May 26, 2021
Lake County Government News
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911 Consortium Approves New Technology to Improve Public Safety
In an emergency, response time is critical. In a step to improve 9-1-1 call-taking, dispatch services and public safety throughout Lake County, the Regional 9-1-1 Consolidation Consortium coordinated with the Lake County Board to enter into two contracts with Tyler Technologies of Troy, Michigan to replace and improve public safety technology for participating agencies. The new technology will include Computer Aided Dispatch (CAD), Mobile Messaging and more. |
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The consortium includes 21 public safety entities working together to improve 9-1-1 service and increase public safety efficiencies for residents and communities. In 2019, the Consortium approved a general plan to move partners toward consolidation of 9-1-1 technology and future operations. Learn more
First Installment of Property Tax Bills Is Due June 7
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The first installment of Lake County property tax bills is due June 7. There are many ways to pay your bill, including online and pay by phone. Click here to learn about payment options.
To view your property tax bill and payment history, and for helpful information about understanding your tax bill, visit the Treasurer’s Office Property Tax web page.
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Public Meetings on Redistricting
On May 19 and 20, Lake County Board Chair Sandy Hart hosted four public meetings to talk about upcoming redistricting in Lake County, which happens every 10 years based on new U.S. Census data. Each meeting focused on a separate quadrant of the county. To listen to the discussion, please visit the following links:
• Northeast Lake County: English link | Spanish link
• Southeast Lake County: English link | Spanish link
• Northwest Lake County: English link | Spanish link
• Southwest Lake County: English link | Spanish link
To learn more, visit the Reapportionment Committee web page.
Board Approves Location for 2-Million-Gallon Water Reservoir in Vernon Hills
On April 13, the Lake County Board approved the location for the long-awaited 2-million-gallon water reservoir for the Vernon Hills water system. The White Deer Run Reservoir will be constructed near the White Deer Run Golf Course and pond. This location was selected in collaboration between Lake County and the Villages of Vernon Hills and Mundelein. More than 10 sites were assessed, with the selected site being best suited to minimize disruptions to the community, benefit the environment, and support a reservoir that will be used for many years to come.
Water reservoirs provide additional storage capacity in the event of increased water demand or emergency circumstances. The project was planned for and funded through Lake County Public Works Capital Improvement Program, and a new revenue stream is not required. Construction is anticipated to begin in mid-2022 and will take approximately two years to complete.
For more information, visit the project website.
County Offices Closed for Memorial Day
All County offices will be closed in observance of Memorial Day, Monday, May 31. On this day, we encourage everyone to take some time to reflect and remember all of those who died while in the military in service to our country, and the families who have lost their loved ones. We owe many of the luxuries and freedoms that we enjoy today to the sacrifice they made.
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Lake County COVID-19 Update
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Mask Guidelines for the Fully Vaccinated
The Centers for Disease Control (CDC) has issued new mask guidance for people who are fully vaccinated. If you are fully vaccinated, you no longer need to wear a mask in most indoor and outdoor settings. However, if you are not yet fully vaccinated (two weeks past your second dose of Pfizer or Moderna or two weeks past your Johnson & Johnson vaccine), you must continue to wear masks as before. |
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Illinois Governor J.B. Pritzker and the Illinois Department of Public Health have aligned with CDC guidance and issued an updated executive order. Vaccinated individuals must continue to wear masks:
• On public transit
• In healthcare settings
• In congregate settings
• In schools and daycare settings
We encourage everyone who is eligible to get vaccinated.
How to Find a Vaccine
There is ample supply of vaccine for everyone who is eligible. It’s easy to schedule an appointment convenient to where you live, and there are also many locations where no appointment is required and you can just walk in. |
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To find a convenient vaccination location near you, visit lakecountyil.gov/vaccine, or call our vaccine helpline at 847-377-8130. You may also create an account or login to your current account on our AllVax portal to schedule an appointment.
Current COVID-19 Data
Vaccination Count: According to the Illinois Department of Public Health (IDPH), as of May 25, there have been 591,879 vaccine doses administered to Lake County residents, and 268,798 residents have been fully vaccinated with two doses. View IDPH Vaccine Administration Data |
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Positivity Rate: As of May 22 the rolling 7-day average testing positivity rate in North Suburban Region 9, which includes Lake and McHenry Counties, was 2.2 percent. View Region 9 information
COVID-19 Helpful Links
Get Help
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Call 211 to Get Connected to the Help You Need
If you need help 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 211lakecounty.org. |
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Other Resources for Help
Many individuals and businesses continue to feel the economic impacts of the pandemic. Here are some additional resources:
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Rental Assistance: Lake County’s new program for renters provides needed relief to those who need help making past-due or current rent and utility payments. Learn more
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Food for Families in Need: Check out the Northern Illinois Food Bank calendar for a list of mobile food pantries and pop-up food markets planned for Lake County. Find food
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Mental Health Support: The Lake County Health Department offers a free, 24/7 confidential hotline for those experiencing a mental health crisis or substance use issue. Call 847-377-8088 any time. Learn more
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Assistance with COBRA Premium Payments: Did you lose your medical benefits when you were laid off? Learn about COBRA and a special healthcare subsidy under the American Rescue Plan Act of 2021 available through September 1, 2021 at the website for the Employee Benefits Security Administration. Call 866-444-3272 with questions.
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Get Help Paying Your ComEd Bill: Commonwealth Edison offers many resources to customers who are having trouble paying their bill. Learn more
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Employment Resources
Are you looking for a job during this challenging time of layoffs, furloughs, and hiring freezes? Here are some helpful resources from the Job Center of Lake County. |
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Job Search Resources in a Rough Market; Tuesday, June 8 at 1 p.m. via Zoom: Are you seeking a job or transitioning careers? The Job Center of Lake County can help! Hear our top tips for seeking work during a time of social distancing. Review our online tools to help you land your next job! Register here
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Your Personal Brand & Resumes; Tuesday, June 15 at 1 p.m. via Zoom: Are you seeking a job or changing careers? Regardless of your job title or field, you have a personal brand. Learn how to customize your resume and other written tools to help you land a great job! Register here
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Find more workshops on the Job Center Calendar
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Onsite Help: The Job Center has computers you can use for your job search. Face coverings are required and social distancing guidelines will be followed. To schedule an appointment, call 847-377-3450.
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Get Hired Illinois: Get Hired Illinois is a single portal where individuals can access virtual job fairs, free online training, and current job listings.
Health Department News
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Get Trained in Mental Health First Aid
Learn how to help someone who is developing a mental health problem or experiencing a mental health crisis. The Health Department is offering Mental Health First Aid classes virtually. This new virtual class is a two-hour self-paced course, followed by four hours of virtual instructor-led training. The new curricula includes expanded content on trauma, addiction, and self-care. Learn more and register
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Public Works News
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Bill Payment Assistance for Lake County Public Works Customers
Beginning July 1, 2021, water and wastewater shutoffs will resume for Lake County Public Works customers who are behind on their water and sewer bills, as the statewide moratorium on shutoffs that has been in place since March of 2020 is expiring. If you need assistance paying water or sewer bills, please call 2-1-1, where you will be connected with someone who can help you. Renters who need assistance paying any rent or utility bill, including water and sewer, may also apply for the Federal Emergency Rental Assistance Program.
Sanitary Sewer Work in Country Club Estates
Lake County Public Works (LCPW) is proactive in maintaining its infrastructure and its nearly 470 miles of sewer pipe. During the Summer of 2021, LCPW will be lining a couple of the more critical areas of deteriorating sanitary sewer main pipes located in the Country Club Estates subdivision. The lining will take place on Oakwood Road and Greenbriar Lane just off of Cherry Valley Road. Sewer lining is a “trenchless” technology that does not require digging. Residents in Country Club Estates will observe increased truck traffic, periodic lane closures, and noise from equipment during daytime hours. The contractor will request residents limit their water usage at times and will provide instructions. For more information and updates, please visit the project webpage.
Hawthorn Hills Square Shopping Center Water Main Replacement
Beginning in June, Lake County Public Works (LCPW) will be replacing water main pipes at the Hawthorn Hills Square shopping center, which is located at the southwest corner of IL 60 and IL 21 (Townline Road and Milwaukee Ave). The project consists of replacing pipes that have a history of breaks and water service interruptions to the shopping center businesses and customers.
The contractor will be digging several access pits to install pipe by directional drilling, which is a “trenchless” technology that is minimally invasive. Work will occur near the site access drive in front of the center, as well as behind the buildings. During this time, you may observe construction activity, noise, periodic lane closures, and the use of fire hydrants. Certain parking spaces will be impacted. The project will take approximately four months to complete.
LCPW is proactive in maintaining its infrastructure, and one method to ensure resilient, uninterrupted water service is to replace aging water main pipes. For more information, visit the project website.
Forest Preserve News
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New Website Launched
Check out our new website at www.LCFPD.org. It was designed with ADA compliance in mind and with new features that make sure everything web users would need is just a click away or easily searchable. A few new features include: |
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- A new one-stop shopping cart that allows customers to process all their online purchases in a single transaction. They can now add to their cart multiple permits at once, register for multiple events, purchase a product from the Dunn Museum, and donate to the Preservation Foundation all in one easy checkout process.
- Customers can now also make purchases from their mobile device––like registering for events, purchasing a permit, buying a t-shirt from the Dunn Museum, or making a donation to the Foundation––all from their phone or tablet.
The new website is responsive on all devices. You can now switch easily from your phone, tablet, or computer and be able to see all of the same information as page content automatically scales to fit your device screen.
DunnTV YouTube Channel Introduced
The Dunn Museum in Libertyville added a dedicated YouTube channel to its mix of strategies to further engage its audience. Named DunnTV, the channel gives viewers an inside look at the Dunn Museum, operated by the Lake County Forest Preserves at its headquarters at 1899 W. Winchester Road. |
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"We are dedicated to sharing the entwined stories of people, events and nature through exhibitions, education, and community engagement," said Andrew Osborne, superintendent of educational facilities. The channel features videos about the Dunn Museum's collections and exhibits, programming, Lake County history, and other information. Learn more»
Saying Goodbye to our Education Hawk
It is with heavy hearts that we announce the death of our resident education red-tailed hawk, who passed on May 7, 2021. At 33, she was one of the oldest red-tailed hawks on record and a true education ambassador. She lived her life at the Ryerson Conservation Area where she inspired many visitors. Her legacy will live forever in the more than 500,000 people she inspired. Learn more» |
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Community Events and News
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Learn How to Maintain Your Vegetable Garden
“The Vegetable Garden’s Planted: Now What?” is the latest class in the 2021 Garden Learning Series sponsored jointly by the Solid Waste Agency of Lake County and the University of Illinois Extension, Lake County. It will be held virtually via Zoom on June 9 from 6 p.m. to 7:30 p.m. Learn more and register |
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CLC Free Summer Classes Help Prepare Students for College-Level Work
New students needing to complete a math, English or English Language Instruction (ELI) course that leads to college-level classes are eligible to participate in the Lancer Summer Start program at the College of Lake County. |
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The program pays your tuition, fees, and required textbooks for one pre-college math, English or ELI course and CLC’s college success seminar, CLC 120. You pick the schedule that’s best for you. Any student beginning their education at CLC in summer 2021 and continuing enrollment for fall 2021 is eligible to participate! Learn more
What Happened in Committees?
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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. |
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The public can also offer "live" public comments during the Zoom meetings from the comfort of their own home or submit comments by email and phone call. Learn more
To see a current schedule of board and committee meetings and agenda information, click here.
All meetings are recorded, and are posted on the Lake County website. Here are links to the most recent board and committee meetings, including video recordings and agendas:
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