July 23, 2019
Neighbors,
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This Friday (July 26) at 10:30 a.m. is the Station Dedication for the new Libertyville Metra Station! As someone who worked in the city for many years and whose husband and daughter are currently working there, Metra has played an important part in my life. I am very excited about the beautiful new station that will be a fitting welcome to everyone who comes to Libertyville on the train. I want to thank Metra and especially Mayor Terry Weppler and the Villlage of Libertyville for their hard work in making this new station a vital asset to our village for years to come. I hope to see you at the dedication on Friday!
I love that, in our community, summer is just full of festivals and outdoor fun. The 39th Annual Festival of the Arts will be held the weekend of August 3 at Cook Park in Libertyville. It features art, music, food and beverages. The art show is a highlight of the summer for my husband and me. Last year we found a lovely picture that we hung in our daughter’s room, and we can’t wait to see the different artists and their work this year.
I spent one of the recent very hot days finally cleaning out a few closets and ended up with a big box of DVDs to give away. I discovered that the Fremont Township Library accepts gently used DVDs, CDs and books for their monthly Friends of the Fremont Public Library book sale. I was glad to find a good home for my DVDs and am always happy to support our local libraries.
The big book sale is the second Saturday and Sunday of every month at the Fremont Library on the second floor. They have a huge selection of books, DVDs, audiobooks and other items at the sale. I visited it at the beginning of the summer and found almost twenty books and a few audiobooks that I have brought along on my summer adventures. Browsing the book sale is a wonderful way to spend part of a weekend afternoon, almost as good as spending a summer afternoon reading out in the fresh air!
 
County News
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Recreational Cannabis Model Zoning Ordinance Task Force
Illinois Governor J.B. Pritzker recently signed into law the Cannabis Regulation and Tax Act legalizing the production, sale and adult use of recreational cannabis in Illinois effective January 1, 2020. Local governments across the state are now evaluating how they will ultimately regulate and/or restrict recreational cannabis businesses through zoning (to the extent permitted by law) in terms of location, operations, parking, security, distances to sensitive land uses, and other considerations.
To facilitate a regional “shared services” approach to tackling these complex issues, the Lake County Planning, Building & Development Department is leading a Model Zoning Ordinance Task Force with area municipalities and other community stakeholders to jointly develop regulatory strategies addressing commercial recreational cannabis in our respective jurisdictions. Updates will be provided as the Task Force convenes this summer.
Collaborative Addresses Racial and Ethnic Disparities in Criminal Justice and Behavioral Health Systems
Lake County is one of two communities in the U.S. selected to receive technical assistance to develop data-driven approaches to better understand and create inclusive and transformational strategic action plans incorporating best practices as part of SAMHSA’s Data-Driven Equity and Inclusion Learning Collaborative. The JFA Institute reported that while Lake County is below the national incarceration rate average, ethnic and racial disparities exist among people entering and being released from our jail.
After identifying disparities that exist within the Criminal Justice and Behavioral Health Systems, Lake County, along with representatives from the North Chicago police department, Lake County Sheriff’s Office, States Attorney’s Office, Public Defender’s Office, 19th Judicial Circuit, Adult Probation, Health Department, and Nicasa Behavioral Health Services convened to strategize and develop an action plan that will address these inequities. This collaborative aligns with Lake County’s effort to reform the local criminal justice system and safely reduce the Lake County Jail’s population through the MacArthur Foundation Safety and Justice Challenge.
Watch All County Board Meetings
Keep informed about Lake County government! Watch County Board meetings live at 9 a.m. on the second Tuesday of each month. You can watch meetings live online or on Comcast channels 18 and 30, or AT&T channel 99. You can also view archived board meetings and standing committee meetings anytime.
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Transportation News
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Illinois Tollway Will Not Complete the Environmental Impact Statement for the Tri-County Access Project
The Illinois Tollway announced recently that it will not complete the environmental impact statement (EIS) for the Tri-County Access (TCA) Project, formerly known as the IL Route 53/120 Project. The EIS was intended to be a comprehensive regional study conducted by the Illinois Tollway to evaluate potential environmentally and fiscally responsible solutions to ease regional traffic congestion in Lake, northern Cook and eastern McHenry counties.
Lake County will continue to advocate and work closely with the Illinois Department of Transportation, municipal, township and State elected officials to improve traffic congestion based on priorities identified in the Lake County State Highway Consensus Plan. The Lake County Board reaffirmed its commitment to addressing traffic congestion relief by adopting an updated strategic plan at its July board meeting. The plan continues the emphasis on strategies and actions the County will take to support a sustainable transportation system. Learn more.
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Forest Preserve News |
Fresh Produce Available
Fresh produce is available for purchase at a weekly farm stand from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. on Wednesdays through Oct. 9. The farm stand is in the parking lot of the Greenbelt Cultural Center in North Chicago. Learn more »
Objects Talks: Magniscope
Is Lake County the birthplace of the motion picture projector? Yes! Discover the role of the magniscope in early motion pictures and how its inventor Edward Amet used his machine to show movies he created in his backyard. Objects Talks: Magniscope, a program for adults, will run from 2 to 2:30 p.m. July 30 at the Dunn Museum. $6 adults, $6/$3 seniors. Includes Museum admission. Registration is required. Learn more »
Public Meetings
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Public Meetings to Address Increased Rainfall in Lake County
Over the last few years, Lake County has been experiencing more frequent and stronger rainfall events, and as a result, the precipitation has broken records, caused millions of dollars in damage to properties, and obstructed the lives of Lake County residents and visitors. The Lake County Stormwater Management Commission invites individuals interested in hearing more about how increased rainfall is impacting Lake County to attend the public information meeting on July 24 and Aug. 8. Find out more.
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News from the 19th Judicial Circuit
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Law Day at the 19th Judicial Circuit
High school, middle school, and elementary school students came to the Lake County Courthouse to celebrate “Free Speech, Free Press, Free Society” during this year’s Law Day. Featuring representatives from every corner of the county’s justice system, students had the opportunity to participate in mock trials, evidence presentations, and coloring/writing contests. Watch this video to learn more.
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Your Courthouse at Work: Featuring a Tour of the New Court Tower
Watch this video as judges from the 19th Judicial Circuit take you on a behind-the-scenes look at what's happening at the Lake County Courthouse. Residents can take a virtual tour of the courthouse, get updates on new laws, learn about the Law Merit Badge Program, and much more.
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Community Events and News
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