Nearly 10 years ago, Lake County voters approved a referendum of $185 million to support the mission and vision of the Lake County Forest Preserves, such as expanding existing preserves, completing trails, restoring habitat and more. Read the story below to learn more about the Forest Preserves' report.
Election Day will soon be here again. Remember that you don't have
to wait in line to vote. All Lake County registered voters can cast a ballot
simply by
voting by mail. Read the story below to learn more.
I am excited to serve
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. |
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention
is reporting that influenza-like illness is widespread across most of the
country, including Illinois. Schools across Lake County saw a 34 percent rise
in absenteeism related to influenza-like illness this past week.
A flu vaccination is your best protection and is recommended for
everyone ages 6 months and older. While some people who get vaccinated may
still get flu, the flu vaccination may make your illness milder.
- The
Lake County Health Department provides flu vaccinations at 2303 Dodge
Ave., Waukegan. For information or to make an appointment, call
847-377-8470.
- The
vaccine also is available at sites throughout Lake County. Find a convenient location.
Follow
these tips, provided by the health department, on how you can prevent the
flu and what to do if you get the flu.
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. |
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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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 Preserves News
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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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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 and allow the site to be reopened
sooner. View closure map.
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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. |
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 Government Reform Implementation Committee
Lake County Forest Preserves, 20th District: Diversity
and Cultural Awareness Committee, Chair Planning Committee, Vice Chair Rules Committee
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