 We often get asked – what does the County do? The Lake County Board makes policy and budget decisions each month that touches many areas, from the roads we drive on every day and healthcare programs that contribute to the health and wellness of our residents and communities, to public safety and judicial agencies that work 24/7 to keep your family safe.
You're invited to join one of our upcoming Telephone Town Hall meetings on June 6 and 20 at 7 p.m. During the Telephone Town Halls, 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. If you would like to take part in this event, make sure to sign up to receive a call!
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 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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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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Bring your electronics, clothing and textiles, shoes, hearing aids, and glasses to be recycled as Shields Township hosts a Recycle-O-Rama from 10 a.m. to noon June 16 in the township's south parking lot. Also, bring your secure documents to be shredded. The township staff also will provide services for those who need to apply for a passport. Contact Shields Township to learn more.
 Lake County will join the nation in
observing Memorial Day, honoring the members of our U.S. Military who gave the
ultimate sacrifice to help protect our country.
We appreciate the dedication and commitment of
these men and women. To honor their service, we offer resources to help veterans and
their families.
Join
Area Memorial Day Observance
- Join
the fifth anniversary of the Essence of Freedom 5K run at 8;45 a.m. May 28 in
Deerfield. Learn more
- The American Legion, McKinlock Post 264 invites the public to join in celebrating and honoring our fallen U.S. service members at the annual Memorial Day Ceremony at 11 a.m. May 28 in Market Square in Lake Forest.
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 Did you know that Lake County and its
municipalities occasionally auction off old vehicles and other surplus items,
including computers and office furniture? The next auction is scheduled
for 9 a.m. June 2 at the Lake County Fairgrounds in Grayslake. View
the auction items.
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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
 Forest Preserve News
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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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 Science in the Forest 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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 Explore and Restore Workday
Dive deep into the wilds of southwest Lake County to restore
globally rare habitats of the Barrington Greenway from 9 to 11 a.m. June
9. Plant native sedges in the summertime at Cuba Marsh Forest Preserve. In
one morning, you can make a positive difference for the native plants and
wildlife of Cuba Marsh.
Volunteers should dress for the
work and weather, including long pants, sturdy shoes, and work gloves. All ages
and levels of experience are welcome. If the weather is questionable
(thunderstorms or heat) please contact the coordinator prior
to attending the workday. Learn
more
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 Phenology and Photography
Advance your photography
skills and knowledge of the natural calendar during adventures in the field
with professional photographer, Jeff Goldberg, and a Lake County Forest
Preserve staff naturalist from 7 to 10 p.m. June 9. This workshop is for
serious amateur photographers. Each session focuses on a particular subject and
photographic technique related to the current season. Join us on this summer
evening to explore the beauty of Van Patten Woods. 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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 Lake County was
recently honored with the 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 visit the press release.
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