Hello Neighbors
We change our clocks [fall back] this weekend. Please notice the mix of indoor and outdoor Fall activities. Some of the Information is in the articles below. You may want to look for book sales and a variety of charitable and fundraising activities. Just use the links at the bottom of this page.
The Lake County Board completed the proposed budget review process last week. During those two days of explanation and discussion, each unit of County government made budget requests. One by one, each standing committee and the Financial & Administrative committee met in joint sessions. Because I serve on three standing committees - including F&A - I was active for both days. You can read up on the budget and/or watch all or part on TV and LCTV. The County budget is only a small percent of property taxes (7-9 percent depending on location) and property taxes fund about 1/3rd of the total. Details below. The County's process is very transparent. It's in your interest to learn more and be vocal about the taxing bodies that make up the bulk (92+/-) of our property taxes. The Finance Committee is in early stage consideration of methods to improve your ability to contact the sources of those tax districts.
Along with approximately 50 residents from the district, I attended an open house put on by CST, the cell tower company that proposed locating a cell tower at The Countryside Golf Course owned by Lake County Forest Preserve District. Residents near The Chapel requested LCFPD as a site before and after Mundelein declined special zoning requested by The Chapel. Nearly all residents who attended live in Countryside Lake or Grand Dominion (my former and current residences). LCFPD required the open house to gain resident comments as part of the process to consider this request. When the formal decision is made, the extensive negative comments will be key to the outcome.
The County Clerk, Carla Wyckoff is in need of election judges. Please consider helping since it's a great way to experience our fundamental right with fellow residents.
We celebrate Veterans' Day next weekend. Look for activities in your village and homeowners' association. Thank you to all the men and women who have served our Country.
Please contact me via phone or email with your comments, issues and suggestions.
Regards,
 The Lake County Board will vote on the FY2018
budget in November. Lake County is committed to investing in people and our
communities — that is at the foundation of our strategic plan and carries
through to our budget. It’s a balanced budget that spends $437 million to fund
core services, including transportation and infrastructure, health services,
and public safety. For more than 20 years, Lake County has maintained a AAA bond
rating from both major credit agencies – the highest rating possible. This
budget continues to deliver efficient, cost-effective and accountable programs
and services, by leveraging shared services and consolidation, like in the area
of regional 911, utilizing technology, and streamlining operations.
Watch this video with
the Chair of the Finance and Administrative Services Committee. Check out our
reader-friendly budget summary, and read the entire budget.
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Be monster green after Halloween by composting your pumpkin
at the Mundelein Park District’s free pumpkin drop from 12:30 to 1:30 p.m. Sunday,
Nov. 5 at Keith Mione Community Park, 1401 N. Midlothian Road, Mundelein. There
will be the rolling races, smashing pumpkins, and composting all those squashed
squashes. A free dumpster will be available from 11 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. for those who only want to drop off their pumpkin for composting. Learn more
You also can bring your pumpkin to these additional free drop-off events, so your pumpkins can be composted. Any pumpkins,
gourds and other organics can be included. Please remove candles, yarn, plastic
or other decorations before dropping off your pumpkin.
- 9 a.m. to noon Saturday, Nov. 4
at the Village of Gurnee, 235 O’Plaine Road
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8:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m.
Saturday, Nov. 4 at the College of Lake County, Parking Lot 3, Grayslake
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 The Solid Waste
Agency of Lake County will hold its next household chemical waste collection
from 8 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. on Saturday, Nov. 4 at the Mundelein Metra train
station, 205 N. Archer Ave. Year-round HCW collections also are offered the
second Saturday and fourth Monday of every month, by appointment only, at the
Gurnee facility. These collections are open to Illinois residents only. View
accepted items
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 Forest Preserve News
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Chili Scramble
at Countryside Golf Course
Grab
a friend and join this fall favorite. The Chili Scramble has a 10 a.m. shotgun
start on Sunday, Nov. 5 on Countryside's
traditional course in Mundelein.
With your two-player team you’ll enjoy 18 holes with a cart, chili,
beverages, prizes for winners, and free range balls. Register online or at the Pro Shop.
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 Engaging Volunteers for Nature
Walking through Greenbelt Forest Preserve in North Chicago
this fall, you can’t miss the changes. Where there was once a dense wall of
buckthorn, you can now look out across a rare combination of prairie,
interspersed with native shrubs and small trees. This
unique scrubland habitat draws migrating birds such as eastern kingbird,
northern flicker, and brown thrasher.
People are flocking to enjoy Greenbelt and to
help with restoration efforts. In 2016, a $100,000 grant from the Illinois
Coastal Management Program supported this restoration work and
funded project partner, Audubon Great Lakes, to engage the community.
From April 2016 to April 2017, nearly 400 volunteers logged more than 1,000
hours cutting and burning brush, weeding, shrub and seed planting, and
seed collecting. On one workday, 30 students from Abbott Middle
School donned work gloves loppers, and saws to cut buckthorn. Become a volunteer
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 To better address veteran
homelessness and veterans in need and in crisis, the Lake County Sheriff’s
Office has partnered with the Veterans Assistance Commission and other county
resources to ensure nobody is left behind.
To address the
challenge and ensure crisis services are available after hours, select
Sheriff’s Office employees received training on issues of veteran homelessness
and veterans “in crisis” as well as transport, shelter, and referral options
for immediate assistance. Watch this
video to learn more about the Veteran Ambassador Program.
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 In Lake County, we appreciate
the dedication and commitment of the men and women who have served in the
United States Military. To honor their service, we offer resources to help
veterans and their families. To learn more, visit the Veterans Assistance
Commission website, and sign
up for their monthly newsletter.
Recorder of Deed's
Office Offers Information to Our Veterans
The Lake County Recorder of Deed's Office offers
various services to our veterans and their families. This includes being
the official keeper of veteran’s military records, or DD214. The Recorder’s
Office is happy to provide veterans a free copy of this form upon the
completion of a request for discharge
record.
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The 2017 Lake County Summer Youth Employment Program
recently wrapped up another exciting summer as more than 200 youth gained
meaningful work experience while earning a paycheck. Funded by the Lake
County Board, the program matches youth with local worksites that offer a paid,
part-time work experience. Learn
more about the Summer Youth Employment Program. |
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 Property owners residing in unincorporated Lake County may be eligible
to save an average of $271 a year on their flood insurance policies.
Through the Federal Emergency Management Agency’s (FEMA) Community Rating
System program, residents who meet certain requirements are eligible for up to 20
percent savings on flood insurance premiums. Property owners should contact
their flood insurance agent to obtain individual savings information. Visit the
FEMA Flood Smart website as
well as the county’s flood information website to
find more resources.
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 Beginning Jan. 1,
2018, Illinois will require all civil cases to be submitted electronically. eFileIL, Illinois’ new e-filing system, will provide
the ability to electronically file documents through an authorized Electronic
Filing Service Provider (EFSP) anytime for no additional cost using a secure
web portal, thus reducing filing time and trips to the courthouse. The
Lake County Circuit Clerk’s Office will offer free training for attorneys and
other filers on Nov. 30 at the Lake County Courthouse to learn more
about the e-filing process. Register by Nov. 15. Register now
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 When it comes to safe drinking water, public bodies are
required to test for lead and copper. Our water systems are typically tested
for lead and copper every three years. Lake County Public Works has no
lead water lines, and the Illinois Environmental Protection Agency (IEPA) even
reduced our lead monitoring requirements as a result of no sampling violations.
However, systems that change water sources, such as switching from wells to
Lake Michigan water, are tested more frequently after the cross over. This
year eight systems were tested and found to be within standards.
- Systems tested in 2017: Vernon Hills, Wildwood, Brooks Farm,
Pekara, Hawthorn Woods, Arden Shores, Grandwood Park, Forest Lake
- Systems to be tested in 2018: Countryside Lake, Fox
Lake Hills, Highland Lake, Knollwood, Arden Shores, Grandwood Park, Forest
Lake
Watch this video to learn how Lake County Public Works is working to keep
the county’s drinking water safe.
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More
than 96,000 Lake County students from 142 schools participated in this year’s
Fall Attendance Competition. The top 10 schools in weekly attendance rate
recently were honored by the Lake County Regional Office of Education. Watch this video to learn more about
the competition. |
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Join Mundelein High School Veterans Day tribute
Mundelein High School officials extend
an open invitation to area veterans to take part in an assembly program on Nov.
10 as part of their third annual Veterans Day tribute. Any veterans who would
like to join the ceremony are asked to contact Chris Lagioia at 847-949-2200.
Hawthorn Woods open house
To gather community feedback on infrastructure projects and funding options, the Village of Hawthorn Woods invites the community to attend an open house on Saturday, Nov 4. Learn more
When: 9 a.m. Saturday, Nov. 4
Where: Village Barn, 2 Lagoon Drive
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