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Dear Neighbors,
As your Lake County Board Member, I take transparency very seriously. Through my e-newsletter and social media I work to keep you informed on what is going on with Lake County Government in the most efficient way possible.
Over the last few weeks there has been some discussion about
County Board Members use of County Credit Cards, also known as P-Cards, or
procurement cards. I have not used a County Credit Card in more than seven years,
and I haven’t had one in the last several years.
In the coming weeks the Lake County Board will be examine how and
if County Credit Cards should be available to members. I strongly feel I can
serve you, and all my constituents without the use of a County Credit Card. It
is my position that the Lake County Board should eliminate the use of County
Credit Cards for all members of the board and work toward a much more
transparent system. I support any board member expenses be listed individually,
be receipt and available to the public online. I will work to make sure this
type of reform takes place as soon as possible. We owe it to you, the
taxpayers, who are our bosses.
Remember, the time is short for appealing your property
assessments. Check below for the
deadlines and make use of the online help.
At the August meeting, the County Board approved a resolution proclaiming September as Suicide Prevention month. The rate of suicide is increasing sharply across the United States. In fact, suicide is a leading cause of death for Americans (CDC). There are many factors for this including the opioid addiction. I have more information below about opioid addiction. Learn what you can do to prevent suicide and visit #BeThe1To.
Here in Lake County we have a number of services available, including Text-A-Tip, a 24 hour anonymous hotline for youth, as well as information from the Coroner’s Office. As a member of the Board of Health I was especially pleased to learn that our programs served over 20,000 people with mental illness.
In other business the Board approved the purchase of body
cameras to be worn in the jail by corrections staff. Transportation projects include fixing
culverts on the McClory bike path and on Rollins Road. I'm pleased to announce the passage of a
resolution in support of collaborative efforts to investigate the necessary
improvements to the Milwaukee District North Metra Line that would allow more
reverse commute service. This partnership involved Lake County Partners, the City of Lake Forest and local
area businesses. I attended the early
meetings for this project and hope that this can be a model for additional
non-motorized transit projects.
I’m very excited that planning for the Patriot Path along
Rt. 137 is moving along. I’ve been
working with the communities in the area for a long time on this project. Details on the Oct. 3 public hearing are
given below. I look forward to seeing
you there.
As you can see below, the summer concert series may be over
at Independence Grove, but your Forest Preserves still offer a lot for
you. Be sure to get outside as summer
winds down. The Hike Lake County program
in the Forest Preserves has started. Get
your hikes in and collect your badge.
I am always looking for feedback on my newsletter as well as what's happening in Lake County. If you have any comments or concerns, feel free to send me an email. If this newsletter was forwarded to you, please sign up to continue to receive news about Lake County and District 21.
Also, make sure to like my Facebook page where you can get relevant and up-to-date information important to District 21. Remember to hit "Like” at the top of the page!
Ann B. Maine
amaine@lakecountyil.gov
847-857-1732
Lake County Board, District 21
President, Lake County Forest Preserve District
The second
installment due date of 2017 Lake County property taxes is approaching. Please
note, you received one bill in May, and you will not receive another bill for
the second installment. If you misplaced your second installment coupon, print a copy from the Treasurer's Office website by entering your PIN number or
address. If you are mailing your payment, be sure to have it U.S. postmarked on
or before Sept. 6 to avoid late penalties.
 Property Tax Bill FAQs
Do you have questions about your Lake County property
tax bill such as who determines your taxes and what are the different ways you
can pay? Watch
this video as Lake County Treasurer David Stolman
answers these and other commonly asked questions. Watch now.
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 Property Tax Process, Relief, and More
Learn more about what Lake County does with your property tax payment,
property tax relief that may be available to you and more by visiting lakecountyil.gov/propertytax.
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Assessment notices for the 2018 tax year have been mailed to
Libertyville, Vernon and West Deerfield 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. 28 at the College of Lake County Southlake Campus in Vernon Hills
and Aug. 29 at the University Center of Lake County in Grayslake.
These centers will meet from 4 to 7 p.m.
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 following are the final filing dates for assessment appeals:
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Libertyville Township: Aug. 27
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Vernon Township: Sept. 4
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West Deerfield: Sept. 4
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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Health Department Investigates Food-Borne
Illness Outbreak
The Lake County Health Department is working with local, state,
and federal public health officials to investigate an increase in
cyclosporiasis (Cyclospora infection), affecting residents of multiple counties
and states. Since May, the Health Department has investigated 43 cases of
Cyclospora infection among Lake County residents, more than 14 times higher
than the number of cases reported in 2017.
Cyclospora infection may occur when a person consumes food or water
contaminated with the Cyclospora parasite. Symptoms typically begin one to two
weeks after exposure and can be treated with specific antibiotics. If left
untreated, symptoms can last weeks to months. Cyclospora infection is unlikely
to be transmitted from person to person. Learn More
Time to Remember. Time to Act
International Overdose Awareness Day is a global event held on
Aug. 31 to raise awareness of overdose, reduce the stigma
of a drug-related death and acknowledge the grief felt by families and
friends remembering those who have died or had a permanent injury as
a result of drug overdose.
 Here
in Lake County, we recognize how serious this topic is and are taking steps to
address this growing problem. The Lake County Opioid Initiative, which was
created in 2013, strives to address the increasing opiate problem in the county
and secure County funding to create programs such as "A Way Out" and
the Naloxone programs.
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 "A
Way Out"
Those
who struggle with substance abuse can go to seek help 24/7 as part of the “A
Way Out” Program. 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
Naloxone
Law enforcement officers have
performed over 200 saves using Naloxone, an antidote that "brings
back" an individual from overdose. Officers across Lake County have been
trained to administer Naloxone if they respond to a a call of a suspect opioid
overdose.
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 Free Prescription Drug Disposal
A majority of abused
prescription drugs are obtained from family and friends, often from the home
medicine cabinet. Residents
can safely dispose unwanted or expired prescription drugs at prescription drug
disposal boxes across Lake County. Find a drug disposal box 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 Preserves News
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 Discover Rollins Savanna
One of Lake County's largest forest preserves, Rollins Savanna, offers the perfect setting for grassland birds and other wildlife. I recently joined Forest Preserve Commissioners Jeff Werfel and Steve Carlson to discuss restoration, the Native Seed Nursery, and new trail connections at Rollins Savanna Forest Preserve. Watch this video to find out more.
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