You're invited to join our 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!

I recently joined more than 500 Lake County business and civic leaders to celebrate 20 years of driving economic growth as Lake County Partners hosted its annual “Big Event.” The Big Event focuses on giving companies and communities the tools they need to fuel economic development. This year’s focus was on business growth and innovation. In his remarks, Lake County Board Chairman Aaron Lawlor reflected on where we’ve been and where we are going, affirming that Lake County is stronger than ever before!

Through the “Lake County Workforce Ecosystem” established in recent years, Lake County Partners has teamed with Lake County Workforce Development, the College of Lake County, the Lake County High Schools Technology Campus and others to meet with company leaders, identify and address critical marketplace needs and help attract top talent. Learn more by watching this video.

The Job Center of Lake County provides workshops to help improve your job search as well as information on upcoming job fairs in Zion, North Chicago and Grayslake where you can meet with employers. Check out what the Job Center has planned through June. 

Individuals ages 18-24 who are not enrolled in school are invited to participate in Workforce Essential Skills Training (WEST). WEST is an essential skills program that leads to paid training, certifications, and employment opportunities. Attend an information session to learn more. 

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

Get Road Closure Updates Sent to Your Inbox
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.

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.

Events in the Plaza is Independence Grove's outdoor summer concert series featuring live music. Performances will be held Tuesday evenings from June 12 to Aug. 7 (excluding July 3). On June 12, listen to the Rockin’ Fenderskirts. Learn more

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:

• Don’t swim or let your children swim when sick with diarrhea.
• Don’t swallow the water.
• Check out the pool’s latest inspection report and do your own mini-inspection (check that you can see the pool drain, locate the lifeguard on duty, and locate safety equipment that is available).
• Learn more safety tips 

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. 

Forest Preserve News

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

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

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.

If you have any questions or concerns, please call me at 847-721-1563 (cell) or email me at mcunningham@lakecountyil.gov. 

I encourage you to forward this update to others who may be interested in Lake County news. Residents who wish to automatically receive my bi-weekly newsletter can email me, or click the “Newsletter Sign Up" button at the top of the newsletter.

Thank you,
Mary Ross Cunningham
 

Ms. Cunningham, County Board member and Forest Preserve Commissioner, serves on:

Lake County Board, 9th District:
Diversity and Inclusion Committee, (Ad-Hoc), Chair
Lake County Law and Judicial Committee, Chair 
Lake County Health and Community Services 
Lake County Rules Committee, vice chair 
Lake County Government Reform Implementation Committee

Lake County Forest Preserves, 9th District: 
Operations Committee, Vice Chair
Diversity and Cultural Awareness Committee
Gospelfest Committee, chair

Other appointed positions:
National Association of Counties (NACo), Board Representative
Lake County Community Health Center Governing Council, secretary
Lake County Board of Health Personnel Committee, Chair
Community Action Partnership of Lake County, Board Member
Lake County Domestic Violence Council
Lake County Sexual Assault Coordination Committee
Waukegan High School Advisory Board
Lake County Veterans Advisory Board