Executive Director Notes
It's been about four months since the COVID-19 pandemic has altered our lives. I am proud that we continue to work to support
each other during these times. Karin and I are working remotely,
and Karin goes into the office a couple times a week to get mail.
The plan right now is to return to regular work days and hours
back in the physical office beginning Tuesday, September 1.
|
|
Upcoming MWCOG Meetings and Events
We conducted our May 28 and June 25th board meetings via Zoom. Thank you for your patience and flexibility during this time. Our next meeting will be September 24th unless there is immediate and pertinent information in which case, we will schedule an August meeting. Our TopGolf Annual Outing has been rescheduled for October 22nd. We are looking for volunteers to participate in the Golf Committee. Please reach out to Karin if you are interested in helping plan the event.
|
U.S. Census
The Metro West office is a pickup site for U.S. Census materials so if you would like some materials such as posters, flyers, hand held fans, etc. Please reach out to Karin and set up a pick up time on Tuesdays or Thursdays between 10am and 2pm.
Kane County hosted a census rally on July 15th that caravanned from both Elgin and Aurora and met in Geneva. Mayors Burns, Berman, Kaptain and Irvin participated. The goal is to increase awareness for the census. Postcards will start to be mailed to those who have not responded to the census.
|
Metropolitan Mayors Caucus
MMC has been hosting weekly calls with Mayor Lightfoot and the regional mayors for the past couple months. At this point, the calls will now be on an as needed basis.
July 26th marks the 30th year anniversary of the American with Disabilities Act. As such, I have included here a sample proclamation if your municipality chooses to acknowledge this milestone.
The Metropolitan Mayors Caucus Greenest Region Corps program has 11 positions open for the October 2020 - September 2021 term. Applications are due by Aug. 7, 2020. The Greenest Region Corps (GRCorps) is a partnership between the Caucus and AmeriCorps to find enthusiastic professionals to lead sustainability projects in several communities in the region. GRCorps volunteers work directly for a Greenest Region Compact (GRC) community on projects that will result in greater environmental awareness and stewardship. For more information or to apply, go to
https://mayorscaucus.org/grcorps-apply/.
|
Coronavirus and CARES/CURES Act
CARES Act: Under the excellent leadership of Mayor Burns, I have been working with the Kane County Board and the CAAC (Cares Act Allocation Committee) on a fair funding plan for our Kane County members. The Committee is open to suggestions from MW and have asked for assistance in several areas. We attend the meetings in person and continue to have a voice through the CAAC chairman and other county board members and we appreciate their swift action to allocate funds.
CURES Act: Information was recently emailed to mayors and managers about the Local Coronavirus Urgent Remediation Emergency Support (CURE) Program that was appropriated $250,000,000 in SFY 2021. The CURE program, ran through DCEO, allocates funding for municipalities and counties with population under 500,000 residents for COVID-19 related expenses. A summary of the program can be found
here. A couple weeks ago the University of Illinois Extension Office, along with DCEO and the Governor's Office, hosted an informational webinar about the CURE program. The webinar talked about CURE reimbursement for COVID-19 related expenses including payroll expenses and economic support. A recording of the webinar can be found
here.
On Wednesday, July 15, the Governor released new information regarding the state's actions to combat a resurgence of COVID-19 as a part of the Restore Illinois plan. Please click
here to see the new information.
|
|
Our Federal Legislators go back into session on July 20
th
. There is a strong chance there will be another round of funding of an economic relief package. Senator Duckworth will be working on making local governments a top priority of that funding. She has reached out to us to provide her with data or information she can use to prove the local municipalities need more federal funds. You should have received a request from me to send any pertinent information by this Friday.
In partnership with the Metropolitan Mayors Caucus, the other area Councils of Government and IML, we have sent a letter to our Federal legislators urging them to support more funding to our local governments. That letter can be found here.
The Legislative committee will meet again in September to begin to assess what legislation we will be moving forward for veto session in Springfield beginning on November 17th
.
|
Please let us know if you need anything at all during this time. Metro West is here to support you and your needs. We look forward to when we can see each other in person again!
Our Metro West 2020 Schedule of Events has been updated!
Please click
here
for a copy of the schedule.
|
z
Business Partners Renewals
Our Business Partner Renewals that have occurred since May 4 are:
Gold Level Business Partners
Aqua Illinois
AT&T
Azavar
F.H. Paschen
Silver Level Business Partners
Baxter & Woodman
The Horton Group
V3 Companies
Welcome to our newest Silver Level Business Partner
Aquify, An Excelon Company
|
Thank you to our loyal Business Partners!
The Metro West Council of Government Business Partners Program provides marketing and networking opportunities for businesses, non-profit organizations and units of government that share a common commitment to the well-being of municipalities in DeKalb, Kane and Kendall Counties. Business Partners enjoy heightened visibility among member communities' elected officials and staff by participating in annual events, workshops, publications and sponsorship opportunities.
|
Gold Level Business Partners
Aqua
AT&T
Azavar Government Solutions
Comcast
ComEd
Engineering Enterprises Inc.
F.H. Paschen
HR Green Inc.
Kathleen Field Orr
Mickey, Wilson, Weiler, Renzi, Lenert & Julien
, PC
Nicor Gas
Ottosen DiNolfo Hasenbalg Cataldo
Sikich LLP
Wight & Company
|
|
Silver Level Business Partners
Alliant/Mesirow Insurance Services
Auquify, An Exelon Company
Aurora Area Convention and Visitor's Bureau
Baird Public Finance
Baxter & Woodman
Call One Telecommunications
CDM Smith
Chastain & Associates LLC
Christopher B. Burke Engineering Ltd.
The Concord Group
Fifth Third Bank
First National Bank
Gardiner Koch Weisberg & Wrona
GovHR USA
The Horton Group
Klein, Thorp and Jenkins, LTD
Lamp Incorporated
Larson & Darby Group
Metro Strategies Inc.
Realtors Association of the Fox Valley, Inc.
Robinson Engineering, Ltd
Speer Financial, Inc.
Trotter & Associates, Inc.
V3 Companies
Waubonsee Community College
|
|
2020-2021 Metro West Council of Government Officers
President....................................... Kevin Burns, Mayor, City of Geneva
Vice President............................... Troy Parlier, President, Village of Oswego
Secretary....................................... Steve Bosco, Administrator, Village of North Aurora
Treasurer....................................... Dan Di Santo, Administrator, Village of Oswego
Immediate Past President............. Kathy Curtis, President, Village of Maple Park
DeKalb County Municipal Rep...... Kathy Curtis, President, Village of Maple Park
Kane County Municipal Rep.......... Sean Michels, President, Village of Sugar Grove
Kendall County Municipal Rep...... Cliff Fox, Administrator, Village of Newark
|
|
|
|
|
