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GENOA – It hasn’t even been two weeks and Genoa mayor Mark Vicary said more than half of the 25 electrostatic sprayers purchased by the city have already been distributed to local businesses.
At a cost of about $9,000, Vicary said, he hopes the program will catch on in other small communities to help businesses battle COVID-19.
“It’s really quite a popular program,” Vicary said. “Some of the businesses are excited to get them, for sure. It’s resonating. I’m hopeful other communities jump on the program and do the same thing.”
In October, Vicary wrote a letter to Illinois Gov. J.B. Pritzker encouraging his office to explore other avenues than just a dining ban. He equated it to a toolbox, saying the governor was only using a sledgehammer. He said in response, he got a letter that, to him, seemed like a lot of talking points.
So Vicary took the thinking-outside-the-box on to himself, coming up with the ideas of the sanitizing sprayers. The sprayers are also in use at hospitals and schools. He said a combination of the sprayers, masks and shortened hours – instead of full closing – could help save businesses.
“This isn’t going to go away,” Vicary said. “The sledgehammer approach he used to close things down needs to be re-evaluated. ... He could have bars or restaurants close at 9 o’clock at night. Just do something different to give people a chance to stay afloat. Or give this spraying regimen a chance if businesses will use the RSS machines. Maybe the health department checks in to see if they are using it. And they wear masks – why couldn’t they stay open?”
Vicary said the machines have been well received by the businesses.
Malissa Lyle, manager at Red’s Barber Shop, said it was wonderful for the city to help out small businesses.
“With everything going on, it’s hard to find disinfectant or Lysol,” Lyle said. “By the city providing something that came with a box of I don’t even know how many bottles, we should be good for months.”
Lyle said running a business during the pandemic has presented challenges - especially with a business that requires close contact with customers. But she said being in a small town like Genoa has its advantages.
“I think that’s the big difference with a small-town community,” Lyle said. “The community goes out of their way to come in and still help support you.”
State Farm Agent Mark Carlson said he just got his machine.
“I just saw the offer, the city of Genoa was generous to provide it and I thought it would be a benefit for our customers and employees,” Carlson said. “So far, so good. We just got it but we got it charged up, and I guess it has a nice scent and makes people feel comfortable.”
Vicary said small businesses are the lifeblood of small towns, which is why he started the program.
“It’s the small businesses in a town, especially the rural towns, that keep the town alive, that keep the town vibrant,” Vicary said. “We lose our small businesses, the Kingstons, the Kirklands, the Genoas – they don’t come back.”