Lake County News -- Mary Cunningham
February 7, 2013
In This Issue: Provide Input at Community Forums, Budget in Brief, New Board Chairman Discusses Priorities, Transportation Anniversary, Summer Youth Employment Program, Free College Financial Aid Sessions, School Expansion, Drug Prevention, Rollins Road Underpass, Forest Preserves News
Job Center of Lake County

Visit the "Who's Hiring" page from the Job Center of Lake County to get the latest job postings in our area!

Visit Lake County

forumsProvide Input at Community Forums and Help Shape
Lake County's Future

Share your thoughts on ... TRANSPORTATION ... ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT ... SUSTAINABILITY ... PUBLIC SAFETY.

 

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!

 

6-7 p.m. Open House

Visit informational displays, ask questions, and learn about County services and programs.

 

7 p.m. Community Forum

Share your input and participate in interactive exercises. 

 

DATE

LOCATION

ADDRESS

Wednesday, Feb. 27

Lake County Central Permit Facility

500 W Winchester Rd., Libertyville

Tuesday, March 5

Antioch Township Multi-Purpose Building

1625 Deep Lake Rd, Lake Villa

Wednesday, March 6

Trinity International University - Melton Hall (Waybright Center)

2065 Half Day Rd,  Deerfield

Tuesday, March 12

Lake County Health Department

3010 Grand Ave., Waukegan

Wednesday, March 13

Lakewood Forest Preserve

27277 N. Forest Preserve Rd  Wauconda

(IL Route 176 & N. Fairfield Rd)

 

Watch this short video or visit www.lakecountyil.gov/communityforums for more information.

 

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

budgetBudget in Brief Helps Explain County Finances 

Learn how the County is making smart long-term financial decisions and balancing the budget every year.  

 

The Budget in Brief makes the budget easier to understand, including a message from the Lake County Board chairman, budget overview, transportation update, information on the court expansion project, and more.

 

Read now.

 

aaronNew Board Chairman Discusses Priorities 

In this edition of County Update, newly elected Lake County Board Chairman Aaron Lawlor (District 18) highlights his priorities as chairman, and the priorities of the Lake County Board. Some of those key issues include transportation, fiscal responsibility and transparency.

  

Watch now.

xportLake County Division of Transportation Celebrates 100 Years 

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 [email protected].

youthSummer Youth Employment Program 

It is time, once again, for the Lake County Summer Youth Employment Program. This popular program, funded by the Lake County Board, will provide meaningful work experiences for approximately 150 youth this summer. Learn more about the program in this three-minute video 

 

For program requirements and information on how to apply, please visit the website. Applications will be accepted during the month of February.

 

If you are interested in participating in this program as a work site, learn more by watching this video and reviewing these Frequently Asked Questions.

housingProgram Provides Affordable Housing for Families and Stabilizes Neighborhoods 

Lake County is working to stabilize neighborhoods by rehabilitating foreclosed homes and selling or renting those homes to Lake County individuals and families at affordable prices. The County received about $6 million from the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development under the newly created Neighborhood Stabilization Program (NSP) to stabilize neighborhoods and communities that have been hardest hit by the foreclosure crisis. 

 

To date, the Lake County NSP has:

* Rehabbed and sold more than 30 single-family homes to low to moderate income homebuyers

* Rehabbed 18 rental units

* Begun rehabilitation on an additional 10 single-family homes 

* Reinvested all sales proceeds back into the program to produce more affordable homes

These NSP target areas are located in the Village of Mundelein, the City of North Chicago, the Village of Round Lake Beach, the City of Waukegan and the City of Zion. 

 

Watch this video about the Neighborhood Stabilization Program, or read more about the program.

collegeFree College Financial Aid Sessions Across Lake County 

College applicants and their parents can get bilingual assistance to complete and submit their Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) at sessions across Lake County this winter. All sessions are scheduled in computer labs that enable the students to submit the application electronically upon completion. The FAFSA must be completed by all students who wish to access federal and state financial aid. Many colleges and universities also require it in order to receive institutional aid. All college-bound high school seniors and their parents, prospective adult students and current college students are invited to attend one of the free sessions. For dates and registration, visit the University Center of Lake County website. 

d60District 60 Providing Photographic Updates of School Expansion Project 

With the District's $37.7 million Capital Development Board project well underway, Waukegan Community Unit School District No. 60 has unveiled a new way for members of the community to keep track of the massive expansion project.

 

A new webpage features photographic updates of the 12 elementary schools currently undergoing expansion and allows viewers to track progress at each construction site.

 

Read the full press release. 

drugsFree Drug Prevention Training for Teachers 

The Lake County Health Department/Community Health Center is offering free drug prevention training for the teachers of Lake County on March 8 and 14. Prevention in the Classroom: An Alcohol, Tobacco and Other Drug Prevention Workshop for Educators, provides teachers with up-to-date tools, research and resources.

 

There will be two sessions offered in March at different locations: the Central Permit Facility of Libertyville and High Park High School. It is possible that CPUD's will be offered to those attending.

 

For more information, call Tobacco Free Lake County at 847.377.8090 or email [email protected].

rollinsRollins Road Underpass Project Gets $1.9 Million from State 

The Lake County Forest Preserves received a $1.9 million grant from the Illinois Transportation Enhancement Program (ITEP) for the Millennium Trail Rollins Road Bike Path Underpass project. 

 

The grant will help fund construction of an underpass at Rollins Road just west of Route 45 in Grayslake. The trail tunnel will safely connect Rollins Savanna and Fourth Lake Forest Preserves and provide a much-needed extension of the Millennium Trail in north-central Lake County.

 

When the underpass is complete, Millennium Trail users will be able to travel between four connected preserves (Rollins Savanna, Fourth Lake, Bonner Farm and McDonald Woods), and to several neighboring communities and local destinations, including the Lindenhurst Park District, Grayslake North High School, College of Lake County, Metra stations and various residential and business districts. 

 

Construction of the underpass is scheduled to begin later this spring, with completion anticipated sometime in 2014.

forestForest Preserves News 

lcfpd logo 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.

 

 

MaryCunningham If you have any questions  or concerns, please call me at 847.244.4314 (home), 847.721.1563 (cell), or email me at [email protected].

I encourage you to forward this update to others who may be interested in Lake County news. Persons who wish to automatically receive these free updates should contact me using the above information or click join our mailing list using the link below. 

 

Thank you,
Mary Ross Cunningham


Ms. Cunningham, County Board member and Forest Preserve Commissioner, serves on:

 

Lake County Board, 9th District:
Lake County Law and Judicial Committee - Vice Chair
Lake County Health and Community Services
Lake County Rules Committee - Vice Chair

Lake County Forest Preserves, 9th District:
Education, Cultural Resources and Public Affairs- Vice Chair
Legislative Committee
Rules - Vice Chair
Diversity and Cultural Awareness Committee
Greenbelt Cultural Center Expansion Committee

 

Other appointed positions:
National Association of Counties (NACo) Community and Economic Development Committee
National Association of Black County Officials (NABCO), Central Regional Director
Lake County Board of Health
African American Advisory Board
18 N. County Street
Waukegan, IL 60085
cell:  847.721.1563
fax:  847.599.8852

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