Lemont Requests Revisions To Restore Illinois Plan

LEMONT, IL — In a video update May 14, Lemont Mayor John Egofske discussed Gov. J.B. Pritzker's Restore Illinois plan and the impact on Lemont. Egofske said the village has been internally reviewing the plan and has also been working with business owners and local mayors across the area.

"Together as mayors we have sent several letters to the governor sharing our ideas to open up our businesses and communities," Egofske said. "In general, all the mayors are on the same page, and that is, it is time to open up our local economy, albeit with the necessary safety precautions."

Lemont has sent letters to the governor through the Dupage Mayors and Managers Conference, the Will County Governmental League, and the village of Orland Park with other Cook and Will County mayors.

As of May 14, Lemont had 67 residents test positive for the coronavirus, which represents .3 percent of Lemont's 22,000 population, Egofske said.

"Over the past month, we have averaged approximately one new positive test per day," Egofske said. "That is the definition of flattening the curve."

Currently, restaurants reopen in phase 4 of the Restore Illinois Plan. The northeast region, which is Lemont is part of, is in phase 2 and expected to move to phase 3 on June 1.

"The damage that has already been done to our local economy and our family-owned restaurants and other businesses is significant," Egofske said. "Delaying an opening any longer will be devastating to them."

Egofske said the town can't deviate from the governor's plan and allow local businesses to open early.

"In fact, businesses and towns have already been threatened that such deviations would jeopardize distributed town revenues as well as individual business licenses that are assigned by the state," Egofske said.

Egofske said Lemont will continue to work with local mayors and is requesting three revisions to the Restore Illinois Plan, including: suburbs in all collar counties should not be in the same region as Chicago, safely reduce the requirements to move from one phase to the next, provide specific safety precautions and measures for the most vulnerable aging population.

"These requests must be and can be implemented with proper safety measures," Egofske said.