November 21, 2019
Neighbors,
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I am proud that at our County Board meeting last week, the Lake County Board unanimously approved a balanced budget for 2020 that keeps the Lake County tax levy flat, which means that many homeowners will see a slight reduction in the Lake County government portion of their tax bills. This is the first time in at least 20 years that the County has had a flat tax levy. This was done while ensuring that Lake County continues to provide the excellent essential services to our residents. In fact, we increased funding for items like storm water management, veteran’s services and sustainability. We also increased government transparency by having public budget hearings for all departments so that the budget was developed with a clear and open process. In fact, you can watch the budget hearings yourself for the first time.
As the holiday season approaches, keep in mind the Adopt a Turtle program
at the Lake County Forest Preserve. As a “Turtle Champion” you or your gift recipient are able to name and meet your turtle and all funds raised will go to help support Blanding’s turtles here in Lake County. Blanding’s turtles have a life span similar to humans, but when first born, they are very susceptible to prey. At the Lake County Forest Preserve turtle nursery, baby turtles are raised until they reach a large enough size to be able to survive in the wild. They are then returned to their native area in the Forest Preserve to live their long lives. The Adopt at Turtle program has directly resulted in thousands of Blanding’s turtles repopulating our area and hopefully it will be able to be expanded to even more locations. Blanding’s turtles are native to the Great Lakes region but their numbers had severely dwindled. The Adopt a Turtle program has been a great success in increasing their numbers and health. I adopted a turtle this year in memory of my aunt, and I am so looking forward to meeting baby turtle “Lynn” later this winter.
Speaking of the holiday season, don’t forget the Holiday Open House and Holiday Light recycling event I am co-hosting with SWALCO on Friday, Dec. 6 from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. at the Mundelein Police Department office at 221 N. Lake Street, Mundelein. This is a great opportunity to properly recycle your broken holiday lights. You cannot put holiday lights in your regular recycling bin: the wires can jam up and break the recycling equipment. SWALCO has arranged for all the lights that we collect to be properly recycled and kept out of landfills. We will also be collecting eye glasses and hearing aids for recycling. Refreshments will be served. I’m planning on putting up my holiday lights next week so that I can sort out all my old non-working light strands for recycling. I just hope we don’t get more snow before I can get them up!
Happy Thanksgiving!
 
County News
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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 is Once Again Recognized for Excellent Budget Practices
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 has earned this award for at least 10 consecutive years, reflecting its commitment to meeting the highest principles of governmental budgeting. In order to receive this honor, Lake County had to satisfy nationally recognized guidelines for effective budget presentation. Read more
Regulatory Options for Recreational Cannabis Discussed at Recent Meeting
The recreational use of cannabis in Illinois will become legal effective Jan. 1, 2020. Under the law, jurisdictions in Illinois may establish regulations on the production and sale of cannabis within their boundaries. To prepare, the Lake County Planning, Building & Development Department (PBD) recently led a Recreational Cannabis Regulatory Task Force comprised of representatives from a majority of Lake County municipalities and various community organizations. The Task Force developed regulatory options for local governments to consider, including model bans on commercial cannabis businesses and model regulations permitting them with certain restrictions.
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. Note that this was only a discussion on this item, and no formal action was taken at the meeting. A decision by the Board will be made at a later date. More information
Libertyville Township Property Assessment Appeal Deadline 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 it has opted to use a different software system.
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Visit or call the Chief County Assessment Office
8:30 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday to Friday
Address: 18 N. County St., Waukegan
Phone: 847-377-2050
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
Federal Transportation Funds to Benefit Lake County
Lake County residents will benefit from improved transit, roads, bridges, bicycle, and pedestrian facilities through federal funds recently approved for use by the Chicago Metropolitan Agency for Planning (CMAP) to support many transportation improvement projects. |
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$48.6 million to implement a grade separation where the Canadian National Railway tracks currently cross U.S. Route 14 in Barrington
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$11.7 million for LCDOT's Deerfield Road project from US45/IL 21 to Saunders Road
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$28 million to Metra for retrofitting locomotives with more fuel efficient vehicles
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$3.4 million for Lake County Forest Preserve District's Millennium Trail Underpass at US Route 45
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$13.5 million will help complete portions of the Regional Greenways and Trails Plan, which envisions a network of continuous green way and trail corridors across northeastern Illinois
2019 Housing and Community Development Grant Recipients Recognized
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Each year, a combination of federal and local dollars is awarded to municipalities, non-profit organizations, and other entities, which is used for housing and community development in Lake County. In 2019, the Housing and Community Development Commission (HCDC) awarded $3.7 million to 27 recipients. The grants will be put toward projects that focus on improving Lake County, making it a place where residents of all income levels have the opportunity to live, work and thrive.
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Environmental News
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What Can Be Recycled? Check out SWALCO’s New Guide
Confused about what you can put in your recycling bin? SWALCO is here to help. In partnership with Recycle by City, it has launched a new interactive online guide that lets you search the town you live in, learn what materials are accepted, and help you recycle correctly. Knowing what to recycle and what to put in the trash will help cut down on recycling contamination, which puts a burden on recycling plants.
“SWALCO has a responsibility to assist our residents and businesses be better recyclers, reduce contamination rates and make our recycling plants more profitable in the process,” said Walter Willis, SWALCO executive director.
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“We believe this new website content will provide recyclers with the detailed knowledge they need about what can and can’t be recycled, and in the end reduce the confusion the general public has about how to recycle in today’s more complicated packaging environment.” Learn more
Transportation News
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Resurfacing Update: Butterfield Road (US 45 to IL 176)
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The contractor is performing preparation work and framing for the proposed sidewalk areas. Crews are expected to begin pouring concrete for the sidewalk this week and will be scheduling miscellaneous patch work before winter. Pavement surface removal and final resurfacing are scheduled for spring/summer 2020. Make sure to watch for workers and flaggers as daily lane closures will be in effect. Updates will be posted on the project website.
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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. |
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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.
Sheriff News
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Beware of Scammers Pretending to be Local Government Officials
The Lake County Sheriff’s Office and 19th Judicial Circuit are warning residents to beware of a new scam in which con artists are calling Lake County residents, and introducing themselves as a member of the Lake County Sheriff’s Office. |
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The scammers use an actual name of a Sheriff’s Office employee. The scammer then informs the victim that a Lake County judge (also using the name of an actual judge) has issued an arrest warrant. The caller is then instructed to purchase a “voucher” in order to avoid arrest.
Beware that neither the Sheriff’s Office nor 19th Judicial Circuit call residents and request money. If you receive a call like this, the best course of action is to hang up, block the caller’s telephone number from being able to contact you again, and file a report with your local law-enforcement agency. Read more
Health News
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Take the E-Cigarette and Smoke-Free Illinois Act Survey
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 2017, the Health Department surveyed 1,306 youth and adult residents of Lake County on topics related to tobacco control. Results indicate that Lake County residents are concerned about the health effects associated with 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.
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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County Clerk’s Office News
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Sign Up to be an Election Judge
Election judge training has begun, and there's still room for you!
The Lake County Clerk’s Office has started training the election judges who will process voters in the 2020 Election Day voting sites. Take an active role in democracy by serving your neighbors and community. Contact the Clerk’s Election Judge Department to reserve your place in class. Phone: (847) 377-2408
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State Attorney’s Office News
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Explorers Program Helps Students Learn About Careers in Criminal Justice
The Lake County State’s Attorney’s Explorers Program, offered in conjunction with the Boy Scouts of America, offers students ages 14 to 21 a chance to gain hands-on experience with careers in criminal justice.
Participants in the eight-month program meet every other Thursday evening at the Lake County Courthouse in Waukegan, and engage with professionals in the criminal justice system and perform some of the actual duties these jobs entail. The adult advisors to the program include prosecutors, defense attorneys, police officers, probation officers and judges.
For more information or to sign up for the program, contact Assistant Lake County States Attorney Fred Day at (847) 377-7819.
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Forest Preserve News |
Restoration Ecologist
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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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More Loan Boxes Available
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Environmental educators expanded an initiative to area teachers in providing fresh, interactive science lessons for their classrooms. Themed boxes pertaining to mammals, insects and ecosystems join the bird-themed box that debuted in the spring. The new loan boxes, that support Illinois Learning Standards, feature a strong focus on wildlife habitats in Lake County. 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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Community Events and News
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