Assessment notices have been sent out to residents within Ela and Vernon townships. Notices will continue to be mailed to other townships in Lake County through August. 

• The final filing date for assessment appeals for Ela Township is Aug. 21. 
• The final filing date for assessment appeals in Vernon Township is Sept. 5.  

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.

Filing an Appeal? Use our Online System
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.

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. 

As you know, the Lake County Division of Transportation is resurfacing Aptakisic Road from Buffalo Grove Road to Illinois Route 21 and Buffalo Grove Road, from Lake Cook Road to Illinois Route 83 as part of the 2017 construction program. Work continues to proceed on both projects, and new photos have been added to the project websites. On Aptakisic Road, crews are finishing up the paved shoulder behind the curb and completing the final piece of sidewalk. The contractor will also be prepping the pavement for the final layer of asphalt. Asphalt paving is complete on Buffalo Grove Road, and pavement markings will be coming soon. Visit the Aptakisic Road project website and Buffalo Grove Road project website for more information.

On July 11 and 12, Lake County was inundated by VERY heavy rain. Some communities received over seven inches of rain in a 24-hour period. The rain not only led to flash flooding that impacted roads, homes, parks, businesses, and more, but also resulted in flooding to our major rivers that prolonged flooding in several communities. Take a look at the “Flood by the Numbers”. 

For the latest information on the 2017 flood, which includes helpful resources and what you should do if you've been impacted by flooding, visit our 2017 Flood web page.

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.

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!

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.

Join Annual Fred Fest
Fred Fest returns to Fox River Forest Preserve in Port Barrington on Aug. 19. Join us for this exciting all-day music festival featuring a full lineup of diverse local bands, food and drinks, and activities for the family. All net proceeds benefit the Preservation Foundation. Learn more

Solar Eclipse Viewing Party
On August 21, people all across the United States will see the sun disappear behind the moon, turning daylight into twilight, causing the temperature to rapidly drop and revealing massive streamers of light streaking throughout the sky. Don’t miss out! Stop by Ryerson Woods Welcome Center and join the fun as we experience the solar eclipse. This is the closest the Chicago region has been to the "path of totality" in over 200 years. This event is free and open to all ages; adult supervision is required. Learn more »

Community Campfire Friday Nights
Gather with friends and family roasting marshmallows over the fire, stroll peacefully on a nature walk, share a story or bring an instrument to play. Nature activities vary monthly; make sure you bring a cozy blanket and a chair. Learn more »

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: 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

As always, I welcome your feedback. If this newsletter was forwarded to you, please sign up to continue to receive news about Lake County and District 20.

Thank you,
Sidney Mathias 

Mr. Mathias, County Board member and Forest Preserve Commissioner, serves on:

Lake County Board, 20th District:
Ad Hoc Legislative Committee, Co-Chair
Ethics and Oversight Committee, Vice Chair
Planning, Building and Zoning Committee
Public Works and Transportation Committee  

Lake County Forest Preserves, 20th District: 
Diversity and Cultural Awareness Committee, Chair
Planning Committee,  Vice Chair
Rules Committee