PEORIA, Ill. — After some discussion, the Peoria City Council has granted Mayor Jim Ardis Emergency Authority during the COVID-19 pandemic.
The council amended the city’s current ordinance of Emergency Power of the Mayor Tuesday to match the Illinois Emergency Management Act and the Illinois Municipal code, according to City Manager Patrick Urich.
“This is just vesting that same power in mayor. So, that’s the reason why we are doing this. It’s really trying to align those powers and duties that the mayor has under state law with our code ordinances that we have here in the city,” Urich said.
With the Emergency Authority, Mayor Ardis could set a city-wide curfew, ban alcohol sales, and also ban gun and ammunition sales.
As the City Manager, Urich can also make decisions similar to the mayor.
Emergency Declarations issued by the mayor only last for seven days.
“Then we’ll come back and we’ll provide a report at the next city council meeting about what actions and what activities took place during that period of time,” Urich said. “And any spending that the council would have to approve would be at that point in time.”
Some council members were concerned about what their role would be during a decision made in an emergency, especially with expenditures. Councilman Sid Ruckriegel said they choose one person to represent the council in emergencies.
“To be able to represent and make those decisions when nobody else can. Emergency powers are not to be taken lightly, they’re not given lightly,” Ruckriegel said.
Ruckriegel said sometimes it is about an action that is between life and death.
“It’s not about letting us know the dollars and cents,” Ruckriegel said. “It’s about public safety.”
Council members agree that they would like to be notified before decisions are made.
Councilman Denis Cyr said it is important right now to get behind the mayor.
“And make sure that he has all the power that he needs to lead this city out of this crisis and this emergency,” Cyr said.
Mayor Ardis said that it is fortunate to be in this community.
“To have the level of health care that we have and the professionals,” Ardis said. “They’re not looking at tomorrow, they’re looking at two weeks, three weeks, months out of where we’re going to be.”
Ardis also said that the number of confirmed cases of COVID-19 will go up in Peoria County.
“We know it’s coming. But, that’s part of preparedness. That’s part of what our health care professionals are doing is preparing the community for when that big hit comes,” Ardis said.
The council voted unanimously to grant the mayor the emergency authority, which will last for 30 days.
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