing enforcement mandates similar to Cook County due to Lake not being "home rule." Home rule involves the authority of a local government to prevent state government intervention with its operations.

"The communities are on their own. There will not be any backing by Lake County," Stein said.

He added that requiring Buffalo Grove businesses to check vaccine cards would "put them at a disadvantage" with no Lake County enforcement on the horizon.

Currently, enforcement in the Cook County portion of Buffalo Grove is being done by following up on complaints made through 911, the village's non-emergency line and a general number at Village Hall. The health inspector follows up on the calls and then visits the business in question.

"[The health inspector] does some background work in terms of what was the nature of the complaint, whether or not it was a compliance issue related to the business itself or it may have been a customer," Village Manager Dane Bragg said. "Their goal is to achieve compliance."

In Highland Park, which does not have a health department, the city council endorsed an emergency order issued by the mayor last month that mandates bars and restaurants require patrons to show proof they have been vaccinated against the COVID-19 virus, effective Jan. 7. Council members voted to extend the state of emergency that was declared earlier in the day of the meeting by Mayor Nancy Rotering.

RELATED: Highland Park Restaurants Must Check For COVID-19 Vaccine Proof

Rotering said enforcement of the order would be handled by her office, rather than the police department or the Lake County Health Department.

"I am all for vaccines. Everybody, please get vaccinated, for this particular issue, I think it's more for show than anything. I don't think it's going to accomplish very much," Buffalo Grove Trustee Eric Smith said.