Six months later, we needed to stand up again against hatred as a community. I was extremely proud to join hundreds of residents at Highland Park's Veterans Memorial Park last Friday night at a rally for peace and solidarity. This rally was organized by resident Joan Zahnle, who said she had seen too much hate and stood up to pull us together. Many of us have expressed our feelings on social media and privately about the things we have seen and heard here and around the country lately. As your elected representative to the Lake County Board, I wanted to use this newsletter to clearly and publicly state that there is no place for hate here in our community. Government officials don't have all the answers in times of crisis, but in the face of evil the very least that any elected official can do is stand up and call evil by its name. 

There are not two sides of peace, justice or equality. We have an obligation to help to defend the meanings of the principles of liberty and freedom.  Those terms don't belong to those who seek to use freedom to inflict pain and fear, they belong to all of us. 

This wave of hatred and the national rise in hate crimes that we are seeing may not be over tomorrow.  We will probably need to stand up and declare our allegiance to peace, diversity, and inclusion many more times in the future. We have clearly seen that this community is and will be ready.

Learn the benefits of owning a rain barrel and compost bin as the Solid Waste Agency of Lake County holds an end-of-summer rain barrel, compost bin and accessories sale from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Sept. 15 at its Gurnee facility, 1311 N. Estes St. Both are made using recyclable materials. Some benefits are:

• Save on your water bill and use water on your own schedule
• Reduce erosion, flooding and stormwater runoff
• Help plants resist disease and improve your soil’s pH balance

Lake County is working with state and federal teams, assessing the damage to homes and businesses impacted by the July floods. Recently, the teams went door to door to talk to residents. This validation is part of the ongoing Public Assistance assessment process to determine if the amount of flood damage meets the threshold to qualify for federal assistance to reimburse local governments and businesses for costs associated with the floods. Learn the latest information by visiting our 2017 flood web page.

As students return to the classroom, let’s make sure they are safe this school year! This means keeping an eye on the road for school buses and students walking to school and making sure students use their technology responsibly. Watch this video to watch safety tips from the Lake County Sheriff’s Office. 

Water is a valuable resource that should not be wasted, but it can be easy to lose track of how much water is used. Read Lake County’s water usage and conservation guide, which has helpful information about water consumption, both indoor and outdoor as well as water conservation tips. Use this knowledge to verify that your home is leak free, and start conserving water in your daily activities.

The second installment of your 2016 property tax bill is due Sept. 6. Please note you received one bill in May, and you will not receive another bill for the second installment. If you have misplaced your second installment coupon, you can print a copy from the Treasurer's Office website by entering your PIN or address. View your tax bill and check payment status.

Keep in mind, while you send your payment to Lake County, the County only keeps a small portion (about 7%), and the rest is distributed to many other taxing districts. Visit Lake County’s property tax information page to learn more about the property tax process, including what Lake County does with its portion.

The County Board recently announced the appointments of two leadership positions in the areas of transportation and public works. Shane Schneider, P.E., MBA will serve as the new Director of the Lake County Division of Transportation/County Engineer and Rodney Worden, P.E., will serve as the Lake County Director of Public Works. Learn more about these appointments.

Forest Preserve News

Captain Daniel Wright Woods
This peaceful oasis among the bustling suburbs offers four miles of scenic trails: a short loop for hikers, bicyclists and skiers that circles a pond, and a 3-mile loop for hikers, bicyclists, skiers and horses. A footbridge spanning the Des Plaines River links Wright Woods to Half Day Forest Preserve. Together they offer some of southern Lake County's most scenic outdoor recreation opportunities.

Wright Woods was named for one of Lake County’s first settlers, Captain Daniel Wright. The preserve's 750 acres provide one of the best opportunities to see the powerful effects of water and fire. Prior to settlement by Europeans, wildfires regularly swept eastward across Lake County, only to be stopped by the Des Plaines River. Situated just east of the river, Wright Woods supports a rich oak and maple woodland that sometimes develops in less frequently burned areas. 

In late summer, look for nesting field birds in the restored prairie. Eastern bluebirds, tree swallows and red-tailed hawks are commonly seen here, too. With large stands of maples found at few other places in Lake County, Wright Woods is also a great place to view autumn colors. Learn more

Waukegan Savanna Dog Park
If dogs could talk they would no doubt tell us they love living in Lake County. What’s not to love, with four great dog exercise areas and a new one on the way? Good news for our lucky canines is that these romping grounds will get even better over the next several years. 

In 2014, we conducted a survey to find out what features people would like in a new off-leash dog area opening at Waukegan Savanna Forest Preserve. Comments helped shape the park's design features. By incorporating public feedback, studying the latest national dog park design trends and complying with the ADA 2010 Standards for Accessible Design, there are great things in store for dogs and their owners. The new 11-acre Dog Park is the first phase of the Conceptual Master Plan for Waukegan Savanna. Plans include: 

• Shade shelters 
• Separate enclosed area for dogs less than 25 pounds
• Entrance and 60-car parking lot at the northeast corner of Delany and Yorkhouse roads
• Toilet and drinking water for dogs and people

Work on the new Dog Park is underway. Completion is expected in late fall 2018. Learn more