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Dear Neighbor,
Thank you for taking the time to read about what is happening in Lake County Government and in your Forest Preserves! We continue to move forward on one of my top priorities-improving the services for people living with mental illness. A number of groups meet monthly to tackle the different focus areas which includes members from the private sector (hospitals and treatment centers), law enforcement, housing advocates, Health Department, workforce, education, and the courts. On April 9th I was joined by Judge Stride, Undersheriff Rose, and LCHD Executive Director Mark Pfister to discuss the growing opioid epidemic and mental health crisis for League of Women Voters Lake County. I visited Pennington County, South Dakota as part of a national conference in late April to learn from other counties the work they've done to better protect and support this vulnerable population. Unfortunately we were there when we first learned about the passing of Commissioner Nixon, a true advocate for the less fortunate. I hope you'll take a moment to read a little about what an amazing woman she was, and about the work she did for individuals, families, the City of North Chicago, and Lake County. I am blessed to have known her.
 Commissioner Audrey H. Nixon
On April 27th, Lake County lost a cherished friend, and passionate community leader. She was a true champion for justice and a tireless advocate for diversity and inclusion. I had the privilege of working with and learning from Audrey, who served her beloved North Chicago community for 31 years. She was a lovely, kind, and dedicated mother, grandmother, and role model for many people throughout Lake County. She was the Chairwoman on Law & Judicial, a former school board member, former president of the Coalition to Reduce Recidivism, and was a leading force for the creation of the Greenbelt Cultural Center, the Green Youth Farm, and the Summer Youth Program. Her many accomplishments, awards, and leadership positions are too numerous to list. She will be greatly missed by the hundreds of people who loved her.
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 Property Tax Bills
Property tax bills for the 2016 tax year have arrived in your mailbox and are due, in two equal
installments, on June 6 and Sept. 6. Visit the Treasurer’s Office
website to view
your property tax bill, get answers to frequently asked questions, and learn how
to make a payment. Keep in mind, while you send your payment to Lake County,
the County only keeps a small portion (about 7%), and the rest is distributed
to many other taxing districts. Visit Lake County’s
property tax information page to see
what Lake County does with its portion.
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 E-Cigarettes And Teens
Over the past two years, we've seen a marked increase in the use of e-cigarettes, or vaping. Of greatest concern to me is the explosive (literally) popularity of e-cigarettes by teens. These e-cigarettes can contain anything from flavors to nicotine to THC. School leaders report that vaping is occurring in class and is becoming a real health concern. LEAD (Linking Efforts Against Drugs) created a great, informative online presentation about vaping that all parents should watch!
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 Composter, Rain Barrel & Native Plant Sale
On Saturday, May 13, 9am-3pm and Sunday, May 14, 10am-2pm, SWALCO, Stormwater
Management Commission and Lake County Forest Preserves will hold their annual
rain barrel, compost bin and native plant sale at Independence Grove. Learn about
the benefits of composting, planting native species, and harvesting rain water. Watch
demonstrations, and meet experts to answer your questions.
If you need more plants or miss this sale, Conserve Lake County is hosting its annual plant sale May 19 to June 3 at Almond Marsh.
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 New
Middlefork Savanna Trail Connection
The Lake
County Forest Preserve District is partnering with the City of Lake Forest and
Lake Forest Academy to build a trail connection which will link Middlefork
Savanna Forest Preserve to other local trails and
parks. This project includes a 221-foot pedestrian bridge over
the Metra Railway, a revised crosswalk at Route 60 for improved access to Townline Park, and new 10' wide paved trails. Construction has already begun and should be complete by late fall. The project was made possible by generous donors and a grant from the Illinois Transportation Enhancement Program View map. Questions? Call or email Michael Haug, Landscape Architect, 847-968-3275.
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Fort Sheridan Forest Preserve Improvements
Portions of Fort Sheridan Forest Preserve will close on May 30 as
construction for the first phase of public access improvements is scheduled to
begin in early June. View site closure
status and project updates. View Project Map. New features include:
- The main entrance (Gilgare Lane) will be widened to two
full lanes and will lead to a new 45-vehicle parking lot with five
accessible spaces and an evaporator toilet.
- The North entrance (Vattman Road) will have a new paved
trailhead and toilet
- 1.6 miles of turf trails will be reconstructed
with improved drainage and two new boardwalks.
- The Hutchinson Trail will become an accessible trail
from Sheridan Road to a new Lake Overlook by adding two
new boardwalks and a paved surface.
 Time to Watch Out for Ticks
If you're a dog owner like me, you've probably already noticed that the ticks are out! Ticks can carry diseases such as Lyme disease, which is becoming more common in Lake County and is extremely serious. To protect yourself from exposure to ticks:
- When walking outside, wear light-colored long-sleeved
shirts, long trousers, boots or sturdy shoes. Tuck cuffs in socks. Check your clothes before coming indoors. If ticks are crawling on clothing, they can be removed with masking tape or a lint remover roller.
- Apply insect repellent (10-30% DEET) to clothes. Apply
sparingly to exposed skin.
- Walk in the center of
trails so weeds do not brush against you. Check yourself, your family, and pets every 2-3 hours. Ticks rarely transmit
disease until they have been attached 4+ hours.
- If you have an unexplained
illness with fever, contact a physician.
- Watch
this video to learn how to safely remove a tick.
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 Lake County
Welcomes Caterpillar to Deerfield
Caterpillar has selected Deerfield as home to its new corporate
headquarters. Caterpillar initially plans to relocate approximately 100
employees to its new site immediately, and this number is expected to triple in
coming years. The move adds high quality jobs and a new global brand to Lake
County’s bustling economy. Caterpillar, a Dow Jones 30 company, joins 11 other
Fortune 500 companies that call Lake County home. Watch this video as
County Board Chairman Aaron Lawlor speaks with Deerfield Mayor Harriet
Rosenthal and Lake County Partners
President Kevin Considine to welcome Caterpillar to Lake County.
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 Find Help at the Job Center of Lake County
Learn
how to improve your resume, perfect your job search, overcome barriers and much
more at the series of workshops offered this month by the Job Center of Lake
County. The center also hosts various job fairs and offers ongoing services including
adult education, disability services, and legal services. View the Job Center’s May schedule to learn more.
Join
Lake County government’s workforce
Lake County government offers career opportunities that cover a wide spectrum
of fields including law, law enforcement, corrections, nursing, finance and
budgeting, highway maintenance, and much more. View the
current job opportunities available.
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Transportation Study Needs Resident Input
A Paratransit
Market Study is now underway in Lake County to evaluate transportation options
for seniors, people with disabilities, and the general public. Help us understand your needs, identify gaps in service, and provide
your recommendations by taking the survey. For example:
Need: “I need the bus to get to work, to my
doctor's office, and to see my family in Grayslake.”
Gaps: “I have service within my township,
but I don’t have service beyond that”
Recommendation: “A county-wide transportation system
could and should allow for online reservations, prepaid ride cards, expanded
routes, and expanded hours that cover a typical business day.”
Door to Door Solicitors
I've been hearing from residents about an increasing number of solicitors showing up at their door this spring. Solicitors working in unincorporated Lake County are required to register and must:
- Appear in person and register annually with our office. Registration is free.
- Work only between the hours of 11 am and 7 pm.
- Carry his/her own Certificate of Registration bearing the sales person’s name, employer’s name, manufacturer’s name, type of business, and an embossed seal.
- Observe “No Solicitation” signs.
- Respect occupant’s request if asked to leave.
Residents should ask to see the vendor’s certificate and report any violations to the Lake County Sheriff’s office (847.549.5200) where fines and penalties can be enforced.
This ordinance provides exemptions for religious groups, candidates, and minors under the age of eighteen who participate in fundraising activities. If you live within municipal or village borders, check with your local officials for your specific ordinances.
Solicitor Registration and Application
Lake County's Strategic Plan
Last month we updated the Board's strategic plan, which
serves as a road map for county government and influences how we prioritize and
invest our resources. Residents and local leaders provided input on their
priorities through a variety of channels, including two telephone town hall meetings,
a survey of Lake County residents, and a series of Leaders Round Table
meetings. View a
summary of the input as well as highlights from the plan, and the entire plan.
 Lake County Announces 2017
Construction Program
In 2017, Lake County will have roughly $94 million in road
projects under construction. About $56 million is carried over from 2016,
accounting for two of the big projects underway - the grade separation and
widening/reconstruction of Washington Street,
and the reconstruction of Deerfield
Road. Much of the remaining work planned in
2017 falls under the preservation category, which includes resurfacing
projects, culvert replacements and bridge repairs. In total, the Lake
County Division of Transportation will have 28 active construction projects
this year. View the 2017
Construction Program Map.
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 Recycle
First, Trash Last
The Solid
Waste Agency of Lake County (SWALCO) offers many options:
Recycle-O-Rama: Bring your electronics, such as monitors, laptops, cell phones, televisions, and small appliances to be recycled 9am-12pm May 20 at Hawthorn Mall in Vernon Hills. Bring documents (limit two boxes per vehicle) to be shredded, and bring latex paint to be recycled for a small fee. There will be no household chemical waste recycling at this event.
Recycle Shoes: Don't throw away your unwanted shoes! Make sure they get recycled
or reused by dropping them off at one of several locations across Lake County.
Clothing and textiles: 85% of clothing ends up in the landfill! Bring your unwanted clothing to be reused or
recycled. Learn more, including what is
acceptable and where to drop off your items.
Household chemical
waste: Get rid of unwanted pesticides, cleaners, batteries,
gasoline, fertilizer and other household chemical waste items at public
drop-off events at SWALCO’s Gurnee facility as well as mobile collection events
at locations across Lake County. These collections are for residential waste
only. Learn
more
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 Your Lake County Forest Preserves
Rx For Health: Walking in Nature
The simple act of walking, especially in nature, can improve your overall health, physically and mentally. Join Rx for Health where naturalists and health care providers will lead guided walking tours of Lake County’s forest preserves. Watch this video to learn more, and see when the next walk will be.
Volunteer with the Forest Preserves
Volunteers help the Forest Preserve District from public safety and habitat restoration to historic preservation and nature education. In 2016, volunteers contributed more than 36,000 hours. The value of this work exceeds $1 million and is the equivalent of nearly 20 full time staff members. Learn how you can get involved.
Check Status of Trails and Preserves
Preserve improvements, construction projects, controlled burns and weather-related events sometimes result in temporary detours or closures of trails, preserves or facilities to ensure public safety. Before heading out, check the current status of trails and underpasses. Also find construction alerts, preserve improvement projects and controlled burn sites.
Wildlife in the Preserves
By early June, coyote pups begin to venture out of the den and we'll see more daytime activity. When dens are located near trails, staff will install signs to inform trail users about coyote behavior and how to safely respond. Learn more
Picnic Shelter Permits Now Available
Reserve your picnic shelter for exclusive use for your family reunion, company picnic or other group gathering. Plan early to help ensure your first choice of shelter and date. Learn more
Independence Grove
Eight concerts will be held on Tuesdays at 7:30pm, June 13-Aug. 8. $6 for parking
The marina is open weekends only through May 21 and then daily, May 27-Sept. 4.
The beach is open only on weekends May 27-June 4, and then daily on June 5.
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 County Launches New Integrated
Permit and Inspection System
Lake County's new integrated permit and inspection system is
now available to the public! This new technology will improve
inter-departmental efficiencies, enhance customer service, improve
communication, and reduce the amount of time it takes for permits and
inspections. Customers will be able to submit and pay for many permit
applications online and review the status of their applications and inspections
using their home computer. Watch this
video to learn more. Visit the new Permit
and Inspection Dashboard.
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