Wheeling looking to limit solicitation to once a year

Charitable organizations who solicit money on the streets of Wheeling may be limited to once a year if a new ordinance discussed Monday is approved by the village board later this month.

The board compromised on allowing solicitation once a year, after debating whether to ban soliciting altogether or making no change at all. Currently there is no limit to how often an organization can request permits to collect money on street corners.

In the end, trustees told the village staff to rewrite the ordinance allowing organizations to solicit in Wheeling only once a year, for a period lasting a few days.

The discussion on solicitation came up after several trustees expressed concerns that some groups were taking advantage of the village's relaxed ordinance and asking for money too frequently.

Both the fire and police department expressed safety concerns about having people in the village's major roadways, such as Milwaukee Avenue and Dundee Road, and recommended completely banning street solicitation.

Trustee Kenneth Brady, who has stood on corners himself collecting money for the Knights of Columbus, said banning street soliciting would greatly harm the Knights' fundraising.

“They don't feel threatened at all by the traffic, I've been out there myself and found no problems,” Brady said.

Brady added that there have not been any known injuries or fatalities of people soliciting in the streets.

“If it ain't broke, don't fix it,” he said.

People who solicit in major roadways are mandated by state law to wear specific safety vests to identify themselves to drivers. Village Manager Jon Sfondilis said a reminder about that requirement will be written into the new village ordinance.

Although all trustees agreed on the once a year limitation, Village President Judy Abruscato said she would have preferred leaving the ordinance the way it was.

“Enforcement is the most difficult part of this ordinance,” Abruscato said. “I don't see a problem with the way solicitation has been.”

Trustee Dean Argiris suggested that city staff give the police department a list of what organizations have been approved to solicit each week or month so they will have an easier time enforcing the new ordinance, which will be voted on later this month.