Good morning, Evanston.
What would it be like to go to sleep one night and wake up the next day with more than $21.5 million deposited in your account? And what if you knew an equal amount was going to be deposited in your account next year, bringing the grand total to $43,173,654?
That’s essentially the experience of the City, which received the first batch of federal stimulus funds from the U. S. Treasury last week. Now, all officials have to do is figure out how to divvy up the funds, which came through the American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) Fiscal Recovery Fund. ARPA is providing $350 billion to local governments to aid their recovery from COVID-19.
In other City news, approval could come in the next few weeks for another tax-increment financing (TIF) district in west-central Evanston. This proposed TIF is located primarily in the City’s Fifth Ward and is called the Five-Fifths TIF; it lies just north of the current West Evanston TIF. The redevelopment project area is generally located along the east and west sides of Green Bay Road between Clark Street to the south and Payne Street and Leonard Place to the north.
COVID-19 by the numbers: We are checking in with many sources to keep you updated on COVID-19 cases and vaccine information.
- No new cases were reported yesterday in Evanston. The seven-day average is two.
- Northwestern University reported just one new case during the seven days ending May 26. Northwestern students, staff, and professors living in Evanston are included in City test and case counts.
- The number of cases per 100,000 population over the past seven days is 16 in Evanston and 58 in Illinois.
- Our City’s seven-day positive test rate is 0.2%; in Illinois it is 2.0%.
- Some 5.2 million or 40.6% of all Illinois residents are fully vaccinated.
Elsewhere on the RoundTable Website
Evanston Dimensions | Ask the Historians. After our last column, Libby Hill submitted the following question for historians at the Evanston History Center: Would the Evanston History Center be able to put together photos of the history of buildings used for City government over time?
Nine Free Starlight Concerts. Evanston’s 2021 Starlight Concert Series will feature nine free outdoor concerts at park locations throughout the City between June 1 and July 27. Community members will enjoy a wide range of talented artists and musical genres from jazz to classic soul to Southern rock and blues.
One Helluva Wardrobe. We have a moral dilemma. My husband and I recently moved to a new home and bought some of the furniture from the previous owner before she moved out. The furniture is beautiful and antique. Here’s where it gets sticky. While disassembling and moving one of the pieces of the wardrobe, an envelope dropped out. It had been hidden between the middle of the wardrobe and the decorative top cover. Inside was $11,000 in $100 bills!
Beaches Open for the Season on May 29. Beach season is here! Evanston beaches will open for the season this Saturday, May 29 and will remain open through Labor Day. New this year: Evanston beaches will be free to residents on Saturdays, Sundays, and Mondays throughout the season.
Evanston Skateboarders Push for Bigger Role on City Skate Parks Planned at James and Twiggs parks. Evanston skateboarders on May 25 were not turning hand flips over City recreation officials’ decision to build a temporary skate park at James Park’s west end before installing a permanent one. And they want more say in the design and materials to be used in the permanent one.
Seasonal Opening of Fountain Square Fountain Delayed. The seasonal opening of the Fountain Square fountain will be delayed as City staff work with contractors to identify and address a source of water loss associated with the fountain operation.
No Newsletter on Monday
The RoundTable daily newsletter will take the day off on Monday for Memorial Day. We’ll have our weekly roundup this Sunday, and will be back with the daily edition on Tuesday June 1st. We wish you a safe and peaceful holiday!
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