East Peoria moves forward with local plan to reopen businesses

EAST PEORIA (WEEK) -- East Peoria Mayor John Kahl says the city will move forward with a three-phase plan to reopen the community and businesses starting Friday.

"This is not just going to go away magically one day, I mean we have got to find some normalcy and get things back on track," said Kahl during a press conference on Friday.

The plan, with signatures from other Tri-County area officials and mayors, was sent to Gov. JB Pritzker earlier this week for consideration on reopening the economies.

Peoria Mayor Jim Ardis did not sign the letter.

Kahl said changes will be implemented in East Peoria city limits only.

When asked about the-opening of East Peoria, Illinois Governor JB Pritzker said it is a good thing there is more testing now.

"A lot of people are gonna get sick and need to be tested in those areas, and frankly it's a good thing we've left hospital beds available for people because they're gonna end up in the hospital too," said Pritzker.

Pritzker's modified stay-at-home order went into effect on Friday and runs through May 30. Changes to the order include reopening non-essential retail businesses to online orders, and allowing state parks and other recreation sites to reopen under certain guidelines.

However, the first phase of the East Peoria plan to reopen the city differs from what the governor has ordered.

Under the local plan, gyms, fitness centers, salons and barbers would be allowed to operate and all retail businesses would be allowed to reopen under social distancing and face mask guidelines.

"The decisions made today, I'm comfortable with," Kahl said.

No city official, including police officers, will take any step to discourage anyone from reopening or taking action consistent with the phased plan, Kahl said.

Those businesses licensed with the state "must consult with the respective licensing authority and, if they choose, their private legal counsel concerning the consequences of taking any action inconsistent with the Governor’s latest order," a statement from the city read.

"... the Tri-County Phased Reopening Plan, including timelines, is subject to change depending on further developments, including receipt of updated medical data and guidelines from the Tazewell County Health Department," according to the statement.

East Peoria's Phase 1 - May 1, 2020:

Nonessential businesses may reopen but shall take appropriate mitigation measures to ensure that social distancing guidelines are maintained. Businesses should take all necessary precautions and follow sanitation protocols as approved by the local health department. Businesses include, but are not limited to, all retailers, shopping centers, auto dealerships, distribution centers, nursery/garden shops, other lawn and garden centers, marinas, parks, lakes, golf courses, campgrounds and other outdoor recreational areas. Nonessential travel should be minimized. Avoid social gatherings in groups of more than 10. All vulnerable people should continue to shelter in place.

Salons, barber shops, spas, dog grooming facilities and other personal care facilities may reopen but shall take appropriate mitigation measures, such as reconfiguring and/or restricting space to enable people to be located apart, to ensure that social distancing guidelines are maintained. In addition, employees shall be required to use face masks while in close proximity to clients and must clean and wipe all surfaces between clients.

Gyms/fitness studios and indoor recreational facilities may reopen. Mitigation measures, such as reconfiguring and/or restricting space to enable people to be located apart, shall be taken to ensure that social distancing guidelines are maintained. Equipment must be cleaned and wiped between users.

Restaurants, bakeries and bars may continue to prepare and serve food providing that the food is for off-premise consumption and served through means such as in-house-delivery, third-party delivery, drive-through service and curbside pick-up. In addition, patrons may enter the premises to purchase food or beverages for carry-out. License holders with the authority to sell alcoholic beverages for off-premise consumption may continue to sell alcoholic liquor for off-premises consumption provided that the alcoholic liquor is in its unopened, original packaging through means of in-house delivery, third-party delivery, drive-through service, curbside pick-up and home delivery. In addition, patrons may enter the premises to purchase food or beverage for carry-out providing social distancing guidelines are maintained. On-premise liquor license holders for hotels may continue to sell beverages via room service, mini-bar and carry-out.