January 23, 2024
Sheriff's Office News
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Canine Unit Records A Successful 2023
Our sincere thanks and gratitude go to the Lake County Sheriff’s Office Canine Unit, which was deployed 497 times in 2023 to respond to various calls for canine assistance.
Called to help locate firearms, missing and endangered individuals and concealed electronic devices as well as participating in community canine demonstrations, our canine unit proves to be an incredible resource to the county. The County Board recently recognized the canine unit by reading a special recognition at its Jan. 16 meeting.
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Lake County Government News
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Lake County Hosts JOC Meet and Greet
Subcontractors, including minority and women-owned businesses recently took the opportunity to meet and greet Lake County’s newest job order contracting (JOC) general contractors.
Lake County utilizes JOC as a method to procure certain construction and renovation projects involving demolition, electrical, HVAC, carpentry, concrete, painting, plumbing and other trade work. Businesses seeking to work with Lake County are encouraged to learn more and register as a vendor at doingbusiness.lakecountyil.gov.
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2023 Was A Standout Year for Business
Lake County’s talent and healthy mix of industries fueled record growth in 2023, marking one of the best runs of economic development in the county’s history.
Lake County Partners has fueled $1.2 billion in direct capital investment, driven the creation of 4,445 new jobs and kept 4,739 existing jobs in Lake County over the last five years alone. Learn why 2023 was a standout year for business and how 2024 is on track to be the biggest year yet.
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Health News
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Check Radon Levels in Your Home This Winter
Radon gas builds up in homes over time and can’t be seen, tasted, or smelled—making it easy for radon problems to go unnoticed. The Lake County Health Department and Community Health Center recommends that all residents test the radon levels in their homes and apartments during the winter season, when indoor radon levels are highest.
Short-term test kits are available for $10, which includes return postage, laboratory analysis and interpretation by Health Department staff. Learn more
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Transportation News
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Ride Lake County Provides Over 39,000 Trips in 2023
Ride Lake County continues to help improve the lives of residents, helping them get to work, doctor’s appointments and shopping trips, providing over 39,000 trips in 2023 alone.
Lake County started the borderless paratransit service Ride Lake County service in May 2022, providing transportation anywhere to seniors ages 60 and older and people with disabilities. To date, the service has provided over 56,000 trips.
Ride Lake County is a reservation-based program with rides scheduled in advance. Vehicles provide curb-to-curb service from the rider’s desired pick-up and drop-off destinations, and all vehicles are wheelchair accessible.
Watch this video to learn how to use Ride Lake County
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Metra Allows Bikes on All Trains
Metra has made permanent a COVID-era policy that allows bikes on all trains and is making room for additional bikes by installing new racks on its railcars.
Bicycles and scooters, including e-bikes and e-scooters, are permitted on all trains, either in the priority seating areas of ADA-accessible railcars or in the new racks on railcars with the bike logo. There is no charge. Bicycle and scooter spaces are allocated on a first-come, first-served basis, and customers with disabilities have priority in the priority seating areas on ADA-accessible railcars. Learn more
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Sustainability News
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Salt Smart. A Little Goes a Long Way
When snow falls, it’s tempting to break out the salt to prevent slippery steps, walkways, and paths around your home. While salt is an essential part of winter safety, using too much salt doesn’t make pavement less slippery and can harm our environment. Only one teaspoon of salt can pollute five gallons of water to a level that is toxic for freshwater ecosystems.
Watch this video to learn more about the safe way to use salt as a deicer.
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Forest Preserves News
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Profiles in Excellence
The 41st annual Profiles in Excellence event takes place from 3 to 4:30 p.m., Sunday, February 4, at Greenbelt Cultural Center, 1215 Green Bay Road in North Chicago. The theme this year is “Music Roots.” Hosted by the Lake County Forest Preserves, the event commemorates Black History Month by recognizing notable African Americans in the area who will be remembered for their contributions to their community and society for years to come. The event is free and open to all ages.
Participants will experience the captivating rhythms and melodies of Guinea, West Africa, brought to life by an all-female drumming ensemble, Diamana Diya. “The dynamic performance is expected to transcend traditional boundaries, as the musicians communicate the exhilaration, energy and sheer joy embedded in the rich tapestry of Malinke music,” said Director of Education Alyssa Firkus. Read more »
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Managing Healthy Landscapes Exhibition
"Managing Healthy Landscapes" opens Saturday, February 10 at the Dunn Museum, 1899 W. Winchester Road, Libertyville. The special exhibition runs through April 7 at the nationally accredited museum, a distinction held by only 3% of American museums.
Projects and initiatives in the special exhibition include:
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The transformation of an impaired, human-made lake to a healthy, meandering stream at Ethel’s Woods Forest Preserve in Antioch.
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Buckthorn, the bully of the forest, and effective methods for eliminating this invasive species.
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Prescribed burns are an efficient and cost-effective land management tool to restore and maintain natural lands.
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The native seed nursery at Rollins Savanna Forest Preserve in Grayslake yields between $180,000 and $230,000 worth of seed each year with the help of thousands of volunteer hours annually.
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Restoration of nearly 300 acres of former agricultural land to high quality wetland, prairie, and savanna habitat at Pine Dunes Forest Preserve in Antioch. Read more »
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Stay Informed for Safe Winter Fun
The Lake County Forest Preserves offer a winter wonderland of activities, featuring everything from the graceful glide of ice skating to the exhilarating rush of sledding and the serene journey of cross-country skiing. Before embarking on your winter adventure, remember to visit our winter sports webpage for all the latest information.
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Stormwater Management News
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New Signage Highlights Best Management Practices
Lake County Stormwater Management is excited to share Stormwater Best Management Practices (BMPs) videos with Lake County homeowners and businesses. These videos serve as an educational resource for the public.
Updated signage was recently installed at the Lake County Central Permit Facility (CPF) in Libertyville at each of the BMPs on the CPF campus. Each sign has a QR code that links to the five new educational videos created to highlight each Stormwater BMP and its function for drainage and water quality improvement.
Lake County Stormwater Management Commission encourages the public to walk the CPF and learn more about the campus green roof, rain gardens, native plant swales and wet detention basins. These BMPs demonstrate the integration of improved water quality and stormwater drainage with business/campus landscaping.
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Unincorporated Residents Are Eligible for Flood Insurance Discounts
Residents who live within unincorporated Lake County and meet certain requirements may be eligible for up to 20% savings, an average $232 a year, on flood insurance premiums through the Federal Emergency Management Agency’s Community Rating System program.
This results in a potential annual total savings of $151,708 overall for residents across the county. Property owners should contact their flood insurance agent to obtain individual savings information. Learn more
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Get Help
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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 person in English or Spanish when you call. The 211 team will also interpret more than 150 other languages. Learn more
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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 about virtual and onsite resources that are available to job seekers through the Job Center partners. And view the Job Center calendar to learn about upcoming events and resources.
Meet with a Job Center representative one-on-one to work on the next steps in your career. Choose from a menu of custom services when you register. Job Center on the Move will be available at the Catholic Charities in Round Lake, Legacy Reentry Foundation in Waukegan, North Chicago Public Library and Zion-Benton Public Library.
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Check Hire Lake County
Check Hire Lake County for information about job opportunities and businesses vetted by the Job Center’s business service team.
Community Events and News
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Save the Date for the February Flavor Festival
Visit Lake County will host a new month-long culinary journey at the Lake County February Flavor Fest. From Feb. 1 through 29, savor the finest offerings from the county’s diverse dining and libation destinations. There will be dining deals, chef demonstrations, live entertainment and more. Learn more
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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. |
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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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