Batavia council gives mayor emergency powers

Batavia aldermen have granted Mayor Jeff Schielke "extraordinary power and authority" to act by executive order during a state of emergency.

The ordinance states that the city is "experiencing an unprecedented and rapidly changing situation surrounding COVID-19, an infectious disease pandemic" and Gov. J.B. Pritzker and President Donald Trump have declared states of emergency.

"Times like these are unprecedented," City Administrator Laura Newman said.

She said the ordinance puts Batavia in the best position to accept resources that are available.

"Taking action faster could reduce negative impact," she said.

Newman pointed out that the ordinance gives the mayor narrow powers to act if an emergency arises, only for the time necessary. The ordinance would need to be reinstated at each open meeting.

"I trust you to make the difficult decisions," Alderman Dan Chanzit told Schielke.

While the ordinance includes actions for "any natural disaster or man-made calamity including flood, conflagration, cyclone, tornado, earthquake or explosion," Alderman Marty Callahan said some of the fear could be avoided if everything not related to the coronavirus is removed.

"These times are solely centered on fear," he said. "We can squash the fear."