 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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 Several hiring events are planned across Lake County where you can
meet potential employers and find your next job. Here is information regarding
upcoming events. Make sure to visit the Job Center of Lake County's website to learn
more every month, including workshops to help improve your job search process
and a list of hiring events.
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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 fall 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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 Starting January 1, 2019, the Lake County Health Department
will implement the new Illinois Food Code, based on the 2013 Food and Drug
Administration (FDA) model. The new code contains the most up-to-date food
safety guidelines based on science and research. It increases the
responsibility of food permit holders, ensures faster reporting of food-borne
illness risk factors, and strengthens food production and documentation
requirements of certain foods. The new state inspection form will replace the
current Lake County Health Department pass/fail system with a new re-inspection
standard to assure that food-borne illness risk factors are corrected.
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 Forest Preserve News
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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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 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), Member of Community, Economic and Workforce Development Policy Steering Committee
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
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