Join me as I discuss what’s happening in Lake County, including business development, road improvements and more at the next networking luncheon hosted by the Grayslake Chamber of Commerce from 11:30 a.m. to 1 p.m. Sept. 28. Reservations are requested. Learn more
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The Illinois Department of Transportation (IDOT) will be
making improvements in the IL 120 Corridor. The project includes
interconnecting and synchronizing the traffic signals along IL 120 from US
Route 45 to IL Route 134, as well as the addition of a right turn lane at west
bound IL 120 and Hainesville Road. After several utility conflicts that
caused some delay, the project is on track and is expected to begin in the
next few weeks. The traffic signalization will be coordinated through Lake County PASSAGE. These
improvements are expected to improve traffic flow along IL 120.
The County Board has approved an ordinance to increase the minimum legal sales age to purchase tobacco products to 21 in unincorporated Lake County, effective Jan. 1, 2018. Lake County is the first county in Illinois to raise the minimum legal sales age to 21 in unincorporated areas. To date, five Lake County communities including Deerfield, Highland Park, Lincolnshire, Vernon Hills, and Buffalo Grove are among 11 municipalities in the state of Illinois to adopt Tobacco 21 ordinances.
Following the board's action on Sept. 12, County Board Member Steve Carlson spoke about what this ordinance can do to help protect the health of the County's youth. Watch now.
Tobacco use continues to be the leading preventable cause of disease and death in the United States and is responsible for 480,000 deaths annually. In Illinois, 6,300 youth become new daily smokers each year. The Lake County Health Department provides FREE one-on-one and group counseling with a certified tobacco treatment specialist for adults looking to quit smoking or other their tobacco use. Learn more
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Individuals, businesses,
and non-profit organizations impacted by the July 2017 flooding in Lake County
may be eligible for disaster loans from the U.S. Small Business Administration
(SBA). The deadline to apply for Physical Damage loans, such as loans to
businesses to repair or replace disaster-damaged property, is Oct. 17,
2017. The deadline to apply for Economic Injury loans, such as loans to
assist small businesses and non-profits through the recovery period, is May
16, 2018. For more information on eligibility, loan amounts, and other
requirements, please view this SBA Fact Sheet. If the
governor's request for a Federal Disaster Declaration is approved, other
resources may become available for Lake County residents and businesses.
For more information,
contact the SBA’s Disaster Assistance Customer Service Center by calling
800-659-2955, or emailing disastercustomerservice@sba.gov.
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The recent Lake County flooding and hurricanes impacting many
parts of the country all remind us of the importance of coming together as a
family and community to prepare. As we observe National Preparedness Month
this month, learn tips to help
you prepare.
Lake County also has a variety of resources to help you
prepare for an emergency. Alert Lake County is your emergency
preparedness resource, and watch this video for tips to get
emergency alerts.
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Lake County Public Works has begun its semi-annual water
hydrant flushing program in unincorporated Lake County. After hydrant flushing, customers may notice a slight
discoloration of the water. Residents are urged not to do laundry during
periods of flushing to avoid clothes to be stained. This is not harmful and
will dissipate after a short time. It is recommended to run cold water for
several minutes to clear your pipes. The flushing is scheduled in Wildwood and Highland Lake the beginning of October. View the full schedule.
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Celebrate Lake County’s historical agricultural heritage and join the
Lake County Farm Heritage and Harvest Festival on Saturday, Sept. 23 and Sunday, Sept. 24 at the Lake County
Fairgrounds in Grayslake. See dozens of antique tractors and other antique farm
machinery as well as demonstrations and a variety of family activities
including a petting zoo, tractor pulling, and vendors offering fall produce
and home décor. Learn more
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Every
year, millions of Americans are unable to vote because they miss a registration
deadline, don't update their registration, or are unsure of how to register. On
National Voter Registration Day, Sept. 26, volunteers will be working throughout
Lake County to connect people with the ability to vote. View voter registration locations. Learn how you register
to vote online.
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Attention business
owners! Learn how to overcome the challenges of small business ownership and
mitigate risk by joining a half-day workshop Oct. 11 at the University Center
of Lake County in Grayslake. Topics include A State of Lake County from Lake
County Board Chairman Aaron Lawlor, Overcoming Challenges of Small Business
Ownership, and Mitigating Risk with Subject Matter Experts. Sign
Up.
Beginning Oct. 2, the hours of operation for receiving
walk-in applications at the permit counter at the Lake County Central Permit
Facility will be 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. This change applies to all walk-in permit
applications for the Health Department, Planning, Building and Development,
Public Works, the Division of Transportation, and the Stormwater Management
Commission. The Central Permit Facility, however, will be open at 7:30 a.m. and
will close at 4:30 p.m., so residents can still drop off applications or
paperwork if the permit counter is not staffed.
The implementation of a new County-wide
permitting system has expanded the number and types of permit applications that
customers can submit online, reducing the need for people to visit our permit
counter. Customers can now create an account to submit and pay
for many permit applications electronically and review the status of
their applications and inspections online. We analyzed traffic at our public
counters and found that less than 5% of permit applications take place before 8
a.m. or after 4 p.m. Adjusting the hours slightly will allow us to staff
our public counters more efficiently, while still meeting the needs of our Lake
County customers. For information, please
visit the Planning, Building and Development website.
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Donate Your Eclipse
Glasses Do you still have the glasses you used to view the solar eclipse?
Don’t throw them away! Bring glasses to one of four
locations across Lake County now through Nov. 11 as the Solid
Waste Agency of Lake County is working with Astronomers Without Borders to
bring these glasses and provide a first-hand science experience for schools in
developing countries. Please do not donate scratched, broken or torn glasses.
Save the date for Recycle-O-Rama Bring
household electronics, clothing, eyeglasses and hearing aids, bicycles and more
to be recycled at Recycle-O-Rama from 9 a.m. to noon Sept. 30 at Fremont Township. Learn more, including what items
you can bring to recycle.
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Forest Preserve News
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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 Sept. 30 at Rollins Savanna in Grayslake. Dress
in long pants and sturdy shoes, and bring work gloves for brush clearing, seed
collection, and tree and shrub planting. All ages are invited,
and no prior experience is necessary. Register today
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Grants Received for Conservation
Projects
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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.
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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
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Bridge Connects Middlefork Savanna to Local Trails, Parks
At around 1:30 am on Sept. 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.
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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
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Did you know average person uses 25 to 50 gallons of water taking
a shower? And by shutting off the water when brushing your teeth or shaving,
you can save one to three gallons of water per minute? Read Lake County’s water usage and
conservation guide, which has helpful information about water consumption, both
indoor and outdoor and water conservation tips. Use this knowledge to verify
that your home is leak free, and start conserving water in your daily
activities. You may save money too!
Use the Water Meter Customer Portal Lake County
Public Works customers can monitor how much water is being used and possibly
save money by visiting the Water Meter Customer Portal. Registering takes only a minute! Watch
this video to learn the
benefits of using the customer portal. Register now!
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The Lake County Sheriff’s Office is partnering with the Veteran’s
Assistance Commission, several local law enforcement agencies and many local
high schools to collect coats and outerwear for the Lake County Law Enforcement
Veteran's Coat Drive. Donations will be taken now through Nov. 8 at County
offices and at police departments throughout Lake County. View
donation locations. The donated items will be delivered to Midwest Veterans Closet.
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Veterans and members of the military can learn
practices to help better manage and release stress by joining a free
introductory session to a power breath meditation workshop from 7 to 8 p.m.
Sept. 26. The workshop will take place Oct. 12 to 16 and is free to veterans,
active military and family members. For information, call Bob at 847-322-5176,
or email robertegorman@sbcglobal.net or Pam at Pam.brockman@pwht.org.
The Kids’ Korner at the Lake County Courthouse recently marked a
milestone, caring for 50,000 children. The Kids’ Korner provides a safe and fun
waiting area for children who are visiting the courthouse to testify or whose
parents or guardians are conducting court business. Watch
this video to learn more.
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Lake County is delivering on its mission and values of operational
excellence and transparency, and toward that goal, the County is being
recognized for its outstanding communications achievements with three national
awards. The County’s website (www.lakecountyil.gov)
received a first place Savvy Award from the City, County Communications and
Marketing Association (known as 3CMA) — the top award for overall website among
local governments in the U.S. The
“Meet Mitch and Hitch” video also took home the first-place Savvy
award for promotional video. This video features the State’s Attorney’s
Office’s two facility dogs and showcases the meaningful work they do. Finally,
for the “Most Creative Activity with Least Dollars Spent” category, the “Vote
Like A Couch Potato” marketing campaign won a first place Savvy. 3CMA
received nearly 700 entries in various categories, and 3CMA volunteer judges from
across the country reviewed entries and selected winners.
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