DeKalb Mayor Jerry Smith: COVID-19 crisis is 'fluid situation' for DeKalb County leaders

We’re still in a “fluid situation,” for sure. What may be the case today, it may not be tomorrow. So goes COVID-19 …

In a recent Daily Chronicle column, I counted the ways that life has changed. Today, I'd like to share a few observations of where we now stand in the City of DeKalb. It appears that we're "flattening the curve" with coronavirus cases, and most everyone hopes that it signals the return to a more normal routine.

I’m so impressed with the outpouring of support for our first responders. Whether they’re health care professionals, police, fire, or those who step up in emergency situations, a big thank you to all of them.

We also can’t forget those who man our grocery stores, who deliver our mail and packages, who sweep our streets or pick up our garbage. Kudos to all of those that we’ve deemed as essential.

With the advent of warmer temperatures, it’s commonplace now to see folks taking a stroll, mowing their lawns, or biking along local pathways. Social distancing will undoubtedly become necessary over the coming weeks, and I think we’ve all learned how to shop, and how to recreate, while maintaining a proper distance from one another.

Zoom has become a buzzword, now that many meetings are being held in virtual form. At City Hall, while we have “locked down” the Municipal Building during the COVID-19 crisis – with a limited number of employees inside – the majority of our board and commission meetings have been canceled.

However, we are comfortable in holding our City Council and Planning & Zoning Commission meetings in rearranged council chambers. Members have the option of joining remotely; interestingly, the bulk of our aldermen and commission members have chosen to personally attend. This decision has enabled us to provide live TV coverage, via Cable Channel 14.

For those who’ve been following council, I hope you share in my excitement over the prospect of finalizing the Ventus project on the Gurler Road site. We have worked hard to attract both the Ferrara and Ventus developments, and the result will be immensely significant to this generation and those that follow us.

As you read this today, work on the Ferrara construction continues, and with the potential for having final approval on Ventus as soon as April 27, preliminary grading work can begin there very soon.

A shout-out to the DeKalb County UNITES initiative – hats off to our chambers of commerce, our DeKalb County Economic Development Corporation, Northern Illinois University, the DeKalb County Convention and Visitors Bureau and others in continuing to find ways to help our small business community.

Many are fighting for their very survival, and we need to collaborate in innovative and creative ways to see that they do make it through this difficult time.

From a governmental standpoint, DeKalb County Board Co-Chairs Mark Pietrowski and John Frieders are hosting a weekly information conference call.

Open to anyone, topics range from local health department, law enforcement, and local government activity. In addition, the newly-formed DeKalb County Mayors Forum, made up of the 14 mayors and village presidents throughout our county, has scheduled ongoing meetings to keep us all up to speed on what our individual communities are experiencing during this crisis.

There’s absolutely no doubt that the City of DeKalb, like all communities in Illinois, is going to take a huge financial hit as a result of what we’re going through.

Already, City Manager Bill Nicklas and his staff are working on planning for post-COVID operations, and we will be very upfront in the days and weeks ahead of what the structure of our government is going to take during the remainder of 2020 and beyond. That may very well affect the quality of city services that we’ve come to expect. Stay tuned.

So hang in there, and I’ll do the same. Please know that I’m available at any time, even though I may not be in the office as much as usual.

Because of the social distancing, I simply cannot afford to join folks in large group settings, but am looking forward to a more visible public schedule come June.