The Lake County Financial and Administrative Special  Committee on COVID-19 Recovery met on June 19 and June 26 to discuss the distribution of $121.5 million in federal relief funds. Some of the funds are being allocated for assistance with rent, utility bills and food needs throughout the county. 

Residents may soon apply for assistance through 
local social service organizations and townships. Information is subject to change and additional information will be shared soon on how and where to apply.   

Lake County will temporarily close its 508-space public and employee parking garage located at 18 N. County Street in Waukegan for four months beginning Monday, July 13 for scheduled repairs. 

Those visiting the courthouse are encouraged to park in the City of Waukegan lot at Clayton and County Street or view this map for additional parking lot locations. Learn more 

In light of the coronavirus pandemic, and in order to protect the health and safety of the general public, judges, and court employees, marriages and civil unions were suspended on March 17. The Nineteenth Judicial Circuit is now officiating weddings weddings and civil unions, virtually for active-duty members of the military and couples where at least one participant is a Lake County resident. Read more 

Are you curious about what a drive-thru COVID-19 test is like? Watch this video for a step by step, first-person view. The Waukegan drive-thru test site at 102 W. Water Street is open seven days a week from 8 a.m. until 4 p.m. Anyone can get tested, regardless of symptoms or other criteria. No appointment, doctor referral, or insurance is needed, and testing is free. 

Health Department staff have been working very hard to protect residents and staff of long-term care facilities in Lake County. On June 1, the Health Department started a new testing program to help these facilities identify active COVID-19 infections, prevent further spread of the virus, and collect baseline data to help in ongoing testing plans. Read more 

Lake County officials are warning residents of contact tracing scams where criminals pretend to be contact tracers to steal vital information like Social Security numbers and banking information over the phone, via email, and text message. At least one Lake County resident has claimed to have given vital information such as their Social Security number during what they thought was a contact tracing call. 

Are you looking for a job during this challenging time of layoffs, furloughs, and hiring freezes?   

• The Job Center of Lake County provides vital resources to help you, including a Resource Library, Virtual Information Sessions, and a Job Opportunities page. 
• Attend a virtual Healthcare Training Information Session on Wednesday, July 1 at 1 p.m.  to learn
  about options to begin or advance your healthcare career. Register now 
• Get Hired Illinois is a single portal where individuals can access virtual job fairs, free online training, and current job listings. Learn more 

If you need assistance finding food, shelter, rent or utility assistance, or other essential services, call 211 or TEXT your zip code to 898211 to speak with someone who can help 24/7. To receive general COVID-19 information via text message, text “COVID19” to 211211. For more information, visit 
www.211lakecounty.org. 

A mosquito “pool”  or batch of mosquitoes sampled on June 4 in Hawthorn Woods has tested positive for the West Nile virus, the Lake County Health Department reported. This mosquito pool is the first confirmed indicator of West Nile virus presence in Lake County in 2020. 

Help ‘Fight the Bite’ from mosquitoes and protect yourself and your family by practicing the “4 Ds of Defense.”  Learn more 

All Lake County board and committee meetings are continuing to be conducted remotely. Meetings are live-streamed at lakecounty.tv, and on cable television (Comcast channels 18 or 30, depending on where you live, and AT&T U-Verse Channel 99). To see a current schedule of board and committee meetings, and to find links of recordings of past meetings, click here.   

Public comments will be accepted by email and phone call only. Learn more 

Lake County was recently recognized as having one of the 2020 Top 100 Best Fleets in the Americas by the National Association of Fleet Administrators 
(NAFA). The 100 Best Fleets in the Americas program recognizes fleet operations that have high levels of performance improvement and innovation within the public fleet industry.  

Summer is here! For some residents and businesses, the nice weather is a chance to perform maintenance on driveways, parking lots and playgrounds by using sealants to protect and enhance the appearance of the underlying asphalt. While this is a common practice, coal-tar sealants contain Polycyclic Aromatic Hydrocarbons (PAHs), a class of chemicals that harm humans and aquatic life. 

The five off-leash dog exercise areas have reopened with additional safety and social distancing guidelines in place. Lakewood Dog Park in Wauconda,
Waukegan Savanna Dog Park in Waukegan, 
Duck Farm Dog Park in Lake Villa, Prairie Wolf Dog Park in Lake Forest, and Independence Grove Dog Park in Libertyville opened gradually earlier this month. “Modified use practices are in place for the health and safety of the Forest Preserve staff, dog owners and their pets,” said Chief Operations Officer Mike Tully. Visit LCFPD.org/dogs to learn more about the safety guidelines.   

In the middle of this pandemic, the Lake County Forest Preserves offer hundreds of miles of trails to support our physical health, and beautiful views and vast open spaces to restore our mental health. As one user posted on Facebook: “Thank you for staying open. It has been our moment of Zen to hike the trails.” Since mid-March, more people are loving the forest preserves than ever. Visitation in May was 18% greater than the busiest summer weekend in any of the previous four years. Daily average visitation in April was 60% greater than the busiest summer weekend in any of the previous four years. Visit LCFPD.org/preserves/ to navigate your next adventure. 

Do you have a garden at home? Whether you plant in the ground or in pots, growing food at home can be done in ways that are healthy for you and the planet. Learn how to start your own home garden by checking out this recorded webinar presented by 
Dunn Museum Educator Nicole Stocker in partnership with the Vernon Area Public Library. Home vegetable gardens are on the rise as families enjoy the idea of growing their own fresh food. Watch video » 

The Lake County Forest Preserves announced the opening of a new community trail connection resulting from a successful partnership with the Village of Gurnee to provide safe and direct access to neighboring forest preserves and trails. This 0.4-mile crushed gravel trail links the Village's existing bike path and several large residential areas to Rollins Savanna Forest Preserve and to the Millennium Trail and Greenway. Learn more »