I has been nice being out and around the district meeting residents at the many festivals and community events. I am excited about many of the issues we will be discussing this year. As Chairman of Planning Building and Zoning, local foods has always been an important topic and I am looking forward to our continued discussions on expanding some of our ordinances.

Residents spend over $46 Billion Dollars a year on food and many don't realize that only around 4% of that money stays in Illinois. I feel that there are many opportunities we have here in northern Illinois to expand our local food production and have easier ways to market those products to our local communities. Thus keeping that revenue in Illinois where it can be reinvested into our local economies.

As many people know this is one of those things I deeply care about. I grew up on a farm and still do a little farming for family use. If you are interested in giving public input I will let you know the dates in the future. After committee discussions we will initiate the Zoning Board of Appeals process where public can have input on final amendments. These will then be brought back to committee for proposal before going to the county board for a approval.

It has been a very busy year with the widespread flooding but the more areas I visit it seems as though a lot of the repairs have been made or are underway. It is amazing how many people stepped up to help their neighbors and how many different organizations came together to help and coordinate assistance.

I am honored being a voice of reason for fiscal responsibility while representing our district on the Lake County Board and as a Forest Preserves Commissioner.

I am looking forward to a great year here in Lake County!

Respectfully,

Tom Weber

At around 1:30 am on Saturday, September 9, the Lake County Forest Preserves began installing a 221-foot steel pedestrian bridge over the Metra Railway to connect trails at Middlefork Savanna Forest Preserve to Lake Forest Academy and Townline Community Park. Watch video of installation. Other project elements include a scenic overlook, 10-foot-wide paved trails, and crosswalk improvements at the intersection of IL Route 60 and Academy Drive. View project map. This project is part of a larger effort to connect Middlefork Savanna Forest Preserve and the Middlefork Trail and Greenway to the Des Plaines River Trail at MacArthur Woods Forest Preserve in Mettawa.

The Lake County Forest Preserves is pleased to be working with the following partners and donors to make this project possible: City of Lake Forest, Lake Forest Academy, Lake Forest Bank & Trust, Lake Forest Open Lands Association, and Richard and Elizabeth Uihlein. The Forest Preserve is the lead agency responsible for administration and coordination of the project and 60 percent of the local funding for construction costs. The Forest Preserve also secured federal funding for the project through a grant from the Illinois Transportation Enhancement Program, administered by the Illinois Department of Transportation. Learn more »

Suicide is the third leading cause of death among youth ages 15 to 24 nationwide. By understanding and knowing the warning signs, we can bring hope to those affected by suicide and change the conversation. As the nation observes National Suicide Prevention Week Sept. 10 to 16, find out how you can play a role in preventing suicide.  

Lake County is committed to helping its residents maintain their mental health and well-being, creating the Mental Health Coalition in 2016 to address the mental health crisis. Those needing crisis care and mental health assistance can use the following services 24/7.

• Individuals can speak anonymously to counselors 24 hours a day and get help by contacting the crisis call center at 847-377-8088. Information and referrals to Lake County Health Department programs are available.

• Text-A-Tip is a 24/7 anonymous text-communication system for youth needing immediate mental health assistance for themselves or a friend. Download the Lake County Help app, available at the Google Play Store and the Apple App Store. Within the app, select the 24-7 Text-A-Tip hotline where you will send a message to a dedicated number and receive an immediate response from a licensed clinician while remaining anonymous. 

Ethel’s Woods Forest Preserve: A $1 million Clean Water Act grant was received from the Illinois Environmental Protection Agency for work underway at Ethel’s Woods in Antioch. The grant will fund ecological restoration of the historical North Mill Creek riparian corridor.

Lake Michigan Lake Plain: A $1 million grant from the Sustain Our Great Lakes Partnership will help support continued restoration efforts for the Lake Plain project in northeastern Lake County. The grant, administered by the National Fish and Wildlife Foundation, will be used by the Lake County Forest Preserves and the Chiwaukee Prairie Illinois Beach Lake Plain Partnership to restore connected habitat key to sustaining and enhancing the biodiversity of the rare Lake Michigan Lake Plain ecosystem, which is part of the Great Lakes basin. The project will restore critical blocks of land through invasive plant and prescribed burn management strategies to increase acreage of connected quality habitat for the Blanding’s turtle and other federal and state-listed species of concern. Learn more »

The Metropolitan Water Reclamation District of Greater Chicago provided a reimbursement of $147,899 for preliminary design plans created by the Lake County Forest Preserves for the reservoir expansion project at Buffalo Creek Forest Preserve in Long Grove. The Forest Preserves will use the reimbursement funds for future Capital Improvement Plan projects.

Celebrate National Public Lands Day

Grab some work gloves and join other Forest Preserve volunteers to save some of Lake County's natural areas on September 30 at Rollins Savanna in Grayslake. In one morning, you can make a difference for the inhabitants of a prairie, wetland, or oak savanna. Dress in long pants and sturdy shoes, and bring work gloves for brush clearing, seed collection, and tree and shrub planting. All ages invited. No prior experience is necessary. Register today »

On Sept. 1, Governor Bruce Rauner sent a request to the president of the United States asking that he approve federal assistance to help people in the northern Illinois region, including Lake County, recover from record flooding and severe storms in July.

Recently, joint assessment teams from the Illinois Emergency Management Agency (IEMA), the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) and the U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA) reviewed damage in the four counties. If Gov. Rauner's request for Individual Assistance (IA) is approved, people in the approved counties would be eligible to apply for grants and low-interest SBA loans. Affected businesses also would be able to apply for low-interest SBA loans. Find out more.

Residents May Be Eligible for Building Permit Fee Waiver
Unincorporated residents who were impacted by the July 2017 flood are eligible for building permit fee waivers for any flood-related repairs, for example, electrical service, furnace or water heater replacements.  Residents in unincorporated Lake County can contact the Lake County Planning, Building and Development Department at 847-377-2600 for questions and application requirements.

Previously a seasonal retreat for camping and recreational vehicles, this preserve is now a year-round haven for people and wildlife. Visitors enjoy trails, picnicking, birdwatching, and nature observation. Century-old oak trees that rise above two scenic lakes, woodlands, wetlands and marshes offer plentiful habitat for wildlife. Extensive shoreline restoration efforts and improved fish habitats make Nippersink a great place to fish. Anglers can fish from shore or from two wheelchair accessible fishing piers.

The Lake County Division of Transportation is constructing a new multi-use path along Cedar Lake Road that will connect existing trails at Nippersink to the new path. This trail connection is part of LCDOT's project to reconstruct Cedar Lake Road from Route 120 to Nippersink Road. Completion of the entire project is expected by the end of 2018. View closure map. Learn more

The first two human cases of West Nile virus in Lake County for 2017 have been confirmed. Since 2002, there have been 60 confirmed human cases of West Nile virus in Lake County, as well as two confirmed deaths. Residents are encouraged to stay active outdoors but to remember to wear insect repellent and take other precautions to avoid mosquito bites. Learn more

Veterans are invited to share their stories of wartime experiences on Nov. 10 at the Lake County Courthouse. The veterans’ interviews will be recorded and transcribed by official court reporters and then archived at the Library of Congress as part of the Veterans History Project. Civilians who were actively involved in supporting war efforts are also invited to share their stories. Learn more

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

In 2015, the Chiwaukee Prairie Illinois Beach Lake Plain (Lake Plain) was designated a Wetland of International Importance under the Ramsar Convention, an intergovernmental treaty for protection of exemplary wetland systems around the world. In June, the Lake Plain received added recognition by the Society of Wetland Scientists as a Wetland of Distinction. This publicly and privately protected ecosystem connects 14 different community types along Lake Michigan in southeast Wisconsin and northeast Illinois. Our partnership in this restoration project supports two of five strategic directions to help us achieve our 100-year Vision for Lake County. Learn more