|
Nineteenth Judicial Circuit Chief Judge Jay Ukena, Lake County Board
Chairman Aaron Lawlor, along with judges, county board members, elected
officials, justice partners and others gathered July 17 for the ribbon-cutting of
the new Court Tower in downtown Waukegan. The ceremony also included the
dedication of the Audrey H. Nixon Pedestrian Bridge.
The new eight-story, 200,000
sq. foot court tower houses 12 new courtrooms, jury assembly space, various
administrative services and room for six future courtrooms. The tower
construction began in June 2016 and will open to the public July 30, 2018. Watch this video to learn more.
 Apply
for a new passport or renew your passport as the Lake County Circuit Clerk's
Office Mobile Passport Team comes to the Waukegan City Hall from 9 a.m. to 1:30
p.m. July 28. Pictures also can be taken. No appointment will be necessary. For
more information, including a helpful passport checklist, visit the Circuit Clerk’s website.
|
 Be
inspired by Lake County’s gospel voices on July 29 at the Greenbelt Cultural Center in North Chicago. This
annual favorite feature choirs, solo performances and praise dancers that bring
you to your feet. Children can also enjoy fun nature activities during the
event. Learn more
|
 Join family, friends and neighbors and join the Go Waukegan walk from 9 to 10 a.m. Saturday, July 29 starting at Bevier Park. In collaboration with the Lake County Health Department and Community Health Center, the GO WAUKEGAN initiative was launched to encourage the community to walk at least 30 minutes each day, in an effort to promote values of health and wellness. Learn more
|
 The Lake
County Health Department and Community Health Center has opened its new Zion
Health Center, which will greatly expand access to quality health services for
residents of northeast Lake County. Located at 1911 27th St., the site was
fully renovated to provide integrated health services, including primary care,
dental care, behavioral health, women’s health, nutrition services, case
management, and more to provide patient-centered care under one roof. Watch this video to learn more about the new center.
|
 Another television show will be riding with
members of the Lake County Sheriff’s Office beginning this month. The show,
“Women on Patrol” will ride along with our Highway Patrol Division and provide an inside look at the
responsibilities of the Sheriff’s Office and the variety of calls Sheriff’s
Deputies respond to. This is not the first time the Sheriff’s Office has been
featured on a television show! Watch
this video to
learn more about the Sheriff’s Office on “Live PD.”
|
Assessment notices for the 2018 tax year will be in the mail next week for Waukegan 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.
Meet with a Taxpayer Advocate
Individuals can get free one-on-one assistance with evaluating
your assessment at a tax assessment help center. Centers will be provided on
Aug. 14 and 21 at the College of Lake County Southlake Campus in Vernon Hills
and Aug. 8, 15 and 22 at the University Center of Lake County in Grayslake.
These centers will meet from 4 to 7 p.m. More dates will be released on the
Chief County Assessment Office website.
Taxpayer advocates also 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
The final filing date for assessment appeals in Waukegan is Aug. 30. 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.
|
 Returning citizens and individuals with a criminal background can
learn the skills needed in today’s workplace through a new program through Lake
County Workforce Development called Revive Lake County. Individuals who
successfully complete the program may be eligible to receive financial aid for
job training or a paid work experience. Interested individuals are required to
attend an information session at the Job Center’s Waukegan location. View
the schedule.
|
 Curbside recycling keeps so much out of our
landfills, BUT did you know there are items that you should not put in your
recycling bin such as plastic bags and Styrofoam containers? Watch this video, and get an inside look of the recycling process at the Waste
Management Recovery Facility in Grayslake. *Note* You'll notice items like
plastic bags get wrapped in the machines. Before you add items to your
recycling bin, check these guidelines from the Solid Waste Agency of Lake County.
|
 Watch this edition of Your Courthouse
at Work as Lake County judges share information about the guardianship help
desk, bond court, and small claims court. Also, take an inside look at the
first Annual Veterans & Family Services RUCK March and an update on new
laws and changes at the 19th Judicial Circuit. Watch now.
|
 Forest Preserve News
|
 Family
Fishing
Drop a line and see if the fish are biting. You could catch bluegills,
largemouth bass and channel catfish. We’ll supply the poles, bait and tips on
getting started. The program will run from 1 to 2:30 p.m. July 26 at Independence Grove
Forest Preserve in Libertyville. A valid Illinois fishing
license will be required for those ages 16 and older. This is a drop-in
program, so no registration is required. Meet at the North Bay Pavilion. Learn more
|
 Fort Sheridan Reopens with Lake Michigan Overlook
The Lake County Forest Preserves announces
the reopening of Fort
Sheridan Forest Preserve in Lake
Forest with new and improved features that provide greater access to the site’s
natural beauty and rich military history. Following more than a year of
construction, visitors will once again be able to enjoy portions of the
preserve’s scenic trails and access to the Lake Michigan shoreline.
Improvements include:
- Three scenic observation areas, including a 70-foot
overlook of Lake Michigan, with new and relocated educational exhibits
that tell the story of the area’s unique history and include new
information about the Lake Michigan Bird Flyway.
- Nearly a mile of new accessible paved trails and
conversion of the woodchip section of the Hutchinson Trail with new
bridges and boardwalks.
- Redesigned main entrance on Gilgare Lane, widened to a
full two lanes, which leads to a new 45-car parking lot with five
accessible spaces and an evaporator toilet building (an innovative waste
disposal method that is odor free and saves water).
- Improved north parking lot with new paved trailhead and
an evaporator toilet building.
- Restored shoreline with native plantings.
- Remaining portion of George Bell Road and gates removed
and area restored with native plantings.
Public access to the restored 1.8-mile mowed grass trail will
remain closed until summer 2019 to allow time for the grass surface to become
better established for foot traffic. Management and monitoring of the
73-acre woodland, prairie and savanna portions of the site will continue in
perpetuity. Learn more
|
North Chicago Community Days
Join me for a walk in the North Chicago Community Days parade, which will begin at 10 a.m. Aug. 4. The parade is just one element of the wonderful community festival, which continues Aug. 5. Learn more
Gurnee Days
Enjoy Gurnee Days Aug. 9 to 12. There will be a
full schedule of family fun, including bike rodeos, a 10K race and two-mile run
and walk, amusement rides, contests, food, fireworks and much more. Details
 Men of Yoked BBQ
I had the opportunity to attend the Men of Yoked BBQ this past weekend! This was a great opportunity for parents and kids to enjoy great food and music while learning about the Men of Yoked, which is a mentoring group for young men in the community.
|
 Dedicating 14th Street in Honor of Audrey Nixon
Officials held a ceremony to honor Audrey H. Nixon by renaming 14th Street in North Chicago to Audrey Nixon Boulevard. Nixon passed away last year after 35 years of public service to Lake County. During her tenure, she served on dozens of committees, including serving as the long-time distinguished Chair of the County Board’s Law and Judicial Committee.
|
|
