Hello Neighbors
Good news: Illinois Route 60/83 is open, and the railroad crossing is
smoother. More good news: Fairfield Road will get new culverts .... BUT
the road will be closed for two weeks. See the story below to learn more, including the posted detour route.
Our County staff members exceeded expectations with their
skill, wisdom and spirit helping residents throughout Lake County during the
flood. Thanks once again to our exemplary staff and officials for all they
accomplished and for their planning and preparation that provided an immediate
response to this natural disaster. See below to learn how the County is
helping with the recovery.
The Lake County Forest Preserves District (LCFPD) launched the
interactive map and information system described below. To take advantage of
all the features, plan to spend a few hours exploring and practicing with the features.
As your LCFPD commissioner, I followed my own advice and am delighted with this
added technology to better appreciate nature.
There is no reason to be bored in Lake County. Many of
the stories below (and via the various links) point to fun, exploration and
learning. Tell others or share this newsletter with friends and families to
explore the diverse opportunities.
Ela Township residents, please check your assessments, and see
the article below with detailed explanations about the process as well as sources to help you better understand your property assessment. The story also is a resource if you want to appeal your assessment.
I hope you find many of the items in this newsletter to be
helpful. Please remember to call or email me with your comments, concerns
and questions.
Regards,
The Lake County Division of Transportation (LCDOT) will be closing
Fairfield Road, from IL 176 to Old McHenry Road, to through traffic starting at 5 a.m. Monday, Aug. 7. While the road is closed, LCDOT will be replacing two
culverts. Each culvert replacement is estimated to take one week. The road will
reopen by mdnight Aug. 20. View detour information for both closures.
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Aug. 7 – 13: The first road closure will be on Fairfield Road from
Kruger Road to Old McHenry Road.
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Aug. 14 – 20: The second road closure will be on Fairfield road
from Schwerman Road to Milton Road.
 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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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.
 Assessment
notices have been sent out for Ela Township. Notices will continue to be mailed
to other townships in Lake County through August.
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
The final filing date for
assessment appeals in Ela Township is Aug. 21. Assessment
appeals can be filed electronically using the Online Appeal Filing application. This quick and convenient 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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 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, including steps to follow if your home or
personal property was damaged by the flooding, free water testing provided by
the health department, and additional local resources that may be available for
those affected by the flooding.
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 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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 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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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.
 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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Help Hawthorn Woods Aquatic Center celebrate 10 years
Come as the Hawthorn Woods Aquatic Center celebrates 10 years of
service by joining the Flick and Float event at dusk Aug. 10. Doors will remain open after the normal closing time to enjoy a family-friendly movie. The event is free for Hawthorn Woods residents and members of the Hawthorn Woods Aquatic Center.
Join Fremont Public Library's next used book sale
Discover
books in a variety of subjects as well as books on CD, VHS videos, DVDs, music
CDs and more at the next used book sale from 10 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Saturday,
Aug. 12 and 1 to 4:30 p.m. Sunday, Aug. 13 at the Fremont Public Library.
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