 |
|
Dear Neighbors, |
You might see a lot of activity around the Lake County Libertyville campus this summer.
Winchester Road is being improved and resurfaced from Butterfield Road to Milwaukee Avenue. As part of this work, Winchester Road will be closed for 45 days to replace a culvert replacement over Bull Creek. There will be access for local traffic on both sides of the work site but there will be no through traffic over the creek. The detour route is from Butterfield Road to 137 to Milwaukee Avenue.
One important improvement will be the addition of a bike trail on the north side of Winchester Road along with two improved crosswalks. This will give safer passage for bikers and walkers in our community.
|
After years of planning and research, the new Regional Operations and Communications Facility (ROC) broke ground on July 7 at our Libertyville campus. This vitally important facility will bring together a number of public safety agencies and the Lake County Emergency Management Agency under one roof. The ROC is a critically important part of our communications infrastructure that will allow first responders to respond more quickly to emergencies. Every minute counts when it comes to keeping our community safe and healthy.
We know that coordination between community partners is critical when responding in emergency events. Within this new facility, participating agencies will have an unprecedented opportunity for information sharing and collaboration between first responders.
The ROC is designed to be a net zero building, which means it will create the energy it needs to operate using both solar power and geothermal energy. This is good for our environment and also vital when there is an emergency affecting local power providers. The building will be “hardened,” which means it will withstand most storms and tornadoes and allow for emergency services to continue to operate during a natural disaster. Walking trails will be added for recreation and employee well-being.
Construction of the building is scheduled to be completed around December 2024 and the build-out of the facility should be completed in mid 2025. We are all looking forward to the grand opening of the ROC in 2025!
|
Finally, I wanted to share the sad news that our beloved dog Pip passed away last week at the age of 14 after an illness. Pip was such a caring, gentle and loving dog who always knew her own mind.
We will always be so grateful to Orphans of the Storm animal shelter for bringing Pip into our lives and for their work saving dogs like Pip who had been taken to a kill facility downstate.
We were so fortunate to have Pip for 11 years and our home is now painfully quiet without her loving and happy presence. Pip was the best dog and she will live in our hearts forever. I still can’t believe she is gone. She truly was our family’s best friend.
|
Lake County Government News
|
Regional Consolidation Partners & Lake County Break Ground on ROC Facility in Libertyville
 After years of planning and research, Regional 9-1-1 Consolidation Partners and the Lake County Board joined together to celebrate the groundbreaking of the new Regional Operations and Communications (ROC) Facility, which will be built next to the Lake County Central Permit Facility in Libertyville.
The facility is designed to house a consolidated Public Safety Answering Points (PSAP), the County's Emergency Management Agency (LCEMA), and the supporting staff and technologies. It will bring together highly trained experts and state-of-the-art technology to coordinate resources, information, and emergency communications and management all under one roof.
County Board Approves Capital Improvement Plan Prioritized List
At the July 11 meeting, the Lake County Board approved a prioritized list within the Fiscal Year 2024 Facilities Capital Improvement Plan (CIP), prioritizing major maintenance and repair and assessing future major construction.
The CIP continuously identifies facility requirements to meet the county’s changing operational needs. The plan does not obligate the Board to a certain action, nor does it guarantee future funding. Rather, it is used to help guide the County’s efforts in strategizing the future development of County buildings and spaces.
|
Bridge Industrial Proposed Redevelopment of the Baxter Property
The Lake County Planning, Building and Development Department has been contacted by Bridge Industrial with a request to schedule a preliminary "Early Assistance" meeting. The meeting between Lake County's reviewing departments and the developer is scheduled for July 18 to discuss the proposed redevelopment of the Baxter property in unincorporated Deerfield.
After the meeting, the County departments will complete a review of the information provided and produce an “Early Assistance Report” to send to Bridge Industrial. This report typically takes 10 to 20 business days to produce and contains an assortment of regulatory and procedural information including next steps to expect if Bridge Industrial chooses to move forward with a formal project development application.
Learn more by visiting this web page, and stay informed by signing up for email updates.
 |
|
Transportation News |
Winchester Road to Close for Culvert Replacement
The Lake County Division of Transportation (LCDOT) will be closing Winchester Road, from Butterfield Road to IL 21, to through traffic starting at 6 a.m. on July 26. The road will be closed for 45 days and is expected to reopen the afternoon of Sept. 8. The closure is necessary for a box culvert replacement in Bull Creek as part of the Winchester Road resurfacing project.
|
 |
|
Public Works News |
Precautionary Boil Order LIFTED for Forest Lake and Hawthorn Woods/Glennshire Subdivisions
The precautionary boil order issued on July 2 for the Forest Lake and Hawthorn Woods/Glennshire subdivisions has been lifted. LCPW Customers in these subdivisions may return to normal use of their water service.
The precautionary boil order was issued for this area because Aqua Illinois, our source water supplier, experienced difficulty with their water delivery. This impacted their on-site storage and their ability to maintain system pressure and meet demand throughout the service communities.
 |
|
Sheriff's Office News |
Scammers Target Residents Pretending To Be Government Officials
Residents need to be aware of a scam, in which con artists are calling, introducing themselves as a government employee within the Nineteenth Judicial Circuit or Lake County Sheriff’s Office. Neither the Sheriff’s Office nor Nineteenth Judicial Circuit will call residents asking for money.
|
Sheriff's Office Earns Reaccreditation, Recognizing Service to County
The Lake County Board recently recognized the Lake County Sheriff’s Office (LCSO) for achieving the Tier 1 Level of Illinois reaccreditation through the Illinois Law Enforcement Accreditation Program (ILEAP).
The Lake County Sheriff’s Office was judged on 67 ILEAP standards regarding administration, operations, personnel, and training. The accreditation demonstrates the Sheriff’s Office level of professionalism among law enforcement peers and validates the methods in which the LSCO provides service to residents and the public in Lake County.
|
Health News
|
Mosquitoes Test Positive for West Nile Virus in Lake County
Mosquito “pools,” batches of mosquitoes, sampled late last month in Bannockburn, Lake Villa and Vernon Hills tested positive for West Nile virus. These mosquito pools are the first confirmed indicators of West Nile virus presence in Lake County this year.
|
Be Aware of Summer Heat Risks
It’s a matter of time that the temperature and humidity start rising in Lake County, and that’s something to be careful of!
Did you know heat is responsible for the highest number of deaths each year in Illinois. Anyone can be overcome by heat related injuries even with short exposure times. Vulnerable groups including young children, infants, older adults, people with chronic medical conditions, and pregnant individuals are all at higher risk of heat related injuries.
There are steps you can take to stay cool when the weather heats up. View these heat safety tips
When temperatures rise to unsafe levels, residents who do not have access to air conditioning are encouraged to visit a cooling center. Find a cooling center near you
|
Environmental News
|
Save on Solar Installation. Learn About Solar Switch
Solar Switch is an education and group buying program for solar that is available to Lake County residents. Solar Switch does the work of finding qualified installers and leveraging participants' group buying power to lower the price on quality products.
Register to receive a personal recommendation with the program’s discounted price. Participation is free, and there is no obligation to join. You may also benefit from the 30% federal tax credit and the state solar incentive. Learn more
|
 |
|
Clerk of the Circuit Court News |
Apply or Renew Your Passport at Mobile Passport Event
Making travel plans? Make sure getting or renewing your passport is part of your plans. Apply for or renew your passport at the mobile passport event July 22 at Grant Township.
Can’t get to this mobile passport event? The Clerk of the Circuit Court is planning several Mobile Passport Events this year.
Passport applications also are processed from 8:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. Monday through Friday at the Circuit Clerk's Office in Waukegan. View application requirements, including fee information.
|
Education News
|
Karner Takes Oath of Office as Regional Superintendent of Schools
Dr. Michael Karner took his oath of office to start his new term as the Regional Superintendent of Schools at the Regional Office of Education.
The Lake County Regional Office of Education serves as an advocate for education by providing effective leadership, performing regulatory functions in partnership with the Illinois State Board of Education as directed by the School Code of Illinois, coordinating and delivering state and local services, and disseminating information to educators, school districts and the community.
|
|
|
Stormwater Management News |
IAFSM Honors SMC With Excellence in Mitigation Award
At the 2023 Illinois Association For Floodplain And Stormwater Management (IAFSM) conference, the Stormwater Management Commission (SMC) was awarded the association's Excellence in Mitigation Award for the department’s continued flood hazard reduction—either through buyouts, retrofitting, mitigation plans, and other similar mitigation efforts.
Director Kurt Woolford and Sharon Osterby, a water resource professional on the SMC team, accepted the award at the awards luncheon.
|
Get Help
|
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
|
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.
|
Forest Preserves News
|
Gospelfest Planned for July 30
Gospelfest takes place from 3 to 7 p.m. Sunday, July 30 at Greenbelt Cultural Center in North Chicago. The featured performer is Adrian Dunn, a critically acclaimed singer, composer and conductor. His most recent composition and concert work “Emancipation” recently aired on PBS as a one-hour special featuring The Adrian Dunn Singers & Dunn’s Rize Orchestra.
Mt. Zion Missionary Baptist Church, Joy of the World and Called to Worship will also perform. Visitors are asked to pack a picnic or purchase food from a local vendor, bring an umbrella, chair or blanket. Seating is limited. Read more »
|
Importance of Pollinators
Pollinators provide one of every three bites of food we eat. More than 1,000 of all pollinators are vertebrates such as birds, bats and small mammals. Most (more than 200,000 species) are beneficial insects such as flies, beetles, wasps, ants, butterflies, moths and bees. Sadly, Monarch butterflies have declined by 90% in the last 20 years, and 25% of bumble bee species are seriously declining.
Pollinator Week, an annual celebration supporting pollinator health, was recently held to raise awareness for these tiny titans and spread the word about what we can do to protect them. Plant a pollinator garden, use native plants and support open space agencies like your Lake County Forest Preserves. Read more »
|
Veteran Visits Dunn Museum
Lake County Veteran Gary Cox brought his nephews to the Bess Bower Dunn Museum in Libertyville to see his Vietnam flight helmet on display for Memorial Day weekend. “We are honored to use our collections to recognize the stories of those who have served,” Director of Education Nan Buckardt. The Dunn Museum is a Blue Star Museum. Active-duty military personnel (with ID) and their families, including National Guard and Reserve, enjoy FREE admission at the Museum through September 4.
The nationally accredited Dunn Museum, a distinction held by only 3% of American museums, cares for a treasure trove of history about the region. The Forest Preserves considers itself a 31,000-acre museum because not only do we care for historic artifacts that embody Lake County stories, but we also care for the land where those stories occurred. Experience history for yourself: LCFPD.org/museum
|
Community Events & News
|
Find Summer Fun for Your Kids in Lake County
Summer is officially in session, and your youngsters are yearning for an adventure with all of this time off from school.
Exploring nature, discovering history, filling your belly with good eats and playing with a few creatures scratch the surface of what summer fun the family can find. Check out Visit Lake County’s summer fun guide for kids to fill your family’s summer with fun.
|
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.
|
|
