Property owners have received their property tax bills and the first installment is due Wednesday, June 6.  

The property tax process is a state mandated function. By state law, Lake County is responsible for the collection of taxes from property owners and the distribution of these property tax funds to more than 200 taxing bodies, such as cities, townships, county, park and fire protection districts, and schools (which account for 68% of your tax bill).   

Visit the Treasurer's web site for payment options.     

Important notice: Those homeowners who depend on the U.S. Postal Service to "Temporarily Forward" their bill to a second location should be aware that due to new postal regulations, your future bills may not be forwarded as they have in the past.   If you have depended on this, I encourage you to visit the Treasurer's web site.  Once the annual tax bills are available, a notification will be mailed.  Failure to receive a bill does not relieve the taxpayer of penalty if payment is late.    

In this video, Lake County Treasurer Robert Skidmore talks about the tax process, and answers taxpayers' frequently asked questions. Watch County Update now: 

Eagle Nest Discovered

An active bald eagle nest was recently  

discovered at the Fox River Preserve and Marina in Port Barrington. The bald eagle pair is nesting alongside double-crested cormorants and great blue herons in a well-established rookery along the Fox River.

Win 2 passes to the Outdoor Film Festival at Ryerson Woods.  Just take this 5 minute online survey      

New Nature Cam

In March, the forestry crew set up two motion-detection cameras in a tree adjacent to a great horned owl nest in Wright Woods Forest Preserve in Mettawa. Four cameras were also placed at ground level, in hopes of capturing the fledgling owlets and other wildlife in this area. These special infrared cameras are able to record wildlife acting naturally, reducing the stress that flash photography can cause.

New Lake County Nature Blog

For many of us when we think of having meaningful experiences in the outdoors we think of the grand vistas of large National Parks or long road-trips to far-away destinations. However, what might be most beneficial for our health and environment is finding our own nature niches close to home. Connect daily, not once a year. Visit the new  Lake County Nature blog to discover what's happening seasonally, and find your own nature niches in Lake County.

Postcard Donation

Leonard A. Lauder, Chairman Emeritus of the Estee Lauder Companies, has donated more than 35,500 Raphael Tuck & Sons Oilette postcards to the Lake County Discovery Museum's Curt Teich Postcard Archives. The donation is valued at about $260,000 and includes funding for the storage, preservation, cataloging, and digitization of the postcards.   A well-known philanthropist and businessman, Mr. Lauder began collecting postcards at the age of eight. The Tuck Oilette postcard collection is part of a larger collection amassed by Lauder over nearly 50 years of collecting.

The Teich Archives is a world renowned collection of postcards and materials relating to their production dating from the 1890s to the present. The Teich Archives is used daily by researchers for a variety of projects including restoration of historical buildings and landscaping, scholarly papers, genealogy, elementary and high school history fairs, and as illustrations in textbooks, advertisements, magazines, and newspapers.

The Illinois Route 53/120 Blue Ribbon Advisory Council has approved its final report recommending the Illinois Tollway move forward with an Illinois Route 53/120 Corridor project in Lake County. The group includes local elected officials, transportation and planning agencies and a diverse group of environmental, civic, business and labor representatives. The report will be presented to the Illinois Tollway Board of Directors in June. Co-chaired by David Stolman, Lake County Board Chair, and George Ranney, President and CEO of Metropolis Strategies, the Advisory Council's work focused on answering three primary questions: Is there consensus to move forward?  What are the scope, configuration and design elements of a new roadway?  And, how should the project be financed? Learn more:

Watch the May 18 Illinois Route 53/120 Blue Ribbon Advisory Council meeting

Read the Illinois Tollway news release

The Lake County Workforce Investment Board works to keep our local economy moving forward by bringing businesses, training providers and job seekers together. They serve as a link between educational institutions and businesses to make sure that our workers are highly skilled and prepared to meet the needs of the business community. In this video, learn how the Workforce Investment Board is committed to "building a workforce that is ready for today, and prepared for tomorrow".

Tuesday, June 12, 4-8 p.m.

Midwest Young Artists Center, 878 Lyster Rd., Highwood

The Forest Preserve District is seeking public input regarding future trails and other potential outdoor recreation and open space improvements at Fort Sheridan Forest Preserve.  At the Planning Open House, the public is invited to drop in anytime between 4 and 8 p.m. to review maps and other information about the natural resources and existing public trails and facilities at Fort Sheridan Forest Preserve, and to provide input regarding options for additional future outdoor recreation and habitat restoration improvements. In an informal setting, Forest Preserve staff members will be available to answer questions. Weather permitting, Forest Preserve historians and naturalists will conduct optional tours of the historic sites and natural areas within the preserve.  

Comments from the open house will be reviewed by the Forest Preserve Board of Commissioners and taken into consideration for the site's planning. If you are unable to attend the Open House may submit ideas via email at FORT@LCFPD.org.

Health Department Activates West Nile Virus Hotline

The Health Department has re-activated the West Nile virus hotline for county residents to report dead birds, report areas of stagnant water (which are conducive to mosquito breeding), or to obtain more information on the signs and symptoms of West Nile encephalitis. The West Nile virus hotline number is: (847) 377-8300.   

Bats and Rabies

Anyone who has direct contact with a bat or notices a bat acting in an unusual manner, such as flying in daylight, or lying on the ground or in your home, should contact the Health Department's Animal Care and Control program at (847) 949-9925. If the bat is inside of your house, do not chase it away because it may be needed for rabies testing. Close the doors and keep people away from the room where the bat is located. Trained animal wardens will remove the bat at no cost to the resident or refer the caller to the appropriate jurisdiction. Health officials urge residents to avoid touching, hitting or destroying bats. When dead bats are submitted to state labs for rabies testing, they need to be undamaged.

Parents should make sure children know that they should never touch bats, especially those clinging to a tree or lying near or on the ground. The bat may not be dead, just ill, and could bite. Bats have small, sharp teeth and a bite may go unnoticed. For example, if you awaken and find a bat in your bedroom, if you see a bat in the room of an unattended young child, or if you see a bat near a mentally impaired or intoxicated person, consult a doctor or the Health Department.  

Healthy Lake County
As warm weather draws you outside, be aware that there are a few potentially harmful things to look out for such as ticks, which can carry Lyme disease, mosquitoes, which can carry West Nile virus and bats, which can carry rabies. The Lake County Health Department/Community Health Center offers tips to help you stay healthy this spring and summer.

New Vaccine Requirement to Address Resurgence of Whooping Cough
To address the growing cases of pertussis, also known as whooping cough, the state of Illinois has a new requirement for school entry. Students entering 6th and 9th grades for the 2012-2013 school year will be required to provide proof they have received a dose of the Tdap vaccination in addition to the physical exams required for students entering those grades. Learn more.