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2021/09/27 - Mayor's Column: A Busy Weekend

­ “AN OPEN DOOR TO O’FALLON”
A WEEKLY NOTE FROM MAYOR HERB ROACH
­­­

This past weekend, there was plenty to see and do with the Vine Street Market, Youth Soccer, St. Clare Oktoberfest, City Recycling event, the Center for Racial Harmony’s sixth annual Peace Festival in Shiloh, and the Illinois Municipal League (IML) Conference in Chicago.  It made for a busy weekend for many members of the City Council and City Staff that participated in or operated these various activities.

For me and several of the Council members, our city attorney, and our city administrator, it was participating in the IML Conference in Chicago.  As a member of the Board of Directors of the IML, I was asked to moderate the discussions on the recently passed Criminal Justice Reform Legislation.  My panel included persons like the Director of the Illinois State Police and the President of the Illinois Chiefs of Police Association and Former Deputy of Operations for State Police and now a local Police Chief.

It was a lively discussion with acknowledgement from many that more time to study the ramifications is needed plus some future clarifications of some of the issues.

There were over 1,500 City Officials in attendance as they participated in presentations and discussions on New Federal and State Legislation; Update on Legal issues impacting cities; what cities are having to do with budgets during these trying times; Energy Efficiency; Cities funding from the State; How cities are dealing with False and Inaccurate information on social media; Working through the Pandemic, how to keep downtowns and businesses in operation during the Pandemic, the State’s failure to properly finance education and many more topics. I was also proud to be reelected to the IML Board of Directors.

During these challenging times it is good to sit down and talk with other communities to see what has been working for them and what has not as we try to move our cities forward.

While I was in Chicago, I was delighted to hear that there was great attendance at many of the events being held in and around O’Fallon. Saturday especially proved to be a busy day as City staff members participated in the Vine Street Market, City recycling event at Carriel, a full slate of Soccer games, Oktoberfest, and the Peace Festival. Thank you to everyone who helped to make these events successful!

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!