The Lake County Board wants to know what's important to you so our strategic plan represents the community's priorities. Lake County is holding five community forums to engage in meaningful dialogue with residents  and stakeholders. You can help shape important policy and budget decisions, and influence where the County will focus its resources. The Lake County Board will thoughtfully consider this input as it develops its long-term strategic plan. You have a voice in this process! Learn more about the community forums and view the dates and locations.

For more information about the forums, watch this short video

 

Please help spread the word about the forums by sharing with your neighbors, friends and co-workers, and posting to Facebook and Twitter.

Lake County has transformed its Online Mapping Application increasing transparency and providing users with easy access to maps, tax and property information, and other interactive features. The new and improved mapping tool is available at http://maps.lakecountyil.gov/mapsonline.

 

News Release

 Newly elected Lake County State's Attorney Mike Nerheim discusses his goals and priorities in this edition of County Update. Some of his initiatives  include an independent case review panel, the alternative prosecution program for first-time offenders, and maintaining open communication between his office and the public. Watch now.

This year, the Lake County Division of Transportation (LCDOT) will celebrate 100 years of service to Lake County. A transportation system that started   out as dirt roads is now an impressive network of safe and efficient roadways, intersections, roundabouts and bike paths.
Throughout the year, LCDOT will be celebrating this milestone with pictures, videos, stories and special events. Make sure to check the website for updates, and follow us on Twitter and Facebook with "#lcdot100". If you have special memories of the evolution of the Lake County road network, or historic pictures that you'd like to share, send us an 

                                           email at lcdot100@lakecountyil.gov.

The Board of Review is currently seeking alternate board members to assist with assessment appeal hearings from October 2013 through January 2014. An exam will be conducted by the Illinois Department of Revenue on Thursday, March 21, at 9 a.m. in the Lake County Administration Building located at 18 North County Street in Waukegan.

The United Way of Lake County has focused on four programs to help Lake County children and their families to prepare for and stay engaged in the    educational process: "Success By 6," "Reading Success," "Stay In School," and "Safe And Stable Families." In this edition of "Doing Good Deeds For You," learn how the United Way identified these areas of need, and how the United Way has structured these programs for success. Viewers will also learn how they can volunteer for United Way programs.
Watch now.

Lake County residents will elect officials to serve on municipal, township, park and library district boards, as well as school board members, community college and regional board of school trustees on April 9th. Residents wishing to vote who are new to Lake County, moved to a new address in Lake County, turned 18 on or before Election Day, or have changed one's name need to register with a deputy registrar by Tuesday, March 12.

Registration is available at the County Clerk's office and at most municipal, township and library facilities. To find the nearest registration location, voters may view Official Places of Voter Registration.

Visit 

LakeVoterPower.info or call 847.377.2410 to confirm registration status. 

Jobapalooza Connects Youth and Young Adults to Jobs and Resources

 

March 7, 6 to 8 p.m., College of Lake County, Gymnasium, Building 7 193531 W. Washington St., Grayslake                                        Jobapalooza is a job, resource and training fair for people ages 15 to 21. Nearly 30 employers will provide information on full-time, part-time and seasonal positions. Attendees can also get information on work permits, Social Security cards and personal finance, and hear about training opportunities.
For more information, call 847.543.2059 or view the flyer.

Mucha: Expanding Art Nouveau
View beautiful and rare Art Nouveau objects by Czech artist Alphonse Mucha at the Lake County Discovery Museum. The exhibition features an exclusive peek at objects from the Curt Teich Postcard Archives John High Collection, one of the world's leading collections of Mucha postcards.
 
Alphonse Mucha (1860-1939) is considered a key figure in the Art Nouveau movement, an art style characterized by delicate colors and organic, sinuous designs, which first gained popularity in the 1880s. The exhibition showcases the range and influence of Mucha's work through everyday and commercial objects. Magazine covers, decorative tins, folio plates, jewelry, currency, book illustrations and other objects will be on display, along with a replica façade of the Paris shop Mucha designed for jeweler George Fouquet.
 
The exhibition runs through Aug. 25 and is supported by Media Sponsor, the Daily Herald. Call the museum at 847.968.3400, or visit online for more information.
 

Ecologists find a rare aquatic species in southern Lake County
During stream monitoring this past summer, Nick Huber and other ecologists of the Lake County Forest Preserves discovered several dozen Mississippi grass shrimp, Palaimonetes kadikensis, in a forest preserve along the Des Plaines River in southern Lake County. Due to the fact that you can see right through them, this species is also commonly referred to as glass shrimp.
 
The shrimp were officially identified and documented in late January. This is the first documentation of the species in Lake County, Illinois. This is a rare find for northeastern Illinois. The only other known locations are in the Kankakee River and Otter Creek in Kane County. This find is also very encouraging, as Mississippi grass shrimp are indicative of cleaner water systems. Their presence holds promise for the improvement of aquatic habitats within and surrounding the Des Plaines River.
 

For more details on this exciting find or information about current habitat restoration projects, follow the Lake County Forest Preserves on Facebook or visit the Lake County Forest Preserves website.