Village Announcements
Keep Calm and Wear Your Mask
The following is from the Illinois Department of Public Health:
Work from Home if Possible
For the next three weeks, work with your employer to plan to work from home unless it is necessary for you to be in the workplace. We ask employers to make accommodation for this. Our goal is to reduce transmission as we head into the holidays so businesses and schools can remain open.
Participate in Essential Activities Only
For the next three weeks, stay home as much as possible, leaving only for necessary and essential activities, such as work that must be performed outside the home, COVID-19 testing, visiting the pharmacy, and buying groceries.
Limit Travel and Gatherings
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and other health experts tell us that gatherings and travel in and out of communities present a high risk of spreading the infection. In our current situation, with a rising prevalence of the virus, attending even small gatherings that mix households, or traveling to areas that are experiencing high rates of positivity, is not advised and is potentially dangerous. Please, travel only if necessary.
*All data are provisional and will change. In order to rapidly report COVID-19 information to the public, data are being reported in real-time. Information is constantly being entered into an electronic system and the number of cases and deaths can change as additional information is gathered. For health questions about COVID-19, call the hotline at 1-800-889-3931 or email dph.sick@illinois.gov.
Road Work on Reed Avenue
Road construction on Reed Avenue between Leonard Street and Fillmore Street is anticipated to begin on Friday, November 13th. Please be advised that traffic will be rerouted during this project. The road work will take approximately 10-12 days. Sorry for any inconvenience.
Scam Calls
We have been recently made aware of a scammer that is calling village residents using the caller-id of the village office. The caller threatens the victim with problems to their Social Security. These calls are not from the Village of Jerome. If in doubt about a caller’s true origin, hang up and dial back the entity directly using the number in the phone book or online.
Civic Center Polling Place
It has come to the attention of the Village President that some Jerome residents have received phone calls indicating the Jerome Civic Center will not serve as a polling place on November 3rd. This is wrong information. The Jerome Civic Center will be open for voting as in past elections from 6:00 am to 7:00 pm on November 3, 2020.
DEA Drug Take Back Day
The Drug Enforcement Administration is once again sponsoring a nationwide drug take back day. Locally there will be a take back location at the Prevention First building and at the Sangamon County Department of Public Health building. Both will be open from 10:00 am until 2:00 pm October 24th.
October 2020 Water Bills
The Village of Jerome Water Department has received a large number of inquiries concerning October water bills not being delivered by mail to our village residents and businesses. The bills were taken to the post office, as usual, on October 5th. The Village has contacted the US Postal Service several times for an explanation for the delay in water bills delivery, however, no answer has been provided.
The Village will print duplicate water bills to be mailed during the week of October 19th. If you have already paid your October bill you can ignore this duplicate bill. No late fees will be assessed on the current month’s water bills.
Please contact the Village of Jerome Water Department at 546-2203 for any further information concerning this matter.
We express our sincere apologies for this unfortunate issue concerning water bills.
Village of Jerome President and Board of Trustees.
Household Hazardous Waste Collection
Saturday, November 7
8:00 A.M. – 3:00 P.M.
ILLINOIS STATE FAIRGROUNDS
MUST have a voucher in-hand or show on a mobile device in order to drop off items.
Register for a free voucher today at www.Springfield.IL.US/HHW.
• Voucher registration will end at 12-noon on Friday, November 6,
or when all the time slots have been occupied, whichever occurs first.
• Questions about the drop-off event or issues filling out the form?
Call Springfield’s Office of Public Works at 217.789.2255.
RESTRICTIONS
- This event is not open to businesses, institutions, or not-for-profit organizations.
- Vouchers are limited to one per household, per delivery.
- Vouchers are valid for the time slot listed only.
- No latex/acrylic paint will be accepted. For a full list of acceptable and unacceptable items, please visit www.springfield.il.us/hhw.
COVID-19 Guidelines
- Participants are required to wear a face-mask as soon as they enter the fairgrounds until they leave.
- Participants must stay in their vehicles at all times as soon as they enter the fairgrounds until they leave.
- At the collection point, designated staff will unload the items being dropped off from the participant’s vehicle.
- Please place the items in the vehicle’s trunk or truck bed for easier access and removal.
- We cannot ensure that containers will be returned. Please make sure items are delivered in disposable containers
Trick or Treating
Village Trick or Treating Guidelines
The Village of Jerome along with the City of Springfield and surrounding Villages of Grandview, Southern View, and Leland Grove is announcing the Halloween trick-or-treating hours. Trick-or-treating will be from 4:00 pm – 8:00 pm on Saturday, October 31, 2020. As a reminder, it is optional for individuals to welcome trick-or-treaters to their residences. Residents who wish to greet trick or treaters may do so by turning on their porch lights. Homes without their porch lights on should NOT be visited. It is strongly encouraged that anyone who would like to distribute treats should leave individually wrapped candy on a table on their front walkways, sidewalks, or any other outdoor space that allows for at least 6 feet social distance from the door. The individually wrapped candy should be spread out so each piece is not touching another. Anyone distributing candy or treats should wash their hands properly for at least 20 seconds before placing the candy on the table and when replenishing. We understand that Halloween is a holiday many individuals enjoy, especially children. However, we ask that everyone please be mindful that the virus is still present in our community and proper precautions need to be taken. These precautions do not only impact your family. It impacts the safety of your neighbors, neighborhood, and local businesses. The State of Illinois has provided additional guidance for those planning on trick-or-treating. All individuals participating in trick-or-treating, including those passing out candy, should maintain a social distance of at least six feet and wear proper face coverings. A costume mask, such as those worn on Halloween, is not a substitute for a face covering. If face coverings are worn under costume masks, please ensure this does not create breathing problems, and if so, discard the costume mask. Only household members should trick-or-treat together, and they should maintain a six-feet social distance from other trick-or-treaters at all times. Mixed household trick-or-treaters are discouraged. Alcohol-based hand sanitizers should be carried and used frequently. Candy collected during trick-or-treating should not be consumed until after proper handwashing. As always, a parent/guardian should check all candy to make sure it is wrapped and should discard unwrapped candy.
Business Trick or Treating
Businesses who wish to greet trick-or-treaters are asked to follow the same guidelines as those outlined for homes. As a reminder, guidelines for Phase 4 business operations including social distancing, capacity, and mask requirements are still in effect. To review the State of Illinois’ Halloween guidelines, please visit http://www.dph.illinois.gov/covid19/community-guidance/halloween-guidance.
Springfield Fire Department Reminds Families Safety First this Halloween
In addition to the health precautions outlined for trick-or-treating, the Springfield Fire Department would like to remind families to be safe from other dangers this Halloween. Use a battery-operated candle or glow stick in jack-o-lanterns. When choosing costumes, stay away from long trailing fabric. Provide children with flashlights to carry for lighting or glow sticks as part of their costumes. Teach children to stay away from open flames, including jack-o-lanterns with candles in them. Dried flowers, cornstalks, and crepe paper catch fire easily. Keep all decorations away from open flames and other heat sources like light bulbs and heaters. Remember to keep exits clear of decorations so nothing blocks escape routes. Make sure all smoke alarms are working.