Elizabeth postpones events, no cancellations: Village officials want life to return to normal after virus, events will be moved

ELIZABETH–To create a sense of normalcy in an abnormal world, the Elizabeth board of trustees and Village President Mike Dittmar decided to postpone the village’s annual Easter egg hunt scheduled for Saturday, March 28, rather than cancel it.

“Here is my view on everything, no one knows how long this is going to go, but I don’t want to cancel anything. I just want to postpone it,” said Dittmar of the COVID-19 pandemic. “If we do an Easter egg hunt in July, I am all for it. It might be one of those things when everything calms down, that we have something to do every weekend. I think that’s the way to go. I plan to have an Easter egg hunt, even if it is past Easter.”

The village also decided not to enact an emergency declaration at this time, as Dittmar did not determine it necessary for him to take more power in making decisions. He said if the situation becomes more dire, the board could reconvene and declare an emergency.

Another action taken by the board as a result of COVID-19 is the possibility of parking spots in front of restaurants becoming 15-minute spots to allow customers to be close to where they pick up food.

The board will prorate and refund liquor licenses to establishments that have been affected by COVID-19 and have been forced to end their liquor sales. Dittmar said that the action will be for March and April and that the board will decide on a potential change in fees for liquor licenses for the next fiscal year, which begins in May.

The village’s budget will also be impacted by COVID-19 as many of the projects planned, including the splash pad, might not find their way into the budget this year, and could be delayed until the 2021 budget. Dittmar wanted to ensure that salaries will be paid and that the village will still operate due to any unforeseen consequences of COVID-19.

Other business

The board also:

•heard from Dan Schleicher, Elizabeth Ambulance administrator, about a request that will be coming up in the next couple months seeking a tax increase for special service areas 2, 4 and 6. Schleicher said that the increase is to hire additional full-time staff to allow for a staffer to be available 24 hours a day.

•approved an engagement letter for Kenneth Beth with Gilmore Bell, PC to act as the village’s bond counsel.

•approved an ordinance authorizing the issuance of up to $390,000 in bonds for a sewer system upgrade.

•approved closing the gym at village hall due to concerns about COVID-19.

•approved the annexation petition for the Jo Daviess-Carroll Career Technical Education Academy, 950 U.S. 20, Elizabeth.

•approved a cost-sharing agreement for the Rayhorn lot survey.

•learned that the Apple River Fort is not interested in annexation.

•learned that village officials will be looking at a potential generator for the village hall.

•learned that the downtown sidewalk update is moving forward based on conversations Dittmar has had with the state. He learned that the water main could be paid for by the Illinois Department of Transportation (IDOT) and that the village will have to pay for pavement of the alley above the new water main. Construction is estimated to begin in 2022.

•approved a TIF inducement agreement for Jo Daviess Conservation Foundation (JDCF) for two lots that the organization purchased on Chicago Street in Elizabeth. JDCF will install a pole barn on the site.

•held a public hearing on the Catlin Street and Locust Street water main replacement project. Water rates for the village will increase by $2.95 as a result of the project.