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Village of Wilmette E-news
Enews
June 26, 2020
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 .

Illinois Enters Phase 4 of Reopening Plan
  

Starting today, Wilmette and the rest of Illinois will look different than it has for the past several months and certainly different than it did before the pandemic started, as we enter Phase 4 of the State's reopening plan. Phase 4 allows larger gathering sizes, additional business reopenings and increased capacities. We must all continue to social distance, frequently wash our hands and cover our faces to prevent the spread of COVID-19. Here are some of the key details:
  • Gatherings of up to 50 people will be allowed.
  • Face coverings will continue to be required in public places where physical distance cannot be maintained.
  • Indoor dining will be permitted for parties of up to 10 people.
  • Day camps may open with capacity restrictions.
  • Certain indoor and outdoor recreation/entertainment facilities will be able to open with capacity restrictions, including gym, swimming pools and zoos.
  • Movie theaters, performing arts theaters and museums may reopen with capacity restrictions.
Want More Information?
It's Not Too Much to Mask: #MaskOnWilmette

Health experts agree that wearing a mask (the proper way) is one of the best things we can do to prevent the spread of COVID-19, along with social distancing and hand washing. Please remember that your mask should fully cover your nose and mouth to be effective.

We think that it's not too much to "mask" to protect our community and help resume the life we love and treasure so much! Show off your masks! Take a selfie and post to your social media channels using the hashtag #MaskOnWilmette and the text: "It's not too much to mask." If you're out and about Wilmette, tag the Village business or location you're visiting to also show them some love! Let's work together to encourage and promote mask wearing and keep our Village and state moving forward. #MaskOnWilmette #WilmetteStrong
Holiday Week Village Service Updates
  • Village Hall will be closed on Friday, July 3 in observance of Independence Day. 
  • Village Hall is currently operating on a limited hours schedule; however, on Monday, July 6, Village Hall will be open to the public from 9 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. 
  • Trash collection the week of June 29 - July 3 will not be impacted by the holiday.
Village Board Considers Recreational Cannabis Referendum
  
At its Tu esday meeting, the Village Board discussed the possibility of including a non-binding advisory referendum on the November ballot for Wilmette voters to weigh in on whether to allow recreational cannabis businesses to operate in Wilmette. Discussion focused on neighboring municipalities' policies regarding recreational cannabis, potential revenues and community impacts.

What's next? At the July 14 Village Board meeting, Village staff will present suggested referendum language and provide information to the Village Board. At the July 28 Village Board meeting, Village trustees will make a decision on whether to include an advisory referendum on the November ballot.
Highest Bond Rating Saves Village Millions in Bond Sale
  
The Village is pleased to annouce that, thanks to our Aaa bond rating (the highest rating a municipality can obtain from Moody's Investor Service) the Village was able to save an estimated $5.2 million dollars in interest costs over 30 years for the recent $31 million bond sale to finance capital improvement projects, including the Neighborhood Storage Project and water system improvements. The Village's strong socioeconomic profile, sound financial operations and healthy fund balance were the driving factors for the high credit rating.  

Village President Bob Bielinski said, "This rating doesn't happen by accident. It is the result of focused efforts by the Village Board and financial team who are committed to fiscal responsibility, strategic planning and budgeting, as well as prudent spending of tax dollars."

Lonesome Rodeo
Tableside Tunes in Downtown Wilmette Saturday Night

Come dine outdoors in downtown Wilmette tomorrow night (Saturday, June 27)  from 6-8 p.m. and listen to music from some great local artists!  Lonesome Rodeo  (Wilmette's own Chris Karabas and fiddle player Emma Smoler) will bring their heartland style to downtown diners. They  will play near the corner of Wilmette and Central avenues. Diners are invited to use outdoor seating at Village Hall and Veteran's Park.  Thank you for not gathering, as this is not a concert but ambient background music, and Phase 4 health and safety guidelines will be enforced.
Fourth of July Activities

Independence Day is around the corner! Here's what's happening in Wilmette:
  • Wilmette Park District's annual July 3 fireworks and Independence Day activities have been canceled. 
  • The Park District will host its annual Yankee Doodle Dash virtually. Learn more.  
Nicor Gas employees can be identified by their company uniform, photo ID badge and company vehicle.
Be Aware of Utility Scams

Nicor Gas warns customers of common utility scam tactics, including scam phone calls threatening to disconnect service if payment is not immediately made (scammers may even replicate the utility's caller ID), fake phone numbers that duplicate the utility's interactive voice system and door-to-door scams. 

To protect yourself, ask the representative to confirm details of your account to verify legitimacy and look for proper identification. If you have concerns about Nicor, call them directly 888-Nicor4U (888-642-6748). If you suspect fraud or feel threatened, contact the Wilmette Police Department. 
Neighborhood Storage Project Construction Update

The contractor is scheduled to work Saturday, June 27 from 8 a.m. to 6 p.m. Special approval has been granted for the contractor to begin work one hour earlier than the Saturday hours published in the Village Code. We thank you for your understanding in this matter.
  • Community Playfield: The contractor will continue installing detention vault pieces.
  • Storm Sewer: The contractor will continue restoration work.
Highlights from this week:

Phase 1A: New curbs and gutters
Phase 1A Highlights - Storm Sewer Improvements (Read the full construction update here)
  • This week, crews completed concrete restoration of sidewalk, curbs, gutters and driveways on Blackhawk and Romona roads and installed the first layer of new asphalt in this work area.
  • Next week, crews will iplant rain gardens on Lavergne, Washington and Lamon avenues. In the Blackhawk and Romona roads work area, crews will remove existing pavement and begin pavement patching.
Phase 1 Highlights (Read the full construction update here). 

Phase 1: Stormwater storage vault construction

Community Playfield Improvements
  • This week, crews continued excavation and preparation for the west portion of the stormwater storage vault and continued installing vault pieces. Crews also connected new storm sewer to the south section of the vault, which will carry stormwater from the neighborhoods to the vault. Next week, crews will continue the vault excavation and installation work as well as installing storm sewer piping. 
Storm Sewer Improvements
  • This week, crews continued restoring the road on Wilshire Drive, Wilshire Drive West and Wilmette Avenue and began restoring the road along the Meadow Drives. Next week, crews will continue this road restoration work as well as landscape restoration along Wilmette Avenue.
  • Wilmette Avenue between Locust Road and Glenview Road remains closed and is expected to reopen in early July.
Wilmette Events & Happenings

July 8 - Neighborhood Storage Project Phase 2 Open House
Meet the engineers and Park District staff, discuss the upcoming stormwater project, view the in-progress plans and ask questions. Open House will be  held under a tent in the north fields of Hibbard Park (300 Glenview Road) from 5:30-7 p.m. RSVP by calling Public Works at 847-853-7500 or emailing pubworks@wilmette.com

July 14 - Village Board Meeting
The Village Board will meet remotely on Tuesday, July 14 at 7:30 p.m. The meeting will be broadcast live at youtube.com/user/villageofwilmette/live and on Channel 6 and then published on the Village's website.  Members of the public may submit public comment in advance of the meeting by emailing publiccomment@wilmette.com or participate via Microsoft Teams. Details on remote participation here . Visit the Village's website to view agenda materials.