Walking through Greenbelt, Free pumpkin composting, and More

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Bill Durkin, District 8

November 1, 2017

Durkin subscriber subhead revised

Dear Neighbors,

I am always looking for feedback on my newsletter as well as what's happening in Lake County. If you have any comments or concerns, feel free to send me an email, or give me a call at 847-513-1736. If this newsletter was forwarded to you, please sign up to continue to receive news about Lake County and District 8.


Forest Preserve Logo

Forest Preserve News

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. 


Chili scramble 2017
Forest Preserve volunteers

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


Board Considers FY2018 Balanced Budget

Board considers fy2018 budget

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


SWALCO News

pumpkin

Don’t Throw Out Your Pumpkins! Drop Them Off to be Composted
Bring your pumpkin to these 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
  • 8:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. Saturday, Nov. 4 at the College of Lake County, Parking Lot 3, Grayslake
  • 11 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. Sunday, Nov. 5 at the Mundelein Park District’s Community Park Sled Hill, 1401 N. Midlothian Road


Household Chemical Waste Collection 
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

hcw collection

Sheriff’s Office Initiates Veteran Ambassador Program

Veteran Ambassador Program

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.

 

Lake County Offers Services to Veterans

veteran

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.


Join These Community Veterans Day Events

Remembering Our Veterans guided walking tour
Veterans dating back from the War of 1812 are laid to rest at Waukegan's Oakwood Cemetery. Join a guided tour from 10 a.m. to noon Saturday, Nov. 4 where participants will visit the graves of numerous soldiers and hear their heroic stories. Meet at Lilac Cottage at Bowen Park. Registration is requested. Learn more

Waukegan to hold Veterans Day parade and ceremony
Honor and celebrate our veterans across all wars and conflicts. The City of Waukegan's parade will start at 10:30 a.m. Nov. 11 at the corner of Grand Avenue and Genesee Street, making its way to Veterans Memorial Plaza at the southwest corner of Washington and West Street. The ceremony will follow at the plaza. Learn more


Illinois To Require E-Filing for Civil Cases. Take Training

eFileIL

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. 16 and Nov. 30 at the Lake County Courthouse to learn more about the e-filing process. Today is the final day to register for the Nov. 16 trainingRegister now


Youth Gain Valuable Work Experience

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.

Summer Youth Employment Program 2017

Lake County Honors Students for Attendance

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.

2017 Attendance Week

Lead and Copper Testing

water quality

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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