May 2024
Hello and Happy Spring!
Public Service Recognition Week is celebrated annually during the first week of May. This year it is May 5–11, 2024. It is a time to honor the people who serve our nation and our neighborhoods as federal, state, county, local and tribal government employees. I have always had a yearning for public service since I was in the Peace Corps in the mid-1990’s. I have worked for or with government organizations ever since. One thing that I love about public service is the selfless, passionate people who truly are motivated by making their part of the world a better place and helping others.
While I always knew this in the Finance Department, one of the things that has become even more apparent in my first four months as County Administrator is just how interconnected we all are. While we all serve a unique purpose, most often we couldn’t do our job if it weren’t for a multitude of other people doing theirs. We are all critical pieces of a web of really important, interrelated services that together support Lake County residents, businesses and visitors.
Thank you for choosing public service! Thank you for choosing to work for Lake County! Thank you for the big and little things that you do. Thank you for your service! You make a difference and are appreciated during Public Service Recognition Week and all year through!
  HealthEquity Transition – HSA ONLY
As a reminder, we have now entered the blackout period for the transition of HSA funds from Benefit Wallet to HealthEquity. As of May 10, employees will have access to all their HSA funds and will be able to make changes to their investments through HealthEquity. All FSA’s (medical and dependent care) remain with BenefitWallet. Click here for a full list of important dates from HealthEquity.
Dependent Eligibility Audit through DSI
As part of our ongoing effort to provide excellent benefits to all employees and retirees, we have partnered with Dependent Specialists, Inc. to complete a dependent eligibility audit. This audit will identify dependents of employees who are eligible for coverage under federal law. It also eliminates ineligible dependent expenses, helping to control employees' costs. Employees with at least one dependent on the County’s medical, dental or vision plans must complete the dependent audit. Click here for more information on how to submit documentation, the types of accepted documents and more! Access the FAQ here.
Empower Health – Biometric Screenings
Did you miss the wellness screening through Empower Health Services? Good news, you can still complete an offsite visit. Register online by May 14 and complete your lab visit by May 17 to participate. The last day an individual can complete a biometric screening is May 17. Gift card information will be provided around May 31. Learn more about the wellness offsite screening program and sign up!
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Human Resources is hosting employee appreciation events featuring Joe & Dough through May! We hope to see you there!
Questions? Contact the benefits team at benefits@lakecountyil.gov or call ext. 2415.
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 Comfort Dog Hitch Retires
The State’s Attorney’s Office recently held a retirement party for Hitch as he ended his eight years (56 dog years) of service. Hitch was a comfort dog who helped support those involved in the Mental Health Court, Drug Court and Veterans Court. He will stay with his handler, Victim Specialist Jenna Melloy, enjoy some much deserved time off and hopefully enjoy some nice ice cubes—his favorite treat.
Hitch, you will be missed, but we wish you a happy retirement filled with lots of tail wags!
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Help Keep Our Turtles Safe During Spring Crossings
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At our Libertyville campus, adult turtles and their hatchlings are starting to emerge from the wetland basins around the Central Permit Facility (CPF) for their first adventures of the year. During the spring, please be extra vigilant when driving around our Libertyville campus. Slow down and give the turtles a chance! Make sure to check your surroundings before getting into your car and pulling out of parking spots.
If you spot a turtle in the road, on campus or driving around Lake County, here are some tips on how to help it cross safely and how to handle it for your own safety.
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- Safely pull over and proceed with caution as turtles will bite to defend themselves.
- Hatchlings, because they are small, are most at risk of being run over. They can be easily moved to the other side of the road in the same direction it was going.
- If it’s a bigger turtle, try maneuvering a car mat, shovel or piece of cardboard under it to move the turtle across the road.
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Never pick a turtle up by its tail; this could seriously injure them.
- Pick up turtles by grasping them firmly with both hands on the side near the back of the shell to avoid getting bitten.
- Never take a turtle home with you. Just give it a little help to reach the other side of the road so it can safely be on its way.
- Wash your hands immediately after touching the turtle.
Emergency Radio Operator Volunteers - Did You Know?
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Did you know our Emergency Management Agency (EMA) partners with a group of radio operator volunteers that are specially trained to assist during emergencies? Learn more about the Lake County Radio Amateur Civil Emergency Services, or RACES, and their work to support our Emergency Management Agency with our latest Did You Know video!
Learn more about EMA’s work.
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EMA Volunteer Named IESMA Student Volunteer of the Year
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Congratulations to Lake County Emergency Management Agency volunteer Jason Segal, winner of the Illinois Emergency Services Management Association (IESMA) Emergency Management Student of the Year Award. He has volunteered with EMA for two years and has been involved with multiple incidents, events and projects while also attending the University of Illinois.
A big thanks to Jason for all his incredible hard work!
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Fuel Island Construction on Libertyville Campus
The fuel pump island located on Lake County’s Libertyville Campus is scheduled for construction from June 1 to Nov. 1. During this time, employees driving County-owned vehicles will need to fuel up at alternate locations. Departments will be issued WEX cards (similar to a credit card) that can be used at local gas stations while the fueling station is under construction. If you drive a county vehicle and have questions about a WEX card, contact your department’s vehicle liaison.
Sheriff’s Office Awarded “POW/MIA Chair of Honor”
The Lake County Sheriff’s Office recently accepted the POW/MIA Chair of Honor, donated by Rolling Thunder Illinois Chapter 2.
The POW/MIA Chair of Honor, which is displayed in the Sheriff's Office’s Training Room, is a commemorative symbol of the sacrifices made by American military families. The Sheriff’s Office was selected for this honor because of the office’s commitment to those who have served, are serving or will serve in the U.S. Armed Forces.
Watch this video to learn more.
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Updated Print Shop Work Order Form
The print shop work order form has been updated with new information. Please save the updated form to use when submitting work requests. The new form is available on ESP.
The warmth of spring means birds are migrating back home. More than 80 percent of North American birds migrate at night using the moon and stars to navigate. Lake County is part of the Mississippi Flyway, one the busiest bird migratory corridors in North America. Nearly 350 species of our winged friends travel between their nesting habitats in our communities and their various wintering grounds down south.
It’s important to be aware of these birds moving through our area and how lighting within your home can affect them. Light pollution disorients migrating birds and causes collisions that kills millions of birds a year. Help birds and create dark skies by:
- Turning off unnecessary lights.
- Closing blinds and curtains to keep indoor light inside.
- Installing light sensors so lights are off when not needed.
- Adding shields to exterior lights so the light points downward only.
Learn more about dark skies
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Are native plants growing in your garden? Native plant species are a great addition to any garden or yard because they’re not only beautiful, but less expensive. They're also easier to maintain and beneficial to the environment. Unlike many other plants, they don’t need fertilizer, pesticides, or lawn maintenance equipment to survive. Native flowering species also provide abundant nectar for pollinator insects, butterflies, hummingbirds, songbirds, chipmunks and more. Rethink what a weed is—they can be incredibly beneficial for our pollinator friends. If you can, leave them be. Dandelions, white clover, ground ivy, Queen Anne's lace and more are great for insects and provide animal food and habitats.
If you’re interested in buying native plants for your property, the Lake County Forest Preserves is holding a Native Plant Sale on May 11 and 12 at Independence Grove Forest Preserve in Libertyville.
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  *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.
Have you noticed meeting participants named, “Read.ai,” joining or attempting to join your meetings? AI meeting assistants or bots, such as Read.ai, can be admitted to virtual meetings to summarize what occurred. HOWEVER, as with all AI tools, there are security and privacy risks to consider, and we ask that you do not use or admit them at this time. If you have questions, please click here to view the Lake County AI directive. Stay tuned for more information on this hot topic!
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May is Asian American, Native Hawaiian and Pacific Islander Heritage Month. It’s a wonderful time to learn more about the vast array of cultures, languages, religions and countries that encompass the Asian, Pacific Islander and Hawaiian communities. May was chosen as Asian American, Native Hawaiian and Pacific Islander Heritage Month to recognize the contributions and influence they have made to the history, culture and achievements of the United States. To learn more click here.
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May is also Jewish American Heritage Month. It was created to celebrate and mark the contributions from Jewish Americans to our history, culture and communities. The United States has the second largest Jewish population in the world, with the Chicago metropolitan area having the third largest Jewish population in the country. Interested in learning more? Click here.
Join us in celebrating the incredible contributions and heritage of Jewish Americans, Asian Americans, Native Hawaiians and Pacific Islander Americans who have helped build Lake County.
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 Arnold Donato Retires After 28 Years
In April, Arnold Donato retired from the Stormwater Management Commission (SMC) after 28 years with the County!
He started his career at Lake County in March of 1996 as an accountant in our Finance department and was quickly promoted to Finance Specialist. He filled a pivotal role in coordinating with all departments to compile and assist in the issuance of Lake County’s financial statements. During his time with SMC, Arnold oversaw project and grant management of the first $30 million of DCEO funding received for regional stormwater projects.
While working for the County, Arnold developed relationships with employees in almost every department. He will be greatly missed, but we are so excited for him to enjoy retirement. Thank you for your service to Lake County, Arnold!
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Brenda O'Connell Hired to Assist the State with Homelessness Response
One of Lake County’s talented employees has moved up to an exciting leadership position at the State! Community Development Administrator, Brenda O’Connell, has accepted a statewide policy position at the Illinois Housing Development Authority (IHDA) to coordinate IHDA’s efforts to support the statewide response to homelessness.
During her time at Lake County, Brenda and her colleagues at the Lake County Coalition for the Homeless earned national recognition for their efforts to end veteran homelessness. We look forward to seeing what Brenda achieves next as she continues her career with the State of Illinois!
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Special thanks to the Green Team for hosting several successful events during Earth Week in April to encourage sustainability. This included a CPF green roof restoration, multiple seed swaps at several locations, lunch n' learn, photo contest and reuse a shoe donation drive. Enjoy some photos from these events below!
The winners of the photo contest are Kristy Cechini, Abby Krakow and Bailey Wyatt!
 Can multiple speed bumps be added to the Waukegan parking garage to slow down drivers?
While good at slowing down vehicles, speed bumps are not good for our maintenance vehicles that plow the top deck of the garage in the winter. So adding speed bumps isn't a viable option.
I appreciate the email sent about the parking garage! People are still speeding. Could there be speed limit signs in the parking garage? Maybe a speed limit sign of 5 mph or 10 mph would help.
Facilities will explore adding speed limit signs throughout the garage to reiterate the importance of safe driving.
Can we bring in bamboo utensil sets to the Administrative Complex?
Employees may bring bamboo utensils, except a knife, into the Administrative Complex. Any questions regarding what is allowed in the Administrative Complex can be directed to Chris Covelli, Deputy Chief.
Do you have a question or suggestion? Others may want to know too! Please use the Anonymous Suggestions and Questions Form, and your submission may be answered in a future County Connection.
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