Madison County cities won’t reopen, say they’ll stick with Illinois’ coronavirus order
The mayors of most of Madison County’s largest cities are asking residents and business owners to continue to follow the statewide stay-at-home order after county board members passed a resolution aimed at reopening ahead of schedule.
On Tuesday, the Madison County Board of Health, which is comprised of county board members, approved a set of guidelines by which businesses could open, defying Governor J.B. Pritzker’s stay-at-home executive order put in place to stop the spread of the COVID-19 virus.
By Wednesday, mayors in Edwardsville, Troy, Collinsville, Alton, East Alton and Maryville had issued statements urging citizens to continue complying with Pritzker’s executive order this week. The city of Highland was the only one to publicly back the county’s resolution.
“Nothing has changed today regarding the State’s administration of public health and, moreover, any business not in compliance with the Governor’s Executive Order should take extreme caution to understand the immense liability and regulatory considerations of deviating from those Orders,” Troy Mayor Allen Adomite said in a statement.
In Alton, Mayor Brant Walker said in a statement the city has a legal obligation to continue to follow the governor’s order and urged others to do the same.
“As a former small business owner, I am sympathetic to those who are suffering from the economic impact of the COVID-19 pandemic. Like many of our businesses, the City of Alton faces dire financial circumstances due to the coronavirus pandemic,” his statement read. “Even so, it is my responsibility as Mayor to ensure that our residents and businesses are safe, and that is my top priority during these difficult times.”
Walker said the city is, for the time being, restrained by limited manpower and other resources from enforcing “conflicting orders” issued by the state and county.
He, like many other mayors urging businesses to think twice about the resolution, recommended business owners who choose to reopen to seek legal counsel, and to talk to their insurance company and the county health department.
“I join our area legislators in urging the Governor to reconsider the timeline for moving forward outlined in his Restore Illinois plan so that we can safely re-open our economy, aid our small businesses, and protect the health of our community.”
In Highland, city officials announced Wednesday evening that the city agreed “100%” with the county board.
“Even before this resolution we have been working with our local businesses on plans to reopen taking into account the safety of both the employees and patrons, and we will continue to do so. Our small businesses are vital to the Highland community and are our friends and family,” a statement from the city read.”
However, Highland will still be following the governor’s executive order, according to city officials, in hopes that Pritzker will approve the county’s plan in the near future.
The resolution passed by the county board has no “legal effect,” according to county State’s Attorney Tom Gibbons, who helped craft the revised resolution with members of the county board. He said it cannot be enforced.
Cities, county could lose funding
Illinois Gov. Pritzker has said that state and federal funding could be withheld from local governments that defy his stay-at-home orders aimed at curbing the spread of coronavirus by allowing businesses to reopen ahead of the state’s plan.
But the tone of his warnings were firmer Wednesday after the county board passed a resolution suggesting businesses could reopen under its own set of recommendations.
Pritzker said plainly that counties who go it alone could be disqualified from state and federal pass-through funds and local businesses could jeopardize their licensing if they open too soon.
“There are enforcement mechanisms here that we will be using against them,” Pritzker said. “The businesses that ignore the executive order and the law will be held accountable by our department of professional regulation and will held be accountable by any licensing body.”
Pritzker said consequences could range from pulled licenses to counties, cities and businesses making themselves ineligible for Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) funding due to damage they may cause.
“For the small minority of businesses that choose to ignore the medical doctors and the data, and continue to ignore the legal obligations to the residents of your communities, there will be consequences,” Pritzker said.
The state could also withhold or withdraw state licenses for businesses that require them, such as for daycares, salons, barbershops or businesses with liquor licenses.
Emergency funding for costs incurred in the fight against coronavirus could be withheld, Pritzker said. Illinois State Police and local law enforcement will continue to enforce the rules, he added.
“More people will get sick, admitted to the hospital and die,” Pritzker said. “There is no consequence the state could impose that is great than the harm you will do to your own community.”
The county’s reopening plan
The four-phase plan takes effect Wednesday, May 13, and stretches until late June.
Phase 1 allows nonessential travel to resume while advising against social gatherings of 10 or more people. Retail businesses may open with 25% occupancy and restaurants may have seated dining at a rate of 25% occupancy.
Personal care providers, such as hair, nail and massage providers, may reopen but only provide service by appointment. Childcare facilities can reopen but heavy sanitation rules have been put into place.
Gyms and indoor recreation spaces also may reopen at 25% occupancy. Public parks, golf courses, campgrounds, athletic fields, swimming pools and recreational spaces may open with limitations.
Churches can resume worship services, but may allow only 50% occupancy.
Phase 2, which is estimated to begin May 28 and last until June 12 if guidelines are followed, will increase social gatherings to 50 or more people, allow retail businesses, restaurants and churches to open further and allow increased occupancy.
Phase 3 is estimated to begin June 13 and last until June 27 if guidelines are followed and will open up churches entirely, increase occupancy at restaurants, bars and retailers to 75 percent and increase social gathering limitations to 150 people.
The final phase is estimated to begin June 27 and amounts to the total reopening of the county.
Reporter Kelsey Landis contributed to this story.
This story was originally published May 14, 2020 at 11:51 AM.