 Lake County has launched a new Open Data Hub that
makes Lake County government data easily accessible – and searchable — to a
broad audience, including residents and taxpayers, enhancing transparency and
accountability. Additionally, government employees can now access other
departments’ data to help enhance services and drive efficiency. The Open
Data Hub centralizes a wide range of data in one place from property taxes and
health and recreation to transportation and government contracts and agreements. This
new tool allows users to search and discover PDF maps, web mapping applications
and other datasets all free of charge. The existing datasets on the Hub will
consistently be updated, and Lake County is exploring adding new information,
including financial data.
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The proposed Lake County 2019 budget is balanced
and the operating budget reflects a slight decrease from last year. The Lake
County Board will hold budget hearings on the proposed budget later this month
and will vote on it at its November meeting. In an effort to provide some
relief to taxpayers, the County Board directed that the budget be developed
keeping the County’s property tax levy flat (or not taking the allowable
levy growth based on the Consumer Price Index). This keeps $3.4 million in
taxpayers’ pockets. The only increase in property tax revenue will come
from growth on new property. (As a reminder, Lake County’s portion of your
property tax bill is about 7%). The proposed FY19 operating budget — which
funds the County’s day-to-day operations — is $3.3 million less than last year
(or 1%) as a result of efficiencies from shared services with other
governments, technology enhancements, and operational improvements. The budget
can be viewed at lakecountyil.gov/budget.
The Lake County Division of
Transportation (LCDOT) will be closing Kenosha Road, from 21st Street to IL 173
to through traffic starting Wednesday, Oct. 17 at 2 a.m. and is expected to
reopen by mid-November. The closure is necessary for a culvert replacement. View detour information.
 On Sept. 21, the City of Waukegan noticed that
a sinkhole had developed on one of its major thoroughfares Washington Street,
about one block west of downtown Waukegan between West Street and Park Avenue.
Through inspections by City engineers and contractors, it was determined that
the sinkhole had resulted as a consequence of the collapse of a 114-year-old
culvert about 45 feet below the Washington Street roadway. The culvert collapse has required closure of Washington Street, west of the
downtown.
The City and contractors have temporarily capped the threatened
water lines, installed pumps to bypass the storm water, temporarily secured the
sewage pipes, and worked to secure utility lines. The City is now in the
process of excavating thousands of truckloads of dirt, procuring new reinforced
concrete pipe to replace the old culvert, and removing the materials that have
entered the Waukegan River. Through additional inspections of the Waukegan
River, these also revealed an additional storm water collapse continuing
another block south under Water Street.
The City called an
emergency meeting on Sept. 26 due to the growing cost of the project, currently
estimated at $3 million. Due to the concerns regarding the structural integrity
of Washington, the necessity of fixing the major storm water passage, and the
additional complication related to the impending closure of asphalt plants from
cold weather, the City is conscious of the extreme cost of this project and is
anxious for access to any emergency resources that may be available to assist
with this project.
For more information, contact the City of Waukegan
Public Works Department at 847-360-0944.
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 Voter Registration
It’s not too late to register to vote
in the upcoming election! Grace voter registration is available at the Lake
County Clerk’s Office in Waukegan until Oct. 19, during early voting from Oct.
22 to Nov. 5, and on Election Day.
Vote by Mail
Skip the lines on Election Day by
voting by mail! Registered voters must submit a required application form by noon on Nov. 1 vote by mail. Returning voted by mail ballots must be
postmarked by midnight on Nov. 6.
Early Voting
Early voting begins Oct. 22 at 16
sites throughout Lake County. View
the early voting locations.
For more information about the
upcoming election, visit the Lake
County Clerk’s November 2018 Election web page.
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 Get
Rid of Unwanted Prescription Drugs
Help prevent substance abuse and theft by safely
disposing your home of potentially dangerous, expired, unused, and unwanted
prescription drugs. The Lake County Sheriff's Office is partnering with
the DEA for Prescription Drug Take Back Day from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Oct. 27. One of the drop-off locations is the Beach Park Village Hall. The
service is free and anonymous. View all the drop-off
locations.
Remember, the Sheriff’s Office and local law
enforcement agencies also provide drug disposal boxes at locations across Lake
County where your unwanted and expired prescription drugs can be disposed
safely all year round. Find a
drug disposal box near you.
Halloween Fest
Join Halloweenfest from 1 to 5 p.m. Oct. 27 in Bowen Park, featuring children's games, concessions, and spooky activities. Learn more
Halloween House Decorating Contest
Gurnee residents are invited to show your spirit by entering the
Gurnee Park District's Halloween House Decorating Contest! Use lights, sound,
live actors, animation and imagination to decorate your own home! Judging
will take place from 6 to 7 p.m. Oct. 25. Learn more
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 It’s
that time of year when youngsters in great costumes go door-to-door in the
neighborhood looking for some nourishing sugary treats! View
trick-or-treating hours in Lake County, and create a great experience
for your little goblins.
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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 an effort to strengthen its already strong policies
as it relates to purchasing goods and services, the Lake County Board is
considering changes that will require vendors submitting proposals for more
than $30,000 to disclose familial relationships with County employees. The
Board already approved internal policy changes that require employees to
annually review ethics and purchasing rules, and attest that they understand
and agree to adhere to them.
The Board recently discussed a proposal that would
require vendors submitting proposals to submit a “Vendor Disclosure Statement”
disclosing the names of each owner/principal/officer of the company, along with
those individuals’ immediate family members who are employed by Lake County.
Purchasing officers will compare the statement with the staff members serving
on the evaluation panel and verify that those employees are eligible to serve.
The Board wants to discuss further how to broaden this and make this
information more transparent. The Finance Committee will take up the item next
month.
Mike Rummel, Chair of the Board’s Finance and
Administration Committee, said, “We already have one of the strongest Ethics
Ordinances that govern our process and protect against influence or
impropriety. Our ethics standards set us apart from other local governments and
they view us as a model. Still, there are examples of some other local
governments doing additional disclosures, so we are considering adding these
measures to enhance what we already do.”
The Lake County Board adopted Ethics Ordinance clearly
outlines the ethical and legal standards that county officers and employees
must follow while conducting county business. It also puts a process in place
to reviewing complaints and gives the county administrator authority to
administer disciplinary action up to and including termination.
 A free, confidential county-wide referral service is one
step closer to reality thanks to support from the Lake County Board. Residents
will simply be able to dial 2-1-1 for personal assistance (much like they dial
9-1-1 for emergency assistance). The United Way of Lake County is developing
the new 2-1-1 service that will connect residents to various resources from
shelter and housing options, supplemental food programs, services for veterans,
health care, and many other critical services to help improve and save lives.
The Board allocated $80,000 in video gaming revenue (which is generated from
video gaming in the unincorporated areas) to the United Way of Lake County. The
agency expects 2-1-1 to launch in spring of 2019. Watch
this video as Lake County Board Member Steve Carlson explains what
this service will do for residents in Lake County.
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The
public entrance of the Lake County Jail has moved from 20 South County Street,
to the lobby of the Community Based Corrections Center (CBCC) at 15 South
Martin Luther King Jr. Ave, Waukegan. The relocation is due to the ongoing
renovations at the Lake County Jail.
Inmates
being released from custody will be released at the CBCC Lobby. Any visitors
coming to the Lake County Jail should also utilize the CBCC Lobby.
 Forest Preserve News
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 Halloween
Hikes
Join a guided group hike along a
candlelit path at Ryerson
Woods Welcome Center on Oct. 19 and 20 to
watch fun nature-themed skits, followed by donuts and cider. The hikes are not
scary. Even your littlest will enjoy this family favorite. Hikes begin every 30
minutes from 6 to 8 p.m. Total event time is 90 minutes. Total distance walked
is about 1.5 miles. Learn
more »
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 Play in the Chili Golf
Scramble at Countryside
Join this low-pressure
18-hole tournament at Countryside
Golf Club in Mundelein, on Sunday, November 4 at 10 a.m. Compete
for prizes, then enjoy chili and beverages. Learn
more »
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 Help Us Improve Accessibility
We are currently evaluating accessibility within our forest
preserves, programs, facilities and communications to ensure people with
disabilities can use and enjoy them. We invite you to attend one of three public
meetings on October 30, November 1, and November 3, to share ideas
and provide feedback to help us improve accessibility within our agency. Learn
more »
Tour the
Dunn Museum
Watch
this video to learn more about the Dunn
Museum in Libertyville, from Forest Preserve
President Ann Maine and Commissioner Carol Calabresa.
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 With more than 200 lakes and rivers in the county, it’s
important to keep our water safe! Lake County Public Works has been working
hard to increase their sustainability efforts to their water operations, from
taking phosphorous and nutrients out of wastewater that can be harmful to aquatic
life, to performing energy audits performed in coordination with the Illinois
EPA. Watch Video.
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 Lake County
Workforce Development is joining the College of Lake County to celebrate Manufacturing Month in Lake County, and you’re invited to join a variety of events. Learn about
careers in engineering and computer science, meet representatives from
manufacturers here in Lake County who will discuss jobs in these growing
industries, and meet a panel of employers who will discuss the manufacturing
field. View the schedule.
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