Wishing you the best for this New Year! In case you missed it, every 2 years after an election, we elect a new county chairman. I was honored to be elected Chairman Pro Tem by my fellow board members, and Chair the reorganization meeting. During which Board Member Aaron Lawlor was re-elected as the County Board Chairman. I am also honored to be re-appointed as Chairman of Planning Building and Zoning Committee for a second term.
2017 is going to be exciting as we concentrate on investing in the people of lake county. We will be doing this in many ways. Through attracting new business and workforce opportunities, infrastructure on our roads and utilities, by addressing many of our counties mental health issues and most importantly, being fiscally responsible and secure.
I look forward in keeping you informed on things happening around the county and community. Together we can make sure that Lake County remains a wonderful place to call home.
Sincerely, Tom Weber
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A new year brings almost 200 new laws that have now 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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Schools
in the Round Lake Area now are offering easy access to healthcare. The Health
and Wellness Center at Round Lake High School is now open to all students of
Round Lake Area Schools Community Unit School District 116. Watch this video
and learn about the newly added healthcare opportunities for Round Lake area school students. |
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The Lake County Division of Transportation (LCDOT) is studying an intersection improvement at Fairfield and Monaville roads. This is the second public information meeting for this project. The purpose of this meeting is to introduce the two alternative improvements under consideration and seek public comment. Please join us to learn more about the project, view exhibits of the alternatives, get answers to your questions and provide feedback. Learn more about the project.
When: 5 to 7 p.m. Jan. 31 Where: Lake Villa Township, 37908 N. Fairfield Road, Lake Villa
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A Paratransit Market Study will soon be underway in Lake County to evaluate transportation options for seniors, and those with disabilities. There are a variety of services currently available, such as Pace Dial-a-Ride or township programs, to assist this population in their travels to and from medical appointments, places of employment and other daily activities. This study will evaluate the range of available paratransit services, identify gaps in service relative to community needs, and recommend improvements.
Please join us at an upcoming community meeting to learn more. You will have the opportunity to ask questions and provide feedback. The meetings will be conducted in an informal, open house format so attend any time during a session. The same information will be provided at all meetings.
- 2 to 4 p.m. Jan. 18 at Libertyville Township Office, 359 Merrill Court, Libertyville
- 9 to 11 a.m. Jan. 19 at Wauconda Township Office, 505 W. Bonner Road, Wauconda
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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The Solid Waste Agency
of Lake County will continue its residential electronics recycling program
through 2017. After voting at an emergency
meeting in March 2016 to close its remaining electronics collection sites, the agency was later able to successfully secure contracts with
qualified recyclers and will continue to operate the program with no direct
cost to Lake County residents. See
what electronics items you can bring to the collection sites.
Lake County residents should continue to use the four collection sites
in Highland Park, Grayslake, Grant Township and Cuba Township. Learn more
about the collection site hours and locations.
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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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Forest Preserve News
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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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Holiday Tree Recycling
Don’t send your Christmas tree to the landfill, drop it off with the Lake
County Forest Preserves for recycling. Donated trees are chipped and used
for trails and landscaping at forest preserves. Bring your tree to a drop-off
site by Feb. 1. Learn more |
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 |
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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 |
Cultural
items to be transferred to Sault Tribe of Chippewa Indians
The
remains of a minimum of 13 individuals and associated funerary objects
belonging to the Sault Ste. Marie Tribe of Chippewa Indians will
soon be transferred from the Lake County
Discovery Museum’s collections to the tribe under the
federal Native American Graves Protection and Repatriation Act
(NAGPRA). Ownership of the remains was transferred to the District in 1989
from the County of Lake, which had previously acquired the collections from the
privately-owned Lake County Museum of History in 1965. Items will be transferred in a manner
that is consistent with the NAGPRA. Learn more about the Museum.
Learn
Steps to Earn A Commercial Driver’s License Do you want to become a truck driver? Attend an information
session at noon Jan. 20 to learn about training to obtain your
commercial driver’s license. The information session will take place at the Job Center of Lake County in Waukegan.
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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Volunteers are needed for the 2017 Point-In-Time
Count! We conduct a Point-In-Time count of both sheltered and unsheltered
homeless persons to capture a picture of what homelessness looks like on any
given day. Join us at 10 p.m. Jan. 25 to interview and count unsheltered
homeless persons living within Lake County. Visit the Lake County Coalition for the
Homeless site to register as a volunteer, and watch this video to hear from some of last year’s
volunteers. |
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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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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. A total
of 125 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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