Lake County Gazette

The Village of Gurnee Board, located in the suburbs of Chicago, has passed an ordinance to regulate buses transporting migrants to the village. This decision follows a series of issues faced by surrounding towns where groups of passengers have been left stranded by buses. Mayor Tom Hood explained that while this specific issue has not yet occurred in Gurnee, the board is taking preemptive measures.

"We want our Village to be proactive. So, even if the ordinance is violated, we still must address and assist the individuals dropped off in town," said Hood, according to a post on the Village of Gurnee's Facebook page. "We’ve developed a plan for this situation: Village staff has contacted a church to house individuals on a very-limited emergency basis while waiting to be transported to the processing center in Chicago."

In addition to providing temporary housing, the village staff will arrange for a bus company to transport those dropped off in Gurnee to Chicago. The staff will also ensure that water and food are available for the migrants during their wait, as per information from the same Facebook post.

Hood further stated that he had received recommendations from the Metropolitan Mayors Caucus suggesting all collar communities should enact ordinances regulating transportation companies. These companies have been criticized for "indiscriminately dropping off individuals without a place to go," according to another post on the Village of Gurnee's Facebook page. Following these recommendations, Hood instructed his staff to draft an ordinance which was subsequently approved by the Village Board at their meeting on January 22.

The new ordinance mandates that any bus company intending to drop off passengers at non-regularly scheduled stops must first seek permission from the village. According to another post on the Village of Gurnee's Facebook page, this application must include contact information for both the bus company and driver, details about who paid for and will meet the bus, and names of all persons due to be dropped off. Background checks are required for all passengers over 18 years of age. The application must also contain a detailed plan outlining how the passengers will be cared for, fed, and housed. Failure to comply with these regulations can result in a fine of up to $1,000 and impounding of the bus.