Several infrastructure projects in Lake County could get a much-needed boost as part of two new federal initiatives that identify and address infrastructure funding needs at the local level. Lake County leaders have been working closely with the County’s Congressional representatives, including Sean Casten (IL-6), Brad Schneider (IL-10), and Lauren Underwood (IL-14), who submitted nearly $50 million in funding requests to Congress for several Lake County infrastructure projects.

Beginning Thursday, May 13, the Lake County Health Department is opening COVID-19 vaccinations to children ages 12 to 15 years old.  

Appointments may be scheduled through the Lake County AllVax portal. Households that are already registered on the portal are encouraged to add children as a household member, rather than setting up a separate account for their child. Minors under age 18 must be accompanied by a parent or legal guardian to receive their vaccine at a Lake County Health Department vaccination site. Questions? Call the AllVax Support Team at (847) 377-8130. 

Vaccination Count: According to the Illinois Department of Public Health (IDPH), as of May 11, there have been 526,777 vaccine doses administered to Lake County residents, and 230,261 residents have been fully vaccinated with two doses. View IDPH Vaccine Administration Data

Construction projects that will be undertaken by the Lake County Division of Transportation (LCDOT) this year will improve traffic congestion, increase safety, and reduce carbon emissions.

The 30 projects, involving an infrastructure investment of $109 million, feature road widenings, a new roundabout, bike path connections, resurfacings and adaptive signal controls and more. Learn more

Last week, the Lake County Division of Transportation (LCDOT) began construction on the emergency replacement of the failed culvert on Stearns School Road between Hutchins Road and Hunt Club Road. The road is expected to safely reopen to traffic in three to four weeks, weather permitting. Typically, the design, fabrication and construction would take a number of months to complete, but Lake County is working to accelerate the schedule through a two-staged approach: 

The Lake County Division of Transportation is conducting a Public Hearing on May 25 at 4 p.m. to present and seek input on the final Deerfield Road project Environmental Assessment and preferred alternative. The preferred alternative addresses capacity, safety, drainage and non-motorized travel deficiencies, and accommodates future travel demand on Deerfield Road from Milwaukee Ave. to Saunders/Riverwoods Road. Interested residents are invited to attend the virtual public hearing and can register at deerfieldroadcorridor.com

The pandemic has brought challenges that may lead to increased stress and anxiety. All residents, young and old, are encouraged to take some time to check in with their mental health this month and with those they love. 

Mental Health First Aid is a free course that teaches you how to help someone who is developing a mental health problem or experiencing a mental health crisis. The Lake County Health Department’s Mental Health First Aid initiative is offering classes virtually in May. This includes a two-hour self-paced course, followed by four hours of instructor-led training delivered virtually. Learn more and register

The Lake County Clerk’s Office invites interested members of the public to register for classes in the newly created Lake County Clerk’s Institute. The first class, Introduction to Elections, will begin the week of June 14 and meet once a week for three weeks. 

From May 15 to Sept. 15 each year, County ordinance prohibits the use of water for outside and landscaping purposes between 10 a.m. and 6 p.m. In addition, outside water use is restricted to certain days of the week. Even numbered addresses can use outside water on even numbered days, and odd numbered addresses on odd days. Typically, as we move into the later parts of summer, we have much hotter and drier conditions, which may lead to additional water-use restrictions. 

It's Ten Days to Savor: Discover delectable dining all across Lake County. Lake County Restaurant Week is the perfect opportunity to explore new places to dine or enjoy old favorites. Each participating restaurant will be offering either a pre-fixe menu or an exclusive restaurant week dining offer. This 10-day event featuring over 75 restaurants only happens once a year, so make your reservations early. Learn more 

The Campaign for Grade-Level Reading announced that it has named Waukegan, Illinois as a 2021 Bright Spot Community for United Way of Lake County’s responses to the COVID-19 crisis last year. Waukegan is the only community in Illinois to be recognized. Learn more 

All Lake County Board and Committee Meetings are currently being held remotely via Zoom due to the COVID-19 pandemic. 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). The public is also welcome to view the livestream of all meetings in-person at 18 N. County Street, Waukegan, 10th Floor Assembly Room.