Share Your Ideas for a Better Lake County

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Terry Wilke, District 16

October 14, 2016

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Share Your Ideas for a Better Lake County

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The Lake County Board will update its strategic plan next year. This plan serves as a road map for our county government and influences how we prioritize and invest our resources.  Take a look at our strategic plan and read about the progress we’re making

As we get ready to update our plan, we want to know what is important to you. Please submit your thoughts and ideas to make our county even better through our “Community Voice” forum. It’s easy to join the conversation by signing in and sharing your ideas for a better Lake County! 

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Board to Consider 2017 Proposed Budget in October – Budget Hearings to be Televised

The County Board will hold budget hearings on Oct. 18 (starting at 9 a.m.) and Oct. 19 (starting at 8:30 a.m.). These meetings will be televised live on lakecounty.tv. The proposed budget is balanced, and the operating budget reflects an increase of less than one percent from last year. The county board is committed to fiscal responsibility and making decisions that protect the long-term fiscal health of the County. The uncertainty of the State budget and potential State funding cuts continue to place significant pressure on our budget. In response, departments cut their budgets by 2% through restructuring and other efficiency measures. There are 11 fewer employees than last year, and there are 100 fewer employees than ­five years ago. These reductions have been made without adversely impacting service levels. Read the entire budget and reader-friendly budget summary.


November 8 Election News

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Voter registration will be available Election Day
Grace Voter Registration will be available in all Lake County precinct voting sites for the Nov. 8 election.

The U.S. District Court, Northern District of Illinois, recently responded to a federal lawsuit that challenged the Illinois law allowing counties with a population of 100,000 or more to conduct registration (along with voting) in every precinct voting site on Election Day. As a result, the Court granted the requested preliminary injunction, which prohibited in-precinct Election Day registration in counties with a population in excess of 100,000. 

This was appealed by the Illinois Attorney General’s Office, and on Oct. 7, the 7th Circuit Court of Appeals stayed the previous U.S. District Court order enjoining Election Day In-Precinct Registration – which means counties with a population of 100,000 or more are required to provide voters with the option of registering at voting sites on Election Day.

Watch this to learn more about the Nov. 8 election, including dates you should remember such as when early voting starts as well as how results are processed and reported on election night. Make sure to also preview a personalized ballot, and explore your voting options on the County Clerk's office Nov. 8 General Election web page

Vote Like a Couch Potato!
Voting by mail is so easy that even a couch potato can do it! Avoid the long lines on Nov. 8 by filling out your ballot from the comfort of your own sofa. Here’s how to request a ballot by mail:

couch potato voter

Celebrate A Fun Fall Weekend in Lake County

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Fall is here! Featuring 170 lakes and rivers, miles of hiking and biking trails and many family attractions, Lake County is a wonderful place to spend a fall weekend. Check out this list of upcoming events for ideas on how to spend the perfect fall weekend.

Win Four Guest Passes to the Lost Paradise Indoor Waterpark at KeyLime Cove!
Among the county’s fun and exciting attractions is KeyLime Cove Indoor Waterpark Resort. You could win four guest passes to the Lost Paradise Indoor Waterpark at KeyLime Cove if you tell us your favorite thing about biking in Lake County, and send a picture that shows it! Enter by commenting your answer and attaching a picture on Lake County, IL Government’s original Facebook contest post. Entries will be accepted until 11 a.m. Monday, Oct. 17. 

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.

If you’re biking the DPRT Challenge, or enjoy biking any of the Forest Preserve trails, why not take part in this fun contest? Make sure to share your Challenge “selfie stop” photos!


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Forest Preserve News

Come to Hawkfest
Experience the fall hawk migration and see live raptors at Hawkfest from 1:30 to 4 p.m. Saturday, Oct. 15 at Fort Sheridan Forest Preserve in Lake Forest. Join official raptor counters as they scan the skies and share their tips for identification. Help spot migrating raptors, and visit bird education stations to learn about raptor adaptations, the amazing world of woodpeckers, and waterfowl identification on Lake Michigan. The event is free and open to all ages. Learn more

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Fall Horizons magazine available online
Horizons is a free quarterly publication featuring articles on Lake County wildlife, nature and history, Forest Preserve news, and a calendar of events. In the fall issue, learn about the Discovery Museum’s move to its new home in Libertyville and our Des Plaines River Trail Challenge. Read Horizons online, or subscribe to receive it for free in print form.

Chili Scramble at Countryside Golf Club
Join this 18-hole tournament that ends with prizes, chili and drinks on Oct. 30. The game is played in scramble format on Countryside Golf Club's traditional course in Mundelein. Shotgun start is 10 a.m. All playing levels are welcome. Learn more.

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Students, Parents Can Get Financial Aid Guidance at Workshops

All college bound students and their parents can get help applying for college financial aid by attending Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) workshops at locations across Lake County. The workshops are free. View the complete list of workshop dates

University Center

Address Bullying and How Schools Can Respond

The University Center of Lake County is collaborating with Northern Illinois University to bring their “Bullying:  How Schools Can Respond” conference to Lake County. The conference will take place simultaneously in DeKalb and Grayslake from 8 a.m. to 2:15 p.m. Oct. 26. The sixth annual conference is designed to educate administrators, teachers, counselors, and staff about how they can respond to the issue of bullying in their schools.  Learn more


Protect Yourself! Get the Flu Vaccine This Fall

flu vaccine

The most important step that you can take to protect yourself against the flu is to get an annual flu vaccine. The Lake County Health Department and Community Health Center urges those who should get the vaccine are those six months of age or older, especially children younger than 5, adults 65 years old and older, and those with conditions such as asthma or diabetes.

Flu shots through the Lake County Health Department are available as well as through retail clinics, pharmacies, and individual healthcare providers. Watch this video and learn more.


Sheriff’s Office Receives Justice and Mental Health Collaboration Program Grant

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The Lake County Sheriff’s Office has been awarded the Federal Justice and Mental Health Collaboration Program Grant, totaling $250,000 to expand the response to mental health incidents in Lake County. As part of this grant, over 300 police officers will receive training over a three-year period. The long term goal is to develop a county-wide program that will provide crisis intervention team training to all law enforcement officers as well as compatible crisis intervention team training to service providers and those who have community contact with persons suffering from mental illness and/or substance abuse issues. Learn more


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