NEWS ALERT: In preparation for the March 1 trial of a North Chicago police officer accused of beating up Waukegan Police Chief Art Yancey, Yancey has changed his account of the incident.
NEWS ALERT: After receiving authority to issue $39 million in bonds from the federal stimulus program, Lake County will hold a lottery to allocate up to $3 million to local municipalities.
Why this news is important to you: The luck of the draw will determine which communities will have an opportunity to boost their economy with stimulus funding - not necessarily the ones that need economic stimulus funding the most.
NEWS ALERT: The engineering firm that was selected to get a no-bid contract for site design of Lake County’s Libertyville campus is a campaign contributor to some Republican members of the County Board.
Why this news is important to you: Whether the transaction is overt or covert, campaign contributions buy influence at every level of privately-funded elected government. To cast informed votes for public servants, taxpayers need to know what special interests and corporations are bankrolling the campaigns of candidates for public office.
NEWS ALERT: A vision statement of a land conservation group declares the mission will be accomplished when one out of every five acres of land in Lake County is permanently preserved as open space.
Why this news is important to you: Preserving both private and public open space, including farmland, creates variety of immeasurable economic impacts on generations of residents.
NEWS ALERT: After a years-long planning process, local consensus has been reached on the transformation of Illinois Route 120 into the beltway arterial of Lake County’s road system.
Why this news is important to you: The Route 120 project could be the largest public works project by the state in Lake County, with the potential to alleviate east-west gridlock and enhance economic development throughout the county.
NEWS ALERT: On the drawing board since the mid-1980s, a controversial development in Grayslake is finally ready for construction.
Why this news is important to you: As a planned unit development with a balance of residential, commercial and light industrial uses, Cornerstone represents a huge economic development opportunity that exerts minimal impact on public services and infrastructure and the environment.
NEWS ALERT: The Lake County Health Department expects to continue to receive more allocations of H1N1 vaccine in the coming weeks. Future clinic dates, times and locations will be posted on the Lake County Health Department’s H1N1 web page as soon as they are scheduled. The bilingual flu hotline (847.377.8350) will also have continual updates.
In addition to the Health Department clinics, vaccinations will be available from many community health care providers, pharmacies and clinics. The Illinois Department of Public Health also has a list of public sites in Lake County that will offer the H1N1 vaccine this season.
Why this news is important to you: This is quite literally a matter of life and death. Timely distribution of the H1N1 flu vaccination to priority at-risk groups will save lives. Long vaccine shortages and distribution failures can cause death.
NEWS ALERT: Preliminary construction work has begun on Sheridan Road in preparation of an active Illinois Department of Transportation construction project to get under way next spring.
Why this news is important to you: Sheridan Road is the primary arterial of economic development in northeastern Lake County, along with the easternmost thoroughfare of vehicle transportation along the North Shore.
Under the light: Individual contributions to the campaign fund of Lake County Board member Pat Carey of Grayslake
Why this news is important to you: Politicians might deny it, but money buys influence in privately-funded elections. To cast informed votes for public servants, taxpayers need to know what special interests and corporations are bankrolling the campaigns of candidates for public office.
Back in the day, when the press actually did what it’s supposed to do in monitoring government of the people, media outlets used to do these things called “follow-ups,” or “updates,” which kept the citizenry informed of developing local news they needed to know and was relevant to their lives. In fact most media report little real news in depth anymore, including most newspapers.
But for now, residents of Lake County can still find real news and follow-ups here at this site. In an update of the “Fighting the Powers” series, subscribers can find out how the Powers That Be have responded to The Public Investigator’s series in court and what evidence has been disclosed that discredits a bogus felony charge made against North Chicago police officer Carl Sain.
One of the county’s top police officers is fighting for his professional life as a result of a personal incident involving the Waukegan chief of police and a subsequent biased investigation and prosecution by the Lake County State’s Attorney’s Office. The officer’s statement has not been taken by the prosecution; nor has any media reported his side of the story — until here and now. Read the first part of FIGHTING THE POWERS.
One of the county’s top police officers is fighting for his professional life as a result of a personal incident involving the Waukegan chief of police and a subsequent biased investigation and prosecution by the Lake County State’s Attorney’s Office. The officer’s statement has not been taken by the prosecution; nor has any media reported his side of the story — until here and now. Read the second part of FIGHTING THE POWERS.
One of the county’s top police officers is fighting for his professional life as a result of a personal incident involving the Waukegan chief of police and a subsequent biased investigation and prosecution by the Lake County State’s Attorney’s Office. The officer’s statement has not been taken by the prosecution; nor has any media reported his side of the story — until here and now. Read the third part of FIGHTING THE POWERS.
NEWS ALERT: Lake County has increased all its court fees to partially offset the state’s default in paying for criminal justice obligations.
Why this news is important to you: When the state shirks its responsibility to adequately fund the criminal justice system, the burden falls on local governments, which must make up the deficit by increasing the cost of justice.
Subscribers can read The Public Investigator’s news report to find out how the state’s default will be passed on to the people of Lake County.
NEWS ALERT: Lake County road is getting roundabout intersections.
Why this news is important to you: Local motorists who have never encountered roundabouts need to know how to use them.
Subscribers can read The Public Investigator’s news report to find out where the roundabouts will be installed and the rules in how to use them.
Under the light: Individual contributions to the campaign fund of Lake County Board member Diana O’Kelly of Mundelein
Why this news is important to you: Elected officials deny it, but money buys influence in privately-funded elections. To cast informed votes for public servants, taxpayers need to know what special interests and corporations are bankrolling the campaigns of candidates for public office.
Subscribers can access this Power Source Report to find out the lone contributor to Diana O’Kelly’s campaign fund during her reelection campaign last year.
Under the light: Individual contributions to the campaign fund of Lake County Board member Steve Carlson of Gurnee
Why this news is important to you: Money buys influence in privately-funded elections. To cast informed votes for public servants, taxpayers need to know what special interests and corporations are bankrolling the campaigns of candidates for public office.
Subscribers can access this Power Source Report to get a list of individual contributors to Steve Carlson’s campaign fund, which includes multiple contributions from another candidate who was elected to the County Board.
Under the light: Individual contributions to the campaign fund of Lake County Board member Melinda Bush of Grayslake
Why this news is important to you: Money buys influence in privately-funded elections. To cast informed votes for public servants, taxpayers need to know what special interests and corporations are bankrolling the campaigns of candidates for public office.
Subscribers can access this Power Source Report to get a list of individual contributors to Melinda Bush’s campaign fund and find out which union was the majority bankroller of her campaign.
Under the light: Individual contributions to the campaign fund of Lake County Board member Bonnie Thomson Carter of Ingleside
Why this news is important to you: Money buys influence in privately-funded elections. To cast informed votes for public servants, taxpayers need to know what special interests and corporations are bankrolling the campaigns of candidates for public office.
Subscribers can access this Power Source Report to get a list of individual contributors to Bonnie Thomson Carter’s campaign fund, which includes The Alter Group, an engineering firm that recently got a county contract and a couple other interesting names.
Under the light: Individual contributions to the campaign fund of Lake County Board member Brent Paxton of Zion
Why this news is important to you: Money buys influence in privately-funded elections. To cast informed votes for public servants, taxpayers need to know what special interests and corporations are bankrolling the campaigns of candidates for public office.
From Jan. 1, 2008, through June 30, 2009, there has been no activity reported in the campaign fund of Lake County Board member Brent Paxton of Zion. The lack of activity begs the question: With his current term expiring next year, is the County Board’s current finance chairman going to run for reelection?
Paxton confirmed to The Public Investigator that he will seek reelection in 2010, adding that the lack activity in his campaign fund up to this point is primarily the result of his distaste for political fund raising.
He said that in the past, he’s returned checks for as much as $1,000 to individual supporters because he wanted to avoid the perception of being influenced by contributors. This time around, however, he said he might have to reconsider that practice, as County Board elections have all become more competitive due to the rise of the opposition Democratic party. Several Democrats well-funded by unions and other political special interests defeated Republican incumbents in the previous election, leaving Republicans with a slim 13-10 majority on the board.
In another instance, Paxton said he returned a check from a Rosemont engineering firm that recently was awarded a road project design contract for Lake County. That same firm showed up as a contributor to County Board Chairman Suzi Schmidt, as reported by The Public Investigator in the previous Power Source Report.
Facing probable Democratic opponents next fall, Paxton indicated he might have to start accepting some of these contributions and risk the negative perception that they have bought influence in government business.
The perception of influence peddling is one of the natural consequences of privately-financed election systems. In most instances, it’s merely an inaccurate perception; in some cases, it’s the truth. Only in extremely rare instances is the perception proven true.
Under the light: Individual contributions to the campaign fund of Lake County Board Chairman and Illinois Senate candidate Suzi Schmidt of Lake Villa
Why this news is important to you: Money buys influence in privately-funded elections. To cast informed votes for public servants, taxpayers need to know what special interests and corporations are bankrolling the campaigns of candidates for public office.
Subscribers can access this Power Source Report to get a list of the biggest contributors to Schmidt’s campaign fund, which include the REAL owners of the Lake County Fielders and one which recently got a county contract.
NEWS ALERT: Lake County is providing $350,000 in public funds to subsidize environmental cleanup projects in three municipalities in the county.
Why this news is important to you: Cleaning up land polluted by urban and industrial use is beneficial for the environment and economy.
Under the light: Individual contributions to the campaign fund of Lake County Board member Diane Hewitt of Waukegan
Why this news is important to you: Money buys influence in privately-funded elections. To cast informed votes for public servants, taxpayers need to know what special interests and corporations are bankrolling the campaigns of candidates for public office.
NEWS ALERT: The North Shore Sanitary District is raising wholesale rates for wastewater services.
Why this news is important to you: The increase will be passed on to retail sewer service bills for NSSD customers and home buyers in the four affected municipalities.
Under the light: Individual contributions to the campaign fund of Lake County Board member Linda Pedersen of Antioch
Why this news is important to you: Money buys influence in privately-financed elections. To cast informed votes for public servants, taxpayers need to know what special interests and corporations are bankrolling the campaigns of candidates for public office.
NEWS ALERT: Amid the national controversy about health care reform, Lake County taxpayers have been hammered with a double-digit increase for health, life and dental coverage for county government employees.
Why this news is important to you: It’s an example of how the private insurance industry dictates the cost of health coverage to all Americans as long as it remains unfettered by the reins of reform.
Subscribers can read The Public Investigator’s news report to find out how much more they will pay for county employees’ health insurance and how many county employees lost their jobs because of the budget hole caused by the increase.
NEWS ALERT: Reconstruction and widening of North Avenue will improve traffic for motorists in the Antioch area.
Why this news is important to you: 1. This road project that is planned to alleviate congestion is an example of your tax dollars at work. 2. Motorists traveling in the Antioch area need to be informed to use alternative routes.
NEWS ALERT: Lake County is seeking increased economic development bonding authority from federal stimulus funding.
Why this news is important to you: The more federal funding can pay for local public infrastructure projects, the less burden it exerts on local property taxpayers.
NEWS ALERT: In a massive project to enhance identity theft security, the Lake County recorder is redacting Social Security numbers from millions of public documents.
Why this news is important to you: Redacting sensitive information from publicly-viewable documents protects citizens against identity theft.
NEWS ALERT: A Lake County Board member is charging that a county government agency that allocates federal grant funds failed to legally report its actions.
Why this news is important to you: Laws requiring government to conduct business in public meetings and provide public information is the only way government in a republic is held accountable and monitored by the people.
NEWS ALERT: A private road for the Williams Park subdivision in Wauconda Township will be maintained with public funding.
Why this news is important to you: As a general principle, most citizens would oppose spending local and federal taxpayers dollars on a private road, but…
NEWS ALERT: In a short-term investment for long-term savings, the Lake County Board approved the purchase of a brain for its green building under construction in Libertyville.
Why this news is important to you: While they cost more to build up front, public buildings that are green are smart buildings with automation control that save taxpayers big bucks down the line.
NEWS ALERT: Barring a last-quarter surge in the economy, some county government staff members will be laid off when the new fiscal year begins Dec. 1. Subscribers can read on to find out how many positions will be cut and which departments will likely take most of the hits.
Why this news is important to you: While staff reductions will keep the county’s government in the black for the 2010 fiscal year, they will also reduce crucial services that benefit the people of Lake County.
NEWS ALERT: Lake County has hired an architect to draft a remodeling plan for the fifth and sixth floors of the County Building
Why this news is important to you: Remodeling a 40-year-old, 10-story public building will require a substantial outlay of taxpayer funds. The payoff for taxpayers is improved public services and more efficient government operation. The award of this first remodeling project puts this architect in a strong position to get the rest of the floor remodeling contracts in the future.
“What is that plane doing?” a Beach Park home owner wondered one recent Sunday afternoon, tracking a low-flying, slow-moving, single-prop aircraft overhead. “That’s the fifth time it’s flown over here today.” Subscribers can read on to find out why a plane might be doing something like that — and why the air space over your home might be next on the government’s list.
Why this news is important to you: Lake and Cook county governments have joined forces in a project to document photographic images covering all the areas of both counties, including taking a peek at your private property.
NEWS ALERT: A regional government initiative is proposing a solution about what to do with all the foreclosures brought on by the current economic crisis. Subscribers can read on for details on how stimulus funds will be used to flip foreclosed properties across the county.
Why this news is important to you: This stimulus-funded government program aims to maintain the value of affordable homes in neighborhoods hard hit by the bust in the housing market.
NEWS ALERT: Lake County has commissioned Christopher B. Burke Engineering of Rosemont, Ill., to design a project to add a center turn lane on Wadsworth Road through Wadsworth. Subscribers can read on to get specifications and details of the project and find out how much the project’s engineering will cost.
Why this news is important to you: Wadsworth Road is one of only two connector arterials for residents of northeastern Lake County to access U.S. Route 41 and is the only access road for a local school, post office, some small businesses and a feeder road to residential areas. All phases of the reconstruction project will likely be more expensive because of the scarce right of way along the segment.
NEWS ALERT: If the County Board approves the appointments of three new members on Tuesday (July 14), nearly 40 percent of the board’s seats will be filled by new members. Subscribers can read on to find out who has been nominated to serve districts representing Waukegan, Vernon Hills and Lake Zurich.
NEWS ALERT: The county sheriff has been authorized to sell foreclosed properties of local residents. Subscribers can read on to find out where and how often these sales will be offered.
Why this news is important to you: Establishing a foreclosure sales program like this indicates the depressed condition of the local economy. Although it’s a sign of a down economy, it is an opportunity for local residents to purchase local property at bargain-basement prices, while stimulating the real estate and banking sectors, as well as generating a small revenue stream for county government.
Lake County senior citizens 65 years old or older whose income does not exceed $55,000 may qualify for a property assessment freeze, if the property is their primary residence. However, they must submit an application to the Lake County Chief County Assessment Office.
Because county officials suspect that many eligible residents are unaware of this program, the Lake County Board will consider extending the deadline from July 1 until August 31 at its next meeting on July 14 at 7 p.m. The Chief County Assessment Office is continuing to accept applications in the meantime.
“We sent applications to all eligible seniors earlier this year, yet we believe there are many eligible county residents who haven’t filed. That’s why we want to extend the deadline to try and reach more people,” Suzi Schmidt, County Board Chairman said.
So far, the Chief County Assessment Office has received 8,500 applications. Last year, the county approved about 10,400 applications.
The Chief County Assessment Office and local township assessors are available to assist seniors and all taxpayers with filing exemptions.
Completed application forms are to be mailed back to the Chief County Assessment Office, 18 N. County St., 7th Floor, Waukegan, IL, by August 31. For questions, residents can call the Chief County Assessment Office at (847) 377-2050. A list of township assessor offices and additional information is available at www.lakecountyil.gov/assessor.
Residents are encouraged to share this information with their senior parents, family members, friends and neighbors who may be eligible.
Senior citizens who reside in Lake County might also qualify for the Senior Homestead Exemption.
NEWS ALERT: A North Barrington subdivision with excess sewage is getting bailed out by Lake County. Subscribers can read on to find out why residents of Wynstone subdivision have too much sewage and how county tax dollars will be spent to solve their problem.
Why this news is important to you: It’s spending your tax dollars to subsidize private enterprise. The system that is supposed to serve a private development cannot handle the volume, so a public sewage treatment system funded by taxpayers will assume the excess and allocate a portion of its capacity to serve the private development.
NEWS ALERT: The lighting of more than 140 traffic signals in Lake County will change this summer. Subscribers can read on to find out details of this bright idea and how much this conversion project will cost.
NEWS ALERT: Lake County has agreed to expand a water treatment facility in north-central Lake County if deadly phosphates are banned from farm fields draining into Mill Creek. Subscribers can read on to find out why phosphate-based insecticides in fertilizer are so dangerous and how much more implementing safe-water measures will cost in expanding the facility.
YET ANOTHER PUBLIC INVESTIGATOR EXCLUSIVE: A reliable source inside Waukegan’s municipal government reports the stage has been set for the appointment of the next fire chief, as new Mayor Robert Sabonjian continues shading the city’s administration with his own palette. Subscribers can read on to find out who the mayor’s pick for next chief will be when current Chief Patrick Gallagher retires.
GRANT ALERT: The Stormwater Management Commission recently received a grant to restore an area waterway. Subscribers can read on to find out what stream will be restored and what projects the grant will fund.
NEWS ALERT: To improve east-west traffic in southern Lake County, a lengthy segment of Riverwoods Road is getting resurfaced. Subscribers can read on to find out what segment will be under construction this summer and how much it will cost, along with statistics on road resurfacing projects this summer.
NEWS ALERT: Keith Turner announced Friday he was declining his controversial appointment to replace Robert Sabonjian on the Lake County Board. Subscribers can read on to find out the real reason behind the refusal, who is almost certain to get the appointment and what Board Chairman Suzi Schmidt can do to really stick it to county democrats.
PUBLIC INVESTIGATOR EXCLUSIVE: Old-guard democrats on the Lake County Board are charging Chairman Suzi Schmidt with playing politics in not choosing their endorsed selection to fill Robert Sabonjian’s former seat. Read on to find out who got passed over and why, and who got the appointment and why.
NEWS ALERT: Lake County’s Veterans’ Assistance Commission provides services to indigent vets literally to their graves. Read on to find out how the county provides old soldiers with basic health services and proper burials.
NEWS ALERT: Lake County’s balanced budget is getting sheltered by both management and staff during the current economic storm. Read on to find out what counter measures are being taken to absorb the recession’s hard hits.