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Village of Wilmette E-news
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The following email provides timely information on general news and community events from the Village of Wilmette. For more information, please visit the Village of Wilmette website.
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Village Board Meeting Tuesday, Sept. 22
The Village Board will hold its second regular meeting of the month on Tuesday, Sept. 22 at 7:30 p.m. The meeting will be held remotely via Microsoft Teams and broadcast live on the Village's YouTube channel and Channel 6. Agenda includes a financial update.
The public may participate/comment during the meeting via Microsoft Teams on your PC or mobile device, or comment via YouTube Chat. Comments can also be submitted in advance by emailing [email protected]. Emailed comments will no longer be read aloud. Emailed comments submitted two hours before the meeting will be included in the meeting packet, and emailed comments submitted after that time will be included in the draft meeting minutes.
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COVID-19 Update: Local Data and Cooler Weather Impacts
The COVID-19 trends for Suburban Cook County (Region 10) continue to hold steady with the positivity rate standing at 5.3 percent as of Sept. 14. This is the metric used to determine if additional mitigation measures will be implemented by the State.
Please do your part to protect yourself and others. Wear a mask. Watch your distance. Wash your hands.
COVID-19 in Wilmette:
- As of Sept. 18, Wilmette's seven-day rolling average of confirmed daily cases is at 1.1 new cases per day. To date, Wilmette has had 304 confirmed COVID-19 cases, with 8 new cases reported in the last week.
- The Village's seven-day rolling average for test positivity (percentage of those tested who test positive for COVID-19) is at 1.9 percent.
- Overall, there have been 7,743 tests for Wilmette, with 414 new tests in the last week.
Know Your COVID-19 Risks As fall weather settles in and you think about moving outdoor activities indoors, public health experts advise that you know the risks. Factors to consider include: the number of people, the space between these people, the length of time they are exposed to each other, touchable surfaces, the number of cases in your community and how likely the people you are gathering with are complying with public health measures. Also, consider your individual health risk.
The bottom line is that close contact with other people increases risk. To make social activities safer and reduce risk, the CDC provides these tips:
- Interact with others outdoors when possible.
- Maintain at least six feet of space between you and others (indoors and outdoors).
- Wear masks.
More information:
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This National Construction Appreciation Week, we're celebrating the talented and hard-working men and women who plan and execute construction projects that make Wilmette more accessible, safe and attractive! 2020 has been a big year for construction investments in Wilmette. Here are some updates on current projects:
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Neighborhood Storage Project: The Village achieved a major milestone in this multi-year infrastructure project to improve flooding with the completion a 1.25 million cubic foot stormwater storage vault at Community Playfield as part of Phase 1 of the project. Phase 2 will begin in January and includes construction of an underground stormwater vault under Hibbard Park and new storm sewers in the surrounding neighborhoods.
- Downtown Streetscape Project: This $10 million investment (substantially grant funded) will transform downtown with sidewalks, roadways, plantings, lighting and other amenities on Wilmette and Central avenues. Work on Central Avenue will be completed in December and work will begin on Wilmette Avenue in March. Remember to support our downtown businesses during this time of transition and progress!
- Mater Bike and Active Transportation Plan: In keeping with its commitment to making Wilmette a more walkable and bike-friendly community, the Village has been developing a Master Bike and Active Transportation Plan. The public provided input into the plan earlier this year which shaped the plan's recommendations. The Village Board is expected to discuss the plan later this year.
- Skokie Boulevard and Lake Avenue Intersection Study Update: The Village is exploring ways to improve mobility and safety at the Skokie Boulevard and Lake Avenue intersection, including modernized traffic signals, ADA compliant sidewalks and reduced lane widths to shorten crossing distances. Additionally, the Village is evaluating a multi-use path along Skokie Boulevard from Lake Avenue to Illinois Road. The project is currently programmed for construction in 2022 or 2023.
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Neighborhood Storage Project Phase 2 Virtual Meeting
You're invited to join the Village and the Neighborhood Storage Project consulting team at a virtual public meeting to discuss Phase 2 of the Neighborhood Storage Project at Hibbard Park. The meeting will be held virtually via Zoom on Wednesday Sept. 30, at 7 p.m. Sign up for the meeting here. Learn more about Phase 2 on the project website.
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2020 Election Update: Ballot Questions
Wilmette voters will see two questions on their November ballot.
Illinois Fair Tax Ballot Measure
The Illinois General Assembly approved asking Illinois voters whether they want to change the State's constitution. It reads:
The proposed amendment grants the State authority to impose higher income tax rates on higher income levels, which is how the federal government and a majority of other states do it. The amendment would remove the portion of the Revenue Article of the Illinois Constitution that is sometimes referred to as the "flat tax," that requires all taxes on income to be at the same rate. The amendment does not itself change tax rates. It gives the State the ability to impose higher tax rates on those with higher income levels and lower income tax rates on those with middle or lower income levels. You are asked to decide whether the proposed amendment should become a part of the Illinois Constitution.
Resources on the proposed amendment of Section 3 of Article IX of the Illinois Constitution:
Wilmette Cannabis Advisory Referendum
Wilmette voters will be asked whether the Village should allow the retail sale of cannabis within the Village. This non-binding referendum is intended to gauge public opinion for future Village Board policy discussions. The referendum language reads:
Shall the retail sale of adult use recreational cannabis be permitted within the Village of Wilmette at a business licensed by the State of Illinois?
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Complete the Count! Census Ends Sept. 30
Northern Illinois is at risk of a costly census undercount that could mean billions of federal dollars lost in our communities. And the U.S. Census Bureau is ending field data collection on Sept. 30 - a month early. This is our last chance to be counted so our community receives the funding and representation that reflects our population for the next 10 years!
- Respond by phone by calling (844) 330-2020.
- Respond by mail. If you did not respond online this spring, you should have received a paper census form. Complete your census and mail it to: U.S. Census Bureau, National Processing Center, 1201 E 10th Street, Jeffersonville, IN 47132.
What if I lost the letter with my reporting instructions? Call the @uscensusbureau's toll-free customer help line at 1 (800) 772-7851, Monday through Friday, 7 a.m. to 4 p.m. CST.
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Recognizing National Suicide Prevention Month
September is National Suicide Prevention Month, a time to share resources and shed light on this stigmatized topic. The statistics are staggering. According to the National Alliance on Mental Health (NAMI), suicide has increased by 30% over the last two decades. In the U.S., it is the leading cause of death among people under 34 years, and the fourth leading cause among people 34 to 54 years old. And, three-quarters of suicide deaths are by men. Awareness, openness and outreach can help save lives.
Help is Available: Talk to Someone
- The National Suicide Prevention Lifeline (1-800-273-TALK) offers free, confidential crisis counseling 24/7/365 - and you don't have to be in crisis to call.
- The Crisis Text Line is free 24/7 mental health support at your fingertips. Text "NAMI" to 741741 for help.
- If you or a loved one are struggling with stress related to the COVID-19 pandemic and need emotional support, text TALK to 552020 for English or HABLAR for Spanish. This service is free and available 24 hours a day, seven days a week. People seeking assistance will remain anonymous and will provide only their first name and zip code, which enables the service to link you to a counselor in your area who is knowledgeable about available local resources. Visit the Illinois Department of Human Services to connect with additional resources.
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Village Construction Projects
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The Neighborhood Storage Project is the Village's largest ever infrastructure investment and will bring flooding relief to thousands of Wilmette residents while improving access and safety for our entire community. Visit the project website for construction updates.
- Phase 1A: Storm sewer and watermain improvements
- Phase 2: Hibbard Park stormwater storage vault
Traffic Impacts:
- All lane closures have been picked up. Daily lane closures will be utilized as needed for remaining work.
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Traffic Impacts:
- Central Avenue is closed to eastbound traffic between Sheridan Road and Green Bay Road. Please follow the detour and allow extra time for travel.
- Expect congestion, temporary lane shifts and temporary blocking of parking stalls in the work area.
- Downtown parking on Central Avenue now accommodates vehicles traveling westbound; parking on the north side of Central Avenue will be temporarily unavailable.
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Wilmette Events and Happenings
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Sept. 22 - Village Board Meeting
The Village Board will meet remotely on Tuesday, Sept. 22 at 7:30 p.m. The meeting will be held via Microsoft Teams and broadcast live on the Village's YouTube and Channel 6. For more information on submitting public comment and remote participation via Microsoft Teams or YouTube Chat, please click here. View the agenda and materials here.
Sept. 26 - Document Destruction Event
The Village and the Solid Waste Agency of Northern Cook County (SWANCC) will host a one-day Document Destruction Event on Saturday, Sept. 26 from 9 a.m. to 12 p.m. in the southwest parking lot of the Centennial Park & Recreation Complex (2300 Old Glenview Road). All Wilmette and SWANCC community residents are welcome (bring your ID or proof of residence).
Sept. 29 - Municipal Services Committee
The Municipal Services Committee of the Village Board will meet remotely on Tuesday, Sept. 29 at 7 p.m. to review the Village's draft Master Bike and Active Transportation Plan. Visit walkbikewilmette.com for more information on the plan. Meeting agenda and materials will be available here. Sept. 30 - Neighborhood Storage Project Phase 2 Virtual Meeting Join the Village and the Neighborhood Storage Project consulting team at a virtual public meeting to discuss Phase 2 of the Neighborhood Storage Project at Hibbard Park. The meeting will be held virtually via Zoom on Wednesday Sept. 30, at 7 p.m. Sign up for the meeting here. Learn more about Phase 2 on the project website.
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