December 16, 2021
Dear Neighbors,
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I know it doesn't feel like December, but I hope you, family, friends and neighbors are having a safe and healthy holiday season. This time of year I can't tell you how much I'm enjoying simple, moving things like high school carolers and holiday lights, which truly lift spirits in a dark time.
At the county board and forest preserve, we've had a flurry of important business to conclude this month. We worked through several lists -- and we've checked them more than twice. You decide who's been "naughty or nice."
On the top of our extensive "to-do" list was approving our new county district map. Under our constitution, we're required to redraw our district boundaries every 10 years to account for population changes. We also voted to cut the number of county board seats from 21 to 19. This will lower board costs somewhat, although it will mean more people in fewer districts that have larger geographic areas. Our board salaries will remain unchanged in 2020.
The Sixth District, which I've been honored to represent for the past three years, will be expanded north to include parts of Lake Villa Township. Round Lake Park will be cut out to be included in a new district, although the Sixth District boundary will now extend west along both sides of Route 120 to encompass southern Round Lake up to Cedar Lake Road. Grayslake and Hainesville will still be the core of the new district.
How was this arduous process done? We solicited public comment and conducted town halls in every part of the county; consulted with election lawyers and groups like the NAACP. We went the extra mile to ensure that we received the full bucket of census data. A special reapportionment committee coordinated most of this work along with our geographic information systems team, which is one of the best in the country.
I and my colleagues even (successfully) lobbied Springfield to give us until the end of this year to make sure every community would be treated as fairly as possible with the most accurate census data. In my 35 years of living in Lake County, I can honestly say that there's never been a more transparent, inclusive and open remapping process. My hat's off to county leadership and staff. This was not easy -- nor was it perfect -- but I think it's reasonable.
Of course, not everyone's going to be pleased with the new district. The Sixth District alone spans four townships and multiple school and fire protection districts. But please respect the fact that we couldn't draw neat-looking squares that Thomas Jefferson conceived for the Northwest Ordinance of 1787. By law, we had to connect communities, precincts and population centers. Population shifted in various directions over time and we did our best to accommodate that fact.
In any case, the bottom line is that these changes will not raise your county property taxes in any way. (We actually lowered the county property tax rate slightly last month for 2022, but it has no connection to the new districts).
Environmental/Forest Preserve News
Since this is a year-end note, I would be a total Scrooge if I didn't highlight some really bright environmental items.
The most amazing news is the Forest Preserve now has a plan to raise money by planting trees. I know, this is what we normally do at our preserves, but we're now working with a third party that's paying us for the carbon-storing benefits of trees. Think of these amazing living things as carbon sequestration entities that increase their capacity to store carbon, stormwater and reduce ground-level heat every year. They also restore and preserve biodiversity. Birds and pollinators seem to like them a lot, too.
Fortunately, modern, emerging markets are warming to the idea that natural systems have an economic as well as social benefit. Someone else -- say a global corporation -- can buy these credits voluntarily as part of their environmental philosophy to combat climate change. In exchange, we receive funds to eventually plant some 3,000 trees (and many more). This direct investment then becomes part of a hyperlocal program to reduce carbon dioxide and lower atmospheric temperatures. Since we're trying our best to restore the pre-settlement oak ecosystems, this is going to help us toward our goals. Learn more
Of course, our new carbon offset program is a baby step. I'd like to see us monetize more of the carbon/water storage value of wetlands and prairies (hello, Rollins Savanna!). Nevertheless, this is something I wholeheartedly support and advocated for -- in addition to regenerative farming that will also reduce carbon emissions in the more than 2,000 acres of farmland the preserves own. We're also converting our Ryerson Welcome Center to a net-zero building and constructing a new countywide education center there that will not only be net-zero, but have bird-friendly, super-insulated windows. We're trying to cut our energy footprint while taking a leadership role on climate action.
Thanks to Forest Preserve staff for embracing this vision -- and acting on it. We still have much more to do, but this is a scintillating way to end a challenging year.
Speaking of baby steps, on the county government side, your board voted to prohibit single-use plastics in county facilities by January 1, 2023. While we are still studying how to implement, we are one of the first county governments in the country to do this. Single-use plastics, as you may know, are mostly made from petrochemicals and have a huge carbon footprint in production involving a ream of toxic chemicals. Despite decades of recycling, only a small percentage of these plastics are re-purposed. A horrendous amount of this waste goes to to landfills -- or ends up in our waterways and oceans. Keep in mind, though, that our plastics elimination only covers county buildings. We don't have the power to impose this on individual communities, but that's where you come in!
In addition to reducing the county's waste stream, we'll be offering a new Commercial Property Assessed Clean Energy "C-PACE" program that will help businesses finance a wide array of energy efficiency and renewable energy projects. A third party Capital Provider will provide financing to a business that is paid back through the county's property tax billing system (note: it doesn't raise property tax rates). Let's say a store or small business wants to install solar panels on their building. If they qualify for a C-PACE fixed-rate loan, they would be billed for repayment through the county on their annual tax bill. This assessment would stay with the property. This program would be available early next year and I will include information in future newsletters as available.
You're probably asking yourself, though, isn't all of this a pitiful drop in the ocean when addressing a global crisis? These programs complement an overall Lake County Climate Action plan. We have a goal to reduce our landfill dumping by 60% by 2040 and cut our net carbon emissions to almost nil by that same year. We're working to put up solar panels on our buildings, doing deep energy audits and working on green infrastructure projects that employ natural systems to solve problems. Everything we do helps. We're deliberately taking an aggressive leadership role in hope that others will copy us. Imitation is the purest form of flattery. Still, all ecology is local!
I hope everyone has a joyous, safe and healthy holiday season. If you know someone who hasn't gotten a COVID shot, encourage them to get vaccinated. It's truly the gift of life! Find a location to get your vaccine.
Also please patronize our local businesses to reduce your own carbon footprint and don't forget supporting the Forest Preserve Foundation. It's the gift that keeps on giving year-round. No batteries, assembly or recharging required!
John Wasik
Lake County Board District 6
John Wasik Webpage
Lake County Government News
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Lake County Board Approves County Board District Map
The Lake County Board approved a new map that details the boundaries of 19 County Board districts at its December 14 meeting. The approved map can be viewed online and will go into effect in December 2022.
Under state law, every 10 years all Illinois counties are required to use Census data to go through a redistricting process--known as reapportionment--to ensure that each district includes a substantially equal number of residents. Reapportionment consists of redrawing district boundary lines based on the decennial census. Learn more
Board Approves Policy to Prohibit Single-Use Plastics in County Operations
The Lake County Board has approved a policy that will prohibit single-use plastics within many County operations, furthering efforts to promote sustainability and support the environment. Effective January 1, 2023, single-use plastics associated with service ware, eating, and drinking will cease to be purchased, sold, or distributed within Lake County government operations and many County government sites. Learn more
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Committee to Consider Ordinance Restricting Open Burning in Unincorporated Lake County on January 5
The Public Works Planning and Transportation (PWPT) Committee will consider a proposed ordinance to enact permanent open burning restrictions for unincorporated areas of Lake County at its January 5 meeting. As part of that discussion, the committee also will consider franchise waste hauler agreements to provide consolidated waste hauling services in unincorporated areas within certain townships. If the PWPT Committee recommends approval of the proposed ordinance and consolidated waste hauling agreements on Jan. 5, the agreements would then be separately reviewed and acted on by the Financial and Administrative (F&A) Committee on Jan. 6. Following both committee actions, the ordinance and agreement drafts would proceed to the full Lake County Board on Jan. 11 for final action.
The PWPT Committee last discussed these topics at its Dec. 8 meeting. The meeting was recorded and can be watched online.
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Lake County COVID-19 Update
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New COVID-19 Variant Is Identified
A new COVID-19 variant (B.1.1.529) has been identified, called Omicron. On December 1, the Centers for Disease Control (CDC) classified the Omicron variant as a Variant of Concern alongside the Delta variant. The Delta variant still remains the predominant strain in the United States at this time. New variants of the virus are expected to happen.
The best way to prevent new variants from spreading is to get vaccinated and follow the 3 Ws: wear a mask, wash your hands, and watch your distance. Visit Vaccines.gov to find a vaccination location near you. Learn more about variants on the CDC page, What You Need to Know about Variants.
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Be Aware of COVID-19 Restrictions as You Travel This Holiday Season
As you look forward to travel plans as part of your holiday celebrations, please note that COVID-19 guidelines and requirements for travel have been extended through March 2022. This includes required mask wearing on planes, trains, and buses, required mask wearing at airports and transit stations, and new testing requirements for international travel. Visit these CDC resources for more information.
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COVID-19 Helpful Links
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. 211 is multilingual with English and Spanish speaking staff and interprets more than 150 other languages. Learn more
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Additional Resources
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Rental Assistance: Lake County’s program for renters provides needed relief to those who need help making past-due or current rent and utility payments. Learn more
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Food for Families in Need: Northern Illinois Food Bank operates a traveling food pantry that delivers nutritious food directly to those in need and coordinates pop-up food markets across Lake County. Find food
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Help for Veterans: The Veterans Assistance Commission of Lake County can help veterans and their families with a variety of issues, including financial help, survivor spousal benefits, burial arrangements and more. Call 847-377-3344.
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Mental Health Support: The Lake County Health Department offers a free, 24/7 confidential hotline for those experiencing a mental health crisis or substance use issue. Call 847-377-8088 any time. Learn more
Employment Resources
Environmental News
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Make Your Holiday Season Green. Recycle Your Holiday Lights
The Solid Waste Agency of Lake County wants to help Lake County green the holiday season by offering free opportunities to recycle your old and unwanted strings of lights. There are four sites in Lake County where holiday lights can be taken. Wire string holiday lights and extension cords are accepted. No trees, wreaths, garlands or other holidays items are allowed.
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Treasurer's Office News
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Treasurer’s Office Will Accept Prepayment for Tax Year 2021
The Lake County Treasurer's office will be accepting prepayments for tax year 2021 due in calendar year 2022 through December 29. Prepayment amounts are limited to the tax amount due in 2021 as a maximum. Learn more
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Sheriff's Office News
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Law Enforcement Agencies Partner to Better Respond to Mental Health Calls
The Lake County Sheriff’s Office has joined a pilot multi-agency collaborative initiative with the Gurnee, Lake Forest, Libertyville, Lincolnshire and Mundelein police departments to improve responding to mental health-related calls for service. While this team will not replace normal police operations, it will provide added benefits for the partner law-enforcement agencies when responding to calls involving someone in mental crisis. Learn more
Forest Preserves News
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Look for an Evergreen Tour
Look For An Evergreen Day self-guided tour takes place from noon to 3 p.m., Sunday, December 19 at the Edward L. Ryerson Welcome Center in Riverwoods. Stop by the Welcome Center to discover more about these trees through self-guided activities. Then, look for an evergreen along the trails. Evergreen, or coniferous, trees have interesting adaptations, such as needles and cone shapes. The event is free and geared for all ages. No registration is required. Learn more »
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Give the Gift of Golf
Holiday Tree Recycling
Don’t send your Christmas tree to the landfill, drop it off with the Lake County Forest Preserves for recycling. Donated trees are chipped and used for trails and landscaping. Bring your tree to one of eight forest preserve drop-off locations between December 26, 2021, and February 1, 2022. Only undecorated, real Christmas trees can be accepted; no yard waste. Commercial drop-offs are prohibited. Learn more »
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History Blog
The most famous cavalry officer to be stationed at Fort Sheridan was George S. Patton Jr. (1885-1945), according to Dunn Museum Curator Diana Drestske’s Lake County history blog. The Fort’s unique terrain was a welcome challenge for cavalry training and a feature that makes Fort Sheridan Forest Preserve a coveted place to visit today. Many of the images and information in the history blog are found in the collections at the Dunn Museum in Libertyville. Learn more »
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Community Events and News
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College of Lake County Begins Construction on Advanced Technology Center
The College of Lake County has begun construction of an Advanced Technology Center in Gurnee. The Center is being designed as a destination for students to earn degrees in machining, manufacturing, welding, fabrication, and industrial technology. Learn more about the Advanced Technology Center.
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‘Holiday Your Way’ to Lake County for Festive Fun
Now through the end of the year, "Holiday Your Way" to Lake County for festive family fun and activities. Lake County is home to holiday festivities, shopping sprees, delectable eats and other activities perfect for the family. Learn more
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What Happened in Committees?
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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. Here are links to the most recent board and committee meetings, including the video recordings and agendas:
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