Lake County Government and Forest Preserves News  

Fort Sheridan Exciting Expansion!

“When is it going to open?” was one of the most frequently asked questions at a recent webinar on the potential transfer of the 77-acre Openlands Lakeshore Preserve. If the acquisition is finalized, it will add one mile of public shoreline to Fort Sheridan Forest Preserve in Lake Forest. 

If everything goes as planned with the transfer, we hope to open on or around Labor Day weekend. A public comment form, Q&A and webinar are available on our website. Read more »

Property Assessment Notices Are In The Mail!

The 2023 property assessment notices will be mailed to homeowners across Lake County through mid to late summer. It’s important to read and understand this notice for accuracy as it contains important information about your property. Taxpayers are encouraged to contact their local township assessor’s office if they have questions regarding the valuation of their property.

Appeal Information
Property owners that decide to appeal must do so electronically. Property owners can appeal their assessment on their own through the Lake County Board of Review. No attorney is required for a residential appeal. Appeals can be done in a few minutes by using the new SmartFile E-Filing Portal.

• Watch this video or view these printable instructions (PDF) to learn how to file an appeal online
• Begin filing an appeal online
• Learn how to use the Public Access Tool
• Learn more

Special Instructions for Cuba, Ela, Grant, Libertyville and Vernon township Residents

The assessment appeal process for these five townships is different than the other 13 townships in Lake County. That’s because assessors in these five townships have chosen to use a different software system from what the county offered. This decision impacts how taxpayers in these townships review and appeal their assessments. Special Instructions 

Metra is soliciting public feedback as the agency proposes changes to its fare structure for 2024 that would change some fare options to improve the rider experience. The survey will close Aug. 6. The proposal aims to create a fare structure that customers can easily understand; will encourage ridership; simplify onboard fare collection, and meets Metra’s financial and technical constraints. Take the survey

Learn about proposed 2024 fare structure modifications

Stearns School Road Temporary Closure 

The Lake County Division of Transportation has closed Stearns School Road to through traffic from Hutchins Road to Hunt Club Road beginning Tuesday, Aug. 1 at 6 a.m. The closure will last 80 days and the road is scheduled to reopen the afternoon of Oct. 19.  The closure is necessary to remove the existing culvert pipes and construct a new bridge over Mill Creek.   View detour information

Proposed Redevelopment of the Baxter Property 

In mid-July, the Lake County Planning, Building and Development (PB&D) Department held an "Early Assistance" meeting with Bridge Industrial Development regarding a proposed redevelopment of the Baxter property in unincorporated Deerfield. In mid-August, PB&D will produce an “Early Assistance Report” which will be posted on Lake County’s Bridge Industrial Development Updates web page. This report will contain an assortment of regulatory and procedural information including next steps if Bridge Industrial chooses to move forward with a formal project development application.The web page includes a 24-hour automated public information telephone hotline number for residents to provide their comments, input and concerns via voicemail. By using the form or hotline number, you can provide input and submit applicable information with the assurance that it will be reviewed by our staff and retained for future reference. 

Learn more by visiting Visit Bridge Industrial Development Updates Web Page and stay informed by signing up for email updates.

The price of a solar panel system has decreased by more than 75% since 2008, making it more attractive to homeowners. We recently installed solar panels on our home and are really pleased with our new, lower electricity bill!

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 group buying power to lower the price on of solar. Participation is free, and there is no obligation to join. You may also benefit from the federal tax credit and the state solar incentive. Now is an excellent time to purchase solar!  Learn more

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. Protect Yourself

We are fortunate to have many outstanding employees in Lake County Government and our partner agencies. The Stormwater Management Commission (SMC) was recently awarded the Excellence in Mitigation Award at the 2023 Illinois Association For Floodplain And Stormwater Management (IAFSM) conference. This award recognizes SMC's work on 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. Congratulations!

Lake County Forest Preserve Leaders Earn Awards

Two of our leaders recently won awards! The Forest Preserves are fortunate to have such dedicated leadership.

• Executive Director Alex Ty Kovach was named a Notable Leader in Sustainability for 2023 in a competitive Crain’s Chicago Business “I am honored that our organization’s work is valued and acknowledged in the Chicago area,” Kovach said. “Sustainability is now included in every aspect of the Forest Preserves’ operations.” Learn more »
• Chief Operations Officer Mike Tully received the Lifetime Professional Award from the National Association of County Park and Recreation Officials. Tully, who is retiring at the end of July, has led or co-led major initiatives, such as serving as liaison to the Youth Conservation Corps program, which first drew him to the Forest Preserves. Learn more »

Our Air Quality Directly Affects Our Health

Air quality can change from day to day. Many people live in areas where air pollution can cause serious health problems. Poor air quality can be hazardous to anyone, especially people with lung and heart diseases, older people, teenagers, and children.

Poor air quality can cause headaches, irritated eyes and sinuses, fatigue, difficulty breathing, chest pains and asthma attacks, irritated throats, and coughing. Learn how to monitor air quality and what you can do to stay safe

To stay updated on the air quality forecast, visit enviroflash.info/signup.cfm and sign up today for air quality notifications.

While it's a cooler summer week, we've seen the temperature and humidity rise, and it's sure to rise again this summer. 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. When temperatures rise to unsafe levels, residents who do not have access to air conditioning are encouraged to visit a cooling center.
There are steps you can take to stay cool when the weather heats up. View these heat safety tips  Find a cooling center near you

Environmental News

Learn About Butterfly Gardening on August 9th

What factors have influenced butterfly populations in our area and how can gardeners help foster these winged jewels? Attend a virtual program on butterfly gardening at 6 p.m. Aug. 9. The program is part of the Garden Learning Series, sponsored by the Solid Waste Agency of Lake County, Lake County Forest Preserves and University of Illinois Extension.

Register to join and view the full 2023 Garden Learning Series

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 » 

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.Learn more

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. 

Are You Fiscally Fit? Join the Next Online Class About Tenants’ Rights

The Lake County Treasurer’s Office continues its Fiscally Fit online classes by hosting a Tenants’ Rights Training Session at 11 a.m. Aug. 12. The session will cover tenants’ rights, responsibilities and protections, including resources to use in an emergency and how to keep you and your family safe and secure during difficult times.  Register to join

Get Involved! Become a Lake County Election Judge

Join Lake County’s election judge community and be the proud face of democracy. The County Clerk’s Office is looking for election judges for the 2024 election cycle. Election judges are responsible for the proper and lawful conduct of the election within their community.  Become An Election Judge

Get Help 

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

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

Help Make Forest Preserve Programs Available to All

Program fees and bus transportation can be barriers for schools in Lake County's low income communities. Gateways Grants ensure that students in historically underserved communities can benefit from the Forest Preserves environmental and history education field trip and in-school programs. With teachers planning for the coming school year, our education team has already received more requests for Gateways Grants than in prior years.

Any gift to the Gateways Grants program is meaningful. The grants cover all program fees and provide a $150 bus stipend for eligible schools. Make your gift to support the Gateways Grants program today. Learn more »

Community Events and News

Summer may be going by too quickly, as it often does. Before youngsters go back to school, discover some adventures to share with the family. 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.