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Friends and neighbors,
As always, it's a pleasure and honor representing you on the County and Forest Preserve Boards. Please contact me any time for any reason. I am always glad to hear your concerns, interests and ideas. Government works best with your involvement.
Bonnie Thomson Carter
Lake County Board District 5
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Disaster Area Reassessment Application
Property owners that sustained substantial damage from the flood or whose property is uninhabitable for a period of time as a result of this flood can apply for a reassessment of their property. To apply, the taxpayer must fill out the PTAX- 245, Disaster Area Reassessment application. Applications should be sent to the Chief County Assessment Office. Since local assessors have yet to complete the 2013 assessments, they will conduct inspections on properties that apply. Any changes resulting from this event will then be reflected in the next assessment notice.
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Flood Response Continues - Free Clean-up Kits Available
Clean-up Kits Residents impacted by flooding can pick up free clean-up kits at their township or municipality, but should call in advance. The kits consist of a bucket, mop, bleach, and other supplies. These are being distributed to impacted areas while supplies last.
Sandbag Disposal If you live in the unincorporated areas along the Fox River and Chain O'Lakes: Used sandbags should be moved to the side of the road for collection, which will start on Monday, May 13. If you live in a municipality, contact your village or municipality for details.
For more information about flood repairs, state/federal assistance and well water testing, read the full news release.
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Department of Revenue Issues Lake County State Multiplier for 2012 Tax Bill
When taxpayers receive their tax bills, they will see a line that reads "State Multiplier 1.0186". This number comes from the Illinois Department of Revenue. This means that assessed values will rise 1.86% for tax billing purposes, it does not mean that tax bills will go up by 1.86%.
Over the last five years, the Lake County Board of Review has seen record numbers of assessment appeal filings. The volume of successful appeals, coupled with valuation change requests submitted by local assessing officials, led to the need for a state multiplier that increases assessed values for property tax billing purposes in order to bring Lake County assessed values to the required 33 1/3% of its market value (in the aggregate). This increase in assessed values does not carry forward into 2013.
The assessment process is a way of dividing tax burden. If everyone's value goes up by the same percentage at billing, the relative burden does not change.
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Adopt-A-Highway 20th Anniversary
This year marks the 20-year anniversary for the Lake County Division of Transportation's (LCDOT) Adopt-A-Highway Program. The program was launched in February 1993 with an initial enrollment of 37 groups. Over the past 20 years the program has grown steadily and now 232 groups are enrolled. Last year alone, Adopt-A-Highway volunteers saved the county $305,000 in labor costs and removed approximately 225,000 pounds of trash from county highways. Learn more
The LCDOT recently recognized the following groups for 20 years of service (watch video):
Allendale Association
Buffalo Grove Chamber of Commerce
Exchange Club of Grayslake
Lake County Court Services
Gurnee Rotary Club
Lake Bluff Open Lands
Paul's Landscaping |
Lake County Court Expansion Project Overview
Lake County is undergoing an extensive courts expansion project to meet the growing demand of the court system. In this video, learn about the details of the plan, which includes building a new nine story criminal courts tower in downtown Waukegan. Watch now |
Veterans Assistance Commission Takes its Services on the Road
The Lake County Veterans Assistance Commission (VAC) will be maintaining office hours at various American Legion and Veterans of Foreign Wars Posts (VFW) throughout Lake County in an effort to reach more veterans. A recreational vehicle equipped with additional office space will be staffed with VAC service officers who will help veterans prepare claims with the U.S. Department of Veteran Affairs.
More information and schedule |
Transit News
Use Your Smart Phone to Check Pace Departure Times
Did you know that you can use your smart phone to check the departure time of Pace Suburban Bus for a specific route in real-time?
The Pace's Web Watch tool uses GPS technology to monitor the location of buses in real time and help you plan your trip by giving you a list of the expected time of departure times.
Take Your Bike for a Ride on Pace or on Metra Spring is here and it's time to get out the bike and hit the road. Pace makes that easier with fixed route buses that support two bicycles on the front of each bus (with the exception of routes that operate using coach buses or vans). Free to use, the Pace bike rack is attached to the front bumper of the bus and remains folded vertically against the bus when not in use.
To load your bike on the front of the bus, follow these simple steps:
* Pull to release the lightweight rack and lower it into a horizontal position.
* Lift the bike onto the rack, fitting the tires into the corresponding slots.
* Pull the spring-loaded support arm over the front tire to secure the bike.
* Before exiting the bus, remind the operator that you have a bike to remove from the rack.
* After removing your bike, please return the rack to the upright position (if there is no other bike on it).
For more information, please visit PaceBus.com
Metra's Bicycle Policy allows bicycles on all weekday trains arriving in Chicago after 9:30 a.m. and leaving Chicago before 3 p.m. and after 7 p.m., and on all weekend trains. For additional information, visit Metra's website. |
Forest Preserves News
New Southside Manna Community Garden Groundbreaking, May 10 For more information visit our website.
What else is happening in May at the Lake County Forest Preserves? Check out the May newsletter and calendar of events for details
Blue Star Museums Program
The Lake County Discovery Museum in Wauconda has participated in the National Endowment for the Arts (NEA) Blue Star Museums program since its inaugural year of 2010. Participating museums waive admission fees for active duty military personnel and their immediate families during the period from Memorial Day through Labor Day. Last year, 1,882 museums in all 50 states participated in the program, including art museums, science museums, historic homes, botanical gardens, children's museums and history museums. Together they accommodated 475,000 Blue Star visitors. As an active participant, the Lake County Discovery Museum has hosted 106 visitors through the Blue Star program. Participating families throughout the country praise the Blue Star Museums program as a welcome respite from their daily cares, and appreciate the gesture from the American arts community, honoring their service.
The Lake County Forest Preserve District on the Web Follow us on Facebook: www.facebook.com/LCFPD Nature Blog www.LakeCountyNature.com History blog www.LakeCountyHistory.blogspot.com Twitter at www.Twitter.com/LCFPD Share an image of your visit to a Lake County Forest Preserve via Flickr at www.Flickr.com/groups/LCFPD/ |
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