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The County Board will deliberate over the proposed FY2018 budget at a series of meetings on Oct. 24 and 25, both starting at 8:30 a.m. The proposed budget is balanced and sustainable. At the budget hearings, board members will carefully review the budget, ask questions, and may propose changes. The final budget will be adopted in November.
The proposed budget continues to maintain our core
services and invests in both our physical and technological infrastructure.
Lake County remains fiscally stable primarily due to the county board’s focus
on strategic, data-driven decision-making, and the board’s commitment to fiscal
responsibility.
These budget hearings are open to the public. They
will also be televised live on Comcast Cable, either channel 18 or 30,
depending on where you live in the county. AT&T Customers can view LCTV on
channel 99. The hearings will be also be webcast and archived on www.lakecounty.tv.
 Lake County is committed to promoting a
sustainable environment, and we have several initiatives and projects underway
to make progress toward this strategic goal and core value. Recently, the Lake
County Board approved a contract with a professional consulting firm that
provides expertise in sustainability that will help advance specific tasks over
the next year. They include: grant opportunities, energy audits for selected
County facilities, a waste reduction program/food scrap collection (composting)
pilot program at the Lake County Jail, and completion of a baseline carbon
footprint for Lake County. Visit our Sustainable Lake County website to
find out ways you can help promote sustainability!
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 The Lake County Public Works Department is
responsible for making sure we have a safe and sustainable source of drinking
water. One important step in this process is the inspection of our water
systems. The Illinois Environmental Protection
Agency (IEPA) inspects the County’s water systems every three years and reviews
each system for technical, financial and general management.
The Grandwood Park and Wildwood water systems were
inspected earlier this year with no violations, and the Countryside Lake system
is being inspected this October. In 2018, IEPA will be inspecting the
Pekara, Hawthorn Woods, Fox Lake Hills and Forest Lake water systems. In
addition to the inspections, Public Works also publishes an annual Water
Quality Report with information on the sources, treatment and chemical analysis
of each water distribution system. To
learn more, visit the Lake County Public
Works website.
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 In September, 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 the record flooding and severe storms. Lake County has not received a response to this request.
The Small Business Association (SBA) has announced a 15-day grace period for Lake County residents impacted by the July 2017 floods to apply for low-interest, physical damage loans. The filing deadline
is now Nov. 1, 2017. Loans up to $200,000 are available to
homeowners to repair or replace damaged or destroyed real estate. Homeowners
and renters are eligible for loans up to $40,000 to repair or replace damaged
or destroyed personal property. For more information on eligibility, loan
amounts, and other requirements, please view this SBA
Fact Sheet.
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.
Applicants may apply online using the Electronic Loan Application
(ELA) on the SBA’s website at https://disasterloan.sba.gov/ela.
Disaster loan information
and applications may also be obtained by calling the SBA’s Customer Service
Center at 1-800-659-2955 (1-800-877-8339 for the deaf and hard-of-hearing), or
by emailing disastercustomerservice@sba.gov.
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There
is so much to do this fall in Lake County! Find haunted houses, pumpkin
patches, festivals and much more by checking out Visit Lake County’s top 10 things to do in October.
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 Whether your child will be a ghost, a goblin, a
clown, or princess, get ready because it’s time for Halloween in Lake County!
View the trick-or-treat hours for your area.
More Halloween Fun
Don't forget to check out these Halloween-themed events in our area!
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Business Trick-or-Treat: Join businesses in downtown and throughout Grayslake for a safe, fun trick-or-treating experience on Saturday, Oct. 28 from 11 a.m. - 1 p.m.
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Round Lake area:
Round Lake Area Park District's Great Pumpkin Celebration from 2 to 5 p.m.
Oct. 21. More info.
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Village Hayrides: Go for a hayride in the Village of Hainesville on Sunday, Oct. 29 from 4 to 7 p.m. View hayride schedule.
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 At 9 a.m. Oct. 28, Obenauf Auction
Service, Inc., will auction off surplus equipment from area municipalities
and government agencies at the Lake County
Fairgrounds in Grayslake.
Among
the items featured, the auction will include unclaimed property found in forest
preserves throughout Lake County such as bicycles, clothing, electronics, and
other assorted items in the possession of the Lake County Forest
Preserve Ranger Police Department. All items will be sold as-is. Check
the Obenauf
Auction Service Inc. website for details of auction items.
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Drivers are reminded to be cautious of deer during the fall
breeding season. Deer will be more active and visible throughout the state,
especially at dusk and dawn. The risk
for crashes involving deer greatly increases from October through December. Follow these
safety tips.
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 From connecting with friends on social networks to managing
finances, there is a convenience to going online, but these benefits can come
with risks. There are simple
steps that everyone can take to stay safe online. Below are some tips from the
U.S. Department of Homeland Security.
- Use complex passwords with a combination of numbers,
symbols and letters.
- Keep a clean machine by updating security software,
your operating system and web browser on all Internet-connected devices.
- When in doubt, throw it out. Links in emails and online
posts can help cyber criminals compromise your computer.
- Limit the amount of personal information you share
online, and use privacy settings to avoid sharing information widely
- More Tips
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The Lake County
Sheriff’s Office recently participated in the A&E Network’s “Live PD” show,
which followed Sheriff’s deputies as they gave an inside look at the many
responsibilities of the Sheriff’s Office and the calls deputies respond. Watch this
video to learn more about how the Sheriff’s Office helps keep Lake County
safe.
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 Protect yourself and fight the flu by getting a flu
shot. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention recommend everyone
ages 6 months and older receive an annual flu shot by the end of October before
influenza activity increases as it takes about two weeks after the
vaccination for the body’s immune system to fully respond and for you to be
protected.
The
Lake County Health Department offers the flu vaccine by appointment at the
Immunizations Clinic, 2303 Dodge Ave., Waukegan. Learn more, including cost. Retail clinics, pharmacies, and individual
healthcare providers also provide flu shots. Visit the Flu
Vaccine Finder to
find a convenient location.
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 Forest Preserve News
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Halloween Hikes
Join a guided group hike along
a candlelit path to watch fun nature-themed skits, followed by doughnuts
and cider. Even your smallest child will enjoy this family favorite. The
1.5-mile hike will begin every 30 minutes between 6 and 8 p.m. Friday, Oct.
20 and Saturday, Oct. 21 at Ryerson Woods. Learn more
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 Shelter Update
Plan early for your family
reunion, company picnic or other group gathering to ensure your first choice of
shelter and date. Reservations for 2018 picnic shelter rentals are now being accepted. Purchase permits online, by
phone, or in person.
Spring Bluff Project Includes New Trail and Habitat Restoration
Thanks to an Open Space Land Acquisition and Development
Grant from the Illinois Department of Natural Resources, 0.7 miles of new trail
will be developed at 229-acre Spring Bluff Forest Preserve in Winthrop Harbor,
converting an existing asphalt roadway to a
recreational trail. The new trail will connect to
existing trails at adjacent Illinois Beach State Park via the 7th
Street bike lanes. The project also includes building a
wildlife education and observation deck and completing habitat
restoration work within the preserve. Spring Bluff is
primarily wetlands with oak savanna and prairie.
The
land being restored is part of a greater ecological complex that supports
multiple natural landmarks, including the recent designation as a RAMSAR Wetland of International
Importance,
nine endangered plant and animal species, and 114 bird species. The expected
project completion is late 2018. View map
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Leaf vaccuuming programs to begin
The Village of Grayslake will begin its leaf vacuuming program Oct. 23. For a detailed list of the leaf vacuuming routes and the day of pick-up for your home, view the village's route map.
The Village of Hainesville will offer leaf vacuum service on Wednesdays starting Oct. 25 through Nov. 29. Have leaves ready for pick-up by 6:30 a.m. Wednesdays. Rake leaves in a pile or row within three feet of the curb
but off the street. Do not mix large tree branches,
grass, or brush with your leaves as these items will damage the truck.
Save the date!
Join the Round Lake Area Park District's inaugural Turkey Trek, a two-mile fun run Nov. 12 at the Renwood Golf Course. Learn more
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