Full Notification

IMPORTANT MESSAGE FROM MAYOR GRASSO ON COVID-19 / CORONAVIRUS

Monday, April 6, 2020

GOVERNOR’S STAY-AT-HOME ORDER EFFECTIVE NOW THRU APRIL 30!
 

According to the County boards of health dashboards today, Burr Ridge now has 22 total positive coronavirus cases: 17 on the DuPage side and 5 on the Cook side. That is two more than yesterday. Any increase is unfortunate, but the increases remain relatively small. This only means we have to be more committed to staying home because it seems to be working. As our Bo Jackson reminds all of Burr Ridge: “The Cure is US.” Remember, it’s on US to heed the Governor’s SAH Order and practice social distancing. Vigilance is the call to arms. Practice social distancing, wash your hands with hot water and plenty of foaming soap – and stay home.

Good news: the Burr Ridge patrol officer who required testing because of presumed exposure has tested negative. He self-isolated during the testing period and has now rejoined our great police force. Chief Madden also assures me that we have sufficient PPE for our officers.

Continuing my message on plans for operating the Village on reduced revenue, I wanted first to tell you we have an experienced team to handle the challenge. I was in the Mayor’s chair 2008- 2012, the Great Recession, and as Yogi Berra profoundly stated: “It’s like déjà vu all over again.” Burr Ridge also has a number of Trustees and personnel assets I can rely upon through this crisis. Trustee Paveza was a trustee then and now; Trustee Franzese served on the Plan Commission for16 years and has been a Trustee since 2013; Trustees Mital, Schiappa, and Snyder are three accomplished professionals and businesspersons on the Board and have provided positive, considered ideas. Our Village Administrator Doug Pollock was served for many years as Director of Community Development. After being Deputy Chief for several years, Chief Madden became Chief in 2009. Deputy Chief Marc Loftus was a sergeant with us then. Jerry Sapp was our Finance Director then and now. Dave Preissig was our assistant engineer then and has returned to us now as our Village Engineer and Director of Public Works. Karen Thomas has been our Village Clerk throughout. Many other village employees and patrol officers went through those times with us and are still here. We have great new blood as well in Evan Walter, our Assistant Village Administrator, Amy Nelson in finance, and Andrez Beltran in economic development. We have five experienced and qualified Trustees and highly experienced and capable staff to tackle the fiscal challenges we will have to solve.

I will explain more fiscal issues in future messages – but today I will leave you with this thought: assemble around the dinner table or however you spend your best family time – maybe it’s by zoom or face time – but raise a glass of your favorite beverage, look at those you love, smile and give thanks. It’s another week and we will all move forward and get past these trying times together. Burr Ridge will sustain and remain “a very special place.”