District 4 Newsletter

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Brent C. Paxton, District 4

May 12, 2017

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Time to Watch Out for Ticks

It’s the time of year to take precautions against ticks, which can be most active during the warmer weather and can carry diseases such as Lyme disease. Once considered a rare illness in Lake County, Lyme disease is becoming more common in the area. The Lake County Health Department and Community Health Center provides tips to help protect yourself from exposure to ticks:

  • Clear leaf litter under trees, and keep the ground clean under bird feeders
  • Keep grass near playground equipment short.
  • Install a wood chip or gravel barrier between lawns and wooded and tall grass areas.
  • Minimize wood piles as these are attractive to small mammals such as mice, which can carry ticks. 
tick removal

How to remove a tick
Whether it’s rubbing alcohol, nail polish, or a burnt match, there’s a lot of misguided folklore when it comes to how to remove a tick. Watch this video as Lake County Health Department Senior Biologist Mike Adam explains the proper techniques to remove a tick.


Community Helps Shape Priorities in Lake County Strategic Plan

The County Board works for all residents to deliver services and solve problems that impact their daily lives, from property taxes to roads to jobs. The Lake County Board recently updated its 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


Looking for a Job? Come to the Job Center of Lake County

job center

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 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


Lake County’s Tough Jobs: Inside the Jail

Dirty jobs inside jail

Get an inside look at what it’s like to work in the Lake County Jail as County Board Chairman Aaron Lawlor explores some of its "tough" jobs. Watch this video and see him do some of the daily tasks at the jail like laundry and food preparation, and learn how the jail keeps clean.

 

We Appreciate our County’s Correctional Officers

Behind the bars

This week, we join the nation to celebrate National Correctional Officers Week and recognize the work that these men and women do each day to help protect our county. Recently, Lake County Sheriff Mark Curran went behind the bars, completing a five-week corrections officer training at the Lake County Jail and then was responsible for a 60-inmate pod for five days. Watch this video to learn more about his experience and what a correctional officer’s responsibilities would be on a typical day.


Officials Celebrate "Topping Out" of Courthouse Expansion

top off courthouse expansion

Lake County Board Members, judges in the Nineteenth Judicial Circuit, and others that have been a part of the Lake County Courthouse Expansion Project signed 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. 


County Welcomes Caterpillar to New Deerfield Headquarters

Caterpillar

Caterpillar has selected Deerfield as home to its new corporate headquarters. Caterpillar initially plans to relocate approximately 100 employees to its new site immediately, but that 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 and discusses working together to ensure that the transition is smooth and successful. 


Save the Date for Lake County Partners Big Event

Join Lake County’s single largest gathering of business and community leaders to discuss ways to strengthen, sustain and leverage the County’s economy. The Lake County Partners Big Event will take place June 23 at the Lincolnshire Marriott Resort. Registration is now open. Learn more


Property Tax Bills Are Coming to Your Mailbox

interactive tax bill

Property tax bills have been mailed and are on their way to your mailbox. Tax bills are for the 2016 tax year 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.


Forest Preserve Logo

Forest Preserve News

summer concerts

Summer Concerts
Get ready for award-winning performers playing under the stars at the annual Events in the Plaza music series. Eight concerts will be held at Independence Grove Forest Preserve at 7:30 p.m., Tuesdays, June 13 through Aug. 8. From Beatles to the blues, rock and reggae, swing and jazz, there’s something for any musical taste. View the concert lineup.


Independence Grove marina

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. 


Independence Grove beach

Independence Grove Beach
Grab your swimsuit, towel and sunscreen, and head to the beach at Independence Grove, open only on weekends May 27 to June 4. The beach will open daily beginning June 5. The beach offers 400 feet of sand along the lake's South Bay. Learn more


coyote

Wildlife in the Preserves
By early June, coyote pups begin to venture out of the den that has sheltered them since birth. In early summer, we often receive reports of sightings due to increased daytime activity. When dens are located near trails, staff will install signs to inform trail users about coyote behavior and how to safely respond if you see a coyote. Learn more

 

preserve status

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. 


Lake County Health Department Unveils New Vision

health department new vision

Unveiling a new vision, Healthy Choices. Healthier People. Healthiest Communities, the Lake County Health Department plans to use data to maximize resources and work with local, state and federal leaders to shape policy, improve systems and advocate for environmental change in the county. Watch this video to learn more about the department’s exciting direction.

Learn More About Hepatitis Prevention, Care at Free Health Fair 
Learn more about hepatitis prevention, care and treatment as well as information regarding overall health at a free health fair from 9 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. May 18 in the County Building lobby, 18 N. County St., Waukegan. Free hepatitis C and HIV tests also will be offered the day of the fair at the Lake County Health Department Sexually Transmitted Infections program’s office, 2400 Belvidere Road, Waukegan. Learn more

diabetes management

Learn to Manage or Prevent Diabetes
The Lake County Health Department offers a variety of diabetes prevention and treatment programs, which help people with diabetes learn how to take care of themselves and reduce their risk of developing complications. Program staff provide group and one-on-one instruction, and services are available in English and Spanish. Watch this video to learn more. 

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