Dear Neighbors,

Ride Lake County: This new paratransit program is the first, seamless way for mobility-challenged folks to get from one end of the county to the other. Even residents who need to go to some areas in Eastern McHenry or Northern Cook County will be able to get to doctor's appointments and other destinations. PACE will provide buses and will charge from $2 to $6, depending on how far you need to go. Thanks to a great array of partners from townships to LCDOT who pulled this together after a decade and a half. The program will be up and running on May 1.

Railroad Crossing Back-Ups: We've been working with Canadian National Railroad (CNRR), the Village of Grayslake, LCDOT, Sen. Melinda Bush and Rep. Brad Schneider's office to unknot some of the worst freight train delays in Lake County. The 6th District has more than a half-dozen CNRR and Metra grade crossings, so you know how frustrating it is sitting behind a freight train. Progress is at hand. We're hoping that CNRR will greenlight their plan to do double tracking through Grayslake to eliminate stoppages (they will pay for all of it). We've also requested funding from the state and federal authorities for building an at-grade crossing on Route 120 and Route 83. Sen. Bush has received a $30 million commitment from Springfield to start this project. We're hoping federal dollars will close the gap, estimated at another $10 million or so. 

Multi-modal Transportation: One of the biggest barriers to getting around in Lake County is unrelenting traffic congestion. Many of the major state routes like Route 120 and Route 83 were never modernized in this area, so they are in poor shape and inadequate for handling tens of thousands of vehicles a day and untold tons of new truck traffic. There's been more than 1,000 accidents in recent years along Route 83 (Barron Blvd.) in Grayslake in recent years. Unfortunately, Lake County, until recently, has never received enough money from Springfield and Washington to update our highways. LCDOT tells us we have a $1 billion backlog of road repairs. A commitment to multi-modal transportation, which was embedded into our county strategic plan three years ago, will help us get folks where they need to go. It's a buffet approach: How do we best use roads, buses, trains, sidewalks and trails to get us on our way? How do we make roads smarter, so that we can automatically enhance traffic flow through our high-tech Lake County Passage system? This is a complex problem involving many partners, but we're buckling down to brainstorm. We're working with our friends Linda Soto at PACE, Pat Carey at the RTA and Norm Carlson at Metra to find better, more sustainable transportation options. The one thing we know is that building mammoth highways isn't the solution. They increase traffic, pollution and have a monstrous carbon footprint. So we need to be creative. Stay tuned. Let me know your thoughts on some new ideas!

Forest Preserve News

It doesn't matter what the weather looks like, the Forest Preserve has something for the entire family all year round. Check out their late winter events, especially their popular Maple Syrup hikes. 

Forest Preserve staff and committee members will also be reviewing an environmental assessment from the Federal Aviation Administration soon regarding the expansion of the Waukegan Airport. The Waukegan Port Authority has asked the Forest Preserve to sell it land to extend a runway. Along with many of my colleagues, I have asked the Port Authority to prepare detailed evaluations on countywide noise, air and water pollution, including carbon dioxide emissions. The report should be available by early March.

Enjoy the increasingly warmer weather in your community and Forest Preserves. It's a good time to reconnect with neighbors. It's my honor to serve you. Feel free to invite me to speak before your community group. I relish listening to what you have to say. 

Can I leave you with a quote from my favorite president, Abraham Lincoln, who actually visited and spoke in Waukegan on April 2, 1860?

"Government is a combination of the people of a country to effect certain objects by joint effort..." 

Honest Abe is talking about working together to build what he called "internal improvements." If we've proven anything in the past few years, we've shown how we can collaborate to not only beat back COVID, but more fully discovered how potent and compassionate we are when we work together in community.

(BTW, if you or someone you know needs a vaccine, you can get a shot for free at any county health clinic and most pharmacies).

Be well!

Lake County Government News  

Volunteers searched throughout Lake County to interview and offer help to unsheltered people during the annual Point-in-Time Homeless Count. Twenty-three teams made up of 65 volunteers participated in the late night event, which is crucial to measure the needs of our homeless service system and coordinate services for people experiencing homelessness.

Visit the Lake County Coalition for the Homeless website to learn more, including partner organizations who are helping to address homelessness year round in Lake County.

Lake County COVID-19 Update  

• Find a Vaccine 
• Find a COVID-19 testing location  
• Illinois Vaccine Administration Data 
• Lake County Coronavirus Data Hub 

Get Help

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. Speak to a person in English or Spanish when you call. The 211 team will also interpret more than 150 other languages. Learn more 

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.

Transportation News

Ride Lake County will provide a borderless countywide paratransit service, meaning seniors age 60 and older and people with disabilities can get transportation to any area of Lake County for work, shopping, medical appointments, and more. The new service is anticipated to begin on May 1, 2022.

Riders will call a dedicated number to schedule trips in advance. All Ride Lake County vehicles are wheelchair accessible and provide curb-to-curb service from your desired pick up and drop off locations. The service will run from 6 a.m. to 6 p.m. seven days a week, excluding holidays. Further information including how to sign up, a riders guide, and more will be made available on Lake County's website at lakecountyil.gov/RLC.

Health News

You’re invited to participate in an online survey to help the Lake County Health Department better understand community health needs. Every five years, the Health Department conducts the survey to update its Lake County Community Health Assessment. The survey is completely anonymous. Questions range from topics such as demographics and housing to green spaces and transportation availability. Take the survey and learn more about the process

Sheriff's Office News

Lake County Sheriff’s Office K9s Ryker, Danno, Dax, and Duke have received bullet and stab protective vests thanks to a charitable donation from non-profit organization Vested Interest in K9s, Inc. The vests were embroidered with the sentiment “Honoring Blue Paws Strong.”

Vested Interest in K9s, Inc. is a 501(c)(3) charity whose mission is to provide bullet and stab protective vests and other assistance to dogs of law enforcement and related agencies throughout the United States. Learn more

The Lake County Human Trafficking Task Force will be directed by the Lake County State’s Attorney’s Office and will consist of a collaboration between prosecutors, law enforcement agencies, and victim service providers. The task force will be funded by a Department of Justice (DOJ) Grant to the Lake County State’s Attorney’s Office and victim-service organization, A Safe Place.  Learn more

Environmental News

Learn tips on Successful Vegetable Gardening on March 9 as the Solid Waste Agency of Lake County and University of Illinois Extension continue the 2022 Garden Learning Series. University of Illinois Master Gardeners will give you steps to plan and tend your garden, including tips on garden location, layout and preparation, recommended vegetable varieties, proper planting, pest control, proper watering, and harvesting tips. Register today

Forest Preserves News 

The winter issue of Horizons magazine is now available. Horizons is a quarterly publication of your Lake County Forest Preserves, featuring articles on Lake County wildlife, nature and history, Forest Preserve news, and programs and events. The main story in this issue is about how the forest preserves feel more important than ever as a result of the pandemic. “Visitors have developed an even deeper emotional attachment to the forest preserves,” said Executive Director Alex Ty Kovach. You can subscribe to receive the free magazine in print form. Read it online.

Learn how trees work and how the sweet sap of sugar maples is turned into maple syrup at Ryerson Conservation Area in Riverwoods during Maple Syrup Hikes. Ryerson has many maple trees and good soil. Teachers and scout leaders are encouraged to reserve in-person and virtual field trips. All public program hikes will be held entirely outdoors this year. Tickets are available for hikes that run on weekends from March 5–20. Hour-long hikes start every half-hour from noon to 2 p.m. Learn more »

In 2022, we’re offering a different line-up of summer programs for children and teenagers ages 4-16. Sorted into three categories–nature, history and institute–Summer Adventures registration is open now. The programs provide high-quality education in-person across Lake County and virtually. Experienced educators teach programs that are geared to developmentally appropriate ages. Some programs cover three or five days in the same week. Others are offered a la carte, where participants can attend one or two sessions, or the whole series. Register for Summer Adventures programs online or at 847-968-3321. Learn more » 

Community Events and News

The second annual Lake County Maker Faire is looking for makers! You are a Maker if you craft, build, create, design, tinker and tweak just about anything. The event will take place April 9 at the College of Lake County Grayslake Campus. Proposals can be submitted to showcase your work now through March 18. Learn more

Watch All County Board and Committee Meetings