ST. CHARLES – With the state imposing a ban on indoor dining or bar service in Kane County starting Friday because of a spike in COVID-19 infections, St. Charles Mayor Ray Rogina has issued an executive order to reopen the closed portion of 1st Street in downtown St. Charles to vehicular traffic in order to better accommodate carry-out dining.

The street will reopen to traffic by 2 p.m. Friday. Bars and restaurants will also have to close by 11 p.m. as part of the new restrictions.

“City staff worked with the St. Charles Business Alliance to inquire if this action would be helpful to businesses on 1st street,” St. Charles Mayor Ray Rogina said in a news release from the city of St. Charles. “Overwhelmingly, the answer was yes.”

The northern portion of 1st Street, just beyond the entrance to the 1st Street parking deck and continuing to Main Street, had been closed since May 29 to allow for outdoor seating/dining options. The closure was slated to expire Oct. 30.

At Monday's City Council meeting, aldermen had voted to extend the closure through Nov. 30. This current executive order supersedes that action.

The full City Council will vote on officially enacting the measure at the next City Council meeting on Nov. 2.