Final ARPA community event, Property assessments, County fair, and More
Dear Neighbor,
hope this finds you, family and neighbors well in this mid-summer time of buzzing cicadas and robust thunderstorms. This is one of my favorite times of the year. Not only can I visit with neighbors, I can check in with them to see how county government can make their lives better.
I was pleased to be able to remotely attend the Highland Lake Property Owners Association on July 25. Our Public Works Department provided an update on the $2.5 million water system modernization project they will be undertaking, which will add water storage capacity and ensure clean drinking water.
The water project is being funded by the federal American Rescue Plan Act, so it will not raise user rates for existing customers. Our Public Works engineers will be working closely with the community on siting the water storage structure and other infrastructure, which is under consideration to connect to another water system on the other side of the lake. Needless to say, I'm always pleased when we can bring tax dollars back into our neighborhoods for needed projects.
There are several other future projects underway in our area. The major ones include the realignment of Cedar Lake Road in Round Lake, widening of Route 120 (Route 45 to Almond Road), and multi-use paths along Washington and Rollins. View the list of road projects countywide.
Although not being designed or managed by Lake County, the Village of Grayslake has asked the Illinois Department of Transportation to begin "Phase I" engineering for a grade separation of the Canadian National rail crossing at Routes 120 and 83, which are state highways. Sen. Melinda Bush and I have been lobbying for this project for more than four years.
Route 53 Commission Update
The most recent meeting of the Route 53 task force on Tuesday invited local mayors to outline how they would like to use the 1,000-acre corridor. Mayor Rhett Taylor from Grayslake, Steve Lentz from Mundelein, Bill Jacob from Long Grove and Dom DiMaggio from Hawthorn Woods made brief presentations.
Mayor Lentz said he hoped the Illinois Department of Transportation, which owns most of the land in the corridor would "retain ownership" of the property. "We won't commit to a corridor plan that won't relieve future traffic congestion," Lentz told the commission. He also favored trails and possible athletic fields.
Mayor Taylor said he wanted to "take future business development and traffic mitigation" into consideration along the northern end of the corridor, especially near the Cornerstone business park near Peterson Road and Route 83. He also noted the final plan should "include protections for sensitive wetlands and woodlands."
All of the mayors supported the general concept of a greenway with connecting trails along the corridor. Although the commission is not empowered to decide which agency or entities control the property, there will be future meetings to find common ground on "alternative uses," which doesn't include another highway. More meetings are scheduled. I will keep you posted.
