You're invited to join our upcoming Telephone Town Hall meeting on June 20 at 7 p.m. During the Telephone Town Hall, Lake County Board Chairman Aaron Lawlor will discuss our current priorities, and you will be able to share your thoughts and ideas to make Lake County a better place.
Participants will be able to provide input in a variety of ways as Chairman Lawlor will answer questions from residents during this live interactive discussion. If you would like to take part in this event, make sure to sign up to receive a call!
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Summer is around the corner, and there is so much to do right here in
Lake County. In this video,
get a sneak peek inside the new Great Wolf Lodge in Gurnee and find out all of
the “Must-Do’s” in Lake County this summer. Also, learn how tourism is big
business with more than 10,000 tourism-related jobs and adding more than $1
billion to our local economy annually. Watch now.
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Shop for fresh fruits, vegetables, baked treats
and more while supporting local businesses at one of Lake County’s farmers
markets. Check out our Farmers
Market Finder to find a farmers market
near you.
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The Lake County Division of Transportation (LCDOT) will be closing
Russell Road at the Union Pacific Railroad crossing west of IL 131/Green Bay
Road for a culvert repair. The closure will begin at 6 a.m. June 25
and is scheduled to reopen June 29 in the late afternoon. The closure
is necessary to replace a culvert underneath Russell Road.
Local traffic will be allowed on Russell Road from Kilbourne east
to the railroad crossing and on Russell Road from IL 131/Green Bay Road west to
the railroad crossing. The railroad crossing will be closed to all traffic.
Detour Route: Kilbourne Road to IL Route 173 to IL Route
131/Green Bay Road.
Spring
has sprung, which means drivers across Lake County will be seeing construction
projects popping up along their commutes as the County continues its commitment
to investing in transportation. In this County update, County Board Chairman
Aaron Lawlor joins Lake County Division of Transportation’s new Director, Shane
Schneider, who talk about some of the projects such as Cedar Lake Road, Quentin
Road and the Millburn Bypass as well as the County’s innovative efforts to make
transportation more efficient for drivers with tools such as Lake County PASSAGE. Watch Now
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Did you know that you can have information about road closures delivered to your inbox? The Lake County Division of Transportation has an email subscription specifically for people who wish to be notified when roads are closed due to construction. Sign Up for Road Closure Notifications.
Assessment notices for the 2018 tax year have been sent to Benton Township residents.
What is A Property Assessment?
It may help to think of the property tax process like a pie. Taxing bodies,
including school districts, villages and the county (and many other taxing
districts) determine how much they need to collect in taxes. That determines
the size of the pie, and the property assessment determines how the pie is cut
up. The assessment process ensures property taxes are fairly distributed.
Elected township assessors are primarily responsible for appraising properties
and determining a property’s value, which ultimately determines the portion of
the total tax burden (or piece of the pie). If you have questions or concerns
regarding the assessed value of your property, you should discuss this with your
local township assessor’s office.
Understand Your Property Assessment Taxpayer advocates are available from 8:30 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday
through Friday at the Chief County Assessment Office, 18 N. County Street, 7th
Floor, Waukegan.
Should You Appeal Your Property Assessment?
View
the five steps to determining if you should appeal your property
assessment.
Filing
an Appeal? Use our Online System Today (June 15) is the final filing date for assessment appeals in Benton Township. Our
quick and convenient Online Appeal Filing System allows you to
get your appeal information to the Board of Review without the hassle of
mailing or hand delivering them to the Chief County Assessment Office in
Waukegan. Watch
this video to learn more about the process to file an appeal online.
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The Lake County Coalition for the Homeless is looking for an
individual to help serve those who experience homelessness in Lake County. This
individual will help plan
the 2019 Homeless Point-in-Time Count and work on initiatives to ensure the
homeless have access to needed services. Apply
today.
Learn more about this position by reading
this blog about a VISTA member sharing his experience coordinating the 2018
Homeless Point-in-Time Count.
It’s the time of year to take precautions against ticks, which can be
most active during the warmer weather and can carry diseases such as Lyme
disease. The Lake County Health Department and Community Health Center provides
these tips to help protect yourself from exposure to ticks:
- Avoid wooded and brushy areas with high grass and leaf
litter.
- Wear light-colored protective clothing, such as long-sleeved
shirts, pants, closed-toe boots or shoes, and a head covering or hat.
- Clear leaf litter, mowing grass, cutting back weeds, and keep
the ground clean under bird feeders.
How
to Remove A Tick
Whether it’s rubbing alcohol, nail
polish, or a burnt match, there’s a lot of misguided folklore when it comes to
how to remove a tick. Watch this video to learn the proper techniques
to remove a tick.
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Protect Your Pets from Ticks Dogs love to roll around in the grass, jump in brush and walk in
wooded areas – ALL places ticks may live. Watch this video to
find out the proper way to check and remove ticks from your dog.
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Lake
County, along with the Lake County Opioid Initiative is working to combat
the increasing opiate problem. Hear from Lake County State's Attorney Michael
Nerheim and Bill Gentes, who talk about what is being done to combat the opioid
epidemic and learn about programs such as prescription drug disposal boxes and
the “A Way Out” program, which are part of the county-wide effort to prevent
opioid abuse, addiction, overdose, and death. Watch Now
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Those who struggle with substance abuse now have two more locations they
can go to seek help 24/7 as part of the “A Way Out” Program. With the additions
of Waukegan Police Department and Lake Zurich Police Department, there are
now 13 “A Way Out” police entry points in Lake County. Individuals, who possess
narcotics or paraphernalia, enter a participating police department and tell an
officer they are requesting help will avoid criminal charges as long as the
participant seeks assistance. Learn
more
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This summer, the Lake County Health Department
reminds you to take action to protect yourself from illness and prevent the
spread of germs when swimming. Here
are ways to protect yourself from illness at pools and water parks.
The Health Department monitors lake water for
bacteria in over 100 Lake Michigan and inland lake beaches to ensure that the
water is acceptable for swimming. Through Labor Day, beach closure information
can be found on the Health Department’s Beach Advisory web page, which is
updated daily by 10 a.m.
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To improve public safety and reduce repeat offenses, the Lake County
State’s Attorney’s Office has launched a new program to monitor high-risk DUI
offenders 24/7 to ensure they aren’t drinking. As a condition of bond, drunk
driving offenders who cause a crash with serious injuries, those with multiple
DUIs and those who are arrested with a high BAC will be required to stay sober
and wear a high-tech anklet known as the SCRAM Continuous
Alcohol Monitoring. Also known as SCRAM CAM, this anklet automatically
tests the wearer’s perspiration every 30 minutes for alcohol consumption. Find Out More
Did you know you can anonymously submit a crime tip to
the Lake County Sheriff’s Office online? Tips and information from the
community often aid law enforcement in identifying potential threats, problems,
concerns, or issues. Report a crime tip online. Individuals who have a general tip also can call the Sheriff’s
Office at 847-549-5200, leave a message on our tip line at 847-377-4424
or send an email.
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Lake County was
recently honored with 2018 Tyler Public Sector Excellence Award for
implementing an innovative new integrated permit and inspection system.
The Tyler Public
Sector Excellence Award is presented to organizations who exhibit leadership,
innovation, and excellence by using their Tyler product in new and effective
ways, Lake County's successful integration of the Tyler EnerGov system has
streamlined daily operations. In 2017, Lake County implemented a new integrated
permit and inspection software system in an effort to further integrate
multiple county departments into a single unified permitting system. This
allowed customers to submit and pay for many permit applications online and
review the status of their applications and inspections using their home
computer. Moving to a more streamlined and efficient permitting and inspection
software system provided a better customer experience and saved valuable time
and resources.
To learn more,
please view this news release.
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Forest Preserve News
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Events in the Plaza Summer Concert Series
Events in the Plaza is Independence Grove's outdoor summer concert
series featuring live music. Performances will be held Tuesday evenings to Aug.
7 (excluding July 3). View the 2018 entertainment line-up.
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Annual
Civil War Days
The boom of cannons, the crack of rifles and the galloping of horse hooves
welcomes you at the annual Civil War Days encampment. Wander the camps to see
soldiers, civilians and tradespeople at work. Watch as union and confederate
forces collide in battle. A large-scale battle can be viewed on both Saturday
and Sunday. Visit the 1863 Summer Fair, meet President Lincoln and shop Civil
War-era vendors. Kids enjoy period crafts, games and more.
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Forest Fitness
Join the Lake County Forest Preserves and dozens of local park districts in the
new Go Lake County movement. This countywide low-impact
fitness initiative aims to empower Lake County residents to improve their
overall health through the simple act of walking. And, there’s no greater
benefit to our bodies and minds than walking in nature. Our outdoor hiking
programs offered in forest preserves throughout Lake County are a natural fit
to get you going. Attend our weekly Forest Fitness hikes, which are now part of
the Go Lake County initiative, or take friends and family
along for a hike on any of our scenic preserve
trails.
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Family Fun Fridays
The beach at Independence Grove in
Libertyville gets better Friday afternoons with games, contests and prizes
around a different theme each week. Everyone can participate in the fun. Prizes
awarded in age categories for kids 15 and under. Programs are FREE
with beach
admission. No registration is required. Learn more
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Preserve and Trail Improvement Projects
Several trail and preserve
improvement projects are planned for completion this year, weather permitting.
Here are a few highlights. Check our website for
updates on all projects.
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Lyons Woods to Waukegan
Savanna Trail Connection: We’re partnering with others to create a 2.3-mile paved
trail connecting the Robert McClory Bike Path at Lyons
Woods to
the Green Bay Road right-of-way. Opening this summer.
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Waukegan Savanna Dog
Park: Canines will soon have a
new off-leash dog area to exercise, play and socialize. The entrance is at
the northeast corner of Delany and Yorkhouse Roads. Opening late
fall.
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Spring Bluff Observation
Deck and Trail: An existing asphalt
roadway is being converted to a 0.7-mile trail, and a new wildlife
education and observation deck is being built. Opening late
2018. Learn
more
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Senior Series: Gardening with Native Plants
Discover the benefits of using native plants to create habitat for local birds
and butterflies at this program on June 27. Plant selection and identification,
habitat requirements and maintenance will be discussed. A tour of the
Welcome Center's native landscaping will follow an indoor presentation. Learn more
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Annual Fund Spotlight
When you give to the Annual Fund, you help us do more.
The Preservation Foundation board recently approved a $24,000 grant from the
Annual Fund to monitor the population and health of Blanding’s turtles this
summer–data that directly strengthens our ongoing Blanding’s Turtle Recovery
Program. Learn
how you can help.
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Science in the Preserves
We are serious about our goal to eradicate the non-native invasive
species, buckthorn, from our forest preserves and beyond. In 2015, we convened
several regional organizations to discuss ideas for controlling buckthorn. This
conversation was organized to launch a pilot project to improve landscapes
within the vicinity of Middlefork Savanna (Lake
Forest). Around that same time our Assistant Public Affairs Manager,
Allison Frederick, forged a partnership with social scientists at the U.S.
Forest Service (USFS). Eager to discuss applicable methods for behavioral
change and conservation psychology, she teamed up with researchers at the USFS
to determine people’s perceptions of the trees and aesthetics in the buckthorn
pilot area. Learn
more
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National Trail Award Received
A pedestrian bridge installed last fall over the Metra Railway to
connect 4.5 miles of trails at Middlefork Savanna (Lake Forest) to
neighboring facilities and parks won the best in trails award from the National
Association of County Park and Recreation Officials. The award recognizes
exceptional trail project planning, design and construction and benefits to the
community. The Middlefork Bridge and Trail Connection was made
possible by donations from: Elizabeth and Richard Uihlein, The
City of Lake Forest, Lake Forest Open Lands Association, Chicago Bears, Lake
Forest Academy, Lake Forest Bank & Trust Company and John and
Paula Lillard. A special thank you to bridge and trail Project Manager,
Michael Haug, Lake County Forest Preserves. Watch a short video of the
amazing installation.
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Much of the infrastructure owned and maintained by Lake
County Public Works is underground. In order for Public Works to monitor and
evaluate the condition of the overall system, they need to see what’s going on
underground. In this video,
travel along the pipes and learn more about the process for televising and
inspecting the sewer lines. This inspection identifies areas in need of repair
and sets in motion the planning and engineering needed to maintain the
infrastructure. Public Works uses this information to develop a multi-year
maintenance schedule to make sure they are investing in the system at the right
time and in the most efficient way.
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