With the dangerous winter storm now past, Elgin’s Mayor Ed Schock has withdrawn the city’s state of emergency declaration.
A state of emergency was declared Tuesday in response to the treacherous blizzard that barreled its way through Elgin and the entire Chicago metropolitan region leaving more than 20 inches of snow in some areas. A state of emergency declaration enables city officials to do what is necessary to respond to an emergency or disaster. The mayor confers authority to the city manager to ensure he can do what is deemed critical to support the city’s emergency response effort.
“The danger is past us and we are now working to complete the cleanup effort,” said Elgin City Manager Sean Stegall. “City operations are back to normal.”
The snowstorm also prompted a limited activation of the City of Elgin’s Emergency Operations Center (ECO) which enabled public works, police and fire to immediately respond to the weather emergency in the best interests of Elgin residents. That limited activation of Elgin’s EOC has also been lifted.
While emergency parking restrictions have also been repealed, Elgin public works crews remain in city neighborhoods salting trouble spots and widening streets that are still too narrow for two-way traffic.
“We’re pushing more snow back in some neighborhood areas to better allow for on-street parking and mail delivery,” said Elgin Public Works Utility Superintendent Colby Basham. “We’re also making room so we will be prepared for the next snow storm. Another snow event is forecasted for Sunday, Feb. 6 into Monday, Feb. 7.”
Elgin public works crews are also working to haul more snow out of the Downtown Central Business District (CBD). Those efforts will continue tonight into tomorrow until there is easier accessibility.
Further updates about the city’s snow removal efforts will continue to be posted here on the city’s website or on its Facebook and Twitter pages.
For questions or concerns about snow and ice control, residents can contact Elgin’s 24-hour Snow Command Center at 847-931-5977 or by email at snowcommand@cityofelgin.org.