Did you see the new Illinois laws that went into effect a few weeks ago? This includes lowering the organ donor registry age, allowing motorists to pass bicyclists in a no-passing zone, and a new law that protects consumers who leave negative online reviews. See the complete list.
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I am excited to serve as chairman on the newly formed Lake County Government
Reform Implementation Committee that is charged with evaluating the
recommendations outlined in the final report from the Lake County
Commission on Government Reform and Accountability.
The County Board recently accepted the report from the special
bi-partisan Commission, which was created in 2017 to explore reform measures, including
redistricting, the method of electing the chair, and the size of the county
board. The Commission concluded that Lake County functions well, and Lake
County has the opportunity to be a leader in pursuing independent
redistricting. Lake County would be the first county in Illinois to undertake independent
redistricting reform, and would join only a handful of other counties in the
U.S. that have addressed this.
The Committee will
meet monthly to evaluate the recommendations in the report and submit its
findings to the County Board for consideration and action. To learn more about
the work of the Lake County Commission on Government Reform and Accountability,
watch this video, and read the final report and other resources.
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In the general election on
November 5, 2008, Lake County voters approved a referendum of $185 million to
support the mission and vision of their Lake County Forest Preserves. The
referendum provided $148 million to purchase between 2,500 and 3,000 acres of
land to expand existing preserves and create new open spaces. The balance of
$37 million provided funds to complete trails, open new preserves, restore
habitat for endangered wildlife and plants, and improve and renovate existing
preserves and facilities.
Now, nearly a decade later, it’s
time to check in and report what value those funds have brought to Lake County. Learn more
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Skip the lines on election day and vote by mail! Registered Lake County
voters can now request a ballot by mail for the March 20 primary election.
Request a ballot at www.LakeVoterPower.info or
call 847-377-2410. |
Lake County is
consistently leveraging technology to improve the effectiveness and efficiency
of operations, including using drones to conduct land surveys in a fraction of
the time. And, during the July 2017 floods, new drone technology helped assess
damage quickly and easily that otherwise would be inaccessible. Watch this
edition of Lake County’s Dirty Jobs as I explore how drones can make jobs less
dirty. |
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Every year, volunteers conduct a Point-In-Time Homeless Count to search all over Lake County to interview and offer assistance to unsheltered people experiencing homelessness. This year, I joined 85 volunteers to help document the need in our communities and serve as the boots on the ground to connect individuals with resources.
I welcomed the volunteers with a story of a past count when I met a homeless man who was in the emergency room due to his mental health struggles. I think about this man often. His story has stayed with me and has compelled me to become more engaged in mental health issues. We won’t stop working until we have the system we need to end homelessness and address the mental health needs in this county. Learn more about this year's Point-in-Time Homeless Count.
Get involved! Lake County residents can make a difference by supporting the Lake County Coalition for the Homeless and the various member organizations. Each organization has different needs or ways to get involved. For example, the Lake County Haven shares volunteer opportunities on their Facebook page, and individuals can sign up to volunteer with PADS.
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The Lake County Treasurer's Office is now finalizing
all prepayments of 2017 real estate taxes and will shortly conclude mailing out
receipts to taxpayers who submitted a prepayment by mail. The rush to prepay real estate taxes last December led to a record year
in Lake County. More than 20,000 taxpayers prepaid their real estate taxes in
2017, compared to 200 to 300 who prepay on average. View other facts and
an important notice for those who
prepaid their 2017 real estate taxes. |
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Individuals
who earned $66,000 or less in 2017 can self-file their
federal and state taxes for free and save an average of $200 in fees by using My
Free Taxes. English and Spanish support via telephone
(1-855-MY-TX-HELP) is available, along with email and online chat support from
IRS-certified specialists. Learn more about My Free Taxes. |
I recently joined leaders from Cook, DuPage, Kane, Kendall, Lake, McHenry and Will counties, the City of Chicago, and the business community to launch the Chicago Regional Growth Corporation (CRGC). The CRGC will work to strengthen the regional economy and better connect resources to generate economic opportunities. Learn more about CRGC. |
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The Lake County Board makes
policy and budget decisions each month that touches many areas, from economic development and human services to law
enforcement and public safety, along with transportation and infrastructure. In
this new video series, we wrap up recent County Board actions. Watch
now.
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Dispose Unwanted, Expired Prescriptions Safely Dispose your unused, unwanted and
expired prescription drugs properly at disposal boxes across Lake County. The
service is free! In 2017, more than 13,000 pounds of unused and unwanted prescriptions were collected, a 19 percent increase from 2016. Find a drug
disposal box near you, and learn what is not accepted.
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Reuse-A-Shoe
Donate new and gently used shoes to
SWALCO’s Reuse-A-Shoe program. Individuals or families with a few pairs can
visit the drop-off locations. Groups or families who have a large number of shoes or who want to
collect them can contact Merleanne Rampale at SWALCO at 847-377-4954 to set up
a seasonal collection site or drive. View acceptable and unacceptable items.
Remember the R’s Just as important as reusing or recycling is purchasing
eco-friendly items, including those that contain recycled content. There
are numerous markets out there, and even your local retailer offers
eco-friendly options. Visit SWALCO’s website
to learn more.
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Lake County property owners who sustained flood damage from the July 2017 flood may be eligible to claim an income tax credit worth up to $750 under a law approved by the Illinois Legislature and signed by the governor. If eligible, the income tax credit may be applied to the resident’s 2017 Illinois income taxes. Learn more |
Meet with healthcare employers and
training professionals at the Job Center of Lake County’s and Lake County
Health Department’s Healthcare Job Fair! More than 100 positions are available,
including physicians, registered nurses, social workers, medical assistants,
and more. The event will run from 3 to 7
p.m. Feb. 1 at the Lake County Health Department, 3010 Grand Ave., Waukegan.
RSVP for the job fair, and
learn more about the event by watching this video.
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Lake County homeowners are urged to test radon levels
in their homes and apartments during the winter months, when indoor radon
levels are at their highest.
Radon is an odorless and colorless gas that naturally
occurs in rock and soil. It can seep into homes from the soil through cracks in
the basement floors and foundations, crawl spaces, poorly sealed sump pumps,
porous cinder block walls and other foundation floor and wall
penetrations.
To purchase a radon testing kit, please call 847-377-8020. Learn more about radon in Lake
County.
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The Lake County Sheriff's Office, Health
Department, and Treatment Alternatives for Safe Communities have launched a new
educational program to train at-risk inmates on the use of naloxone, an opioid
overdose antidote that counteracts the effects of heroin and other opioids in
the brain and essentially “brings back” an individual from an overdose. Learn more |
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Road salt and other deicing materials are needed to keep
Lake County’s roads, parking lots and sidewalks safe, but the products used can
impact our water quality. Lake County departments recently teamed up to offer
deicing workshops to public agencies and private contractors to show how to
wisely use road salt that will reduce the environmental impacts and help them
save money. Watch
this video. |
Forest Preserve News
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Register for School Programs Today
Registration for school programs at the Dunn Museum is now open. Field trips are
available beginning March 26. For more information or to book a field trip or
in-school program, contact Nicole Stocker, Museum Educator, at 847-968-3422
or nstocker@lcfpd.org. Learn more
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Experience Winter’s Beauty Hiking across the snow. Tracing figure eights on the ice.
Feeling the tug of a fish below the frozen water. Zooming downhill on a
snow-packed surface. These experiences and more await winter outdoor
enthusiasts at your Lake County Forest Preserves, where breathtaking scenery
goes hand-in-hand with exercise and fun. Before heading out, check online for current trail, snow and ice
conditions for sledding, snowmobiling, ice fishing, ice skating, and
cross-country skiing.
Take an Evening Hike on Solar-Lit Trails
With small solar lights to
guide the way, hikers, skiers and snowshoers can get some evening exercise
along the 1.3-mile fitness trail at Old
School Forest Preserve in Libertyville, and along a 1.65-mile hilly section of the
Millennium Trail adjacent to the Winter
Sports Area at Lakewood Forest Preserve in Wauconda. Though regular preserve hours are 6:30 a.m. to sunset,
the illuminated trails and adjacent parking lots will remain open after sunset
until 9 p.m., daily, through March 11. Learn more
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2018 Camp Registration is Now Open
Research has proven that time spent in nature fosters the healthy
development of children. Most of our camps are held completely outdoors, and
those that aren’t have components outside. Outdoor play helps children manage
stress and become resilient. Natural spaces stimulate children’s limitless
imaginations and foster creativity. Camp provides children with a safe,
positive environment that helps children grow. Our wide variety of topics
allows your camper to attend camps from ages 4 through 14 without repeating a
topic. Register today!
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Winter Habitat Restoration
This winter, our well-trained crews will remove invasive woody
species, primarily buckthorn, autumn olive, sandbar willow, and honeysuckle,
from 17 preserves. A total of 23 restoration projects are scheduled for
this season, including 852 acres of woody clearing, forestry mowing, and small
invasive tree and shrub removal. View map and details
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Profiles in Excellence Join us for an inspiring afternoon
in honor of Black History Month at the 35th annual Profiles in Excellence on
Feb. 11 at the Greenbelt
Cultural Center. This year’s theme focuses
on the Illinois Bicentennial (1818–2018) and features the important role of
African Americans in Lake County’s history. The event is free and open to all
ages. There will be presenters and musical entertainment.
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Fort Sheridan Project Update
Construction of public access improvements at Fort Sheridan Forest Preserve is
going well. The project is on schedule for reopening a portion of the preserve
this summer. Progress has been made on the entry drive, parking lot, pond
expansion, turf trail, timber bridges, and overlooks. Boulders selected by our
preserve planners are incorporated in the overlooks as gateway and seating elements. During
construction, all portions of the preserve north of Fort Sheridan’s historic
district and south of the Vattman Road entrance drive to the cemetery
are closed to public access. Respect all safety blockades and closure
signage. Do not move blockades or attempt to access closed areas. Respecting
the closure will keep work moving apace and allow the site to be reopened
sooner. View closure map
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Lake County History Symposium–Call for Papers
On April 29, the Dunn
Museum (Libertyville) will host
the fourth Annual Lake County History Symposium. The Symposium is open to the
public and aims to bring together those interested in and actively researching
the history of Lake County. This year’s theme is History from Objects.
Proposals for presentations and posters are requested. Submissions are due on
or before Feb. 1. Submit
yours today. |
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