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Village of Wilmette E-news
Enews
Nov. 6, 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.
Veterans Day Ceremony Next Wednesday
Join American Legion Wilmette Post 46 and the Wilmette Police and Fire Departments in honoring our veterans on Wednesday, Nov. 11 at 11 a.m. at Veterans Park, 1111 Central Ave. (across from the Wilmette Theater). Masks and social distancing required. 

Remember that due to Downtown Streetscape Plan construction, Central Avenue is westbound-only. Please allow extra time for travel. Public parking will be available from the alley south of Central Avenue.  
Wilmette Voters Weigh in on Retail Cannabis Sales 
Voters were asked to weigh in on whether the Village should allow the retail sale of cannabis within Wilmette during this week's election. This was a non-binding referendum intended to gauge public opinion for future Village Board policy discussions. The preliminary unofficial results from the referendum are:
  • 13,647 ballots cast
  • YES votes: 7,640 (55.98%)
  • NO votes: 6,007 (44.02%)
Please note that final votes counts have not been certified by the Cook County Clerk's Office, which can take up to 21 days after the election.

What's Next?
This referendum is one consideration in the final outcome decision regarding cannabis sales in the Village. The discussion on the future of retails sales is expected to take place in early 2021 and this process will include the opportunity for the public to provide additional input to the Village Board. The items that are expected to be discussed are:
  • An ordinance prohibiting or allowing the sale of adult-use recreational cannabis 

If the answer is to allow the sale of adult-use cannabis, additional discussion will take place on the following:

  • What uses would be allowed (e.g. retail dispensary vs. cultivation)
  • Zoning regulations and locations where cannabis retail businesses might be located, including consideration of special districts, limits on the number of establishments and distances from certain other establishments (e.g. schools)
Village Board Meeting Tuesday, Nov. 10

The Village Board will hold its first meeting of the month on Tuesday, Nov. 10 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:
  • Introduction of the budget and stormwater fee ordinances
  • Appointment of the Sesquicentennial Planning Committee
  • Discussion of Business Assistance Grant Program for restaurants
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.
COVID-19 Update: New Restrictions in Place in Suburban Cook County

Illinois reported 9,991 new COVID-19 infections yesterday, breaking another record for new daily infections. To put this in context, Illinois' 7-day rolling average of new daily infections during the peak of spring infections was approximately 2,500 new cases per day. The infection rate is also rising, with Suburban Cook County (Region 10) reporting a positivity rate of 11.1% as of Nov. 2 (most recent state data available) compared to 4.9% just one month ago (Oct. 5). 

Because of these increase in key metrics, restrictions put in place on Oct. 28 in Suburban Cook County will continue. These include: 
  • No indoor dining or bar service
  • Outdoor dining and bar service permitted until 11 p.m.
  • Tables must be six feet apart
  • In-person gatherings limited to 25 individuals
  • Indoor gatherings limited to 25% room capacity
These trends mean that the risk of COVID-19 infection is rising sharply and we all must do our part to slow the spread. Make wise choices about social gatherings, particularly spending time indoors with people outside of your household. Practice those 3 W's - wear your mask, watch your distance and wash your hands!

COVID-19 in Wilmette: 
  • As of Nov. 5, Wilmette's seven-day rolling average of confirmed daily cases is 8.7 new cases per day. To date, Wilmette has had 491 confirmed COVID-19 cases, with 61 new cases reported since Oct. 29.
  • The Village's seven-day rolling average for test positivity (percentage of those tested who test positive for COVID-19) is at 6.5%.
  • Overall, there have been 12,520 tests for Wilmette, with 943 new tests since Oct. 29.
Health Habits Corner: Masking Matters!
In partnership with the Wilmette Park District, Wilmette Public Library, School District 39 and Avoca School District 37, we urge you to do your part to keep our community safe!
  • Masks significantly reduce the risk of transmission of COVID-19 for you and others.
  • Masks don't block all virus droplets, so we need to also keep at least six feet from others and wash hands frequently.
  • Everyone needs to wear a mask because people can be contagious without showing symptoms.
  • Wear your mask anytime you leave your house and will be around people outside your household.

Learn more on our Healthy Habits Corner webpage. 
Don't Forget to Compost Your Pumpkins Tomorrow!
The Village and Go Green Wilmette will provide pumpkin composting on Saturday, Nov. 7 from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. at two locations - the Village Hall Parking Lot and Centennial Park. Please remove all decorations (candles, yarn, stickers, non-biodegradable material) before dropping off your pumpkins. 
Help Keep Leaf Collection Moving Smoothly


 

  • Please remember to rake your loose leaves to the curb by 7 a.m. on the first day of a two-day collection window. Your leaves will only be collected on one of the two scheduled days. 
  • Street parking is prohibited on scheduled leaf collection days to allow heavy equipment to safely access leaf piles. Wilmette Police will be actively ticketing vehicles parked in posted "no parking" zones.
  • Occasionally, leaf collection crews may be in your area ahead of schedule. When this happens, we will always return on one of your scheduled collection days, so please be mindful of posted parking restrictions. 
  • Do not park on the street until the street has been swept. Because of the time needed to thoroughly sweep the street, the street sweepers may be several hours behind the leaf collection trucks. Cars will be cited for parking on the street prior to the completion of street sweeping.  
  • If your curbside waste collection coincides with leaf collection, please place refuse, recycling and yard waste/compost toters three feet behind the curb. 
Visit our website for more tips and guidelines and to view the leaf collection schedule.
Last Chance to Register for Wilmette Historical Museum Lecture

The Wilmette Historical Museum is hosting its second virtual lecture of the season this Sunday, Nov. 8 from 2 to 3 p.m. Tickets are free but advance registration is required by today, Friday, Nov. 6. Learn more and register.

Luxembourgers in Chicago: From North Avenue to Wilmette
Did you know that during the late 19th and early 20th centuries, Chicago and Cook County were home to the largest number of Luxembourg immigrants in America? Presenter Kevin Wester, who was born and raised in the Luxembourg settlement of Belgium, Wisconsin and was Executive Director of the Luxembourg American Cultural Society, will give a board overview of this fascinating aspect of our local history.
Siren Testing Next Friday, Nov. 13
Don't be alarmed if you hear warning sirens next Friday morning! Wilmette's outdoor warning sirens will undergo routine maintenance and inspection on Friday, Nov. 13, which will involve several short siren "growls." 
Village Construction Projects
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. 
The Central Avenue Reconstruction and Downtown Streetscape Project will enhance lighting, sidewalks, roadways, plantings and amenities on Wilmette and Central avenues within downtown. Visit the project website for more information.  
Traffic Impacts: 
  • Central Avenue traffic between 11th Street and Green Bay Road will switch to the north side of the street on Nov. 9.
  • 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.
Every year the Village completes road, sidewalk and alley repairs, brick street maintenance, sewer lining and many other infrastructure improvements. View project timelines and completion status, and check out an interactive map of all Village construction projects.
Wilmette Events and Happenings
Nov. 8 - Wilmette Historical Museum Virtual Lecture
"Luxembourgers in Chicago: From North Avenue to Wilmette." 2 to 3 p.m. Free virtual lecture, advance registration required. Learn more and register. 

Nov. 10 - Village Board Meeting
The Village Board will meet remotely on Tuesday, Oct. 27 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. 

Nov. 11 - Veterans Day
Join American Legion Wilmette Post 46 and the Wilmette Police and Fire Departments in honoring our veterans on on Wednesday, Nov. 11 at 11 a.m. at Veterans Park, 1111 Central Ave. (across from the Wilmette Theater). Masks and social distancing required.