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Dear Neighbors,
At the May Board meetings, we honored Audrey H. Nixon, our
friend and colleague who faithfully represented North Chicago, Waukegan and
Park City for more than 35 years. Ms.
Nixon passed away on April 27 at the age of 81.
She was still an active member of the Board and had attended a meeting
just two days before her death. All of
Lake County was fortunate to have her dedicated service, with a focus on
justice, diversity and inclusion. She
believed everyone deserved a second chance.
The County and Forest Preserve approved an agreement related
to the construction of a multi-use trail from I-94 to Van Patten Woods Des
Plaines River Trail. For more information on local trail connections, read the story below.
The County Board heard an update on the activities of Lake
County Partners. Did you know there are
more than 700 local medical instrument
and precision manufacturing and tooling companies? They have employed almost 18,000 people; since 2010
there has been a 15 percent increase in these jobs in Lake County. Learn more by visiting Lake County Partners website.
The Forest Preserve approved an ordinance adopting the annual budget of $73,591,979. This is a
decrease of 17 percent from the previous year.
The refinancing of bonds resulted in almost $1 million in savings and
will have continued savings in future years. We continue to align the budget with our strategic goals. For the second year, we have 10-year
projections in both capital and operating budgets.
I am
always looking for feedback on my newsletter as well as what's happening in
Lake County. If you have any comments or concerns, feel free to send me an email. If this newsletter was
forwarded to you, please sign
up to continue to receive news about Lake County and District 21.
Also,
make sure to like my Facebook
page where you can get relevant and up-to-date information
important to District 21. Remember to hit "Like” at the top of the page!
Ann B. Maine
amaine@lakecountyil.gov
847-857-1732
Lake County Board, District 21
President, Lake County Forest Preserve District
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.
 The
first installment of your property tax bill for the 2016 tax year will be due on June
6. The second installment will be due 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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The 2017 assessment notices for Shields Township have been mailed. The notices include important information, including a
summary of the current year’s valuation changes, property characteristics,
homestead exemptions received on the previous tax bill, and more. If you
have questions or concerns regarding the assessed value of your property,
discuss this with your local township
assessor’s office. The assessment value changes for 2017 will be
published in this week’s edition of the Lake Forester.
Filing an appeal? Use our online system
Our quick and convenient Online Appeal
Filing System allows you to get your appeal information to the Board of
Review without the hassle of mailing or hand delivering them to the Chief
County Assessment Office in Waukegan. Learn more about the
process to file an appeal, including reasons to
appeal and the hearing process. The assessment appeal filing deadline for
Shields Township is June 26.
 Forest Preserves News
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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, following May Board review of bid proposals. Public access
improvements for Fort Sheridan were approved by the Lake County Forest Preserve
Board in November 2015 as part of the Master Plan for the
preserve. During construction, all portions of the preserve north of Fort
Sheridan’s historic district will be closed to public access. View site closure
status and project updates.
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 an evaporator toilet
· 1.6 miles of mown turf trails will be reconstructed with improved
drainage, durability and two new boardwalks.
· The Hutchinson Trail will become an accessible trail from Sheridan
Road all the way to the new lake overlook by adding two new boardwalks and
converting the woodchip section to a paved surface.
· View
Project Map, and learn about additional new features.
 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
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 Summer Camps
Select openings are still
available. Our day camps are designed for summer fun and learning. Browse
available camps and enroll online.
Everett Road Trail Connection
Construction began in February on a new 0.25-mile trail along Everett Road connecting local trails at the Riverwoods Road roundabout to Captain Daniel Wright Woods Forest Preserve and the Des Plaines River Trail. As an alternative to standard asphalt, a portion of the new trail will be constructed using permeable surfacing made from recycled tires, stone aggregate and a binding agent. This environmentally sensitive approach has up to 29 percent void space allowing large volumes of water to pass through, which reduces water runoff by allowing water to soak through into the ground. View project map. This new trail link is expected to open in late summer 2017. Learn more
New Middlefork Savanna Trail Connection
The Lake County Forest Preserves began
construction in March on the trail and bridge over the Metra Railway linking
Middlefork Savanna Forest Preserve to Lake Forest Academy and Townline
Community Park. This is part of an overall effort to connect the
Middlefork Savanna and Greenway to McArthur Woods Forest Preserve and the Des
Plaines River Trail. The project includes a 221-foot steel pedestrian bridge,
scenic overlook, 10-foot-wide paved trails, and crosswalk improvements at the
intersection of IL Route 60 and Academy Drive. View map
The Lake County Forest Preserves is pleased to
be working with the following partners and donors to make this project
possible: City of Lake Forest, Lake Forest Academy, Lake Forest Bank &
Trust, Lake Forest Open Lands Association, and Richard and Elizabeth Uihlein.
The Forest Preserve is the lead agency responsible for administration and
coordination of the project and 60 percent of the local funding for
construction costs. The Forest Preserve also secured federal funding for the
project through a grant from the Illinois Transportation Enhancement
Program, administered by the Illinois Department of Transportation. Learn
more
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 Help
Restore Nature
Spend
a weekend morning restoring wildlife habitat. Gather with other
preservation-minded volunteers, and help make a difference in the health and
habitat of your forest preserves. No experience is required, and families and
groups are welcome. Please RSVP so we can bring enough equipment for everyone. Learn more
Foundation
Celebrates 10 Years
This
year marks the 10th anniversary of the Preservation Foundation of the Lake
County Forest Preserves. Every gift from every donor helps us do more. We’ll
celebrate this milestone with a special event for our “first decade donors,”
and we’ll host behind-the-scenes tours and gatherings to thank donors and inspire
others to get involved. Learn more
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 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
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 Beyond Ribbit
Few sounds evoke
summer in Lake County like the song of frogs. Listen for these late-season
breeders at a preserve
near you.
Grey treefrog (Hyla
versicolor)
Hearing birds singing at
night? It may be the bird-like musical trill of this frog calling from the
trees. Best bet: Van Patten Woods (Wadsworth), west of the river.
Green frog (Rana
clamitans)
Listen at night near
ponds and rivers for the sound of a loose banjo string being plucked once or
twice. Best bet: preserves with ponds, such as Captain Daniel Wright Woods
(Mettawa).
Bullfrog (Rana
catesbeiana)
Some use the mnemonic
“jug-o-rum” for this common, but non-native, species. We prefer to imagine Star
Wars light sabers in action. Best bet: Des Plaines River Trail and adjacent
forest preserves.
Explore more of Lake County’s
native plants and animals.
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Enjoy nature? Want to learn something new? Visit our Nature Blog, and if you enjoy history, be sure to read the History Blog by Diana Dreske. You'll be surprised at what you learn.
You can also view a full calendar of Forest Preserve events for more information.
 Deerfield: The American Legion will hold its
Memorial Day service starting at 10 a.m. May 29 at the Veterans’ Memorial in
Jewett Park. A procession to the Deerfield Cemetery will immediately follow.
Grayslake: The village’s Memorial Day parade will
begin at 9:30 a.m. May 29 stepping off from the Hillside Avenue parking lot across from Grayslake Central High
School on Lake Street. The ceremony will take place one block north of Park
Avenue near the downtown Clocktower (Millennium Court Veteran's Memorial site)
at the corner of Seymour Avenue and Center Street. Learn more
Gurnee:
American Legion Post 771 will hold its annual Memorial Day ceremony at noon May
29 in front of the police station at the corner of Washington and O’Plaine
Road. Details
Lake Forest: Bring the family to honor local service men and women and veterans at the Memorial Day ceremony at 10:45 a.m. May 29 at Market Square. Details
Libertyville: A
parade led by the American Legion and VFW will begin at 9:30 a.m. May 29 from
the commuter train station to Cook Park for the annual ceremony.
Lincolnshire:
Remember the fallen and honor the veterans at the annual Memorial Day ceremony
at 10 a.m. May 29 at Spring Lake Park. Details
Waukegan: Come
enjoy the Memorial Day parade at 10:30 a.m. May 29. The parade will kick off at
the corner of Genesee and Grand Avenue in downtown Waukegan. A short ceremony
will follow the parade. Learn more
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 Travel Safely, Buckle Up this Memorial
Day
As motorists take to the roads
this upcoming Memorial Day weekend, the Lake County Sheriff’s Office reminds
everyone to buckle their seat belts. Sheriff’s deputies will be enforcing seat
belt laws, joining law enforcement agencies across the country in mobilizing
the Click It or Ticket Border to Border Operation. Learn more
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 Lake County’s Tough Jobs: Inside
the 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.
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 Let’s Go
Biking, Lake County!
Did you know the Lake County Division of
Transportation (LCDOT) has about 60 miles of bike paths and bike lanes as part
of the Lake County highway system? This is part of the over 550 total
miles of trails and bike ways, connecting forest preserves and communities
throughout the county! Plan your next trip by using the Bike Lake County
application, where you can find all the
trails, paths, and lanes you can use in Lake County.
Dan Krill from Lake County’s
Planning, Building & Development Department has been using these bike paths
and bike lanes while riding his bike to work every day (even in the winter) for
the past seven years. Watch this video to hear his story,
and learn how LCDOT continues to consider non-motorized travel a high priority.
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 Keep Drivers, Workers Safe! Don’t Rush Through Work
Zones
Road construction can cause delays, but don’t try to hurry
through a work zone. Even if workers aren’t on site, work zone speed limits are
in place AT ALL TIMES by state law. This is for the safety of drivers as well as
the workers. Work zones have changing conditions, shifting or narrowing lanes,
equipment and other potential hazards to motorists that are going too fast or
not paying attention. Watch this
video as Lake County Division of Transportation workers share a few safety
tips and ask for your help to make sure everyone gets home safely at the end of
the day.
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Transportation Links:
Tollway
Construction
IDOT
Metra
Travel
Midwest
Wisconsin
Construction
 Communities Launch Year-Round Food Scrap Composting Programs
Turning food scraps into compost is just one part of
Lake County’s critical strategy to increase recycling across the county and
achieve a 60% recycling goal. One way the Solid Waste Agency of Lake County is
helping work toward that goal is through food scrap programs like the ones
recently launched in Highwood and Lake Bluff, the first municipalities in
Illinois to include year-round food-scrap collection programs in hauling
contracts. Watch this video to learn more about
this new program.
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 Are you planning to go boating over the Memorial Day weekend?
Boating is one of the most popular activities in Lake County, and it’s no
surprise as the county offers so many lakes to visit as we enjoy the warmer
weather. Check out BoatingLakeCounty.com as your boating resource including
maps of all the county’s public boat ramps, lakefront dining and more.
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Protect your wallet and identity by ordering certified or genealogical
copies of Lake County birth, death, marriage, or civil union records directly
from the County Clerk’s Office. Residents are warned against using online
vendors, who sometimes charge higher fees, and they ultimately send the
order to the County Clerk’s Office to be fulfilled. To protect the integrity of
these records, access is restricted by state statute, and applicants are
required to complete a written application and provide valid identification.
For those who cannot visit the Clerk’s office, downloadable application forms
are available. Learn more
 Health Department Unveils 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.
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 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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Discover arts and culture events in Lake Forest
Interested in a concert? Art show? Historic preservation? Visit the City of Lake Forest Arts and Culture site to find a
complete list of groups in the community.
Go swimming in Deerfield
Summer is around the corner, and the pools are opening! Deerfield’s Deerspring pool opens June 3,
while Mitchell Pool opens June 10. Get more information on pool programs.
Discover offerings at Libertyville complex
The Village of Libertyville Recreation and Sports Complex offers
day camps, adult sports, golf lessons and more. Learn more
Food Truck Fridays return
Food Truck Fridays have
returned to Lincolnshire. Come on out
and have something good to eat. Learn more, including new food trucks featured this year.
Warren Township offers special collection
Residents who live in unincorporated Warren Township can arrange for pick up of electronics, hazardous
waste and other items. Learn more
Discover more fun in Lake County
Visit Lake County has a
complete list of activities throughout Lake County.
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