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Dear Neighbor,
Happy June and early Happy 4th of July to you and your family. While this is always a time of celebration, this year is also a painful time as we near the one-year anniversary of the mass shooting in Highland Park. The Lake County Board passed a resolution supporting a ban on assault weapons, and I am grateful that Governor Pritzker signed legislation in 2022 doing just that. There were several other legislative items that Lake County supported, and I want to thank our Lake County delegation for their support of our successful initiatives, some of which are listed below:
HB 1067: Under the “Boring but Important” headline, this bill brings parity between county and municipal government in the hiring of our Superintendent of Public Works, removing unnecessary barriers for candidates and expanding our potential hiring pool, allowing more opportunities for employees to grow their career here in Lake County.
SB 1997: Lake County is on the flyway path for hundreds of thousands of birds that migrate along Lake Michigan. This law authorizes non-home rule counties (like Lake County) to pass ordinances requiring building design and construction to lessen the risks to wildlife and sensitive habitats.
SB 1883: Some of you may recall my attempt several years ago to stop the practice of "entertainers" chaining capuchin monkeys to the backs of dogs and having them run in circles at the Lake County Fairgrounds. As a non-home rule county with no authority over the Fairgrounds, we were unable to stop it. Fortunately, the passage of this bill will end this. I am very grateful for the advocates who spoke out to protect animals from this cruelty in the future.
I want to thank my colleagues for the unanimous support to update our building codes in unincorporated Lake County to require fire suppression systems for new homes and commercial buildings. This important addition will help protect residents and certainly firefighters, and was also supported by many local fire protection districts.
Lastly, the Summer Youth Employment Program is underway, with more opportunities for low-income kids to earn money and gain meaningful work experience. Many local agencies are participating, and I'm glad to be able to offer this important program.
There's a lot of great information below; thank you for subscribing and for taking the time to learn more about Lake County. As always, it is an honor and a privilege to represent you on the Lake County Board and the Forest Preserve Board. Please don't hesitate to contact me with any questions or concerns.
Sincerely,
Coal Ash Pond Community Meeting June 27- Let Your Voice Be Heard!
The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) will hold a community meeting from 5 to 7 p.m. June 27 at the College of Lake County in Waukegan to discuss the impacts and regulation of coal ash. The meeting will include presentations from the EPA about coal ash and information on resources available to the community. The community meeting will also include a listening session, during which community members will have an opportunity to voice their thoughts related to coal ash and their community. The USEPA proposes denying Midwest Generation’s request for more time to close an unlined coal ash pond in Waukegan
Fort Sheridan Expands With A Land Transfer from Openlands
I was so pleased to vote YES, along with all my colleagues on the Forest Preserve Board, to accept the 77–acre and one-mile of shoreline Openlands Lakeshore Preserve to become a part of Fort Sheridan Preserve.
The area is of statewide ecological significance and home to at least six threatened and endangered plant species. Thousands of migrating birds rest and refuel at the preserve each year. “We are thrilled to add this additional parcel, which will result in nearly 2 miles of contiguous, publicly-accessible shoreline at Fort Sheridan,” said Alex Ty Kovach, executive director of the Lake County Forest Preserves.
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27,000 Affordable Rides to Seniors and People with Disabilities
Last year, Ride Lake County launched to provide a cost-effective and countywide transportation option for seniors ages 60+ and people with disabilities. Within its first year, the popularity of Ride Lake County has grown, providing 27,000 rides a year for nearly 1,000 people. This service expands transportation options for affordable, greater and easier access for important trips to work, shopping and medical appointments.
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Low-Income Senior Citizen Assessment Freeze - File by July 31
The Low-Income Senior Freeze provides limited-income seniors with protection against real estate tax increases due to rising property values.
It is not a tax freeze or a tax reduction and does not protect against increased taxes due to tax rate increases. Because this exemption provides for a base year frozen assessment, it will potentially provide increased savings each year a senior is eligible.
The final filing date for the 2023 Low-Income Senior Citizen Assessment Freeze (taxes payable 2024) is July 31. To learn if you qualify, visit the Chief County Assessment Office website.
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Protect Your Biggest Investment. Register for Property Check
According to the FBI, property and mortgage fraud is the fastest growing white-collar crime. The Lake County Recording Division is continually evaluating ways to improve the quality of our services. Property Check is an easy, convenient and free tool for homeowners to use to protect their biggest investment.
Property Check will alert subscribers, via email or text message, whenever a document is recorded against their name and/or property. Register today.
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Driving Economic Development In Lake County
Lake County Partners’ Big Event brought together hundreds of business and civic leaders focused on continued collaboration and business growth. The event also marked the organization’s 25th anniversary of fueling economic development in Lake County. Watch this video to learn more.
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Lake County Nationally Recognized for Environmental Leadership
Lake County has been selected to receive an Achievement Award from the National Association of Counties (NACo), recognizing our policy to prohibit single-use plastics within government operations.
Approximately one million single-use plastics will be eliminated from Lake County government operations this year as part of the new policy, which went into effect in January 2023. The policy ceases single-use plastics from being purchased, sold, or distributed within county government operations, including the cafeteria, coffee kiosk, and vending machines.
Lake County Government is also expanding our Waukegan campus composting program by proviing a food scrap bin in our cafeteria. Food is the single largest category of material placed in municipal landfills, where it emits methane, a powerful greenhouse gas. The new bin is available for Lake County employees and visiting members of the public to dispose of food scraps from meals. Learn more
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Lake County Creates Digital Growth Initiative Webpage
Thousands of Lake County households are eligible for the Federal Affordable Connectivity Program (ACP) that helps connect families struggling to afford internet service.
Qualifying people can save up to $30 per month on internet costs and receive a one-time discount of up to $100 for a laptop, desktop computer, or tablet purchase.
Ensuring that everyone has access to Broadband is a priority for us. The Lake County Board created a Special Committee that has been working to better understand the current state of high-speed internet service in Lake County and come up with recommendations for improvement. Learn more
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County Receives Recognition for Excellence in Financial Reporting
Lake County has been awarded the prestigious Certificate of Achievement for Excellence in Financial Reporting from the Government Finance Officers Association of the United States and Canada. Lake County remains fiscally stable primarily due to our staff's strategic, long-term data driven decision making and the Board's commitment to fiscal responsibility. This is a significant accomplishment that highlights the county's dedication to providing clear and easily understandable financial information to our residents and stakeholders. This prestigious recognition is a testament to Lake County's commitment to financial transparency and sound fiscal management. Learn more
Thank you to our Auxiliary Deputy Unit!
The Lake County Board recognized the Lake County Auxiliary Deputy Unit for their dedication and invaluable service at the June 13 Board meeting.
The Auxiliary Deputy Unit first started in Lake County with 16 members in 1978. Now there are up to 50 members, who volunteer their time to assist the Sheriff’s Office during emergencies, crowd control, searching for missing persons, and more. Last year alone they worked over 12,550 hours.
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Major Stormwater Improvement Project Begins in Park City
Lake County Stormwater Management Commission (SMC) and the City of Park City celebrated the beginning of construction that will alleviate flooding to more than 800 homes and other properties in Park City. This high priority project is located at the headwaters of the Skokie River, resulting in a large chance of flooding. Construction will include the installation of improvements. “Increasing rain levels in our area have broken records and caused millions of dollars in damage to properties,” said Stormwater Management Commission Executive Director Kurt Woolford. “SMC’s goal is to never see our County’s residents suffer again like they did during the 2017 flood event.”
Learn More
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Lake County Holds Strategic Plan Community Visioning Sessions
Lake County Government is in the process of updating our Strategic Plan. We've held two community visioning sessions, one virtual and the other in person, to gain input for the plan. The updated strategic plan will provide a roadmap for achieving the County’s goals and objectives over the next four years. It ensures that resources are allocated efficiently and effectively, and that progress towards the goals are monitored and measured.
If you missed the virtual community visioning session, you can watch the full program here. Watch the community visioning session in Spanish here.
In addition to the virtual and in-person community visioning sessions, a survey and ideas wall were provided to the public as an opportunity to provide input toward the strategic plan. Recommendations will be developed to present to the County Board, which will approve the strategic plan later this year.
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Vehicle, Cyclist, and Pedestrian Crashes Spur More Safety Measures
In just five years (2017-2021), almost 200 people in Lake County were killed in crashes involving a vehicle. In that same timeframe, there were almost 450 crashes involving a cyclist; 534 involving a pedestrian; and almost 61,000 vehicle crashes. With safety always a top priority for LCDOT, this information is invaluable when planning and designing road projects to increase the safety of our residents and visitors. The Lake County Division of Transportation (LCDOT) recently launched a new online interactive dashboard that shows crash data on all roads throughout the county. Lake County DOT is actively pursuing grants and evaluating these data to make our roads safer for everyone who uses them.
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Pavement Rejuvenator Extends Life of County Roads
The Lake County Division of Transportation will be applying pavement rejuvenator, a glue-type substance that can extend the life of a road by five years, to several newly completed road surfaces in Lake County over the next few weeks. View a map to see where pavement rejuvenator will be applied in 2023. This is one of the many pavement management techniques LCDOT uses to preserve the county highway system and save money. Learn more by watching this video and visiting LCDOT's website. Learn more
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Health News
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Lake County Anti-Tick Team Has Information to Protect You
Getting outside is always good, but please be on the lookout for ticks! The Lake County Anti-Tick Team would like to share some information about Lyme disease. Ticks may be small in size, but it is important to protect ourselves, our families, and our pets against the diseases they can carry, especially Lyme disease.
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Take Steps To Swim Safely This Summer
Warm weather is here, and that means taking a dip at your local pool or beach. As you’re cooling off, remember it’s important to protect yourself from illness, prevent the spread of germs and practice safe swimming.
The Lake County Health Department monitors lake water for E. coli bacteria in over 100 Lake Michigan and inland lake beaches to ensure that the water is acceptable for swimming. Now through Labor Day, beach closure information can be found on the Health Department’s Beach Monitoring and Advisories web page, which is updated daily by 10 a.m.
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We Care! Learn More About Animal Care and Control
Lake County’s Animal Care and Control provides many services to educate residents and help care for our four-legged residents. Among these are hosting low-cost pet vaccination clinics, providing spay and neuter assistance to qualified pet owners, maintaining a lost and found network and much more.
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Public Works News
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2023 Water Quality Reports Are Now Available
The 2023 water quality reports from Lake County Public Works (LCPW) are now available to view. As strong supporters of the Safe Drinking Water Act, LCPW releases annual water quality Consumer Confidence Reports for the water systems they own and operate.
These reports describe the sources, treatment, and chemical analysis of each water distribution system. All Lake County systems passed testing requirements for the Illinois Environmental Protection Agency.
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Environmental News
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Drop Off Your Shoes for Recycling
Drop off shoes to be recycled or reused now until Aug. 31 at Advocate Condell Medical Center Main Lobby, 801 S. Milwaukee Ave., Libertyville. The shoes are being collected for the Solid Waste Agency of Lake County’s Reuse-a-Shoe Program.
All footwear is accepted except shoes that are wet or moldy, soleless shoes, ice skates and roller blades. Please tie laces on pairs/shoes with laces before dropping off. Learn more about the program
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State's Attorney's Office News |
Joining Forces To Prevent Gun Violence
The Lake County Gun Violence Prevention Initiative (GVPI) and the Advocate Trauma Recovery Center at Advocate Condell Medical Center announced that they will work together to stop the cycle of gun violence in Lake County through an innovative collaboration that connects shooting victims with community resources and trauma outreach workers inside a hospital setting.
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County Clerk's Office News |
Real Estate Recording Fee Schedule Changes To Begin July 1
The Illinois General Assembly has enacted Public Act 102-1135 which increased the document recording fees charged for the recordation of any real estate-related document. The Recording Division of the Lake County Clerk’s Office said the new recording fees will be effective beginning July 1.
Job News
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Job Center of Lake County Is Your Career Solution
The Job Center of Lake County can help you to transition careers, identify job opportunities and connect with employers.
Watch this video to learn more about the virtual and onsite resources that are available to all job seekers through the Job Center partners. And view the full Job Center calendar to learn about various upcoming events and resources.
Check Hire Lake County
Check Hire Lake County for information about job opportunities and businesses vetted by the Job Center’s business service team.
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Get Help
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Use 211 to Get Connected to the Help You Need
Finding the help you need may be three numbers away. If you need help finding food, healthcare, shelter, or other services, call 211 or text your zip code to 898211 to speak with someone who can help 24/7. Speak to a live person in English or Spanish when you call. The 211 team will also interpret more than 150 languages. The service is free and confidential. Learn more
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Forest Preserves News
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Concert Series Celebrates 20 Years
Imagine warm breezes, spectacular sunsets over the lake and award-winning music performers on stage at the outdoor venue for the annual Concerts in the Plaza music series. Concerts will be held at Independence Grove Forest Preserve in Libertyville, 7:30 p.m. Tuesdays through August 15. The concerts take place at the preserve's outdoor Millennia Plaza overlooking a 129-acre lake. This marks the 20th season for the popular series.
There’s something for just about any music taste in this season's entertainment schedule. View the 2023 concert lineup.
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Beer Garden Trivia Night
Beer Garden Trivia Night takes place from 6 to 7 p.m., Wednesday June 28, at the Beer Garden at Independence Grove. Grab a tasty brew and a scenic view while testing your knowledge on Lake County’s past and present. Teams will be quizzed on nature, history, the forest preserves and more.
No registration is required. Arrive at 5:30 p.m. to secure a table at the beer garden and sign up your team. Trivia starts promptly at 6 pm. Prizes awarded to the first-place team include tokens to the beer garden and are intended for adults 21 and up. Other prizes will be offered to those under 21.
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Ranger Police Offer Reminders
Warmer weather leads to an increase in vehicle break-ins. Parking lots, including those in the forest preserves, are prime locations for these crimes. The Lake County Forest Preserves’ Ranger Police remind the public to take additional precautions to protect against vehicle break-ins.
Ranger police strongly urge preserve visitors to lock car doors, close windows, and keep personal property out of plain view, take it with you, or leave it at home. Officers say every vehicle that has been burglarized had a valuable item left inside. It takes less than a minute to break a car window, unlock the door and remove things left inside. Often there are no witnesses to these offenses because of the ease and speed. These larcenies can be prevented with a little foresight and planning. Learn more »
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Scientific Research Complete
Our mission goes beyond Lake County. Recently, one of our restoration ecologists, Dan Sandacz, was published in the scientific journal “Frontiers in Conservation Science.” Director of Natural Resources Pati Vitt is a co-author.
Sandacz’s article addresses how the decline of Pitcher’s thistle (Cirisium pitcheri), a federally threatened species, has negative implications for the plant-pollinator community in Door County, Wisconsin. This research will be used to understand future conservation and restoration efforts and also understand how a loss of a keystone species (vital to the ecosystem) impacts the community. Read more »
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Triple Impact to Restore Heron Creek Forest Preserve
Funds from a recent grant will be used to restore 100 acres at Heron Creek Forest Preserve in Lake Zurich. The Illinois Clean Energy Community Foundation awarded the Lake County Forest Preserves a Community Stewardship Challenge Grant. The foundation will contribute $3 for every $1 donated to the Preservation Foundation, the charitable partner of the Forest Preserves.
“We are thankful to receive this funding for a high-priority project,” said Erika Stergos, executive director of the Preservation Foundation. "This grant is unique in that it will triple the impact of every gift made to the Preservation Foundation to help restore Heron Creek." Learn more »
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Staff Lead Oak Ecosystems Recovery Plan Site Tours
In May, staff from our Natural Resources and Community Engagement & Partnerships departments led tours of ongoing projects at Cahokia Flatwoods in Riverwoods and Middlefork Savanna in Lake Forest.
About 25 staff and volunteers representing partner organizations in the regional Oak Ecosystems Recovery Plan attended. They learned about habitat restoration efforts at Cahokia Flatwoods and the Buckthorn Eradication Pilot Project surrounding Middlefork Savanna. The pilot project aims to eradicate buckthorn in a 2,900-acre landscape around the preserve.
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Community Events & News
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Discover Summer Festivals in Lake County
What’s so good about the summer festivals in Lake County? The sun is out. The streets are over-saturated with neighbors dancing, exploring their palate with enchanting eats and drinks, seeking thrills on carnival rides and more.
Go ahead and peruse Visit Lake County’s guide to this year’s summer festivals and see what the land of lakes offers.
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Visit Your Local Farmers Market
Shop for fresh fruits, vegetables, baked treats and more while supporting local businesses at one of Lake County’s farmers markets. Check out Lake County’s Farmers Market Finder to find a farmers market near you.
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Watch All County Board and Committee Meetings
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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.
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