The Lake County Recorder of Deeds Office provides a tool for homeowners to help protect their biggest investment. Property Check is a free, easy-to-use, 24/7 online service that will alert subscribers, via email and/or text message, whenever a document is recorded against their name and/or property. The sign-up process only takes a few minutes. Once you enter your name notification criteria, you will only need to update your account information if your email address or cell phone number changes. Sign up!

Washington Street Thoroughfare Project Comes to an End
The Lake County Division of Transportation (LCDOT) is wrapping up the Washington Street Thoroughfare project in central Lake County. This $53 million project included reconstructing and widening Washington Street as well as providing a grade separation by lowering Washington Street under the CN/Metra railroad tracks. Check out this side-by-side video of traveling through the project BEFORE and AFTER construction.

Lake County Update - Pace Bus Services
Improving transportation is a top strategic goal for the Lake County Board, which includes working with our transit partners like Pace suburban bus service to provide services that meet the needs of our residents and our workforce. In this edition of Lake County Update, Linda Soto, Lake County’s representative on the Pace Board of Directors, talks about the fixed Pace routes in Lake County, Paratransit, the Shuttle Bug program, and new programs being rolled out elsewhere in the region that may make their way to Lake County, including Park-n-Ride and new Flex Lanes where express buses can move onto the shoulder of the Tollway when traffic is congested. 

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.

This summer, Lake County experienced record flooding resulting in flood damage to many homes. The Stormwater Management Commission is hosting a Floodproofing Expo and Workshop for homeowners and property owners to learn about products, services, and solutions to minimize flood damages to your properties. The event will take place from 3 to 8 p.m. Oct. 19 at the Libertyville Sports Complex. Explore exhibitor tables, and listen to presentations, where you can learn about how drainage systems work and ask questions about anything from flood insurance to best practices for flood damage protection. The event is free. Learn more

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. 

Lake County’s Dirty Jobs: Working to Improve Water Quality
Did you know Lake County roadways have storm sewer vortexes that act as filters for road grime, oil and other debris and help improve water quality? Watch our latest Lake County’s Dirty Jobs as County Board Chairman Aaron Lawlor cleans out a vortex structure using a sewer truck on Old McHenry Road, east of Quentin Road.

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.

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!

New Interactive Trail Map
Did you hear that? The preserves are calling your name. Find your next adventure with the new Interactive Trail Map. This easy-to-use map will help you locate trails, preserves, activities and amenities from your phone, tablet or computer. Start exploring today!

Unclaimed Property Auction
At 9 a.m. Oct. 28, Obenauf Auction Service, Inc., will auction off a variety of unclaimed property found in forest preserves throughout Lake County. The auction will be held at the Lake County Fairgrounds in Grayslake.

Bicycles, clothing, electronics, and other assorted items in the possession of the Lake County Forest Preserve Ranger Police Department will be sold at the auction. All property is sold "as is." Check the Obenauf Auction Service, Inc. website for photos and details of auction items. For information, contact our Ranger Police Department at 847-968-3404.

College students and their parents can get help applying for college financial aid by attending a Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) workshop offered now through February 2018 at locations across Lake County. View the full schedule in English and Spanish. At these free workshops, staff will help you complete and file your FAFSA online. The FAFSA must be filled out for students to be considered for state and federal financial aid, and many colleges and universities rely on FAFSA data to determine eligibility for the institution’s own financial aid funds.  Learn more, including what documents to bring to the session.

Join Lake County Sheriff’s Office Reserve Deputy Unit
The Lake County Sheriff’s Office is accepting applications for reserve deputies. The Reserve Deputy Unit members assist other Lake County Sheriff’s Office Divisions and municipal police departments in times of natural and man-made emergencies or disasters. The unit also provides traffic and crowd control, searches for missing persons, aids in crime scene evidence searches, DUI checkpoints, and participates in many other Lake County events. Applicants must be at least 21 years old, a U.S. citizen and a high school graduate or equivalent. Applications are available online and at the Lake County Sheriff's Office in Waukegan. Applications are due by Oct. 20.  

Lake County is Hiring!
Lake County government offers career opportunities that cover a wide spectrum of fields including law, law enforcement, corrections, nursing, finance and budgeting, highway maintenance, and more. View the current job opportunities available. 

The hours of operation for receiving walk-in applications at the permit counter at the Lake County Central Permit Facility have changed and will be from 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.

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. 

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.