Property Tax Bill
If you’re a homeowner, you’ve recently received your property tax bill,
which was calculated using your home’s equalized assessed value (EAV). Tax bills are due in two equal installments, June 3 and September
3. Check out our new interactive Property Tax Tour to see exactly where your tax dollars go and visit
Lake County’s budget portal to see what Lake County does with its portion. FAQ
In late summer you will receive an assessment notice for
your home, showing the value and if it has changed versus prior year. If you believe your home has been
over-assessed, you can appeal your assessment.
I will again be holding
Assessment Appeal Workshops in my district to take interested homeowners
through the assessment appeal process and
will communicate those dates and locations in upcoming newsletters.
Fort Sheridan
update
Thanks to all of you who
attended the open house or who submitted comments online regarding the Fort Sheridan Concept
Plans. More than 500 public comments
have been received, and the open house was attended by about 240 people. The Planning & Restoration Committee, on
which I serve, will meet in June and/or July to discuss the feedback, and there
will be several additional meetings as commissioners and staff determine next
steps. I will continue to keep you
posted.
Mental Health
On Tuesday the County Board unanimously passed a resolution I sponsored to reduce the number of people with mental illnesses in jails. Lake County is proactive on this issue, and has been working on this problem for several months. Why does this matter to you?
- Jails have become a "holding area” for the mentally ill, many of whom have been arrested for minor violations. Nationally, there are more people with mental illnesses in jails than in psychiatric hospitals
- Approximately 40% of the Lake County jail inmates receive psychotropic medication. The mentally ill tend to stay longer in jail and are at a higher risk of returning to incarceration.
- 42% of the 9,000 adults in our jail were previously admitted within the last three years.
- Jails spend two to three times more money on adults with mental illness.
Next week I will travel to Rockford with members of the 19th Judicial Circuit Court, Lake County Health Department, law enforcement, and other agencies to tour Rosecrance Mulberry to learn about their crisis intervention center and how we might design a system to reduce our mentally ill population in our jail and provide them with the services they need to get their life back on track.
Winchester House
On Tuesday, May 12, the Lake County Board voted to approve a lease agreement with Transitional Care Management (TCM) for three years, with TCM committing to build a new facility for a "new" Winchester House at the end of the lease agreement. For the last eight + years, the Winchester House Advisory Board (made up of dedicated residents, health care professionals, and others), and County employees visited nursing homes, analyzed health care data, trends, and met on a monthly basis to determine the right course of action for the future of Winchester House.
TCM will maintain operations at the current site in Libertyville
for three years and will provide a transition plan for existing residents and
services. Winchester House has been providing excellent care to Lake County
residents for more than 150 years, and this plan preserves that mission for the
future. I will keep you posted on this very important topic.
Lake County Plans $137MM in Road Projects for 2015
This year, the Lake County Division of
Transportation (LCDOT) will have $137 million in road projects under
construction making for another busy construction season. While about $60
million of that is carried over from projects that were started last year,
there will be about $77 million in new projects. The plan includes 24
projects, 11 of which contain non-motorized travel improvements, such as bike
paths, or adding bike friendly lanes. At a press conference at the Peterson
Road Corridor Project, Lake County leaders talked about the projects, safety
and the importance of transportation to economic development. Watch now.
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Washington Street (Near Courthouse Construction site in downtown Waukegan) To Close Rest of Year Washington Street between Martin Luther King Jr. Avenue and County Street is closed to pedestrian and vehicular traffic and will remain closed for eight to 10 months as the county advances work on the courthouse expansion project. In addition to the Washington Street road closure, the western portion of County Street from Washington Street to Water Street will also be closed with vehicular and pedestrian traffic moving to the east side of the street. Detour information, a map and information regarding the courthouse expansion are available on the project website.
Expect Long-Term Lane Closures at Four Tollway Ramp Toll Plazas The Illinois Tollway has scheduled long-term lane closures for repairs at four North Tri-State Tollway (I-94) ramp toll plazas starting this week. The plazas affected are Buckley Road (Plaza 20), Townline Road (Plaza 22), Half Day Road (Plaza 23) and Lake-Cook Road (Plaza 26). Look for electronic message signs to direct you through the toll plaza during repairs. All work is scheduled to be complete this summer. While ramp repairs are underway, no more than one toll collection lane will be closed at a time. I-PASS customers will have access at all times, while cash customers will be directed to pay tolls online. www.illinoistollway.com
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Stormwater
Management and Oriole Grove
The Stormwater
Management Commission (SMC), on which I serve, recently approved an
intergovernmental agreement (IGA) with the East Skokie Drainage District (ESSD)
to construct wetlands in North Chicago to provide flood damage reduction
benefits for the Skokie River sub-watershed.
Many of you recall that Oriole Grove in Lake Bluff (located between
LBOLA and LFOLA properties just west of Green Bay Road) was jointly purchased
by IDNR and Lake County Forest Preserves (LCFPD) many years ago with the intent
to provide flood control by installing a detention basin. In 2009, a study concluded that this site was
not economically feasible for flood storage as there was virtually no
downstream flood relief benefit. The IGA with ESSD is part of the initiative to
control flash flood events in this watershed further upstream.
Regarding Oriole Grove, the LCFPD recently contracted with
LBOLA to maintain trails in this beautiful preserve. We are fortunate to have a volunteer steward
who donates considerable time and resources to keep these trails open to our
residents, thus providing a trail system through 250 acres of open space from
Deerpath Road to Route 176. If you are
interested in volunteering on this parcel, please let me know.
Legislative
Efforts
There are several state legislative items that Lake County
Government and the Lake County Forest Preserves are closely monitoring. I’ve outlined a few of them here; please don’t
hesitate to contact me with any questions.
Government
Consolidation: In 2013, DuPage
County received state authorization to abolish certain units of government as
part of its efforts to reduce the number of taxing bodies in their county. House Bill 229, which recently passed out
of the House and is now in the Senate, would authorize Lake County and McHenry
County to join DuPage to eliminate certain small units of government. As you probably know, Illinois has more
taxing bodies than any other state in the nation and has the second highest
property taxes (behind New Jersey).
Right
Sizing Facilities: Senate
Bill 0791, sponsored by Senator Melinda Bush, would amend the Downstate
Forest Preserve Act to allow the Lake County Forest Preserve District to lease part
of our General Office space to an outside organization or business. If the offices were rented to full capacity,
it would be a revenue source and would reduce operating costs. This bill has passed out of the Senate and is
on its second reading in the House.
Overdose
Prevention: Currently, state law does not provide adequate civil
protections for health care professionals or emergency personnel in the event
that they administer Naloxone, a medication that can immediately reverse the
effects of an opioid-induced drug overdose.
House
Bill 2940 and HB
3321 amend the Alcoholism and Other Drug Abuse and Dependency Act to grant
civil protections when administering Naloxone in an emergency situation. House
Bill 001 consolidates the entire Opioid-related legislative framework in
one bill.
It’s important to add that already, most of the
law enforcement departments in Lake County are saving lives using Naloxone. Just this week, the twelfth life was saved by
emergency responders. The heroin crisis
is very real, and heroin overdose deaths are on the rise in Lake County. The “new” users are suburban men and women in
their 20s who get hooked on prescription painkillers and turn to heroin because
it’s cheaper and easier to get. If you
or someone you know needs help, or if you would like more information on our
efforts, please visit www.opioidinitiative.org.
Accurate
Taxation: An item from the 98th
General Assembly that deserves special mention is Senate Bill 347, which originated
out of the out of the Lake County Forest Preserve District. This law amended the Property Tax Code by adding
three extra decimal points (up to six
decimal places) to the tax rate, allowing for the tax extension to be as close
to the levy requested as possible.
Before this passed, governmental
agencies rounded up the tax rate, thereby receiving more in taxes than was
actually needed.
Board Adopts Reduced Budget for Fiscal Year 2015-16
To keep more than 30,300 acres of forest preserves in Lake County safe,
clean and open for people to enjoy, the Board adopted a balanced budget at
our May meeting. Approximately 2.17% of
a typical tax bill goes to support your Forest Preserves. The Lake County’s Equalized
Assessed Value (EAV) has declined 25.7% over the last six years, and total Forest Preserve property tax revenues collected are projected to decrease. Over this time, the District has reduced
staff and made many other cost-cutting measures. However, a conservative budgeting approach
has helped to maintain our AAA bond rating, an achievement shared by only six
forest preserves and park districts in the nation.
This budget includes public access improvements and renovations already
underway at several preserves and trail systems, including Fox River (Port
Barrington), Grassy Lake (Lake
Barrington), Pine Dunes (Old Mill
Creek), and Lakewood (Wauconda). The
completion of the final remaining section of the Des Plaines River Trail and
additions to the regional Millennium Trail that runs
through central, western and northern Lake County are also planned.
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Lyme Disease More Common in Lake County
The Lake County Health Department encourages you to take precautions against ticks, which
can carry diseases such as Lyme disease:
- Stay on trails when in forest preserves and parks.
- Wear light-colored, protective clothing, such as long-sleeved
shirts, long trousers, boots or sturdy shoes, and a head covering. Tuck trouser
cuffs in socks and tuck in shirt tails.
- Apply insect repellent containing DEET primarily to clothes. Apply
repellent sparingly to exposed skin. Do not apply directly to the face. Always
follow label directions and supervise children in the use of repellents.
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Temporary Trail and Facility Closures
Through the spring and summer, construction projects and weather-related events sometimes mean trails may be detoured and preserves and facilities may be temporarily closed to ensure public safety.
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Lake County Advances
Sustainability Goals
The Lake County Board is
committed to sustainability, as reflected in the Lake County Strategic Plan.
Here are just some things we're doing to promote
sustainability:
- Investing in energy saving
improvements to buildings including installation of energy efficient
windows, HVAC improvements, energy efficient lighting and automation
devices. The most recent example is the renovation of the Courthouse Administrative
Tower, which has resulted in a 27% reduction in energy use.
- Lake County Public Works
installed new technology at the Vernon Hills wastewater treatment center,
improving water quality by removing 50% of nutrients and 98% of
phosphorous.
- Introduced an electric vehicle pilot program, which
produces zero emissions and uses zero fuel.
- The Lake County Division of
Transportation recycled 156,000 pounds of scrap metal, 3687 gallons of
used motor oil, and 470 gallons of used anti-freeze.
Find out other things Lake
County is doing to advance our Sustainability Strategic Goal, and find out how
you can "Take Action" in greening your home, business and community
on our Sustainability Web Portal
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Lake County Partners of Attracting and Retaining Business
One of the Lake County Board’s top strategic goals is improving
economic opportunities. Lake
County Partners, Lake County’s economic development agency made up of government
and business representatives, implements strategies
that focus on attracting, retaining and expanding businesses and spearheading
initiatives that bolster business success. Partners recently gave an update to
the County Board on its progress. Listen to that presentation here.
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Five Steps to Your Next Job
“Five
Steps to Your Next Job,” an interactive workshop will
take place from 10 a.m. to noon May 18 to 22 at the Job Center of Lake County,
1 N. Genesee St., Waukegan. The series covers the job search process from
researching careers to landing your next job. Attend all five days to
earn a certificate. Seating is limited. Call 847-377-3439 to reserve a
seat. Details
Visit
Employer Panel, Job Fair on May 21 in Grayslake At 11 a.m., May 21, join the
Employer Panel. A panel of human resource professionals will give the inside
scoop on the hiring process. Then from 1 to 5 p.m., come to the JobMarketPlace
job fair featuring nearby 80 employers. Bring a current resume, and dress in
business attire. Both events will take place at the College of Lake County, 19351
W. Washington St., Grayslake. More information
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Military
Families Can Visit Museums Free As Part of Blue Star
The Lake County
Discovery Museum offers free admission to
military personnel and their families from Memorial Day, May 25 through Labor
Day, Sept. 7 as part of Blue
Star Museums. Free admission is available
to any bearer of a Geneva Convention common access card (CAC), a DD Form 1173
ID card (dependent ID), or a DD Form 1173-1 ID card, which includes active duty
U.S. Military as well as members of the National Guard and Reserve, U.S. Public
Health Service Commissioned Corps, NOAA Commissioned Corp and up to five family
members. To find participating museums, visit the Blue Star Museums' website.
Join an Early Morning Free Bird Walk
May is the month for songbirds. Join skilled
birders on these free bird walks. All ages are invited. Bring binoculars. All
walks begin at 7 a.m.
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Lake County provides service 24 hours a day,
7 days a week – and you may be surprised to learn all the services we provide.
Check out our new 24/7 interactive presentation that shows how we are working around the clock to serve
you.
FREE Workshop to Manage
Ponds and Wetlands
A free workshop for
associations and property owners who are responsible for maintaining detention
ponds, wetlands and natural areas will take place from 6 to 8:30 p.m. May 19 at
the College of Lake County, 19351 W. Washington St., Wing C lower level,
Grayslake. Attend workshops and talk with consultants and contractors who can
provide the best ways to maintain subdivision drainage systems. For
information, contact Darcy Hertel at 847-377-7707 or send email to dhertel@lakecountyil.gov.
Meet County Clerk Carla Wyckoff
In
this County Update, Lake County Clerk Carla Wyckoff discusses the work done in
the clerk’s office that goes beyond the election activity every year, and learn
how the County Clerk’s Office handles vital records and property tax
extensions. Wyckoff also addresses her hope that more county residents will
vote considering the advances made to make registering and voting easier. Watch
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Here
is a list of many of the meetings I’ve attended since my last newsletter. I would
be happy to speak with you about them.
- Meeting with Court Appointed Child
Advocacy (CASA)
- Opioid Roundtable sponsored by
Representative Dold
- Behavioral Health Treatment Court
Collaborative
- Sexual Assault Coordinating
Council
- Winchester House Advisory Board
meeting
- Anti-Bullying Initiative sponsored
by Highland Park
- Lake County Opioid Initiative
- Lake Bluff Village Board Meeting
- Committee meetings-Planning,
Building & Zoning; Law & Judicial; Health & Community Services
- Committee meetings-Public Works
& Transportation; Rules, Records, & Legislation; Finance
- Forest Preserve Committee
Meetings-Planning & Restoration; Finance
- Forest Preserve Budget meetings
- Stormwater Management Commission
- Waukegan Main Street luncheon
- Idlewild Homeowners Association
- Route 53 Overview
- Housing & Community
Development Commission
- Lake County United
As always, it is a privilege to represent you on the Lake County Board and the Lake County Forest Preserve Board. Please don't hesitate to contact me with any questions, comments, or concerns. Best wishes for a safe and relaxing Memorial Day, and please try to attend one of the many Memorial Day services in your area to honor those who have served our country. One to mark on your calendar is Veterans Voices at Gorton Center on May 29th at 7:00pm.
Sincerely,
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