Highland Park Coronavirus: Mayor Declares State Of Emergency

HIGHLAND PARK, IL — At an emergency meeting Saturday, Highland Park Mayor Nancy Rotering declared a state of emergency and issued orders allowing for emergency purchasing and staffing. The declaration came after a 7-0 City Council vote to amend the city code to create a process for civil emergencies and was followed by another unanimous vote extending the state of emergency until the next council meeting.

"It will not go on indefinitely," Rotering said. "We are scheduled to meet again April 6. But, within the resolution, there's also the opportunity to call a special meeting, as we have today. So we can call a special meeting in a week, we can call a special meeting in two days, whenever it's necessary to end these powers."

Most local governments in the state have not incorporated authority granted by the Illinois Municipal Code to declare their own states of emergency, Corporation Counsel Steve Elrod explained. He said his firm Elrod Friedman encouraged all its municipal clients to put such provisions on their books.

"We are in interesting times and very fluid times, dealing with a state of emergency that has been called at the not only at the national level but at the state level," Elrod said. "There are certain powers that have been codified into Illinois statute that would currently appear, without any further action by the City Council, [to] allow the mayor and the city manager ... to exercise certain extraordinary powers. Many of those powers have not been tested in the 150-year existence of the city of Highland Park, and in my opinion, ought to be confirmed by the corporate authorities."

The initial orders were limited to a direction for city officials to coordinate with other public bodies in the state, implementing emergency staffing protocols for employees of the city's fire, police and public works departments, and executing emergency contracts. The ordinance and the emergency declaration allow for additional emergency regulations and orders.

Late Monday, Rotering issued a supplemental orders shuttering all health and recreational clubs and all motion picture and live performance theaters starting at the close of business Tuesday. The move followed an executive order issued earlier in the day by Gov. JB Pritkzer implementing a ban on gatherings of 50 people or more and shuttering dine-in restaurants and bars.

"It is difficult to order the closure of businesses within our community, however, theaters, health clubs, and recreational clubs naturally result in individuals interacting in close quarters. As we've seen worldwide, an effective method to combat COVID-19 is maintaining significant distances between people," Rotering said. "After discussions with the City Council, City Manager and evaluating guidance provided by the CDC and Illinois Department of Public Health, it became clear that the closure of such facilities was necessary as we work to diminish the spread of COVID-19."

City Manager Ghida Neukirch reminded the community that emergency services will remain available, even as municipal buildings close to the public.

"The general public is encouraged to take social distancing practices and adhere to public health recommendations for staying healthy," Neukirch said. "Please know that your city is in close communication with our government partners in Highland Park, with state and federal agencies, with neighboring municipalities, Highland Park Hospital and, really, the entire community."

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In a statement at the March 14 emergency meeting, after declaring the state of emergency, Rotering urged residents to support one another and heed warnings from public health officials.

"This week has seen dramatic steps being taken to accelerate social distancing in an effort to slow down the spread of COVID-19 and reduce the anticipated challenges to our health care system. In recent days, our city has experienced the closure of all public access to city buildings except the police station, the senior center, the library, all schools, all park district facilities, Ravinia Festival, the art center and more. While these steps may seem extreme, they are advised by the careful guidance of the Illinois Department of Public Health, which urges all Illinois residents to reduce social contact as much as possible," she said.

"I cannot stress this enough: stay home. Let's do everything we can to minimize social contact and slow the spread of this virus. If your kids are home or coming home from college, please keep them at home. This is not a time for gatherings — for hanging at friends' houses. We know that younger people tend not to show major symptoms of the virus yet shed the virus into their environs. By visiting each other, we can be spreading the risk to others, specifically older adults and folks with underlying health issues."

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Rotering said people with symptoms of the virus — fever, cough and shortness of breath — should contact their doctor to arrange for potential testing.

"This is not the city of Highland Park's area. I urge you, call Lake County Health," Rotering said. "Anyone who is not feeling well should seek medical care without fear. Documentation status will not be checked before care is provided. It's critical that everybody get medical help if needed as quickly as possible."

Rotering also asked the community to consider how to support the most vulnerable in the community. The mayor said the Moraine Township food pantry needs donations from the public at its office at 800 Central Ave. Goods can be dropped off weekdays from 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. outside the office. Needed this week: oatmeal, canned fruit or fruit cups, cereal, crackers, tuna, mac & cheese, pasta, pasta sauce and paper bags with handles. The township also accepts donations. Call 847-432-3240 for more information.

"Please check on your neighbors. As we self-quarantine and socially distance ourselves, concerns about seniors and others becoming isolated are critically important, and while the city is offering well-being checks, we need everybody's help. Think about your neighborhood. Think about your network. Who's living alone? Who might get sick with nobody knowing? Who might run out of food or medication with no way to get help? Every one of us knows people who are elderly, or disabled or living alone or otherwise unable to get what they need during this crisis. Please, make a plan to check on them daily. It can be by phone, it can be by email, it can be by a door knock and then a few steps back from the door, if they're sick. Let's keep an eye on everybody. Nobody should be left alone during this crisis," she said. "If we all, street by street, block by block, think of who needs to be checked on, we can keep all members of our community safe, and if that friend, or neighbor, or family member does not respond, please call the Highland Park police and they will check up on them. Together we can care for each other and pull through this time of challenge."

Earlier: Highland Park Mayor Set For Broad Expansion Of Emergency Powers »

Moraine Township Supervisor Anne Flanigan Bassi provided the following updates Monday:

As the ground shifts under us with the changing landscape of COVID-19, at Moraine Township we are focused on how to continue to serve residents while keeping clients, volunteers and staff safe.

MORAINE TOWNSHIP FOOD PANTRY

• We will keep regular Pantry hours but for safety reasons we will be distributing pre-packed bags of food in a “drive-through” from the alley behind the Pantry, instead of allowing clients to shop in the Pantry.
• Highland Park and Highwood families with school students may pick up groceries with a school ID even if they are not registered with the Pantry.
• Pantry distribution times remain the same
• Tuesday & Thursday 9:00 a.m. until noon
• Wednesday 1:00 p.m. until 3:30 p.m.

MORAINE TOWNSHIP DOOR-TO-DOOR VAN PROGRAM
For the safety of our riders and staff, we are temporarily suspending our van transportation program for all riders except dialysis and chemotherapy patients.

EMERGENCY ASSISTANCE / UTILITY ASSISTANCE / OTHER SAFETY-NET PROGRAMS
We will have applications in an envelope on the porch to our office for various assistance programs. Residents can telephone the office for help completing the applications and return completed applications and documents to the locked mail box on our office porch. Wherever possible, we will assist residents via phone with applications for Medicaid, Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP), Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF).
Moraine Township staff will do everything possible to expedite processing applications for emergency assistance.

SENIOR WELLNESS TELEPHONE CHECKS
Our goal is for staff to connect with each of the low-income seniors who have accessed Township services to see how they are doing and what they may need, and try to figure out how to get them critical supplies while they are safely staying home.

TOWNSHIP PROGRAMS TEMPORARILY SUSPENDED
The following Township programs are suspended until further notice:

• VITA: Volunteer income tax preparation for low-income taxpayers;
• Passports: Passport application procession;
• Notary Services;
• Voter Registration;
• RTA Discount Card applications;
• Taxi coupon distribution.

VOLUNTEERS: Many of our volunteers may be out ill or as a precaution. If you are healthy and not at risk, please let us know. We are keeping a “sub-list” to call for shifts we know we are in need of volunteers. If you want to be part of the “bench”, please email volunteer@morainetownship.org.

FOOD: We anticipate needing a lot more food than usual, and will assess what we need weekly. Sunset, Jewel, Antons all deliver; as well as Target and Amazon. Gift cards are also welcome, and cash donations are gratefully accepted at morainetownship.org.
You are welcome to bring food to the Township – 800 Central Avenue HP – and leave it on one of the tables set up outside our office (so we all avoid unnecessary contact). We will promptly bring the food inside.

PLEASE ONLY SCHEDULE FOOD DONATION DELIVERIES WEEKDAYS 8:30 TO 4:30 ONLY
This week’s list:

• Rice – bagged
• Dried pinto beans – bagged
• Canister oatmeal or packets/cups
• Canned fruit or fruit cups
• Cereal – all kinds
• Tuna
• Boxes of crackers – all kinds
• Mac & Cheese
• Pasta
• Pasta sauce
• Peanut butter
• Jelly

PAPER GROCERY BAGS WITH HANDLES:
Desperately need bags to pack food in since clients are not shopping with their own reusable bags. We will have bins on the porch outside our office for untorn paper grocery bags.

We are fortunate to live in a unique and generous community. It takes a village and the Township is grateful for our residents’ genuine concern for their struggling neighbors.