New County Board District map, Holiday tree recycling, and More
Dear Neighbors,
I know it doesn't feel like December, but I hope you, family, friends and neighbors are having a safe and healthy holiday season. This time of year I can't tell you how much I'm enjoying simple, moving things like high school carolers and holiday lights, which truly lift spirits in a dark time.
At the county board and forest preserve, we've had a flurry of important business to conclude this month. We worked through several lists -- and we've checked them more than twice. You decide who's been "naughty or nice."
On the top of our extensive "to-do" list was approving our new county district map. Under our constitution, we're required to redraw our district boundaries every 10 years to account for population changes. We also voted to cut the number of county board seats from 21 to 19. This will lower board costs somewhat, although it will mean more people in fewer districts that have larger geographic areas. Our board salaries will remain unchanged in 2020.
The Sixth District, which I've been honored to represent for the past three years, will be expanded north to include parts of Lake Villa Township. Round Lake Park will be cut out to be included in a new district, although the Sixth District boundary will now extend west along both sides of Route 120 to encompass southern Round Lake up to Cedar Lake Road. Grayslake and Hainesville will still be the core of the new district.
How was this arduous process done? We solicited public comment and conducted town halls in every part of the county; consulted with election lawyers and groups like the NAACP. We went the extra mile to ensure that we received the full bucket of census data. A special reapportionment committee coordinated most of this work along with our geographic information systems team, which is one of the best in the country.
I and my colleagues even (successfully) lobbied Springfield to give us until the end of this year to make sure every community would be treated as fairly as possible with the most accurate census data. In my 35 years of living in Lake County, I can honestly say that there's never been a more transparent, inclusive and open remapping process. My hat's off to county leadership and staff. This was not easy -- nor was it perfect -- but I think it's reasonable.
Of course, not everyone's going to be pleased with the new district. The Sixth District alone spans four townships and multiple school and fire protection districts. But please respect the fact that we couldn't draw neat-looking squares that Thomas Jefferson conceived for the Northwest Ordinance of 1787. By law, we had to connect communities, precincts and population centers. Population shifted in various directions over time and we did our best to accommodate that fact.
In any case, the bottom line is that these changes will not raise your county property taxes in any way. (We actually lowered the county property tax rate slightly last month for 2022, but it has no connection to the new districts).
Environmental/Forest Preserve News
Since this is a year-end note, I would be a total Scrooge if I didn't highlight some really bright environmental items.
The most amazing news is the Forest Preserve now has a plan to raise money by planting trees. I know, this is what we normally do at our preserves, but we're now working with a third party that's paying us for the carbon-storing benefits of trees. Think of these amazing living things as carbon sequestration entities that increase their capacity to store carbon, stormwater and reduce ground-level heat every year. They also restore and preserve biodiversity. Birds and pollinators seem to like them a lot, too.
Fortunately, modern, emerging markets are warming to the idea that natural systems have an economic as well as social benefit. Someone else -- say a global corporation -- can buy these credits voluntarily as part of their environmental philosophy to combat climate change. In exchange, we receive funds to eventually plant some 3,000 trees (and many more). This direct investment then becomes part of a hyperlocal program to reduce carbon dioxide and lower atmospheric temperatures. Since we're trying our best to restore the pre-settlement oak ecosystems, this is going to help us toward our goals. Learn more
Of course, our new carbon offset program is a baby step. I'd like to see us monetize more of the carbon/water storage value of wetlands and prairies (hello, Rollins Savanna!). Nevertheless, this is something I wholeheartedly support and advocated for -- in addition to regenerative farming that will also reduce carbon emissions in the more than 2,000 acres of farmland the preserves own. We're also converting our Ryerson Welcome Center to a net-zero building and constructing a new countywide education center there that will not only be net-zero, but have bird-friendly, super-insulated windows. We're trying to cut our energy footprint while taking a leadership role on climate action.
Thanks to Forest Preserve staff for embracing this vision -- and acting on it. We still have much more to do, but this is a scintillating way to end a challenging year.
Speaking of baby steps, on the county government side, your board voted to prohibit single-use plastics in county facilities by January 1, 2023. While we are still studying how to implement, we are one of the first county governments in the country to do this. Single-use plastics, as you may know, are mostly made from petrochemicals and have a huge carbon footprint in production involving a ream of toxic chemicals. Despite decades of recycling, only a small percentage of these plastics are re-purposed. A horrendous amount of this waste goes to to landfills -- or ends up in our waterways and oceans. Keep in mind, though, that our plastics elimination only covers county buildings. We don't have the power to impose this on individual communities, but that's where you come in!
In addition to reducing the county's waste stream, we'll be offering a new Commercial Property Assessed Clean Energy "C-PACE" program that will help businesses finance a wide array of energy efficiency and renewable energy projects. A third party Capital Provider will provide financing to a business that is paid back through the county's property tax billing system (note: it doesn't raise property tax rates). Let's say a store or small business wants to install solar panels on their building. If they qualify for a C-PACE fixed-rate loan, they would be billed for repayment through the county on their annual tax bill. This assessment would stay with the property. This program would be available early next year and I will include information in future newsletters as available.
You're probably asking yourself, though, isn't all of this a pitiful drop in the ocean when addressing a global crisis? These programs complement an overall Lake County Climate Action plan. We have a goal to reduce our landfill dumping by 60% by 2040 and cut our net carbon emissions to almost nil by that same year. We're working to put up solar panels on our buildings, doing deep energy audits and working on green infrastructure projects that employ natural systems to solve problems. Everything we do helps. We're deliberately taking an aggressive leadership role in hope that others will copy us. Imitation is the purest form of flattery. Still, all ecology is local!
I hope everyone has a joyous, safe and healthy holiday season. If you know someone who hasn't gotten a COVID shot, encourage them to get vaccinated. It's truly the gift of life! Find a location to get your vaccine.
Also please patronize our local businesses to reduce your own carbon footprint and don't forget supporting the Forest Preserve Foundation. It's the gift that keeps on giving year-round. No batteries, assembly or recharging required!
Be well, be safe!
John
