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I am always looking for feedback on my newsletter as well as what's
happening in Lake County. If you have any comments or concerns, feel
free to send me an email,
or give me a call at 224-627-0767. If this newsletter was forwarded to
you, please sign up to continue to receive news about Lake County and
District 7.
The Illinois Division of Transportation
(IDOT) has long been planning for a bridge replacement at US 41 and Grand
Avenue in Gurnee. Such a massive undertaking at a notoriously congested
intersection takes careful planning and must be tackled in stages. A project
this size has many complicated steps and comes with a hefty price tag.
The first stage of construction took place in
2009 to address the backup of cars exiting US 41 to access Grand Ave, and the
immediate safety needs for cars merging onto US 41 from Grand Ave. This
work had to be done as soon as possible to address a major safety concern and
the 2009 construction fixed that condition.
When that construction was complete, many
noticed that the intersection itself was still very congested. To address the
congestion, the next stage of construction will include replacing the railroad
bridge and widening Grand Avenue and the intersection. This will allow for
additional turn lanes and more efficient flow of traffic.
The bridge replacement and intersection
widening is the final piece of the $24 million US Route 41 at Grand Avenue (IL
Route 132) interchange improvement project. Advance work for the next stage of
construction has already begun. Utility relocation work is underway along Grand
Ave, which must be done in advance of construction.
IDOT has indicated the bridge portion of the
project is expected to go out for bid this winter. I wanted to give you some
background information so you would know what to expect. As IDOT continues to
update us on their progress, I will share the information in my newsletter.
Lake
County PASSAGE puts local traffic information at
your fingertips. PASSAGE is an intelligent transportation system designed to
provide motorists real time traffic congestion information through the PASSAGE
website, email
notifications, Twitter and radio 1620 AM. The PASSAGE website is mobile-friendly,
so you can get a map of current road conditions, construction and
events, including crashes, stalls, debris, and other roadway incidents as well
as view camera images at major intersections. Let us know what you think! Take PASSAGE Survey.
Governor
Bruce Rauner recently signed legislation that gives Lake County (along with
McHenry County) the authority to consolidate and dissolve units of local
government. This legislative changes helps Lake County build on its
consolidation efforts to improve efficiency of government services and
alleviate tax burdens on residents.
Chairman
Aaron Lawlor said, “We recognize that in these tough times, the same old way of
conducting our business just doesn’t cut it. That’s why we are leading efforts
to save taxpayer money by sharing services, including contracting with
municipalities for plan review and inspection service and providing police
services at cost for some municipalities. We are also exploring the feasibility
of consolidating 911 emergency dispatch centers in the region, which presents
tremendous opportunities to improve quality, efficiency, and provide cost
savings.”
The new law
is an expansion of a 2013 law that only applied to DuPage County. This move is
a step toward reducing the more than 7,000 units of government in Illinois,
which is more than any state in the nation.
 Certain
crimes such as popular scams can be targeted to older adults, so awareness and
education are key to protecting yourself. Attend this upcoming free
workshop to learn the popular scams which target senior citizens, the steps to
take if you should become a victim of a financial scam and more. Register to Attend
When: 10
a.m. to noon Sept. 24
Where: Gurnee Police Department, 100 N. O’Plaine Road, Gurnee
Questions? Contact Sandra Bankston at 847-377-3184
Telephone Scams
Anyone can be susceptible to a telephone scam.
Here are some tips from the Lake County Sheriff’s Office
to protect yourself.
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 The Solid Waste Agency of Lake County will hold
its next household chemical waste collections Sept. 10 and 26
at its Gurnee facility, 1311 N. Estes St. Appointments are required for events at the Gurnee Facility to
ensure safety and efficiency. Collections are for residential waste only and
are free to Illinois residents. Schedule
an appointment
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Be a
part of history. Become an election judge
The Lake County Clerk’s Office is in need of
election judges for the upcoming presidential election! Election judges ensure
that the elections are fair and accurate by processing Election Day voters. Pay
is based on election training, skills and assignment. Call the County Clerk’s
Office at 847-377-2408 or visit their website to learn more. |
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Become
a couch potato voter. Vote by mail
Vote in the presidential election from the
comfort of your home! Registered Illinois voters can now request to receive a ballot by mail. Requests can be made at LakeVoterPower.info or by calling 847-377-2410. |
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 Veterans are invited
to come to the Lake County Courthouse in Waukegan on Nov. 11 to have their oral
histories recorded. The typed transcripts will be archived at the Library of Congress as part of the Veterans History Project. This
project aims to collect, preserve, and make accessible the personal accounts of
American war veterans. The deadline to submit forms to participate in this
year’s event is Oct. 1. Any veteran interested in being interviewed for
this project should contact Carol Cord at ccord@lakecountyil.gov or 847-377-3771. Learn more
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The Lake County Jail and Health Department have launched a new
treatment option to help opioid or alcohol addicted inmates in the Lake County
Jail. Those eligible will begin receiving addiction treatment services through
the Health Department in the jail and after they are released. The Health
Department has committed to treating 15 inmates over the next six months. The
initiative is part of the Health Department’s newly expanded
Medication-Assisted Treatment program, which recently received a grant of
$325,000 from the Health Resources and Services Administration. Read
news release
 Forest Preserve News
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Carp-O-Rama
Compete for prizes while helping reduce
carp overpopulation in the lake at Independence Grove on Saturday, Sept.
10. This catch-and-keep fishing event will take place from 6:30 a.m. to noon
at the South Bay. Learn more
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Celebrate Lake County's Agricultural Roots
Join the 24th
annual Farm Heritage
Festival from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. Sept. 24 and 25 at Lakewood Forest
Preserve in Wauconda. Check out hundreds
of antique tractors, cars and other farm machinery as we celebrate Lake
County’s rural roots. Daily highlights include a tractor parade, sheep
herding demonstrations, scarecrow making, wagon and barrel train rides and a
petting zoo. |
Dog park and horse trail permits reduced
When purchased through Nov. 30, dog park and
horse trail annual permit prices are half price. Reduced permits are valid
through the end of the year. Learn
more |
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Take action! Work with your
family and your community to develop an action plan, so you can be prepared if
an emergency should occur. To observe National Preparedness Month through
September, check out these resources that can help you plan. And watch this video to learn ways to get emergency information in Lake County. |
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Come to Legions of Craft Beer Fest
Join the second annual Legions of
Craft Beer Fest from 2 to 7 p.m. Sept. 17 at Gurnee Mills. The festival will
feature craft beer and cider from more than 50 breweries, urban cuisine from a
variety of food trucks as well as live music.
Grandwood Park Park District to hold next scrapbook crop
The
Grandwood Park Park District will hold its next 12-hour scrapbook crop from 11
a.m. to 11 p.m. Saturday, Sept. 10. Bring drinks and a snack to share. Details
Celebrate first Story Walk in Gurnee
Join Warren-Newport Public Library and the Gurnee Park District staff to celebrate
the first collaborative Story Walk from 2 to 3 p.m. Saturday, Sept. 10 at Hunt
Club Park. The bookmobile will be there along with snacks, crafts and more.
Join Touch A Truck
Join the Gurnee
Park District’s seventh annual Touch A Truck from 6 to 8 p.m. Sept. 16 at the Hunt Club Community Center. See
vehicles from the Gurnee Park District, Gurnee Public Works, Gurnee Police Department,
Gurnee Fire Department, Warren Township, Warren Newport Public Library,
Wildwood Towing, Burris Equipment and more. Details
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