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Metra will be closing Wilson Road to through traffic
from Rollins Road to Illinois Route 134. The road closure is necessary for
Metra to repair the existing railroad crossing. The road closure will begin July 12 at 9 a.m. and is scheduled to reopen July 20 in the
late afternoon.
Local traffic will be allowed from Rollins Road to the
Metra railroad crossing and from Illinois Route 134 to the Metra railroad
crossing. The railroad crossing will be closed to all traffic.
Detour Route: Rollins Road, to
Fairfield Road, to Illinois Route 134.
The Lake County Division of Transportation is conducting a Phase I
Study for a possible realignment of Cedar Lake Road between Nippersink Road and
Hart Road. Join an open house to learn more about the project study process and
schedule and to share your feedback. At the meeting, you will have an
opportunity to talk with project representatives, view exhibits of existing
conditions, and volunteer to serve on the stakeholder involvement group.
For additional information, contact Chuck Gleason, Phase I Project
Manager, at 847-377-7447.
When: 5 to 7 p.m. July 12 (open house format)
Where: Round Lake Public Works Building, 751 W. Townline Road, Round
Lake
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.
Assessment notices have been sent
out for Wauconda Township. Notices will continue to be mailed to other townships
in Lake County through August.
What is A Property Assessment?
It may help to think of the property tax process like a pie.
Taxing bodies, including school districts, villages and the county (and many
other taxing districts) determine how much they need to collect in taxes. That
determines the size of the pie, and the property assessment determines how
the pie is cut up. The assessment process ensures property taxes are fairly
distributed. Elected township assessors are primarily responsible for
appraising properties and determining a property’s value, which ultimately
determines the portion of the total tax burden (or piece of the pie). If you have questions or concerns regarding the
assessed value of your property, you should discuss this with your local township assessor’s office.
 Understand Your Property Assessment
Get free, one-on-one assistance with evaluating your assessment at tax assessment help centers. These are
listed on your blue assessment notice, too. Watch
this video to learn more about the help centers.
Taxpayer advocates are also available from 8:30 a.m. to 5 p.m.
Monday through Friday at the Chief County Assessment Office, 18 N. County St.,
7th Floor, Waukegan.
Should You Appeal Your Property
Assessment?
View the five steps to determining if you should
appeal your property assessment.
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 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. Watch this video
to learn more about the process to file an appeal online.
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 Drivers with outstanding fines and costs for traffic
violations in Lake County can pay off their outstanding traffic tickets at their original cost during the
County’s “Operation Green Light” initiative July 17 to 21.
Operation Green Light payments can be made over the
phone or in person at one of Lake County’s branch courts. Find
out more, including where to pay.
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 Are you seeking employment? Transitioning careers? Attend “Five Steps to Your Next Job” to learn current job search techniques and other tips to land your next job! The next workshop series will meet from 9:30 to 11:30 a.m. July 17 to 21 at Cook Park Library in Libertyville. Learn more, including how to register. Also, view the full schedule of workshops and job events the Job Center of Lake County will offer through July.
Lake County is Hiring!
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 more. View the current job opportunities available.
Join Round Lake Area Job Fair
Job seekers are invited to join the Round Lake Area Job Fair from 9:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. July 11 at Magee Middle School in Round Lake. The first hour gives priority to veterans. Learn more about the job fair, including how to register as an employer or a job seeker.
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 Forest Preserve News
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 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
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 Family Fun Fridays at Independence Grove
The beach at
Independence Grove gets even better on Fridays with games, contests and prizes
around a different theme each week. Join the party from 11:30 a.m. to 2 p.m.
Fridays. These events are open to all ages and free with beach admission. No
registration is required. Learn
more
Preservation
Foundation Helps Fund Ranger Training
Lake County
Forest Preserve Ranger Police patrol 10 percent of the land in Lake County,
making ours the second largest jurisdiction. As part of their work, rangers
often encounter people with emotional, cognitive, and mental health challenges.
The Preservation Foundation’s Board of Directors recently
approved a grant for Crisis Intervention Training to provide all full-time
rangers with skills to deescalate interactions with people in crisis and
connect them with health services. This specialized training will directly
improve public safety in your forest preserves. Learn more about how you can
stay safe in the preserves with these safety alerts and tips.
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 Lake County Public Works is committed to providing
safe water to our customers. In accordance with the Safe Drinking Water Act, we
publish an annual Consumer
Confidence Report (CCR) describing the
sources, treatment and chemical analysis of each water distribution system.
Learn more about what we are doing to protect your
local drinking water quality and find out where your water comes from in this video.
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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:
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 The
Lake County Courthouse Expansion project is well underway! Watch this edition of Lake County's Dirty Jobs as County Board
Chairman Aaron Lawlor tackles an important task and sprays fireproofing
material on the steel beams in the building, which will make it safer in the
event of a fire. This project,
which is anticipated to be completed in summer 2018, is designed to increase
the efficiency of the justice system and support growth of the justice agencies
out to the year 2030 and beyond.
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my Facebook page! Like my page today, and remember to hit "Like” at the
top of the page!
Enjoy movie by the lake
Enjoy a free movie at dusk July 15 at Lakefront Park in Fox Lake. Food and drinks will be available to purchase. Details
Join Lunch and Learn about senior scams
There are scams and crimes targeting senior citizens. Learn about these crimes and
how to protect yourself against them at noon July 18 at the Fremont Township Office. Lunch is provided. To attend, call Kari Pohar at 847-740-6708.
Join Rods on Rollins
The Village of Fox Lake will present Rods on Rollins, featuring all makes and models at 4 p.m. July 29 at Millennium Park. Admission is free. Learn more
News from Volo Bog State Natural Area
Join novice and seasoned bird watchers for bird walks at 8 a.m. most weekends through August at Volo Bog State Natural Area. Walks cover two to three miles over a variety of habitats and are geared to adults and attentive children ages 6 and older. Registration is requested by calling 815-344-1294.
The Volunteer Veterans Conservation Corps provides opportunities for veterans to assist with and develop projects to enhance state parks and natural areas. Volunteers meet from 9:30 a.m. to noon Saturdays at Volo Bog as well as Moraine Hills State Park and McHenry Dam. The next meeting is Aug. 26. Registration is requested. For information, call 815-344-1294 or send an email to dnr.volobog@illinois.gov.
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