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Residents who were affected by the flooding may
qualify for assessment relief by filling out the Disaster
Area Application for Reassessment. Forms can be
sent by email to assessor@lakecountyil.gov or can be mailed to the Chief County Assessment
Office, 18 N. County St. 7th Floor, Waukegan, IL 60085. Make
sure to include any supporting documentation if applicable. For information,
contact the Chief County Assessment Office at 847-377-2100 or assessor@lakecountyil.gov or
your local
township assessor’s office.
 One
important way to keep your pet safe is to keep the vaccinations up to date. The
Lake County Health Department will hold its next low-cost pet vaccination clinic from 9 a.m. to noon Saturday, Aug. 5 at the Grant Township Center, 26725 W. Molidor Road, Ingleside. Learn more about the clinic, including cost.
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Join me at an upcoming community forum to get your questions answered on a variety of topics, including neighborhood watch, the opioid epidemic, and other services provided by Lake County and Grant Township.
When: 6:30 - 8 p.m., Sept. 18
Where: Grant Township Center, 26725 W. Molidor Road, Ingleside
 Following the devastating floods, Lake County government and
its partners have been working nonstop to respond to the disaster and provide
needed resources and assistance. In this video, Lake County Board Chairman Aaron Lawlor visits
the Red Cross Disaster Resource Center, which has helped hundreds of families
impacted by the floods. He talks about the response efforts, including what a
local disaster declaration means, clean-up, and what all residents should know
about mosquitoes. Watch
now.
Flood information website
Make sure to view the county’s flood information
page, which contains
updated, valuable information if your home or
personal property was damaged by the flooding. Among the information available is how to handle the sandbags that may now be contaminated with floodwaters and local resources that may be available to assist with the disaster assessment process. The following are some local resources available:
- Village of Fox Lake is offering flood clean-up kits from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. through Friday at the Community Center, 23 South St. and is scheduling trash pickup Aug. 7 to 11 for flood-damaged items. Visit the village's website to learn more.
- As water levels recede on the Fox River and Chain
O’Lakes, more debris will become apparent. The Fox Waterway Agency
provides a form that allows you to report concerns that need to be
addressed. View
concern form. And, view the latest information from Joe Keller, the agency's executive director.
Water well safety
Flood waters may contaminate wells. Drinking and/or washing with water from a private well that has been flooded is not advised as the well water may be contaminated with bacteria and other contaminants. Residents on private wells need to have their water tested after floodwaters have receded. The Lake County Health Department is offering free water testing to residents whose wells are affected by flooding. For information on well water testing, contact Environmental Health Services at 847-377-8020.
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 Since
flooding in mid-July, the Fox Chain O’Lakes has been closed to boating and
recreational swimming was not advised. As waters receded, the Lake County
Health Department tested the 15 licensed swimming beaches around the Chain for
the presence of E. coli bacteria. All test results indicated that E. coli
levels were below the unsafe range.
While
conditions have improved, residents are urged to be
cautious about swimming in recently flooded lakes as floating or sunken debris
may be hazardous. In addition, the beach sampling is not necessarily
representative of the entire lake system. Other sources of pollution may still
be present, such as failing septic systems. Residents can test their own lake
water by picking up a bottle from the Health Department Lab, 500 W.
Winchester Road, Libertyville. The cost is $18 per sample.
The
Lake County Health Department monitors over 100 swimming beaches in Lake County
during the summer. Check swim bans or advisories, which are updated daily, at the beach advisory website.
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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. Please join us for an open house to learn more about the project
study process and schedule and to share your feedback. At the meeting, you can
talk with project representatives, view exhibits of existing conditions, and
volunteer to serve on the stakeholder involvement group.
The original meeting date had to be rescheduled due to widespread
flooding in Lake County. If you have any questions or need additional
information, please contact Chuck Gleason, Phase I Project Manager, at 847-377
7447.
When: 5 to 7 p.m. Aug. 9
Where: Round Lake Public Works Building, 751 W. Townline Road, Round
Lake
 A mosquito pool sampled earlier
this summer in Zion has tested positive for West Nile virus and is the first
confirmed indicator of West Nile presence in Lake County this year. While floodwater mosquitoes are reaching nuisance
population levels in the county, the Lake County Health Department reports they
do not carry the West Nile virus. The concern is that standing water in items like
buckets, gutters, plant containers and debris from flood cleanup will become
breeding sites for the species of mosquito that is the primary carrier of West
Nile virus.
Remember to practice the 4 D’s to protect yourself and your family
from mosquitoes: Drain, Defend,
Dawn to Dusk, and Dress. Visit the health department’s Fight
the Bite Now website to learn more prevention tips and additional
information about West Nile virus.
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 Did you use Lake County PASSAGE as a resource for local road
information during the flood? The widespread flooding that hit Lake County in
July caused major roads to close, and commutes were disrupted for several days
in a row. Throughout the disaster, LCDOT had a team of traffic operators and
engineers updating Lake County PASSAGE around the clock, and remotely observing
traffic conditions to adjust signal timings as flooding events unfolded. This
was done in real time to help traffic adjust to road closures and backups.
Whether you are a regular PASSAGE
user or if this was your first time - you may be wondering how it works? Here
is a video tour of the PASSAGE
operation so you can see what
happens behind the scenes.
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 Find your next adventure with our interactive trail map, built on
GIS technology. This easy-to-use map will help you locate trails, preserves,
activities and amenities within your Lake County Forest Preserves from your
phone, tablet or computer. The 2017 Hike Lake County trails are also included
on the map. Exercise, relax and spend quality time outdoors along nearly 204
miles of trails in peaceful, natural settings. Learn more and start exploring
today!
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 Hike Lake County
It’s back! Earn your yearly
commemorative shield while exploring designated “Hike Lake
County” trails and enjoying fall breezes and autumn colors. Complete just
seven of the hikes between Aug. 15 and Nov. 30 to earn the custom designed
shield. Learn more
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 Work, Earn and Learn with Division of Transportation
Gain paid work experience with the Lake County Division of
Transportation as part of its WEL Program. Attend one of the following
information sessions to learn how you can work, earn and learn with the
Division of Transportation for six months. Learn more about
the WEL Program.
When: 10 a.m. Aug. 11 or 2 p.m. Aug. 18
Where: Job Center of Lake County, 1 N. Genesee St., Waukegan
Paid internships available
Youth ages 18 to 24 who live in Lake County and are currently
unemployed may be eligible for a paid internship. Internships expose youth to
viable careers while expanding their skill sets and connecting them to training
resources to secure long-term employment. Learn more by attending an
information session. Learn more
Job Center of Lake County Waukegan: 3 p.m. Tuesdays and 11 a.m.
Thursdays
Job Center Satellite Office
Grayslake: 3 p.m. Wednesdays
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Lake County attractions are drawing crowds as visitors flock to check
off their summer bucket lists. In addition to festivals, entertainment venues
and a growing restaurant scene, Lake County’s 31,000 acres of forest preserve,
550 miles of trails and bikeways, 650 local parks, six state parks, 46 golf courses,
and more than 100 beaches make it a top Illinois travel destination. View the latest Lake County Economic Update as
Lake County Partners President Kevin Considine notes new developments and the
region’s position as a hub for corporate travelers.
The top 70 PGA Tour players and golf enthusiasts will again come to Lake
County as the BMW Championship takes place Sept. 12 to 17 at Conway Farms Golf
Club in Lake Forest. Learn
more about the 2017 BMW Championship, including opportunities to volunteer
at the event. The tournament is expected to bring more traffic to the area, so
make sure to go to Lake County PASSAGE for updated traffic conditions.
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The
Nineteenth Judicial Circuit recently celebrated the expansion of the Robert W.
Depke Juvenile Complex Center in Vernon Hills. The building now features new
courtrooms and hearing rooms and more space for the State's Attorney's Office
and Public Defender's Office to privately interview clients and witnesses. Watch this video to learn more about
the center.
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 Set
in the midst of bustling suburbs, this emerald island offers a quiet place to
relax and recreate with nature. Its wide-open spaces are safe, clean and easy
to explore. Four miles of gravel trails are open to hikers, bicyclists and
cross-country skiers. Please keep dogs leashed and on trails at all times, and
pick up after them. The trails run through open areas within the preserve,
crossing several creeks, skirting the reservoir and traversing restored
prairie.
Within the next year, Buffalo
Creek Forest Preserve will be undergoing reservoir expansion, preserve
improvements, wetland mitigation and new trail construction. Visitors will
enjoy 1.2 miles of additional trails that will provide two new loops east of
Schaeffer Road, seven new boardwalks, two scenic overlooks and a 30-car
expansion of the existing parking lot. Approximately a half-mile of the
existing trail in a flood prone area will be relocated to higher ground to
increase accessibility for longer periods and reduce long-term maintenance
costs. Nineteen acres of new wetlands and 35 acres of prairie/savanna will be
added as part of the restoration of the basin.
As part of a wetland
mitigation bank, additional restoration work on the
preserve’s western 65 acres will reestablish and
rehabilitate native wetland habitat by returning the former farm fields to a sustainable
natural condition. When complete, visitors of the preserve will be able
to enjoy an additional 1.1 miles of new trails connecting an adjacent
residential area and the Village of Long Grove’s soccer fields to the extensive
network of existing trails within the preserve. View concept plans
and project details.
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The Chicago Metropolitan
Agency for Planning continues to develop northeastern Illinois' next
long-range comprehensive plan, On to 2050. Provide your input by attending a
public forum from 4 to 5:30 p.m. Aug. 15 at the Libertyville Civic Center, 135
W. Church St. The forum's topic will be "Doing More with Less in
2050." Learn
more about the forum.
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