Cook County Board Votes to Extend Emergency Declaration thru May 31

Cook County Board of Commissioners - Special Meeting
March 16, 2020

What the Board Discussed and Decided:

• On March 10, Cook County President Toni Preckwinkle issued a proclamation of disaster for Cook County in light of the emergency situation posed by the COVID-19 (“Corona”) virus.  Such declaration could only last for 7 days under Illinois law unless extended by the Cook County Board.  At today’s emergency meeting, the Board voted to extend that declaration of emergency thru May 31 and it also applies to the Cook County Forest Preserve District.  
• As part of the Resolution authorizing the extension, the Board granted the authority to the President to issue Executive Orders as necessary to provide for continuity of government in the event the Board and/or the Board’s Finance Committee is unable to meet again in March or April.  The President told the Board that all actions taken as a result of this authority would be reported to the Board.
• The Cook County Department of Emergency Management and Regional Security are coordinating county and municipal resources and response activities as authorized under Chapter 26, Article II, Section 26-31 through 43 of the Cook County ordinances.  
• William Barnes, the Executive Director of Emergency Management and Regional Security stated that the Emergency Operation Plan has been activated and his department has been working closely with municipal governments throughout Cook County, as well as State and Federal authorities.  
• Dr. Terry Mason, who heads the County’s Public Health Department, said that his department has been working closely with the federal Center for Disease Control and other Cook County municipal and State public health departments.  He stated that things are going to get worse but that his job was to minimize that as much as possible.  He will be working with hospitals across the County to deploy tests for the Corona virus once they become available.
• Commissioner Sims asked whether the Commissioners could hold meetings via video conferencing.  The President’s legal counsel explained that under the current Illinois Open Meetings Act, all such meetings must be in person.  However, she said that there is an amendment in the State legislature which would allow for such “virtual” meetings during times of emergency.  She hopes that it might be passed and signed into law in April.
• Commissioner Gainer asked what protections would be provided to election judges for the March 17 Primary.  The Deputy Clerk for Elections (for suburban Cook County polling places) said that hand sanitizers and alcohol wipes would be provided.  Commissioners Daley and Sims asked whether the County would be cleaning the polling places thoroughly after the election.  The Deputy Clerk said that the County does not have the supplies or money to do so at this time.  An emergency request for supplies was sent by the Clerk’s office on Friday to Emergency Management and Regional Security, but Mr. Barnes said such request far exceeded its ability to respond and the request has been forwarded to Illinois Emergency Management, which has not yet had a chance to respond.
• It appears likely that the March 25 Finance Committee and the March 26 Board meetings will be cancelled.  All other Committee meetings through March 25 have already been cancelled.

Observer - Priscilla Mims