November 18, 2019
Dear Neighbor,
I hope this email finds you well! I’m really pleased to report that last week, my colleagues and I unanimously passed the 2020 budget with a flat tax levy-a first in at least 20 years. This means that most homeowners will experience a very slight reduction in the County portion in upcoming property tax bills.
Under Illinois law, the Board could have chosen to raise the levy to account for new property growth and to increase the levy up to the federal CPI, but we chose to do neither in order to ease the burden on Lake County property owners.
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The budget includes funds to help mitigate flooding, environmental initiatives to help reduce our carbon footprint, and transportation projects to ease traffic congestion and reduce commute times. For the first time, capital monies are set aside in a designated fund and our staff is in the process of finalizing a five-year capital plan, also a first. I am very proud of the hard work of our Finance team and this board to create a budget that is more transparent and focuses on the priorities set forth in our strategic plan.Read more below, or watch this short video.
It is important to me that all of our residents have access to vital government services. For that reason, it is critical that we are prepared for the 2020 Census. Lake County gets much of its funding for important services from federal and state grants, many of which are tied to the County’s population count. That’s why we created the Lake County Complete Count Committee, focused on addressing hard-to-count areas of Lake County, including minority populations, low-income households, immigrant populations, populations with language barriers and young children with the goal of counting every resident in Lake County. See the article below for more information.
It’s hard to believe that Thanksgiving is just a few short weeks away. As the holiday approaches, I am especially grateful for family and friends, and also for the opportunity to serve you to make Lake County a place where people, families and businesses thrive and where we may all enjoy the highest quality of life.
Thank you for subscribing to my newsletter, and please accept my wishes to you and your family for a Happy Thanksgiving holiday.
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Ethylene Oxide Air Monitoring Resumes in Lake County
A second round of outdoor air monitoring for ethylene oxide (EtO) began the week of Oct. 21 near Vantage Specialty Chemicals in Gurnee and Medline Industries in Waukegan. The Lake County Health Department, Illinois Environmental Protection Agency (IEPA), the Village of Gurnee and City of Waukegan have contracted GHD Services, Inc. to conduct an additional 90-day period of air monitoring to determine levels of EtO in the air. The first 30-day period of outdoor air monitoring confirmed the presence of EtO, with the highest levels found at the sampling sites closest to the Medline and Vantage facilities. The second round of air monitoring will provide additional data on the levels of EtO before, during, and after new controls are installed at Medline as required to meet their permit from IEPA.
The ATSDR has agreed to conduct a health risk assessment for Lake County based on the results, and IDPH has agreed to complete a cancer incidence study that includes Lake County.
Read morehttps://www.lakecountyil.gov/CivicAlerts.aspx?AID=1897
Lake County Discusses Recreational Cannabis at Recent Meeting
The recreational use of cannabis in Illinois will become legal effective Jan. 1, 2020. Local governments may place regulations on the production and sale of cannabis within their boundaries. A Recreational Cannabis Regulatory Task Force, led by Lake County Planning, Building & Development Department (PBD) was created to develop regulatory options for Lake County municipalities to use as a resource.
The Lake County PBD staff presented the Task Force’s findings and models to the Lake County Board at the Committee of the Whole meeting on Friday, Nov. 8. See the discussion.
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Oriole Grove in Lake Bluff and Prairie Wolf in Lake Forest Fully Protected!
A recent closing on parcels of land at 86-acre Oriole Grove (Lake Bluff) and on a portion of 435-acre Prairie Wolf (Lake Forest) conveyed 100% ownership of the two preserves to the Lake County Forest Preserves (LCFPD). In 1980 and 1977, respectively, the state of Illinois and the LCFPD cooperatively pruchased these two parcels to buld floodwater retention structures. These were never built because later studies found it to be economically unfeasible. Since that time, the LCFPD has been working to gain full ownership of the land and protect it in perpetuity. Now that it is fully owned by LCFPD, our architects are designing a master plan for Oriole Grove, expected to be completed by next summer. The plan will explore land restoration, improving existing public access, and connecting Oriole Grove to Lake Bluff Open Lands to the north and Lake Forest Open Lands to the south. A fundraising strategy for Oriole Grove improvements and long-term maintenance is being developed. To learn more about supporting the project, call (847) 968-3110.
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Road Improvements for Lake County!
Great News! The State of Illinois will invest $540 million in Lake County to improve roads, repair bridges and ease traffic congestion! These improvements will make our roads safer and ease traffic for the residents of Lake County. This will not only improve the quality of life by enabling us to get to and from work faster, it will save on fuel costs and reduce our overall carbon footprint. Here's a list of the major projects that has been announced so far:
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- Grade separation with CN Railroad in Mundelein and widening 60/83 from IL 176 to the CN Railroad
- reconstruction and additional lanes on GreenBay Road, Wadsworth to Sunset in Beach Park and Waukegan.
- Reconstruct and widen IL 22 from Quentin Road to west of IL 83 in Kildeer and Long Grove.
- Modernize the US 41 and IL 176 interchange in Lake Bluff.
- Reconstruct and widen IL 120 from Ashford Dr. to US 45 in Grayslake.
- Realign intersections on IL 83 from IL 120 to IL 137 and at Atkinson Road in Grayslake.
- Replace a bridge and culvert, and do widening and drainage construction and resurfacing at IL 132 W. of Sheehan to Munn in Lake Villa and Lindenhurst.
- Replace a pump station at US 41 and Deerpath Road in Lake Forest.
- Replace a bridge at IL 132 east of Cedar Lake Rd in Lake Villa.
Lake County Board Approves Balanced Budget With No Increase in Tax Levy
At its Nov. 12 meeting, the Lake County Board unanimously approved a $573.2 million balanced budget for Fiscal Year (FY) 2020. Under the budget, Lake County's tax levy will be flat, which means that there will be no increase in the dollar amount between the FY2020 property tax levy and the FY2019 property tax levy. |
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As a result, homeowners will see a slight reduction next year in the Lake County government portion of their property tax bill. This is the first time in at least 20 years that the County has had a flat tax levy.
Under Illinois law, the Board could have chosen to raise the 2019 levy of $162.6 million to account for new property growth in Lake County, and to increase the levy up to the amount of the federal Consumer Price Index, but it chose to do neither in order to ease the burden on Lake County property owners.
Read more
Watch the budget presentation
Lake County Board Approves Strengthened Ethics Ordinance
Lake County Board passed an overhaul of its Ethics Ordinance, adding new sections and renaming it the Ethics and Conduct Code, providing a framework for the ethical and legal standards that county officers and employees must follow while conducting county business. I am proud of the work that the committee and staff undertook to strengthen our ordinance and help enhance an environment where county officials and employees can administer county services with integrity and objectivity, and ensure that county business is conducted in a manner that reflects the character and values of the people of Lake County. We've added in a conduct section for board members, an addition of an impartial hearing officer to the ethics complaint process, and a provision that requires recusal of a board member named in a complaint from participating in any closed-door sessions about the complaint. Read more
Census Complete Count Committee Formed - Join Us!
The Lake County Complete Count Committee (CCC) held its first meeting last month, attended by many local elected officials and community leaders. Meeting participants received training from the U.S. Census Bureau on best practices for ensuring that every citizen in the County is counted in the 2020 U.S. Census.
A full and accurate census count is important to Lake County because it helps determine how much state and federal funding our county receives for vital programs, including housing, education, transportation, employment, and health care. It also helps determine the number of representatives to the state legislature and U.S. Congress.
The meetings are open to individuals or organizations who wish to get involved. Meetings are scheduled for 1 p.m. on Jan. 13, March 9 and May 11 at the Lake County Division of Transportation, Main Conference Room, 600 W. Winchester Road, Libertyville. If you wish to attend or want more information, contact Assistant County Administrator Cassandra Torstenson at
ctorstenson@lakecountyil.gov. Read more
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Lake County is Once Again Recognized for Excellent Budget Practices
Lake County consistently has a balanced budget, and for more than 20 years has maintained an AAA credit rating – the highest rating possible—from both Moody’s and Standard & Poor’s.This means that if we need to borrow money for a large capital project, we get excellent rates.The Lake County Board has a strong track record of practicing fiscal responsibility. Lake County has once again received the “Distinguished Budget Presentation Award” from the Government Finance Officers Association (GFOA), a national organization dedicated to advancing excellence in government finance. Lake County’s Finance Director Patrice Sutton also earned a Certificate of Recognition for her role in creating the budget presentation. Lake County has earned this award for at least 10 consecutive years, reflecting its commitment to meeting the highest principles of governmental budgeting.
County Continues to Focus on Sustainability
Lake County will add low emission vehicles to our fleet by removing older model vehicles, leading to to an approximately 72% reduction in tailpipe emissions and $40,000 in fuel savings.
Last week we also approved a contract with WCP Solar, for solar panels! The contract allows for placement of solar panels at ten County sites and 26 municipal sites with an option for more municipalities to join. These panels are intended to produce power for the buildings they are linked to, and will be leased for approximately 25 years. Current estimates show that these panels will reduce our building's greenhouse gas emissions by approximately 10%.
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National Recycling Day Nov. 15
Nov. 15 is America Recycles Day. It’s a good time to think about how we can all do our part to reduce waste. |
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Do your part to recycle smart: SWALCO reminds us to be careful NOT to put plastic bags in our recycling bins. Recycling sorting centers are not able to process plastic bags, which damage equipment and do more harm than good. Other items that should not go in our bins include clothing, shoes, liquid, and batteries. Follow these recycling guidelines.
Recycle your old Halloween costumes and other unwanted textiles: Tattered, stained and unwanted clothing and other textiles is a big source of waste sent to landfills. The U.S. EPA estimates that the average person throws away 70 pounds of clothing each year. To make it easier for Lake County residents to recycle clothing, SWALCO has 34 textile collection bins located at 30 sites throughout Lake County. Learn more, and find a location near you.
Where do I recycle this? Do you have old electronics, household chemicals, batteries or other materials that can’t be put in a recycling bin? Visit SWALCO’s Where Do I Recycle This to learn where you can bring your items.
Libertyville Township Property Assessment Appeal Deadlines Approaching
Libertyville township property assessment notices were mailed earlier this month. The deadline for filing a property assessment appeal for Libertyville Township is Dec. 2. The assessment appeal process for this township is different than other townships in Lake County because they have opted to use a different software system. |
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Need Help? Visit or call the Libertyville Township Office
8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m., Monday to Friday
Address: 359 Merrill Court, Libertyville
Phone: 847-362-5900
MetraMore Service Continues Make Commuting Easier
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MetraMore, the expanded reverse commute train service on Metra’s Milwaukee District North Line, benefits hundreds of riders with its improved morning and afternoon schedules at the western Lake Forest, Deerfield and Lake Cook Road stations. This two-year pilot project makes it easier for businesses to attract talent from Chicago and for residents to easily get into Chicago and enjoy its many attractions. View Metra Schedules
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Business is Booming in Lake County
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Lake County Partners, the nonprofit organization dedicated to promoting economic development in Lake County, reports that since 2015, 23 companies have expanded or located in Lake County, including Caterpillar, Horizon, Nypro, Fisher Paper, Flexan,
Handi-Foil, ThreadUp and more.
This has resulted in the creation of nearly 2,400 new jobs and the retention of about 1,500 jobs, with an annual economic impact of $550 million. Read the latest from Lake County Partners
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Veteran News
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Veterans History Project
Veterans representing each branch of the U.S. Armed Forces who were involved in conflicts dating back to World War II recently took part in the eighth annual Veterans History Project at the Lake County Courthouse.
Each year, the oral histories of veterans are transcribed by volunteer attorneys and court reporters and are archived at the Library of Congress. The Veterans History Project is making the personal accounts of American veterans accessible for future generations to hear the stories directly from the soldiers. Visit Lake County’s Facebook page to see more pictures.
In Lake County, we appreciate the dedication and commitment of the men and women who have served in the United States Military. To honor their service, we offer resources to help veterans and their families. To learn more, visit the Veterans Assistance Commission page.
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Transportation News |
Lake County Uses Responsible Salt Practices
Applying road salt is a common winter maintenance practice for de-icing our roadways. However, road salt washes away and ends up in lakes, streams and groundwater supplies, which can threaten aquatic plants, animals and even human health. Each year, Lake County hosts the Annual Deicing Workshop
for snow and ice professionals, to promote alternative winter maintenance practices and the importance of responsible road salt use. |
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Watch this video to learn how Lake County agencies are working with public and private partners to reduce salt by using safe alternatives - like salt brine and beet juice!
Goodbye Millburn Strangler! Hello Millburn Bypass!
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Local officials recently gathered to celebrate the opening of the US Route 45 Millburn Bypass in north-central Lake County. This $31 million project
improved Route 45 from IL 132 to IL 173 and created a bypass of the Millburn Historic District, addressing one of the most congested traffic spots in Lake County, hence its nickname “the Millburn Strangler.” Read the press release or watch the video to learn more.
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Jobs News
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Job Fairs and Workshops in November
Looking for a job? There are many job fairs and career workshops to help you land your next job happening in Lake County in November! Click on each link below for full details. |
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What Happened in Committees?
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Public Works, Planning and Transportation Committee
The committee approved funds to reconstruct and widen Weiland Road from Deerfield Parkway to Aptakisic; discussed initiating a study to reduce the number of single-occupancy vehicle trips; and more. Watch the discussion. |
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Energy and Environment Committee
The Solid Waste Agency of Lake County (SWALCO) presented its 2019 Plan Update; committee members discussed how net zero emissions can be achieved in Lake County government operations; and more. Watch the discussion.
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Watch All County Board Meetings
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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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Take A Survey on E-Cigarettes and Tobacco Products
The Health Department is asking residents to participate in the E-Cigarettes and the Smoke-Free Illinois Act Survey regarding e-cigarettes (or vapes) and their use in public places. The survey includes questions about perception of harm, flavored e-cigarette and tobacco products, and willingness to support legislation.
In Our last survey from 2017 indicated that Lake County residents are concerned about e-cigarettes, secondhand vapor, and youth access to tobacco products. In addition, 75 percent of survey respondents supported prohibiting the use of e-cigarettes indoors and in public places. The survey will remain open through Nov. 30. Take the Survey.
Avoid Bats to Protect Yourself from Rabies
Three bats in Lake County have tested positive for rabies in 2019: two in Antioch and one in Highland Park. Bats are commonly encountered in the fall because of their migration and search for warm winter quarters in places like attics. |
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The Lake County Health Department warns residents to avoid possible exposure to rabies by taking the following precautions.
Rabies prevention tips:
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Do not touch bats or attempt to remove them from your home. Report bats to Animal Care and Control by calling (847) 377-4700.
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Safeguard your home. Bats can enter existing holes as small as 3/4 inch in diameter. Cover and seal possible access routes, especially around chimneys, vents, doors, windows, and plumbing.
- Do not feed, touch, or adopt wild animals or stray dogs and cats.
- Vaccinate your pets and do not allow them to roam free.
- Seek immediate medical attention if you have been bitten or exposed to a bat.
Sheriff News
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Lake County Sheriff’s Office Joins Neighbors App by Ring
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The Lake County Sheriff’s Office has developed a new partnership with Ring, Amazon’s smart doorbell company, which will allow the sheriff’s deputies and detectives to use the Neighbors App by Ring to ask the community for assistance to help solve crimes. |
When sheriff’s staff believe a crime may have been captured on a Ring device, sheriff’s personnel can send a message to members of the community in a specific geographical region via the Neighbors App by Ring. Then, the community can determine if their device captured anything relevant. Camera owners have the choice to share the video directly with the Sheriff’s Office, or they can decline the request. Ring customers also have the option to decline receiving messages from the Sheriff’s Office. Learn more
Take Steps to Prevent Vehicle Theft
The Lake County Sheriff’s Office has received more than 60 reports of vehicle theft so far in 2019, just in unincorporated areas of Lake County. This number does not include vehicle theft reports received by municipalities within Lake County. Please follow these basic crime prevention steps to avoid becoming a victim: |
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Don’t leave cars running while unoccupied – even with the doors locked
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Don’t leave spare keys or key fobs in the vehicle
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Always keep your vehicle locked
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Remove valuables from your vehicle
- Keep residential exterior lighting on during the overnight hours
- Consider residential video surveillance
- Always call 911 if you see suspicious activity
Anonymously Report Drug Use & Underage Drinking in Your Neighborhood
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The Lake County Sheriff’s Office and Stand Strong Coalition are proud to announce a new initiative to assist in curbing of parties where underage drinking and drug use is taking place.
Stand Strong Coalition purchased a four-year membership to tip411 where members of the community can anonymously send a message if they have information of a situation where underage drinking or drug use is taking place. The Lake County Sheriff’s Office is taking the lead in monitoring any submitted tips.
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Forest Preserve News |
Restoration Ecologist
Did you know Lake County farmers used drain tiles for agriculture? Our ecologists remove the tiles to restore a natural flow of water across the forest preserves. Restoration Ecologist Matt Ueltzen has mapped more than 70 miles of drain tiles; a great opportunity for future wetland restoration. This is just one of his many projects at the Lake County Forest Preserves where he has been working for about 19 years. Learn more
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Solar-lit Trails Open
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Looking to take a nighttime walk in a Forest Preserve? Two preserves feature solar-lit trails and remain open until 9 pm, daily, from Nov. 3 through March 8. Hikers, skiers and showshoers can get some evening exercise along a 1.3-mile fitness trail at Old School Forest Preserve in Libertyville, and a 1.65-mile section of the Millennium Trail adjacent to the Winter Sports Area at Lakewood Forest Preserve. Learn more »
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Ethel’s Woods Now Open
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Lake County residents are able to experience the breathtaking beauty of Ethel’s Woods Forest Preserve in Antioch. The long-hidden landscape did not have public access while it underwent a major multi-year land restoration effort and public access improvements. The preserve is named after Ethel Untermyer who directed the successful referendum campaign in 1958 that formed the Lake County Forest Preserve District. Learn more »
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Celebration of Souls Exhibition
2020 Lake County Forest Preserves Budget Approved
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In order to continue moving toward the 100-Year Vision and Strategic Plan to preserve and sustain Lake County’s natural landscape, and extend community outreach and education, the Lake County Forest Preserve Board of Commissioners approved the fiscal year 2020 budget of $62,449,340.
The Lake County Forest Preserves shifted to a calendar fiscal year (January 1 to December 31) allowing for better tax revenue forecasting and budget planning for program activities and construction projects. Learn more »
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Community Events and News
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