April 2024
Hello and Happy Spring!
To continue on my optimism theme from last month, spring is one of my favorite seasons. I love the feeling of annual renewal and new beginnings. We have lots of initiatives ramping up, like the ERP implementation, the 2024 construction plan, our summer youth employment program and the Digital Growth Initiative, just to name a few. Very exciting stuff to match the joy and optimism of Spring!
April is National County Government Month. Counties are one of America’s oldest forms of government, dating back to 1634 along the eastern shores of Virginia. The National Association of Counties (NACo) encourages us to focus on connecting, inspiring, and leading – pillars of county government that build trust and drive toward solutions.
I personally take pride in Lake County’s responsibility to protect and enhance the health, well-being and safety of our residents in efficient and cost-effective ways. I am so very grateful that I have all of you to help me.
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Have you checked out the County's newly redesigned websites?
The new lakecountyil.gov now features improved navigation, a splash of color, enhanced accessibility and more options for departments to customize. The site map was overhauled, and the Mega Menu was reorganized to give it a cleaner look and make it easier for you to find what you need.
The Employee Services Portal (ESP) and the Solid Waste Agency of Lake County (SWALCO) websites were also updated to provide a new look and feel. The goal of the redesign was to improve the user experience for all.
Thank you to the employees and the Website Redesign Team who led the way to develop the new look and feel.
Lake County's public access channel, LCTV, which is available 24/7 online and in certain locations through Comcast and AT&T, is undergoing a modernization project to enhance the viewer experience and upgrade equipment that is at the end of its useful life.
Lake County Committee and Board Meetings will continue to be broadcast live on Zoom during construction. LCTV's Comcast and AT&T channels will be unavailable until the project is completed. The project is expected to take about two months to finish.
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 To celebrate Earth Month, the Green Team is hosting a week of events starting on Earth Day, April 22! More information will be provided soon.
The County’s NEW vendor for the HSA is HealthEquity. This only impacts individuals enrolled in the CDHP 80/20 medical plan. All FSAs will remain with BenefitWallet.
No action is required for you to complete the transition to HealthEquity. You can find more information by visiting HealthEquity's website.
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The County’s new wellness vendor is Empower Health Services (EHS). Employees and spouses on the County’s medical plans can sign up to complete a biometric screening by visiting the EHS Customer Portal.
Eligible individuals who complete a biometric screening will receive a $50 gift card. Information regarding how to redeem your gift card will be supplied at the end of the program.
For more information regarding Empower Health, visit the FiTogether page on ESP.
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As of April 1, the County has transitioned its Employee Assistance Program (EAP) services from Telus/ LifeWorks to ComPsych.
Some of the services ComPsych will provide include:
- Confidential emotional support
- Work and lifestyle support
- Legal guidance
- Financial resources
- Well-being support
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For any questions, contact Benefits at benefits@lakecountyil.gov or ext. 2415.
  If you missed a past NINJIO video, contact the Help Desk, and we will send it to you
Questions? We’re here to help! helpdesk@lakecountyil.gov or 847-377-2888.
It is a good idea to change your passwords at the start of each new quarter. Remember to use new, original passwords composed of upper and lowercase letters, numbers and symbols.
To change your Lake County password:
- Press CRTL+ALT+Delete
- Click on “Change a password"
- Enter your old password and new password
- Press Enter
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Lake County joins the state to designate April as Arab American Heritage Month, recognizing their valuable contributions to the County's workforce and every aspect of society.
Men and women of Arab descent have shared their rich culture, strong work ethic, and dedication to education, while embracing the American spirit of opportunity.
Join us in celebrating the incredible contributions and heritage of Arab Americans who have helped us build Lake County.
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Join Lake County as we celebrate our 185th birthday. Over the past 185 years, Lake County has provided incredible service to its residents, businesses and visitors thanks to the dedication and hard work that you demonstrate.
We asked you last month to send photos documenting service to the county. Thank you to the Division of Transportation, Health Department, Human Resources and Stormwater Management for sharing some of your photos for everyone to see.
Enjoy this slide show to see some who have served the County over the years.
Be sure to also visit our Facebook and Instagram pages to learn more about our rich history and discover activities to fill your spring.
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Congratulations to Kari McHugh, who has served 35 years with the Clerk of the Circuit Court Office and to Linda Metts and Rita Padilla (not pictured) for serving the Lake County Health Department for 30 years.
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All three were recognized at the recent County Board meeting for their dedicated service to the residents and businesses within Lake County.
Thank you!
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