Buffalo Grove leaders host virtual town hall to answer residents' questions
What is the status of Buffalo Grove's proposed tax increment financing district for the Lake-Cook Road corridor? What about road construction projects Lake-Cook and Weiland roads? Is there a curfew?
Those were among the questions Village Manager Dane Bragg, Police Chief Steve Casstevens and Fire Chief Mike Baker addressed Tuesday night at Buffalo Grove's virtual town-hall meeting.
It was one indication that the village is still functioning, although in a limited scope because of the COVID-19 pandemic.
Casstevens was asked how the police department is enforcing the state's stay-at-home order.
"Rest assured, Buffalo Grove police officers will not be stopping cars to see where they are headed," he said. "We are not going to be stopping pedestrians to ask you why you are out of your home."
He did advise, however, that people use their best judgment when leaving home and consolidate trips. If officers on patrol see a large group congregating, they will stop and remind people of the order, he added.
The village does not have a curfew, Casstevens said.
Baker said that as of Monday there had been no confirmed COVID-19 cases in Buffalo Grove.
As for village operations, Bragg said all Buffalo Grove employees who can work from home are doing so. For employees working in Buffalo Grove facilities, the village has set up rotations and split shifts to stop the spread of the virus. Village hall was sanitized last week after a suspected exposure, which turned out to be a false alarm.
Bragg said both village golf courses are closed under executive order from Village President Beverly Sussman. However, he said, the village staff will be reviewing the latest standards released by the governor, who originally declared golf courses as nonessential businesses, to determine whether they can be opened. Bragg said the governor had shifted his position to allow the courses to open as long as adequate public health standards can be maintained.
Regarding the stay-at-home order's impact on local businesses, Bragg said Sussman signed an executive order allowing restaurants with liquor licenses to sell alcohol with takeout and deliveries. Deliveries containing alcohol must be made by the restaurant, not a third-party service such as GrubHub or DoorDash.
Sussman also is extending the liquor license renewal period for 90 days.
"Businesses do not need to apply for this extension. It will be granted automatically," Bragg said.
Planning on a proposed Lake-Cook Road Corridor TIF district has been postponed, as the village focuses on life-safety operations.
In the meantime, road construction on Lake-Cook and Weiland roads is continuing as planned, as construction has been deemed an essential business by the state.
When asked whether the village will refund Metra parking passes, Bragg said a decision has not been made. Village residents will be notified of any changes, he added.
As for the village board, a committee-of-the-whole meeting scheduled for April 6 is expected to be canceled, and the next scheduled village board meeting set for April 20 may be held electronically, as was the case with Monday's brief board session.