St. Charles mayor clarifies use of executive orders during pandemic

Two weeks after St. Charles aldermen questioned the need for the city to continue its state of emergency due to the COVID-19 pandemic, Mayor Ray Rogina defended his actions and City Administrator Mark Koenen detailed Rogina's executive orders during the last year.

The state of emergency has continued based on unanimous votes by the city council, including at the meeting two weeks ago and at Monday's meeting. But as COVID-19 case numbers have decreased and vaccinations increased, aldermen argued the state of emergency may not be needed any longer.

Alderman Rita Payleitner brought up the subject two weeks ago, asking "I'm wondering why this is still necessary?" Aldermen Maureen Lewis questioned the need based on the city council's ability to meet regularly since the pandemic began, either remotely or in-person.

Rogina defended the orders at the time, but Monday he offered a longer response by saying he's continually consulted with the aldermen and they voted on many of the orders.

"I guess what I did not understand was what was so special about two Mondays ago as opposed to three months ago or six months ago or nine months ago?" he said. "Some other cities have merely given the executive authority to the mayor until the current pandemic is officially over."

Koenen said the state of emergency might become a moot point if, as expected, Gov. J.B. Pritzker adjusts the Restore Illinois plan this week."Thank you, Mark, that's just what I was looking for," Lewis said. "And I'm sorry that you felt it was directed at you, Mayor Rogina. My question was more, a year after the fact, let's review what we did, why we did it and why we're going to continue going forward with it.

"That's all that I thought the public would want to know because I've been getting questions," she said.