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.
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 regarding this project, 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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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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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.
The Lake
County Sheriff’s Office will enter a new two-year contract with Securus, a
US Prison Technology Company, which will introduce tablets to the Lake County Jail in early 2019 and eliminate funding fees for phone and video visitation and tablet use.
A tablet will be
provided to every inmate free of charge. The tablets cannot access the
internet and do not have social media, camera, or video capabilities.
Instead, the tablets are a closed-end system, intranet based, only allowing
content the Sheriff approves. This content includes job searching, law
library applications, educational materials, mental health service information,
jail forms/grievances, and a small number of jail-approved podcasts, music,
games, and books. Learn more
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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.
The Lake County
Health Department and Community Health Center will receive four federal grants
totaling $3.4 million to address the growing need for behavioral health
services in Lake County. Funding will be used to expand Lake County’s Community
Support Services, Mental Health First Aid training, Medication-Assisted
Treatment (MAT) services, and the A Way Out program.
“Mental illness and substance use disorders affect people from all walks of life, in all age groups, in every Lake County community,” said Mark Pfister, Executive Director of the Health Department. “There is great need to expand behavioral health capacity in Lake County. These grants will enable us to provide treatment and support to more Lake County residents.”
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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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. The
service is free and anonymous. View 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.
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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 »
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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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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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Free Class to Better Understand, Improve Credit Score The Affordable Housing Corporation of Lake County will offer a free Credit 101
class on Wednesday, Oct. 17 at the Waukegan Field House, 800 Baldwin Ave.
Conducted by a HUD-certified housing counselor, you will learn what impacts
your credit score, credit score ranges, how to protect your credit and more.
Registration is required by 6:30 p.m. today (Oct. 17). Learn more
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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