 It has been a busy Spring and I have been all over District 3 and Lake County at many meetings and events. In between I managed to squeeze in some gardening. If you have time stop in at the Earth Day Event in Lindenhurst this Saturday please do. It is always a good time with tons of great information.
Last week in Waukegan outside of the courthouse I ran into Boomer and Deputy Brian Kilpatrick. Deputy Kilpatrick and Boomer are our Lake County K-9 unit that specializes in locating and sniffing out explosives. This team is a great addition to the Lake County Sherriff's Department.
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I met up with Congressman Randy Hultgren, I think he has been doing a good job in in Washington DC. I stopped in and attended many events around the area including the Mano a Mano Monarch Gala, Easter Breakfast in Round Lake Heights, Easter Breakfast at the VFW in Lake Villa with Boy Scout Troop 323, Harvest Hills BBq and Fundraiser, WRLR Radio Fundraiser, Lake Villa Township Annual Town Meeting and a few others.
 Rebecca and I attended the 4th Annual Lake and McHenry County 4H Robotics Showcase. I recommend checking out some of these events if you have children. There were hundreds of contestants showing off their robot building skills and even a couple bigger robots that were shooting baskets. Over all a very awesome opportunity for youth who would not be exposed to this type of club. Great job 4H!
 I always enjoy the chamber expos. It is a great way to meet constituents and be part of the community. Round Lake Area Chamber and Lindenhurst Lake Villa Chamber Expos both had a lot of great vendors and things to do for the family.
 I am honored being a voice of reason for fiscal responsibility while representing our district on the Lake County Board and as a Forest Preserves Commissioner.
I am looking forward to a great year here in Lake County!
Respectfully,
Tom Weber
My wife Rebecca and I had the honor of attending the Lake County Reserve Deputy Awards Dinner! It is amazing to see the dedication and sacrifice these volunteers give freely to help protect and serve the residents of Lake County, at all hours of the day and away from their families. There is not enough words to express how thankful I am for these men and women who volunteer assisting with events around Lake County and the Lake County Sheriffs Department. Together these Reserve Deputies clocked over 17,011 volunteer hours this past year. Thank you for making Lake County a safer place to live and raise our families. Please take time to look at the hours volunteered by these reserve deputies and when you see them directing traffic and helping the Sherriff Deputies, please take time to say, "Thank you for your service."
 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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 I recently joined Lake County Board
Members, judges in the Nineteenth Judicial Circuit, and others that have been a
part of the Lake County Courthouse Expansion Project to sign the last beam of
the new court tower before it was put into place. The expansion project in
Waukegan includes an approximately 200,000-square-foot court tower and a tunnel
connecting the jail and current courthouse. The project will increase the
efficiency of the justice system and support growth of the justice agencies for
many years to come. Watch this video
to learn more about the project.
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 If
you’re starting your spring cleaning, think recycle
first, trash last. The Solid Waste Agency of Lake County (SWALCO) offers
many options to recycle your shoes, clothing and textiles, and household
chemicals.
Reuse-A-Shoe: Don't throw away your unwanted shoes! Make sure they get
recycled or reused! Drop off your shoes at one of several locations across Lake
County. View
Drop-Off Locations
Clothing and textiles: Did you know 85 percent of clothing ends up in the landfill?
Instead, bring your new, gently used, and used clothing to be reused or
recycled. Even clothes with stains or holes will be taken. 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, including acceptable items and when the next collection will be.
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 With warmer weather comes community festivals, parades, natural disasters and other emergency situations. If you are 18 and over and interested in helping the community with any of these events, the Round Lake Beach Community Emergency Response Team and Emergency Management Agency is now accepting applications for new members. Please check us out on Facebook at https://www.facebook.com/RLB.CERT/ or https://www.facebook.com/RLBEMA or email dportzen@hotmail.com
Join Us for an exclusive screening of
"Warning: This Drug May Kill You"
An HBO Documentary Films Production
Featuring members of the Lake County Opioid Initiative and Live4Lali
RSVP HERE
 Join the Lake County
community for the seventh annual Lake County Green Conference from 1 to 5 p.m. Thursday,
April 20 at the College of Lake County’s Grayslake Campus. Titled, “Building a
Resilient Future,” this year’s conference will focus on the impact of green
construction in inspiring students to pursue studies and careers that
contribute to a more resilient future. Learn
more
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Celebrate Earth Day by checking out these family-friendly
events across the county.
Lindenhurst: Enjoy
family fun from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. April 22 in Lindenhurst. The schedule includes 5K and one-mile runs, a village-wide
cleanup, tree planting, a kite fly and much more. Learn more
about all the Earth Day activities.
Also as part of the festivities, bring up to two bankers
boxes of paper to be shredded free, and any unwanted latex paint to be recycled
for a small fee from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. April 22 at the Lindenhurst Waste Water
Treatment Facility. Learn more
Round Lake: The 12th annual spring clean-up of Round Lake will take place from 8
to 11 a.m. May 20. Volunteers and groups of all ages and skills are encouraged
to participate. Start at Bengson Park in Round Lake Park, and the group will
work around to Lakefront Park in Round Lake Beach for lunch. Learn more
 Bring
your electronics, such as monitors, laptops, cell phones, televisions, and
small appliances to be recycled at Recycle-O-Rama from 9 a.m. to noon 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. Learn more
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 Lake County businesses, schools, churches, non for profits and
units of government are invited to bring broken and unwanted electronics to be
recycled at a special collection event from 8 a.m. to noon April 27 at the
Lincolnshire Corporate Center (West Parking Lot), 300 Knightsbridge
Parkway.
The Solid Waste Agency of Lake County provides free opportunities
for residents to recycle electronics through a network of drop off locations.
However, State law limits these locations to accept only residential
electronics. Learn
more about this collection, including what items will be accepted.
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 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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A Paratransit
Market Study is now underway in Lake County to evaluate transportation options
for seniors, people with disabilities, and the general public. There are a
variety of services currently available, such as Pace Dial-a-Ride or township
programs, to assist you in your travels to and from medical appointments,
places of employment and other daily activities.
We are asking
you to help us understand your needs, identify gaps in service, and provide
your recommendations for what you hope to see. Here are some examples of what
we’ve heard so far:
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.”
Please TAKE THE SURVEY
today, and add your opinions and experiences to be part of this important
study.
The Chief County
Assessment Office and Lake County Township Assessors Association offer help to
senior citizens ages 65 and older who want to complete the 2017 Senior
Citizen Assessment Freeze Application for taxes payable in 2018, as well as
assistance to taxpayers who may qualify to apply for other homestead exemptions.
Attend an upcoming outreach session where residents can work one-on-one with a
staff member to complete the necessary forms. The Senior Freeze Application is
due by July 7. View
Upcoming Outreach Sessions
 Forest Preserve News
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 Ticks and Lyme Disease
Ticks
can infect humans and wildlife with bacteria, viruses and parasites that can
cause serious illness. There are two species of ticks in Lake County: deer
tick (Ixodese scapularis) and wood tick (Dermacentor variabilis). Of these two species, only
deer ticks can pass on Lyme disease. However, wood ticks, also referred to as
American dog ticks, do have the ability to pass on other bacterial infections
such as Rocky Mountain spotted fever and tularemia. Learn more
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 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.
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 Marina Open Weekends at Independence Grove
The marina at Independence Grove Forest Preserve in Libertyville is now
open weekends only through May 21 and will be open daily May 27 to Sept. 4. Before heading out to the preserve, check
here for
status updates on swimming, the marina, summer concerts, and more.
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 YCC Crew Member
Applications Now Accepted
Youth
Conservation Corps (YCC) is a summer program designed to employ
youth, ages 16 to 18 in natural resources, construction, and park
maintenance related projects. Apply online to become a 2017 YCC crew
member. Completed
applications must be received by 4:30 p.m.
April 28. Learn more
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 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.
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Did you know that
landscaping your yard with native plants is one of the best things to do for
the environment, and this can save you time and money? In fact, native plants
don’t require fertilizer, pesticides or herbicides and eliminate the need for a
lot of watering.
Citizens for
Conservation and Conserve Lake County are hosting their annual plant sales, a
great way to shop for native plants including perennials, grasses, trees and
shrubs. Conserve Lake County’s online sale will run through April 25. The native
plant sale will continue May 19 to June 3 at Almond Marsh. Learn
more
Citizens for
Conservation will sell plants May 6 and 7 at Good Shepherd Hospital. Learn
more
 Volunteers who lend their time, talent and voice show they
care about their community and can inspire others to take action and create
change. Lake County offers many ways that you can contribute your time and help
make a difference. As we approach National Volunteer Week, check out all
these volunteer opportunities.
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 Find Help Lake County is a single point of
access that allows you to connect with health and human services in Lake
County. Let us know how well this free site helps you by taking this survey! The feedback will be used to improve the
effectiveness of the website. The survey is available until April 26. As an
incentive to complete the survey, one lucky respondent will win a $25 gift
card.
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