 The
Lake County Division of Transportation (LCDOT) held a public hearing for the
14th Street Improvement Project in North Chicago and Waukegan on Aug. 30. The
purpose of the hearing was to present the preferred improvement plan, the
project schedule, and to seek public input regarding the proposed roadway
improvements to 14th Street from IL Route 131 to Jackson Street. To see
the exhibits from the public hearing, please visit the project website.
|
Lake
County government is investing in various improvement projects across the
county – including road, water/sewer and stormwater projects and facility
expansion projects like the new court tower in Waukegan. To help residents see
and learn about the projects we’re working on, we’ve developed the easy-to-use
Lake County Capital
Improvement Projects web portal.
Visit the new Maps Online, which is now
easier to use, can be used on any device, including cell phones and tablets,
and has more functionality. One of Lake
County’s most frequently visited web applications, Maps Online allows users to
search and customize maps to include administrative boundaries, cities, water
features, parks, landmarks, highways, buildings and more. Check It Out Today!
Provide
Your Feedback:
Our GIS Division welcomes comments on the new Maps Online. To provide your
feedback, send an email to gis@lakecountyil.gov.
The new Lake County Courthouse will be eight
stories tall and is expected to be completed in spring 2018. This expansion is
designed to help increase efficiency of the justice system and help the county
prepare for population growth. Watch this video to
take a tour, and see the progress being made on the expansion project. |
|
 |
The Chief County Assessment Officer gave a
presentation to the county board at our recent meeting explaining details
around the assessment process, and specifically the equalization process, which
has led to in an increase in 2016 assessments. It’s important to note that
the “equalization factor” can result in an increase to your assessment, but it
does not necessarily result in an increased tax bill next year. Board
members also asked many questions that may help taxpayers understand this
complex issue a little better. Watch the discussion
now.
As a reminder, the entire property tax
process is defined in State law and it dictates that each
year, the Illinois Department of Revenue
(DOR) provides its analysis of the assessment
level in a township using recent sales transactions. The
next step in the process is for the CCAO to apply a
township “equalization factor” when market sales are higher than the
assessment value levels in place to bring them to a uniform level. The
equalization factor ensures the tax burden is distributed fairly from township
to township by bringing assessment values in line with market
values. Conversely, in general assessment years - the next one will
be in 2019 - your township assessor will review individual assessment values
and make adjustments.
If everyone’s assessment went up (by
any percentage) and taxing bodies (schools, cities, townships or
county) did raise their taxes, the equalization itself would not
impact your tax bill. This is complicated because some taxing bodies overlap multiple
townships, but essentially, the equalization factor ensures the tax
burden is distributed fairly from township to township.
To learn more, visit assessor.lakecountyil.gov, or call
the office and talk to one of our taxpayer advocates.
 Forest Preserve News
|
 |
|
Make
a Difference for Wildlife Workday
Learn about the benefits of native plants, how to identify invasive species,
and then participate in a habitat restoration workday. This event will take
place from 10 a.m. to noon Oct. 1 at Hastings
Lake in
Lake Villa. Learn more. |
Become
a TreeKeeper
TreeKeepers is an eight session, award-winning certificate program that takes
an in-depth look at urban trees and their care. Learn through hands-on
experience from regional tree experts. Topics include identification, tree
physiology, tree pests and tree care. The program will begin Sept. 28. Learn more. |
|
 |
 |
|
Join
the Colossal Cup
Join the fun as two-player teams compete for prizes Oct. 2 at the Countryside Golf Club in Mundelein. Shotgun start is at 10 a.m. The
colossal cup size is double the standard cup, so putts will sink with ease and
your score will drop with it. Learn more. |
Take
the Des Plaines River Trail Challenge
Travel the entire 31.4 miles of the Des Plaines River
Trail (DPRT) by Nov. 30 and be rewarded. The final section of the DPRT was
completed in 2015 and now spans the length of the county.
Help celebrate this amazing gem by using it. Bike it. Boat it. Walk it or run
it. Or, you can make a donation to help the Forest Preserves keep it
clean and safe. Learn more. |
|
 |
The Lake County Sheriff’s Office is currently
accepting applications for reserve deputies. The Reserve Deputy Unit is
comprised of members who give back to Lake County through community service in
the area of law enforcement. Candidates must
be at least 21 years old, a U.S. citizen, and a high school graduate (or
equivalent). Apply
today |
|
 |
Every year, suicide claims the lives of 40,000 people, and another 500,000
people attempt it. September is National Suicide Prevention Month, and the
National Council is joining with the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline to
expand its #BeThe1To campaign and emphasize the role everyone
can play to take action and save lives. Find
out how you can help someone who may be thinking of suicide.
Learn sensible salting practices for roads, parking
lots and sidewalks as the Lake County Stormwater Management
Commission offers its next deicing workshop. The workshop will take
place Oct. 4 and 5 at the Lake County Central Permit Facility in
Libertyville. The commission will give demonstrations on best methods to
protect adjacent lawns, wetlands and waterways while providing appropriate road
salt applications. Learn
more |
|
 |
Bring documents to be shredded properly at Sept. 24 event
Join the community shred day and recycling fair from 9 a.m. to
noon Saturday, Sept. 24 at the Hunt Club Park Community Center, 920 Hunt Club
Road, Gurnee. Learn
more, including items that will be collected.
Join an open question and answer session at North Chicago City Hall
The public is invited to attend a question and answer session from 6 to 8 p.m. Sept. 29 at North Chicago City Hall. Guests will include North Chicago Mayor Leon Rockingham and representatives from public works, economic and community development, the police and fire departments and the city engineer. Learn more
Waukegan Township to hold
candidate forum
Save
the date as Waukegan Township holds a candidate forum from 2 to 5 p.m. Oct. 9
at Park Place. All county wide candidates have been invited to this forum,
including congressional candidates from the 10th District. Learn more
Save the date to attend free program on mortgage assistance programs
Illinois homeowners are invited to attend a free program to explain the loan assistance programs available to help homeowners. Hosted by the Village of Round Lake Beach, this program will take place from 6:30 to 7:30 p.m. Nov. 9 at the Round Lake Beach Cultural and Civic Center. To register, call Lisa Pugliese at 847-201-9186 or send email to lpugliese@rbeach.org.
 If you have any questions or concerns, please call me at 847-721-1563 (cell) or email me at mcunningham@lakecountyil.gov.
I encourage you to forward this update to others who may be interested in Lake County news. Persons who wish to automatically receive these free updates should contact me using the above information or click join our mailing list using the link above.
Thank you,
Mary Ross Cunningham
Ms. Cunningham, County Board member and Forest Preserve Commissioner, serves on:
Lake County Board, 9th District:
Lake County Law and Judicial Committee, Vice Chair
Lake County Health and Community Services
Cultural Diversity (Ad-Hoc), Chair
Lake County Rules Committee, Vice Chair
Ethics Committee
Lake County Forest Preserves, 9th District:
Education, Cultural Resources and Public Affairs- Vice Chair
Rules Committee, Vice Chair
Diversity and Cultural Awareness Committee
Greenbelt Cultural Center Expansion Committee
YCC Advisory Government Council, Chair
Other appointed positions:
National Association of Counties (NACo) Community and Economic Development Committee
Lake County Community Health Center Governing Council, Vice Chair
Lake County Board of Health Personnel Committee, Chair
Community Action Partnership of Lake County, Board Member
|
| 
.jpg){kind=link}
