2020/07/06 - Mayor's Column: City Hall Has Reopened
“An Open Door to O’Fallon”
A Weekly Note from Mayor Herb Roach
The State of Illinois entered Phase 4 of the Governor’s Restore Illinois Plan on June 26, 2020. We have spent a good amount of time reviewing the safety guidelines to prepare a plan to reopen City facilities so that we can better serve the residents of O’Fallon.
City Hall is reopening to the public for walk-in traffic on July 6, 2020. We still encourage everyone to use our website or call if you can. However, if you need to come to City Hall to take care of business, we are here to assist you. We ask that everyone adhere to the guidelines regarding face coverings and social distancing if they need to come to City Hall. The first hour of each day (8-9 a.m.) is reserved for the elderly and vulnerable.
We have reopened the Community Pool. Many pools in the area will not be reopening this year. However, we felt that we could properly open the pool and safely operate it under the State guidelines.
We are working on a plan to reopen public meetings to in-person attendance. Over the past few months, we have been holding all our meetings virtually through Zoom. The Governor signed an Executive Order that permitted virtual public meetings to combat the spread of COVID-19. I am pleased that we were able to effectively handle city business without having to congregate in one place. However, with moving into Phase 4, it is important that we return to a meeting format that allows people to share their comments in person if they so choose. We are looking at a hybrid format for future public meetings where people can participate in-person or virtually.
Starting this month, I will begin to hold my evening and Saturday hours again. My next evening hours are scheduled for Wednesday, July 15 (5-7 p.m.). Anyone who is interested in meeting with me, please sign up at City Hall by July 13th. I will be holding my next Saturday hours on July 25th (10 a.m. – 12 p.m.). Again, anyone who is interested in meeting with me, please sign up at City Hall by July 22nd.
We will be holding our next City Town Hall Meeting on Wednesday, August 12th at 6:30 p.m. This will be hosting at City Hall but will also be broadcasted through our video channels and website. Anyone who is interested in attending the Town Hall, please sign up at City Hall by August 10, 2020.
Unfortunately, with the limitations on size of gathering still in place during Phase 4 of the Restore Illinois Plan, the City Fest Committee has decided to cancel the 2020 City Fest. The committee felt that sanitation requirements and restrictions on ride companies would place a strain on the event, and the last thing anybody wants is for someone to get sick. City Fest will be back in 2021. Mark your calendars now – City Fest 2021: August 20-21, 2021.
As residents of O’Fallon, you should always be able to reach out to your elected officials and ask questions about what is happening in O’Fallon. Having open communications is important to me and something I care very deeply about. Thank you for reading, and please remember, my door is always open (virtually, at least)!