McLean County Times

McLean County Board member Chuck Erickson will present a new plan to reopen the county at the May 19 board meeting.

He hopes to have this new plan go into effect May 29, the first day that Illinois Gov. J.B. Pritzker’s plan allows regions of the state to move into phase three of the statewide reopening plan.

“In essence, we will only be one phase ahead of the rest of the state,” Erickson said in a news release announcing his new plan.

He is amending the resolution presented to county administration May 11, because he learned of the Restore Heart of Illinois plan after submitting his original plan, which has the support of several local elected officials--at least in principle.  Executive committee members Josh Barnett, Bill Caisley, Catherine Metsker and Jim Soeldner voted for chairman John McIntyre to lend his support to the Heart of Illinois plan in a May 12 meeting.

“My top priority is doing what’s right by McLean County residents,” Erickson said. “Since the Heart of Illinois plan is already understood and has broad support, it likely has the best chance to pass the county board. My goal is to pass something and give small businesses in McLean County a fighting chance.”

If Pritzker does not approve the county’s submitted plan to open, Erickson said his HOI plan is an alternative that already has the support of city leaders. In a news release about the plan, Erickson wrote that Peoria Mayor Jim Ardis, , has said his city will move forward with the HOI plan with or without the governor’s approval.

“Families and small businesses in McLean County can’t afford to go much longer with little or no income,” Erickson said. “Our residents have acted responsibly. We have flattened the curve. Hospitalizations have been kept low. The time to act is now.”