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With Thanksgiving approaching, I’d like to thank you for the
opportunity to represent District 20 on the Lake County Board. I wish you
and your family a wonderful holiday, full of good health and happiness.
I recently had the opportunity to join local officials and residents at Buffalo Grove's Veterans Day ceremony to give thanks to our veterans for all they do to keep our country safe.
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Congratulations to Prairie Elementary School in Buffalo Grove, which recently earned a 2017 United States Department of Education Blue Ribbon!
Recently, I joined Prairie students, teachers and faculty, administrators, and community members to celebrate the 2017 Blue Ribbon and honor all who contributed to earning this recognition. Here, I'm seated with County Treasurer David Stolman, Buffalo Grove Village President Beverly Sussman and her husband, Marty.
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The County Board recently approved the 2018
budget that spends $437 million on core services, including transportation and
infrastructure, health services, courts and public safety. The budget is up
less than 2% from last year. The county board maintains a strong track record
of practicing fiscal responsibility, which means making prudent, data-driven
decisions, using resources efficiently and maintaining sustainable, financial
operations. As a result, this budget is balanced and Lake County is fiscally stable. The
County has been able to hold the line on its budget because across the
organization, departments are implementing operational efficiencies, leveraging
technology, and sharing services that are making a difference to our bottom
line.
Learn more by visiting our online Budget
Story, and watch the budget presentation and discussion from the board
meeting by going to lakecounty.tv and
clicking on items 60 & 61.
 Delivering Exceptional, Financially Sustainable
Services
Lake County works to
improve the quality of life in Lake County and provide services that benefit
more than 700,000 Lake County residents. Our mission is to deliver exceptional,
financially-sustainable services that promote a safe and healthy community
while enhancing economic vitality. Our core values of fiscal responsibility,
exceptional service, operational excellence, leadership and environmental
stewardship influence everything we do. Watch this video to see how we are delivering on our mission
and values every day!
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At the November 2017 Lake County Board Meeting, we renewed
our agreement with Buffalo Grove and several other towns along the Canadian
National Railroad to recertify the Quiet Zone. In quiet
zones, trains do not have to sound their horns when approaching rail crossings
provided certain safety measures are in place at those crossings. The
agreement includes the villages of Antioch, Buffalo Grove, Grayslake, Lake
Villa, Libertyville, Mundelein, Round Lake Beach, Vernon Hills, and Wheeling.
The Quiet Zone recertification extends from the Wisconsin border to, but not
through, the Village of Prospect Heights. The Quiet Zone was originally
established in 2006 and recertified in 2011. This agreement is administered
through the Village of Buffalo Grove and allows us to enter into a contract with an engineering firm
to perform the study necessary for the recertification.
This Thanksgiving, you can get everything you
need by shopping local! Lake County has more than 30,000 businesses and you may
be interested to learn how some have a surprising connection to Thanksgiving
and preparing a fabulous dinner! Watch video |
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 Thanksgiving is time to think about all that we’re thankful
for and enjoy a home-cooked meal with family and friends. But sometimes the
meal can contain unhealthy amounts of calories and fat. You can enjoy the
holiday season and be healthy too! Here’s some tips from Elizabeth, a dietitian
from the Lake County Health Department.
- Find recipes which are carbohydrate controlled, low
sugar, low sodium, and low fat.
- Eat a light snack, such as raw vegetables or a piece of
fruit, and consume adequate water to help prevent overindulging at parties
and family gatherings.
- Find fun ways to incorporate physical activity with the
family both indoors and out. Go on a walk together, try lunges and chair
exercises, or play charades with the family.
- Go to the health department’s Healthy Eating Active
Living page
to find more tips to eat healthy and stay active all year long.
Here’s some healthy holiday recipes that you can make for
your Thanksgiving table.
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 Homeowners and business owners impacted by the
July 2017 flooding in Lake County may be eligible for loan assistance from the
U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA). Those impacted by the flood may apply
online using the Electronic Loan Application (ELA) via SBA’s secure website.
The deadline to submit an application for physical property damage is Jan. 12,
2018. The deadline for economic injury applications is Aug. 13, 2018.
Tax Credit Bill to Help Property Owners Affected by July Floods
Lake County property owners, along with those in 17 other Illinois
counties who were affected by the July 2017 floods, may be eligible for a $750
tax credit under a new law recently approved by the Illinois Legislature and
signed by the governor. If eligible, the natural disaster credit may be applied to the resident’s 2017 Illinois income taxes.
More information about how property owners can apply for this credit will be
forthcoming. Read news release.
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FEMA Denies Governor’s Request for Federal Disaster Declaration
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 record flooding and severe storms in July. Lake County has been notified that FEMA has denied this request. For information on the July 2017 flood, including a breakdown of the Disaster Declaration Process, visit the county’s flood information page. |
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 Telephone
Scam
The Lake County Sheriff’s Office is receiving reports of Lake
County residents getting fraudulent telephone calls from individuals
representing themselves to be from the Lake County Sheriff’s Office. Learn more
Join
Town Hall Meeting
The Lake County Sheriff’s Office will discuss issues such as
the opioid crisis, “A Way Out” program and other programs offered by the
Sheriff’s Office at a town hall meeting from 6 to 7 p.m. Nov. 28 at the Woodland
Elementary School West cafeteria, 17371 W Gages Lake Road, Grayslake. The event is free and open to the public. For information, send an email
to RepSamYingling@gmail.com or call 847-231-6262.
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 Forest Preserves News
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 Our
Favorite Fall Preserves
There’s still time to view fall color in Lake
County. While all of our forest preserves are beautiful and
unique, we asked staff to share their favorites.
Nan Buckardt, Director
of Education
Favorite Preserve: Van
Patten Woods, Wadsworth
Great Plant: “The colors on oak leaves are so saturated and rich.”
Fun Fall Fact: “Colors are brightest when the fall frost strikes early.”
Allison Frederick,
Assistant Public Affairs Manager
Favorite Preserve: Rollins
Savanna, Grayslake
Great Plant: “Virginia Creeper! This vine slowly morphs from green to deep
burgundy–and every color in between.”
April Vaos,
Environmental Educator
Favorite Preserve: McDonald
Woods, Lindenhurst
Great Plants: “Maple trees, Virginia creeper, and little bluestem.”
Ken Klick, Restoration
Ecologist
Favorite Preserve: Captain
Daniel Wright Woods, Mettawa
Great Plant: “Sugar maple.”
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 2018 Summer Camps
Registration for our 2018 camp season opens Dec. 1. Early bird
discounts are available through February 15, 2018.
Programs fill quickly so enroll early. Register online or call 847-968-3321.
2018 Annual Permits
Annual permits for dog parks, horse trails and more go on sale at
8 a.m. on Dec. 4. Find information and purchase permits online or call 847–367–6640.
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 Give the Gift of Golf
Golf gift cards are the perfect gift for the golfer on your list:
good for green fees, carts, and pro shop items at any of our three courses.
Buy online or call
847-968-3102, anytime; or at our General Offices in Libertyville between Nov.
27 and Feb. 28.
Holiday Bonus: Receive a $10 bonus voucher for every $100
in gift cards purchased between Nov. 24 and Dec. 31.
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Documenting Species in
Lake County
To document the diversity and richness of species present in the
Lake County Forest Preserves, our wildlife biologists began a
formal wildlife monitoring
program. Since the late 2000s, the biologists with the
help of trained wildlife technicians have monitored the presence of reptiles,
amphibians, birds, and mammals. They have already collected more than
200,000 wildlife records. Visit the Forest
Preserves’ blog to learn more! |
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Since 2006, the Stormwater Awards Program has
recognized outstanding efforts by organizations, communities, groups, and
individuals for projects and other proactive and innovative efforts to improve
water quality, reduce flooding, and help restore the natural drainage system.
If you know of something or someone who fits this description, please nominate
them for one of the award categories. The
deadline to submit nominations is Dec. 1. Learn
more |
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 As always, I welcome your feedback. If this newsletter was forwarded to you, please sign up to continue to receive news about Lake County and District 20.
Thank you,
Sidney Mathias
Mr. Mathias, County Board member and Forest Preserve Commissioner, serves on:
Lake County Board, 20th District:
Ad Hoc Legislative Committee, Co-Chair
Ethics and Oversight Committee, Vice Chair
Planning, Building and Zoning Committee
Public Works and Transportation Committee
Lake County Forest Preserves, 20th District:
Diversity
and Cultural Awareness Committee, Chair
Planning Committee, Vice Chair
Rules Committee
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