Welcome to the City of Metropolis!

Coronavirus (COVID-19) Information

A message to our citizens from Mayor McDaniel

The City of Metropolis cares about protecting the health and safety of our citizens and our employees. To reduce the chances of our employees encountering those who have been exposed to the COVID-19 virus, all City buildings will remain closed to the public until Thursday, April 30, 2020. Although public meetings such as City Council meetings remain open, we will be limiting both the frequency of those meetings as well as the number of people in attendance.

Metropolis City Parks will remain open for walking and enjoyment of outdoor activities while observing social distancing. Sports fields and playgrounds however have been closed at this time.

All City employees are continuing to work on a modified schedule or remotely if possible. People needing to speak to a City employee should contact that employee or department by telephone or email. City staff will schedule in-person appointments if needed. If you need a department phone number or email address, please contact my office at 524-4016.

We will be updating this section of our website as new information comes available. 

Updated 04/01/2020, from the Office of the Mayor, City of Metropolis

The city of Metropolis has been advised by the Southern Seven Health Department of the first positive test for COVID-19 by a resident of Massac County. We, at the city of Metropolis, have been anticipating this for several weeks. We have spent considerable time planning, educating, and training staff for this event. The city began implementing those plans more than 10 days ago to ensure that vital services would continue uninterrupted. We have daily contact with Federal and State officials, as well as our local healthcare providers, and we continually evaluate and modify our practices based upon the latest medical and scientific information available. 

Our plans and procedures have worked thus far because of the cooperation of our businesses and citizens. We want to urge all our friends and neighbors that now, more than ever, it is important that we all continue the safety practices and respect the restrictions we have put in place.  The key points to remember are:

• Stay at home as much as possible;
• Avoid face to face contacts as much as possible;
• Wash your hands frequently (for at least 20 seconds);
• Non-essential businesses must remain closed;
• Maintain social distancing (6 feet) when you are in the presence of others.

Following these practices, we will come through this together.

We have been in touch with our local grocers and home commodity suppliers. There is no need to panic buy or hoard. We have been repeatedly assured that there are more than enough groceries and supplies for our community.

Nothing has changed simply because the virus has made its way to our county. We will continue to implement our plan and to use those safety measures that will protect our employees and our citizens.

Downstate Small Business Stabilization Program

To support small businesses in downstate and rural counties across Illinois, DCEO is repurposing $20 million in Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) funds to support the Downstate Small Business Stabilization Program. This Fund will offer small businesses of up to 50 employees the opportunity to partner with their local governments to obtain grants of up to $25,000 in working capital.

Applications must be submitted by a unit of local government on behalf of businesses with 50 employees or less. If you are interested and would like to apply use the links below to access the application materials. Interested businesses should first review the guidebook and then use the checklist to begin to organize their documents and information before completing the forms. If you have questions regarding the process you may email you questions to Rick Abell or Trish Steckenrider.

Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security (CARES) Act

The Small Business Administration (SBA) and the Department of Treasury have begun releasing the information that will guide the programs created through the Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security (CARES) Act.

To help small business owners better understand the new programs that will soon be available to them, a comprehensive guide to many of the small business provisions in the CARES Act has been created. These programs and initiatives are intended to assist business owners with whatever needs they have right now.

Illinois Small Business Emergency Loan Fund

Under the leadership of Governor JB Pritzker, DCEO and the Illinois Department of Financial and Professional Regulation (IDFPR) are establishing the Illinois Small Business Emergency Loan Fund to offer small businesses low interest loans of up to $50,000. For more information follow the link provided below.

Paycheck Protection Program

An SBA loan that helps businesses keep their workforce employed during the Coronavirus (COVID-19) crisis.

The Paycheck Protection Program is a loan designed to provide a direct incentive for small businesses to keep their workers on the payroll. SBA will forgive loans if all employees are kept on the payroll for eight weeks and the money is used for payroll, rent, mortgage interest, or utilities.

You can apply through any existing SBA 7(a) lender or through any federally insured depository institution, federally insured credit union, and Farm Credit System institution that is participating. Other regulated lenders will be available to make these loans once they are approved and enrolled in the program. You should consult with your local lender as to whether it is participating in the program. Lenders may begin processing loan applications as soon as April 3, 2020. The Paycheck Protection Program will be available through June 30, 2020. 

This program is for any small business with less than 500 employees (including sole proprietorships, independent contractors and self-employed persons), private non-profit organization or 501(c)(19) veterans organizations affected by coronavirus/COVID-19. For more information see the link provided below for a list of frequently asked questions.

Meeting Agendas

Combined Sewer Overflow

The City of Metropolis is developing a long-term plan to reduce sewer overflows to the Ohio River, as required by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency and the Illinois Environmental Protection Agency.

Combined sewer overflows are a century-old problem in more than 700 U.S. communities, particularly in the Northeast and Midwest. Illinois has more than 100 communities with combined sewers, which combine sewage and stormwater into the same pipe.

During dry weather, sewage flows safely through the City’s sewers to the Metropolis sewer treatment plant (STP). However, about 50 times a year melting snow or rainwater can overwhelm the sewers, causing untreated sewage to overflow into the Ohio River.

Metropolis must examine its sewer overflows and prepare a long-term control plan that meets Clean Water Act requirements and protects the Ohio River. This City is working with Illinois EPA to develop the plan.
The City of Metropolis has installed signage at the CSO outfall location. The signs are weatherproof, and will identify the outfall number along with contact information and phone number.

If you would like to be notified via email whenever an overflow warning is in effect, Contact Us.