Dear Neighbors,
In this edition of your County Board newsletter, please read about our success at enacting new government transparency initiatives. Lake County is the third biggest county in Illinois, as we have more than 700,000 residents who live across more than 1,300 square miles. We are a very big and diverse county. We need to use available technology to make government meetings accessible to the public.
I am very pleased we have finally enacted full video recordings for all County Board committee meetings. Prior to the enactment of this new policy, only the monthly County Board meetings were available via video, but most of the work and policy deliberations are done in committee. While these videos may not make your "top ten" lists for entertainment, I hope that knowing they are there for the public to see will make your government more accountable, responsive and accessible to you.
Also, see below about new reverse commute service from Metra, an update on the risks of ethylene oxide being used by two manufacturers in Lake County, and the passage of an enhancement of new vendor disclosure policies.
Contact me anytime if there is anything I can do for you.
Paul Frank
Starting this week, you can tune in to www.lakecounty.tv to watch all Lake County Board standing committee meetings. The Finance and Administrative (F&A) Committee recently approved filming these meetings to enhance transparency and increase access to local government. At the committee level, board members spend a significant amount of time discussing and evaluating significant financial and policy matters before these items are sent to the full board for final approval. Filming committee meetings will allow the public to see all the work that goes on at the committee level and have a deeper understanding of the issues.
The meetings will not be broadcast live but can be viewed anytime at www.lakecounty.tv. The meetings also will be replayed frequently on LCTV, which is available on Comcast Cable, either channel 18 or 30, depending on where you live in the county. AT&T Customers can view LCTV on channel 99.
|
The Lake County Board recently acted to increase the County’s transparency and accountability. Watch this video as County Board Chair Sandy Hart explains a new process where vendors that submit a proposal to Lake County will need to disclose the name of family members working for Lake County and campaign contributions to Lake County elected officials. Also, hear from Legislative Committee Chair and Energy and Environment Committee Vice-Chair John Wasik as he provides an update on a legislative initiative to allow counties to remove its board chair, and a new task force that will prepare guidelines for those who want to use solar arrays and further the County’s efforts towards using environmentally sustainable practices.
|
Now through April 6, Moraine Township will offer free assistance to low-and-moderate-income taxpayers filing their 2018 income tax returns through the IRS Volunteer Income Tax Assistance (VITA) Program.
Volunteers are trained and certified by the Internal Revenue Service (IRS) to prepare basic returns for taxpayers earning less than $55,000 in 2018.
Appointments are available weekdays, evenings and weekends at the Moraine Township Office. Call 847-780-6644 to schedule an appointment. Taxpayers also are welcome to walk-in from 9 a.m. to noon Saturdays.
On November 2, 2018, the Lake County Health Department learned of concerns surrounding ethylene oxide emissions from Medline Industries in Waukegan and Vantage Specialty Chemicals in Gurnee. The Health Department immediately initiated communication with the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and Illinois Environmental Protection Agency (IEPA) to better understand the situation and express the public’s desire for appropriate air monitoring and timely and transparent communication. The Health Department has maintained regular communication with these agencies, which have sole jurisdiction for regulating emissions.
Lake County Health Department officials have since visited Medline and Vantage to gather information and convey the public’s concerns. Along with the Village of Gurnee and City of Waukegan, the Health Department is taking measures to assure air monitoring will occur and has urged the U.S. EPA to conduct a town hall meeting in Lake County. Learn more about how Lake County is working to protect residents.
Residents seeking information about ethylene oxide in Lake County can find the latest updates on the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency's (EPA) web page. Questions and concerns can be sent via email to the U.S. EPA at eto@epa.gov.
Metra has partnered with business and civic groups in Lake County to pilot a two-year project for expanded rush hour commuter service on the Milwaukee District North Line.
Beginning March 4, the morning and afternoon train schedule will be improved to accommodate rush hour riders at the western Lake Forest station on Telegraph Road. A new outbound express train will depart Union Station at 6:25 a.m. and arrive in Lake Forest at 7:15 a.m.
In the afternoon, express service will leave the Lake Forest station at 5:09 p.m. and 5:35 p.m. and arrive at Union Station in about 50 minutes or less.
The new train schedule will also benefit residents during the weekday morning rush hour by: 1) adding a new morning inbound train; and, 2) modifying an existing morning inbound train to provide express service. The expanded service will make it easier for local businesses to attract and retain talent and draw from the diverse workforce living in Chicago. Lake County residents will also be able to take advantage of the service to quickly get to Chicago during peak hours.
As part of this groundbreaking partnership, stakeholders will also work on a definitive agreement to share the cost of installing a universal crossover near Lake Forest to create additional opportunities for enhanced service.
To learn more, visit: https://metrarail.com/MetraMore.
|
Applications for the 2019 Lake County Summer Youth Employment Program are now being accepted through March 31. The program, funded by the Lake County Board, provides meaningful work experiences for participants, who will work at various sites in Lake County, including private employers and nonprofit organizations, local municipalities and community-based organizations. Applicants should be age 14 to 18 (by April 15) or age 14 to 22 with an Individualized Education Plan (IEP).
|
There has been a recent increase in reported cases of Hepatitis A virus (HAV) throughout Illinois and in Lake County. Since January 2018, the Illinois Department of Public Health (IDPH) has confirmed 110 cases of HAV and has identified 35 cases to be part of a statewide outbreak. Learn more about HAV and steps you can take to prevent it.
Explore new places to dine or enjoy old favorites during Lake County Restaurant Week, which runs March 1 to 10. Participating restaurants will offer either a specially designed prix fixe menu or a special dining offer. View this year's participating restaurants.
|
The Midwest's premiere environmental film festival, the One Earth Film Festival is running March 1 through 10. See a series of powerful, solution-oriented environmental films in a variety of venues across the county. Learn more.
|
|
Learn how trees work and about the sweet sap of sugar maples. Ryerson Woods is one of the few places in Lake County where conditions are right for maple syrup production, and where trees grow to a diameter and height that allows for tapping. Everyone gets a taste. Hikes run every half hour from noon to 2 p.m. March 9, 10, 16, 17, 23 and 24 at Ryerson Woods in Riverwoods. Register today »
|
|
 |
This year, 87 volunteers took part in the annual Point-In-Time Homeless Count, searching across Lake County to help document the need in communities by gathering data and providing outreach to the homeless. Volunteers made contact with 29 people experiencing homelessness, compared to 24 last year.
Learn more about this year’s Point-In-Time Homeless Count and find out how you can make a difference in ending chronic homelessness. Watch Video.
|
K9 Dax, who works for the Lake County Sheriff’s Office was recently voted the K9s of Valor Foundation “K9 of the Year!” K9 Dax and Deputy Forlenza were nominated for their many successful tracks locating dangerous criminals and citizens in need of help. Learn more
|
Meet Mitch, Hitch, and Browser, the amazing Lake County State’s Attorney’s Office four-legged staff members.
Mitch provides comfort to child victims. Hitch is assigned to the Nineteenth Judicial Circuit's Therapeutic Intensive Monitoring Program, which includes specialty courts such as Mental Health Court, Drug Court and Veterans Court. And Browser is trained to sniff out electronic devices for criminal investigations.
Watch this video and learn about the incredible work these dogs are doing!
|
While we’re hopefully going to soon see another winter in our rearview mirror, Lake County residents know to still be prepared for another winter blast. There are things you can do to keep yourself safe.
|
Starting to make your travel plans this year? Make sure getting or renewing your passport is part of your plans! Apply for or renew your passport at one of the several Mobile Passport Events the Lake County Circuit Clerk’s Office will host this year. View the full schedule.
Passport applications also are processed from 8:30 a.m. to 3 p.m. Monday through Friday at the Circuit Clerk's Office in Waukegan. View application requirements, including fee information.
|
Forest Preserve News
|
Marvelocity: The Art of Alex Ross Opens March 9
The work of a renowned comic book artist is coming to the Dunn Museum in Libertyville. Marvelocity: The Art of Alex Ross will be on exhibit from March 9 through Sept. 8.
Considered one of the greatest artists in the field of comic books, Alex Ross has created some of the most iconic images known to fans today. For nearly 30 years, he has revitalized classic superheroes into works of fine art by illustrating characters including Spider-Man, Captain America, Iron Man, Storm from the X-Men, the Avengers, Black Panther and many more. Learn more
|
|
 |
 |
|
Where Will Your Kids Grow This Summer?
Registration for our 2019 camp season is now open. Camps are led by professional educators trained in supervision, safety and activity development. Programs fill quickly so enroll early. Register online today »
|
Dunn Museum’s Collections Significant to Native Artists
Last summer, the Dunn Museum’s collections staff welcomed traditional Native artists and researchers, Pat Kruse, of the Red Cliff Band of Superior Chippewa Indians (descendent of Mille Lacs Band of Ojibwe), and Terri Hom, of the Lac Courte Oreilles Band of Lake Superior Chippewa Indians (Ojibwe). Kruse was one of eight accomplished artists awarded the 2018 Native Arts and Cultures Foundation (NACF) Mentor Artist Fellowship. Kruse began a yearlong mentorship with apprentice, Terri Hom, to create birch bark quill art. Kruse and Hom researched the Dunn Museum’s Native American collection with special focus on 19th and early 20th century artifacts with cultural ties to their heritage and use of beadwork, quillwork and birch bark. Learn more about the Dunn Museum and its collections »
|
View the History of Your Forest Preserves
This time-lapse map depicts the Forest Preserves’ land acquisitions from our inception in 1958 to the present. In addition to seeing land acquisitions appear on the map year by year, the interactive map allows you to zoom into a specific area or preserve to watch its development over time. Zoom in close to see landscape, roads and improvements. This is just one of the tools available on the our Featured Maps site, which also includes useful information such as trail and underpass closures, the status of Independence Grove activities, controlled burn notifications, and the Interactive Trail Map, on which trail users can find their real-time location on a trail from their portable device. View time-lapse map »
Learn about the history of your forest preserves »
|
How Minnesota, the West Indies & Africa Prepared Forest Preserve Executive
Alex Ty Kovach, executive director of the Lake County Forest Preserves, oversees the second largest forest preserve district in Illinois. He is responsible for managing nearly 31,000 acres of natural lands, more than 200 miles of trails, an accredited museum, three golf courses and several special facilities. Learn more about Ty's job, his background and personal thoughts on leadership in this Daily Herald article.
|
Trails and Tales: How a woman and her curious son started the Lake County Forest Preserves
A 33-year-old spontaneous homemaker with drive and determination, coupled with her son's desire to explore nature, sparked the start of the Lake County Forest Preserves a little more than 60 years ago.
Ethel Untermyer moved to Lake County from Chicago in 1952. She wanted to take her 3-year-old son, Frank, and her other children out to explore the woods at a forest preserve and asked a friend where the closest one was. Untermyer was shocked to learn there were none in Lake County. Learn more »
|
The Perfect Venue for Any Event
Looking for the perfect venue for your wedding, corporate event or holiday party? Greenbelt Cultural Center has exceptional indoor and outdoor spaces ideal for any occasion. This expansive 18,500-square-foot facility has large windows with panoramic views of the surrounding forest preserve. Book your event today »
|
Grant Helps Songbirds, Monarchs and Students
Supported by funds from the Great Lakes Restoration Initiative, a $77,000 U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service’s Great Lakes Coastal Program grant will benefit habitat restoration efforts and environmental education outreach at Greenbelt Forest Preserve (North Chicago).
Grant funds will help restore 20 acres of wetland habitat and 20 acres of mesic prairie within the preserve, and be used to plant native trees, shrubs and herbaceous plant species in the restored areas. The project goal is to expand existing habitat for migratory songbirds and purple milkweed (Asclepias pupurascens), a regionally uncommon and favored host plant of the monarch butterfly (Danaus plexippus), a U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service and Coastal Program priority species. As part of the grant funding, Forest Preserve education staff will help connect over 1,000 students to this habitat restoration project through field trips and classroom programs.
|
Healthy Hedges
The Lake County Forest Preserves has partnered with other organizations to create a resource for homeowners who want to know what to plant following buckthorn removal. European buckthorn is an invasive species that is detrimental to native flora and fauna, and now unfortunately makes up about 40 percent of our canopy in the Chicago area. Learn about recommended species that can be planted in its place to maintain privacy screens and shady areas. Here is an example of a backyard landscape following buckthorn removal and the addition of native plants.
|
|
If you have any questions or concerns, please contact me at pfrank@lakecountyil.gov or visit my Facebook page.
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 “Sign up for my mailing list here” button at the top of the newsletter.
Thank you,
Paul Frank
Mr. Frank, County Board member and Forest Preserve Commissioner, serves on:
Lake County Board, 11th District:
Energy and Environment Committee
Financial and Administrative Committee
Ethics and Oversight Committee
Diversity and Inclusion Committee
Rules Committee
Lake County Forest Preserves, 11th District:
Planning Committee
Ethics Committee
|
|
 |
|
