If you like to brave the cold weather and snow for a winter walk, both Old School Forest Preserve and Independence Grove Forest preserve have trails that are plowed during the winter months. I really enjoy walking on sunny days and getting to enjoy the beautiful winter scenery and wildlife, especially the birds. I have seen so many beautiful cardinals this year! 

The Lake County Forest Preserves has a list of plowed trails and other winter recreational opportunities.

Enjoy the winter weather while we can. Spring is just around the corner!

Lake County Government News  

Friday, February 11 is 211 Day in Lake County. 211 is a free, confidential one-stop resource that can connect you to services you need.

Call 211 or text your zip code to 898211 to speak to a live highly trained expert navigator who will lead you to help you need. 211 is available 24 hours a day, seven days a week and is available in more than 150 different languages. 

Since its launch in 2019, 211 has made more than 125,000 connections from every zip code in Lake County for help with housing and shelter, rent and utility assistance, food, mental health and addictions, healthcare, and much more. For more information about 211, visit 211lakecounty.org.

Lake County will host a virtual webinar from 1 to 2 p.m. Friday, February 18 to kick off our new Commercial Property Assessed Clean Energy (C-PACE) Program.  Lake County’s commercial property owners can learn about what C-PACE is and how they can apply for Lake County’s program.

Join the Webinar

At its Feb. 8 meeting, the Lake County Board approved to reinstate temporary open burning restrictions within unincorporated Lake County. The temporary restrictions will apply until the permanent restrictions enacted in January go into effect on June 1, 2022.

The temporary restrictions allow open burning on all properties in unincorporated Lake County from sunrise to sunset on Tuesdays, Thursdays, and Saturdays only, as was the case through much of 2020 and 2021.  The temporary ordinance also will allow open burning from sunrise to sunset any day of the week if the burning occurs at least 500 feet from the nearest habitable structure. There are exemptions for prescribed habitat and ecological landscape burns.

Residents who live within unincorporated Lake County may continue to burn all yard waste until the permanent ordinance provisions take effect on June 1.

Learn more about open burning in unincorporated Lake County at lakecountyil.gov/openburning.

Lake County COVID-19 Update   

If you need to be tested for COVID-19, one question that you may be wondering is how does one know if the testing site is legitimate. The Lake County Health Department has developed a testing site checklist to help answer your questions if you need to get tested. Remember, the health department provides a list of over 200 sites across Lake County to get tested. Find a COVID-19 testing location.

Get Help  

The Job Center of Lake County has partnered with local employers to help connect jobseekers with local companies that are hiring. View the full Job Center calendar to learn about various upcoming events and resources.

Public Works News

Lake County’s 2022-2026 Public Works Capital Improvement Program is now available. The program is created annually to plan, design and construct projects that are necessary to preserve, modernize and expand the water and wastewater systems under the jurisdiction of Lake County. 

View the 2022-2026 Capital Improvement Program to see the projects Lake County Public Works will be working on over the next several years. 

Recorder of Deeds Office News 

Until further notice, the Recorder of Deeds Office will not be offering in-person services due to the increase of COVID-19 positive cases in Lake County. The office is currently operating from 8:30 a.m. to 3 p.m. Monday through Friday. Documents to be recorded can be brought to the office’s drop box, and staff are available to answer phones and respond to emails. Learn more

Nineteenth Judicial Circuit News 

Non-profit organizations, local government agencies, and agencies providing services to the Nineteenth Judicial Circuit may apply for grant funding to assist crime victims in Lake County through the Nineteenth Judicial Circuit Court Crime Victims Services Fund.

Grants, which may not exceed $50,000 may be used to create new programming, enhance an agency’s current programming, purchase one-time capital items, or be applied toward larger capital projects. Learn more

Forest Preserves News

The Lake County Forest Preserves offers a few trails that are plowed during the winter, snowy months. Shortly after storms, paved loops are cleared at Hastings Lake in Lake Villa, Old School in Mettawa and Independence Grove in Libertyville. Learn more about winter activities and view status maps: www.LCFPD.org/winter-sports/

The winter landscape, stripped of its lush layers of leaves and fields of flowers, reveals hidden homes, writes Environmental Educator Jen Berlinghof. “It’s surprising to see how many critters have been raising families without us always noticing.” The most recent Lake County Nature Blog features information about American goldfinches, eastern gray squirrels and bald-faced hornets. Learn more »
 

“The Restored Landscape of Lake County,” a free virtual program, takes place from 6 to 7 p.m. on Thursday, February 17. The discussion revolves around how the Lake County Forest Preserves focus on landscape preservation, with a close look at the transformative restoration of Ethel’s Woods in Antioch. Registration is required. A Zoom link will be emailed to participants no later than one hour prior to the start of the program. Email AskAnEducator@LCFPD.org with questions. To register»

Community Events & News

There's so much to celebrate through February including Black History Month, the Super Bowl, and Valentine’s Day. Need ideas to celebrate? Check Visit Lake County’s guide to the top 10 things to do in February in Lake County.

Watch All County Board and Committee Meetings 

All Lake County board and committee meetings can be viewed on 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 also is welcome to attend all meetings in person at the Lake County Administrative Tower, 18 N. County Street, Waukegan or may attend meetings remotely using the registration link on the front page of each meeting’s agenda.

Individuals attending meetings in person or remotely may present their public comments during the meeting. Those not in attendance may provide written public comment via email or by mail. View the current meeting schedule. All meetings are recorded and are posted on the Lake County website.

Here are links to the most recent board and committee meetings, including the video recordings and agendas:

• Law and Judicial Committee: February 1, 2022
• Health and Community Services Committee: February 1, 2022
• Legislative Committee: February 1, 2022
• Public Works Planning and Transportation Committee: February 2, 2022
• Energy and Environment Committee: February 2, 2022
• Financial and Administrative Committee: February 3, 2022