Dear Neighbors,
Since I began as your board member one of the areas I have
been focused on is improving the County’s sustainability policies and
plans. You’ll read below in this edition
of the newsletter that Lake County government now receives 25 percent of its
energy from renewable sources. This is a
significant milestone, but change comes slowly.
The County is in the middle of constructing one of
Waukegan’s largest buildings, a new approximately 200,000-square-foot court tower. Earlier this year, as a member of the Board’s
Law & Judicial Committee, I and several other board members pushed very hard
to try to include bird-friendly building materials and techniques. A bird-friendly design is essential for Lake
County and our communities because of the heavy traffic of migratory birds
we see experience in communities near Lake Michigan. This week I continued that effort by engaging
in a conversation with the County’s Plan and Design Committee, a committee I
don’t sit on – but I will need their cooperation to advance bird-friendly
policies. It will take some time to
advance this discussion, but we are pressing forward. Enjoy your Independence Day – I hope to see
you at the Highland Park parade on Tuesday.
Fourth of July Celebrations
I will be participating in the City of Highland Park’s Fourth
of July Parade on Tuesday, I look forward to seeing you there.
The following are details on celebrations near
you.
Deerfield: Celebrate the holiday July 3 and
4 at Deerfield Family Days. Festivities will include games, live
entertainment, fireworks on July 3 as well as the parade
on July 4. Learn more
Highland
Park: Start the celebration
with the bike and pet parade at 9:30 a.m. followed by the Fourth of
July parade at 10 a.m. Festivities also will include Fourth Fest
at 11 a.m. at Sunset Woods Park, City of Highland Park & the
Bitter Jester Battle of the Bands grand finale concert at 4
p.m., and fireworks at 9:30 p.m. Details
 Lake County will now get 25 percent of its electricity from
“Green power” or electricity from renewable resources, such as solar, wind, and
geothermal. This is an additional 20 percent from its previous electricity rate
contract. Green energy has proved to be environmentally preferable to
electricity generated from conventional sources, including coal, oil, natural
gas, and nuclear. According to the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, on
average, replacing each kilowatt-hour (kWh) of traditional power with renewable
power avoids the emission of more than one pound of carbon dioxide, a key
greenhouse gas. Lake County will purchase 9.98 million renewable energy kWH(h)
under this contract, which is the equivalent of more than 15 million
pounds of carbon dioxide. Lake County has received an Environmental Stewardship
Certificate for its commitment to investing in green energy.
|
The
deadline is July 7 to complete the 2017 Senior Citizen Assessment Freeze
Application for
taxes payable in 2018.
The Senior Freeze provides eligible seniors (based on income
levels) protection against real estate tax increases due to rising property
values, as this exemption “freezes” your home’s equalized assessed value at a
base year value. The base year is generally the year before you first qualify
and apply for the exemption. For example, if you first qualify and apply in
2017, your property’s equalized assessed value will be “frozen” at the 2016
equalized assessed value. Please note that this exemption is not a tax freeze or
a tax reduction and does not protect against increased taxes due to tax rate
increases.
To qualify for this exemption, you must be 65 years of age or
older, own the property as your principal residence for the past two January
1’s, and have a 2016 total household income of $55,000 or less.
Applications can be filed at the
Chief County Assessment Office, 18 N. County St., 7th Floor, Waukegan or at
your local
township assessor’s office.
 Protect your dog and family from ticks! Dogs love to roll around in the
grass, jump in brush and walk in wooded areas – ALL places ticks may live. Watch this video to
find out the proper way to check and remove ticks from your dog from Heidi
Johnson, who works in Animal Care and Control for the Lake County Health
Department and Community Health Center.
|
 Individuals who struggle with substance abuse can get
directed quickly to treatment through a pilot program called “A Way Out."
The program is offered 24 hours a day, 365 days a year at participating police
departments in Lake County. Individuals, who possess narcotics or
paraphernalia, enter a participating police department and tell an officer they
are requesting help will avoid criminal charges if the participant seeks
assistance. Watch
this video to learn more about the “A Way Out” program.
|
So far in 2017, members of the Lake County Sheriff’s Office have saved the lives of 16 people from heroin overdoses. This number already surpasses the number of lives saved in 2015 (11) and 2016 (13).
The Sheriff’s Office partnered with the Lake County Health Department in 2014 and trained all Sheriff’s Office enforcement personnel in the administration of naloxone, an opioid antidote that counteracts the effects of heroin and opioids in the brain and essentially “brings back” an individual from an overdose. Nearly 100 doses of naloxone were administered since then.
The Lake County Sheriff’s Gang Task Force also continues to make strides, arresting heroin dealers operating throughout Lake County as well as providing educational presentations to school students, school staff, and community groups.
 This summer, join
the fight against opioid addiction. Here’s how:
|
The Illinois Department of
Transportation (IDOT) will be sending notice to their contractors
to stop all construction and prepare to make construction work zones safe for a
possible “long-term” shut down by June 30. This road construction
shut down is due to the lack of a state budget and an appropriation to fund
work after July 1.
This will impact several large projects in Lake County where
federal funding is administered by IDOT:
- Washington Street Grade Separation (LCDOT
Project)
- Deerfield Road – in the Village of
Deerfield and City of Highland Park (Municipal & LCDOT Project)
- Grand Avenue at US 41 in the Village of
Gurnee (IDOT Project)
- IL Route 59 at Petite Lake Road
intersection improvement and resurfacing (IDOT Project)
LCDOT will be working with resident engineers and contractors to
make sure that the roadways are as safe as possible for the traveling public.
Road construction projects that are locally funded will continue as scheduled.
For information about any of the projects in the
2017 Construction Program, view our interactive
construction map.
 Forest Preserve News
|
 26th Annual Civil War Days
History comes to life at one of the largest reenactments in the Midwest, featuring battles, period demonstrations, kids’ activities and Civil War-era shopping. Civil War Days will run from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. July 8 and 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. July 9 at Lakewood Forest Preserve. Purchase tickets online, and save $1 on admission. View daily schedule
|
 Gateways
Grants Open the Door for Schools
As budgets
shrink, field trips are increasingly out of reach for Lake County schools,
especially in low-income communities. Since 1991, Gateways Grants have made
field trips possible for tens of thousands of students. They benefit from
“school” in outdoor and museum settings, where learning is experiential and
profound. School districts with a low-income population of 40 percent or more
are eligible. Gateways Grants cover program fees and provide a bus stipend.
Donations fully fund this program. Our goal is to raise $5,000 in Gateways
Grants by the start of the school year. Help make field trips possible.
Little Sprouts: Planting a Seed
Help plant the
garden at Bonner Heritage Farm in Lindenhurst and sow seeds to take
home. Join us down on the farm for fun and frolicking on select Wednesdays
through October. Get to know families while kids enjoy stories, hands-on
activities and crafts. Learn more
|
 Eat
Healthful Produce and Support Local Youth
Eat healthful produce and support local youth when you shop at the
Green Youth Farm of Lake County market. The market is open from 9 a.m. to 1
p.m. Wednesdays through Oct. 12. Purchase fresh and nutritious organic
vegetables, herbs, honey and more, grown in Greenbelt Forest Preserve in North
Chicago by area students. Learn more
|
|
If you have any questions or concerns, please contact me at pfrank@lakecountyil.gov.
I encourage you to forward this update to others who may be interested in Lake County news. Residents who wish to automatically receive my bi-weekly newsletter can email me, or click the “Sign up for my mailing list here” button at the top of the newsletter.
Thank you,
Paul Frank
Mr. Frank, County Board member and Forest Preserve Commissioner, serves on:
Lake County Board, 11th District:
Lake County Law and Judicial Committee
Lake County Health and Community Services Committee
Lake County Ad Hoc Diversity and Inclusion Committee
Lake County Forest Preserves, 11th District:
Planning Committee
Ethics Committee
|
|
 |
| 
