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I am honored to represent our district on the Lake County Board and as a Forest Preserves Commissioner.
Let's make it a great year here in Lake County!
Respectfully,
Tom Weber
 Early Voting
In-person early voting for the Nov. 6 Election
is now available from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. weekdays through Oct. 19 at the Lake
County Clerk’s Office, 18 N. County St., Waukegan.
Beginning Oct. 22,
early voting will be available at 16 early voting sites throughout the county. Use
any early voting site regardless of where you live. Find
an early voting site near you.
Vote by Mail
Registered voters wishing to vote by mail must submit
a completed electronic application or paper application to the Clerk’s office
by noon Nov. 1. Voted ballots must be returned to the Clerk’s office bearing a
postmark no later than midnight on Election Day. Complete
your vote by mail application.
More Information
Visit LakeCountyClerk.info and click on the “November 2018 Election” icon to find voter
registration information, preview your ballot, and details on how to vote
by mail, early, or on Election Day.
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Following
an analysis of Lake County’s P-card program, an independent firm concluded that
there is not widespread misuse of Lake County P-Cards. However, the firm
recommended Lake County update its policy, processes and procedures. Lake
County has approximately 260 County-issued P-Cards used by employees, some
board members and elected officials for County business related expenses. The
firm analyzed a sample of Lake County P-card transactions representing 52% of
total spending for 12 months and reviewed best practices from across the
country. While the County has a policy that specifically defines appropriate
expenses, the study’s findings show there are gaps that can be improved with
stronger internal controls. Recommendations to be immediately implemented
include: updating current practices and refining procedures to better document
approvals and handle exceptions (including personal charges and late
submissions); implementing regular departmental reviews of active cards and
credit limits, as well as additional training. The Board will also
consider policy changes and updates to its rules that govern board members’
P-card use and consider measures to improve transparency, including posting
P-card transactions to the County website.
P-Cards are a valuable procurement and
payment tool used by governments, as well as businesses, because it reduces
length of time to make a purchase or pay vendor, can decrease transaction costs
and earn revenue through rebates. The Committee will review and discuss the
action plan for implementing the recommendations at its next meeting.
Watch this video
with Finance & Administration Chair, Mike Rummel.
In local government, much of what we do and how we do it is
dictated by State and sometimes Federal laws. For example, Lake County
government purchases a variety of goods and services and there are different
ways to procure those services depending on what it is. For example, when
hiring architects, engineers and land surveyors, Lake
County (and local governments) are required to use
the Professional Services Selection process and award these contracts through a
“Qualifications Based Selection.” This allows the County to evaluate a firm based on experience and expertise
relative to the project, and cost is negotiated after the most highly rated
firm is selected.
How does
it work? When professional services are needed, the department develops the
project scope and then publicly advertises the request for services. Interested
firms submit a Statement of Interest (SOI) and Statement of Qualifications
(SOQ) and a selection committee –made up of
professionals from the department—evaluate the
proposals and select a minimum of three firms to participate in an
interview/presentation. They rank the firms based on several criteria, including their expertise and past related
experience. The County then begins negotiating the number of hours
it will take to complete the scope of services. The final contract is then
presented to the Lake County Board for approval.
Following
this process is required by State and Federal law; it provides value to the
County and helps us deliver cost-effective, efficient
services to our residents because our Lake County team of professionals
has selected the most qualified firm to perform the work, and these firms are then qualified to do similar work in the
future, based on their past successful performance. Learn More: Qualifications
Based Selection FAQ’s
As it has for the past
decade, Lake County has received the “Distinguished Budget Presentation Award”
from the Government Finance Officers Association (GFOA). Lake County
consistently receives this annual award that reflects the County’s commitment
to meet the highest principles of governmental budgeting and shows Lake County
satisfies nationally recognizes guidelines for effective budget presentation.
The award demonstrates that the budget serves as a policy document, financial
plan, operations guide and a communications device.
The Lake County Board has a strong track record
of practicing fiscal responsibility. Lake County consistently has a balanced
budget, and for 20 years has maintained a Triple A credit rating – the highest
rating possible. Lake County is one of only two counties in Illinois that have
a AAA rating from the rating agencies Moody’s and Standard & Poor’s, an achievement
held by approximately 2% of the nation’s counties.
Also each year, an independent professional
audit of Lake County’s finances is completed. The audit firm of RSM US LLP recently
issued a “clean opinion” for the latest audit, which is the highest opinion
available. The recent audit, along with the credit rating and GFOA
awards, collectively show Lake County is financially sound.
 One of the best things about saying farewell to summer is looking forward to a fall festival in Lake County! Enjoy autumn’s glows firsthand while getting spooked, picking out pumpkins or getting lost in a maze of maize. View Visit Lake County’s guide to the top 10 things to do in October.
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 The Lake County
Sheriff’s Office is piloting a new collaborative program with the Lake County
Health Department called the Crisis Outreach and Support Team (COaST) to
support residents with mental or behavioral health illness who interact with
law enforcement.
Within approximately
three days of a law enforcement officer encountering a mental health
interaction or an opioid overdose, the COaST deputy will arrange a meeting with
the individual or “cold call” their residence. During that meeting, the deputy will check the well-being
of the person and determine if he or she has sought treatment or services since
the initial event. The deputy will then provide a “warm handoff” to the Health
Department counselor, who will conduct a brief assessment, and if necessary,
refer the person to appropriate services. Learn more
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 Donate your new or gently used adult and children’s
coats and outerwear to help area veterans and their families as part of the Lake
County Law Enforcement Veteran's Coat Drive. The collection is running now through
Nov. 7. Find a collection
site near you.
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 Discover opportunities for professional growth, abundant
career choices, and jobs that offer variety and the chance to make a meaningful
difference. These are a few of the reasons that Lake County employees love
working for us! Watch this video
and discover why Lake County is a great place to work!
Lake County Is Hiring
Lake County is currently hiring for a variety of positions,
including nurses, counselors, maintenance workers, and corrections officers.
View the
job openings!
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Rollins Road to Close for Culvert Replacement
The
Lake County Division of Transportation (LCDOT) will be closing Rollins Road,
from Fairfield Road to Wilson Road to through traffic starting Monday, Oct. 15
at 6 a.m. and will reopen by late afternoon on Monday, Oct. 29. The closure is
necessary to replace the Eagle Creek culvert. View detour information.
 County's 2018-2023 Highway
Improvement Program
Lake
County’s 2018-2023 Proposed Highway Improvement Program is now available. Review
the five-year plan to learn more about how
the program is created and to see which projects are currently funded in the
next five years. More information
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 Lake County Implements Speed
Studies
The Lake County Division of Transportation (LCDOT) is
responsible for setting the speed limit for county highways under our
jurisdiction and township roads. Safety on the roadways is always a top
priority and guides everything we do, including the determination of speed
limits. What is a speed study, and how does the process work? Learn
more
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 As you discover a growing pile of shoes that no longer fit, don’t throw
them away! Keep them out of the landfills and recycle it all instead. As part
of the Solid Waste Agency of Lake County's Reuse-A-Shoe program, new locations
have opened to bring your new and gently used shoes including drop-off bins in
Deerfield, Gages Lake, Port Barrington and Vernon Hills.
Learn more about the Reuse-A-Shoe
program, including all locations and what items are accepted. And, make sure to
learn about all of SWALCO’s recycling programs, including clothing and textiles, household electronics
and household chemical
waste.
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 Remembering. Ending stigma. Saving lives. Join the sixth annual
Walk for Awareness and Suicide Prevention on Saturday, Oct. 6 at Hastings Lake Forest
Preserve in Lake Villa. There also will be a one-mile walk option. As part of
the event, visit information tables from Lake County agencies covering topics
such as mental health, physical health, counseling, aging and community
services. Learn more
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 Diabetes in Lake County
Diabetes is a disease that affects how your body uses blood
sugar or glucose and is the sixth leading cause of death in Lake County. The
good news is diabetes is preventable and can be controlled. Watch
this video to learn about a new web page created by Live Well Lake
County to learn more about diabetes prevention and management. And, visit
DiabetesLC.org to find a class near you.
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 From Farmers Market to Dinner Table
With so many farmers markets across Lake County, our
residents have many options for picking up fresh produce, packed with nutrition
and flavor. Watch this video
as Chef LaiSha Ponder from the Lake County Health Department shares how you can
bring that market freshness to your table with two easy, mouthwatering dishes,
a summer ribbon salad and a sautéed vegetable mélange. Go to your local
farmer’s market using our Farmers
Market Finder and give these recipes a try!
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 Forest Preserve News
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 2018 Hike Lake County
Challenge
Studies show spending time outdoors interacting with our natural
world makes us healthier, happier and more mindful. Activate the power of
nature for your good health by taking part in the annual Hike Lake County
Challenge. Enjoy fall breezes and autumn colors while exploring designated
“Hike Lake County” trails with family, friends or canine companions. Complete
just seven of the hikes by Nov. 30 to earn a commemorative
shield. View this
year’s hike locations.
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 Free Senior Museum Admission
Senior admission to the Dunn Museum in Libertyville is free for the entire month of October.
Daily admission for seniors (62 and up) is just $3 all other months and $1.50
on Discount Tuesdays. Plan your visit.
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 Teacher Open House
Lake County educators, learn about exciting programs and resources for your
class, tour the exhibitions and take part in guided teacher training sessions
with our education staff on Oct. 11 from 5 to 8 p.m. at the Dunn Museum in Libertyville. Professional development credits will be
available. Learn more
Welcome REI
Our county’s
first REI store recently opened in Vernon Hills. The retail and outdoor
recreation services company has already forged a partnership with the Lake
County Forest Preserves. In addition to offering recreation programs in various
preserves, we are delighted to thank REI for its recent $20,000 grant to
support two public access projects. With these funds, and the help
of Youth Conservation Corps crews this summer, we extended an existing
boardwalk at Ryerson Woods in
Riverwoods and stabilized the Des Plaines River shoreline with
native wetland plants at the Wright Woods Canoe Launch at
IL Route 60 in Vernon Hills.
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 Trail Extension at Lyons Woods
A newly completed 1.9-mile paved trail now
connects Lyons Woods Forest Preserve in Waukegan to the Robert McClory Bike
Path and local parks. The Lake County Forest Preserves, City of Waukegan,
Waukegan Park District and the Village of Beach Park partnered to create
this trail extension. It represents the first phase of a longer
6.9-mile regional trail that will continue west through Waukegan Savanna
Forest Preserve and eventually connect to the Des Plaines River
Trail at Sedge Meadow Forest Preserve in Wadsworth. Visit
Lyons Woods today.
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 Let’s Start a Movement
The spread of invasive species is recognized as one of the major
factors contributing to ecosystem change and instability in our county, region
and nation. These species have the ability to displace or eliminate native
species, alter fire regimes, damage infrastructure and threaten human
livelihoods. Invasive species are changing the iconic landscapes of our nation.
To effectively control invasive species, removal needs to extend beyond the
borders of natural areas. The invasive species European buckthorn is currently
the most common tree in Lake County, making up more than 40 percent of our
canopy, according to a 2010 tree census conducted by the U.S. Forest Service
and The Morton Arboretum. It will continue to be an issue until the community
is involved: from private landowners to homeowner associations, golf courses to
garden clubs, businesses to school districts.
Want to join the movement? We
invite all Lake County residents to help eradicate buckthorn. Several
homeowners have already volunteered to help. Whether they have removed
buckthorn from their yard or are simply considering it, every resident who
participates will benefit the community. In the coming months we will
distribute resources to help assess your yard, plus tips to remove buckthorn,
landscape with native plants, and get further involved with this effort toward
an even more beautiful, healthy Lake County. Join
the movement.
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 Forest Preserve Education Hawk Turns 30
With a badly injured right wing, the future was uncertain for a
4-month-old red-tailed hawk found near Highland Park in the summer of 1988. The
hawk was taken to a wildlife rehabilitation facility, but after healing, it
could only glide short distances. It was unable to gain enough lift to soar and
hunt, and as a raptor both skills are necessary for survival in the wild. We
knew the hawk could touch many lives as an ambassador for Lake County birds of
prey, so we built a home for it at Ryerson Woods in
Riverwoods where it became an honorary Environmental Educator. Throughout her
long life, the hawk has served as an educational assistant to our staff during
school programs, summer camps and special events. Learn more
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 Quadruple Your Gift to Help Restore
Grassy Lake
Thanks to a Community Stewardship Challenge Grant from Illinois Clean Energy Community Foundation, every
dollar raised to restore Grassy Lake in
Lake Barrington will be matched with $3, giving your $100 gift a $400 impact!
This grant will supply volunteers with native woodland seeds and wetland plants
to replace the buckthorn thickets and other invasive species that have been
degrading this site for decades.
We have until October 2019 to hit
our $7,000 fundraising goal and reach 400 hours of volunteer service at Grassy
Lake. Help us get there!
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 Strategic Plan Update
Forest preserves benefit you 24 hours a day, even if you don’t visit
them. Here’s a fun assignment: next time it rains, find a storm drain or
creek as it enters a forest preserve. Scoop up a jarful of water. Now trace the
flow until it leaves the site. Take another scoop and compare the two—cleaner
water! The roots of trees and other native plants filter the water,
protecting waterways and community water supplies from sediment and pollution.
A key purpose of our conservation goal is to improve the water quality and
aquatic habitat that forest preserves and other natural lands and waters in
Lake County provide. We’re doing this by amending management and development
practices on our lands. August is National Water Quality Month. Learn ways
you can help protect water sources at EPA.gov. Learn more
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