A new year brings almost 200 new laws that now have
gone into effect. This includes sick time flexibility, more
protection to bikers, and a law
allowing drug court participants to use medication-based addiction treatments. See the complete list. |
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Road projects, mental health services, government consolidation, and
shared services with municipalities are just a few of the key priorities Lake
County will focus on this year. Watch this
video as Lake County Board Chairman Aaron Lawlor outlines Lake County’s top
priorities for 2017 and what they mean to you.
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Lake County provides public safety and justice,
delivers public health services, invests in transportation and public works
infrastructure, holds elections, maintains important records, serves veterans,
inspects restaurants, controls flooding, protects rivers and streams, and so
much more! To learn more about what we do and how we are spending your tax
dollars wisely, watch
this video. |
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Dispose
your unused, unwanted and expired prescription drugs properly at disposal boxes
across Lake County. And the service is
free! In 2016, Lake County disposed of nearly 15,000 pounds. Find a drug disposal box near
you, and learn what the program cannot accept. |
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 More than 700 residents recently participated in Lake County’s first Telephone Town Hall meeting. Participants learned about important issues that Lake County government has a role in from property taxes, to jobs to traffic congestion. Some even shared their questions and comments live on the air. Listen to the discussion.
Share Your Input in Our Community Voice Forum
You can continue to submit your thoughts 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. Provide Input Now!
Sign up to Participate in Future Telephone Town Hall Meetings
Our next Telephone Town Hall meeting is scheduled for Feb. 15 at 7 p.m. Sign up to receive a call!
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 The Illinois Secretary of State's office is launching a new license plate replacement program this month to replace the oldest license plates with newly designed plates. Vehicle owners will be notified by mail if they qualify for the new license plates. If you are not up for replacement, you may request a new license plate in January at www.cyberdriveillinois.com for a $29 fee. In addition, vehicle owners with license plates manufactured after 2001 that are showing signs of wear and are difficult to read may visit www.cyberdriveillinois.com to apply for a newly designed plate at no charge.
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Stay up to date with real time traffic information and current road conditions with Lake County Passage. Sign up to receive customized email alerts and stay ahead of traffic this winter! |
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 Find Inspiration for Your Own Success in Latest Newsletter
Looking
for inspiration? Read the latest
Success newsletter from Lake County Workforce Development. It's
packed with stories of job seekers and businesses who made the career
connection during 2016.
See Lake County’s current job opportunities
We work to improve the quality of life in Lake County and provide services that benefit more than 700,000 Lake County residents. From law enforcement and health care, to engineering and information technology, we offer a wide spectrum of careers. Learn more about current Lake County government job opportunities.
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 Forest Preserve News
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Winter Recreation
Cold weather brings winter fun in your forest preserves. Enjoy a solar-lit evening hike, sledding, cross-country skiing, snowmobiling, ice skating or ice fishing this season. Before heading out, check for status updates online, or call the 24-hour winter sports hotline at 847-968-3235. Learn more. |
Hoot
and Howl Hike
Winter
is a great time to listen for coyotes and owls, which are active year-round. Bundle up and learn
about these amazing animals on Jan. 29 from 4:30 to 6 p.m. at Lyons Woods. The program is open to adults and
children ages 8 and older. Dress
for the weather and wear warm, sturdy boots. Registration is required. Learn more |
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Profiles
in Excellence
Join us for an inspiring afternoon in honor of black history at Profiles in Excellence,
Feb. 5 from 3 to 5 p.m. at the Greenbelt Cultural
Center.
This year’s theme is “Celebrating Champions––A Tribute to African-American
Athletes.” This is an educational, entertaining and family-friendly event,
featuring presentations, choir performances, a sports photography exhibit of
Walter Payton and more. Admission is free. Learn more |
Summer camp early bird registration ends Feb. 15
Camps
are designed for summer fun and learning, and include topics such as nature,
recreation, art and history. Week-long sessions at locations throughout the
county make it easy to find camps that are convenient for you. Browse our
schedule of camps online, and register by Feb. 15 to receive an early bird
discount. Learn more |
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 As the mercury
drops, the Lake County Health Department’s Animal Care and Control Program
reminds you to take precautions for your pets. Here are some tips to remember.
- Limit the amount of time pets are outside when
temperatures are below freezing.
- Frostbite happens quickly. Watch for signs of
hypothermia or distress, such as redness of the skin particularly around
the ears, nose, and paw pads.
- Keep pets away from harmful chemicals such as
antifreeze or deicers that can easily become stuck between the paw pads.
- Use caution with candles and space heaters as pets can
brush up against them or knock them over, potentially starting a fire or
causing injury to the pet.
Check
this to learn more tips to keep your pets safe this winter.
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Residents can share information about lost cats,
dogs or other pets on the Lake
County Health Department's Animal Care and Control webpages. Every year, more than 1,000 dogs and cats get lost in Lake County. The
pages are regularly updated.
 In observance of January as National Radon Action
Month by the Environmental Protection Agency, you are encouraged to check radon
levels in your home or apartment during the winter months.
Radon
is an odorless and colorless gas that naturally occurs in rock and soil. It can
seep into homes from the soil through cracks in the basement floors and
foundations, crawl spaces, poorly sealed sump pumps, porous cinder block walls
and other foundation floor and wall penetrations.
Short-term test kits are available through the Lake County Health
Department for $10. Watch this
video to learn more about radon and the test kits.
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Get a look at County life from the perspective of two of Lake County's loved employees. Mitch, who works at the Children's Advocacy Center, and Hitch, who works at the Nineteenth Judicial Circuit therapeutic intensive monitoring program, recently wore GoPro cameras to give you a look at who they work with, how they help and why we think they're great. Watch now |
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 A total of 79 lives were saved by law enforcement officers in 2016
as part of the Lake County Opioid Initiative's Police Naloxone Program. Over 130 lives have been saved since the program began on Christmas Day 2014. The
Lake County Opioid Initiative's mission is to develop, implement, evaluate
and sustain a multi-strategy county-wide effort to prevent opioid abuse,
addiction, overdose, and death. Learn more about the Opioid
Initiative.
Also, 56 individuals have accessed treatment as part of A Way Out
Program that launched last June. A Way Out is a Lake County Law Enforcement
Assisted Diversion pilot program designed to fast-track users to substance
abuse programs and services. This program is available 24 hours a day, seven days
a week at participating
police departments. It ensures no criminal charges will be sought
for those that may be in possession of narcotics or paraphernalia as long as
assistance is sought out by the prospective program participant. Learn more about the A Way Out program.
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 Crisis intervention officers are receiving specialized
training to help them evaluate various mental health crisis incidents thanks to
the Lake County Sheriff’s Office receiving the Federal Justice and Mental
Health Collaboration Program Grant. Topics covered in their training include
mental health signs and symptoms, geriatric issues, returning combat veterans
with traumatic brain injury and PTSD, child and adolescent disorders, autism
spectrum disorder, excited delirium, medical conditions and psychotropic
medications, risk assessment and law enforcement response. Watch this video to
learn more about the training.
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