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OPENPUBLICA · PUBLIC MEETING RECORD

Record of Proceedings

Lake County Financial & Administrative Committee Meeting - August 7, 2025

Committee Meetings — Thursday, August 7, 2025

BodyLake County, Illinois

SessionCommittee Meetings

DateThursday, August 7, 2025

StatusFILED

Video Record

0:00 / 2:02:40

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0:12

Good morning.

0:13

It is 8:31 a.m.

0:15

on Thursday, August 7th, 2025.

0:18

I call to order the Lake County Board's Financial and Administrative Committee.

0:24

In addition to being able to attend in person, remote attendance has been made available to the public via Zoom at the link on the agenda per county board rules and the open meetings act.

0:34

Attendance via remote means is permitted for qualifying reasons, as long as the majority of the committee members are physically present, which they are.

0:42

We were notified in advance by Vice Chair Parek that uh he's requested to participate electronically due to a qualifying reason.

0:50

A quorum is present and he will be uh marked present and able to participate unless there is an objection.

0:57

Member Maine.

0:58

Yeah, I just what's the qualifying reason?

1:02

I don't have it in front of me.

1:04

Oh our rules are unlike the forest preserved, don't require that you say that's correct.

1:09

At the county, we don't we don't we're not required to state it.

1:14

Is there an objection?

1:16

Okay.

1:17

Um and I was notified in advance by member Hewitt that she's unable to be here.

1:24

And unfortunately.

1:26

So that is an excused absence today.

1:28

I have no chair's remarks except to say on the agenda.

1:31

Um, I know that sometimes we will reorder things if we have a lot of folks here for an individual topic.

1:36

We do have a couple of substantial conversations today.

1:39

So I think we're going to stick to the order as on the published agenda, and we'll go uh as as published.

1:45

Would you please rise and join me in the Pledge of Allegiance?

1:55

And to the Republic for we could stand one nation under God, indivisible with liberty and justice for all.

2:05

Can we have a roll call poll?

2:06

Yes.

2:07

Thank you.

2:07

Member Clark here.

2:09

Chair Frank?

2:10

Here.

2:10

Member Hewitt is absent.

2:12

Member Maine, present.

2:13

Vice Chair Park.

2:15

Here.

2:16

Member Peterson.

2:18

Member Bolitzick.

2:22

Thank you.

2:24

On to uh unfinished business.

2:27

We have none.

2:28

Our new business begins with consent agenda items 8.1 through 8.12.

2:34

Any request to pull any of those items.

2:37

Motion to approve by member Clark, second by member Peterson.

2:42

Comments or questions on any of the consent agenda items.

2:47

Seeing none, all in favor, please say aye.

2:50

Aye.

2:51

Aye.

2:52

Any opposed?

2:53

Consent agenda items are approved.

2:56

On to our regular agenda.

2:58

8.13 is a resolution accepting the Illinois State Board of Elections Voter Registration State Grant 2026 and authorizing an emergency appropriation in the amount of 440,326.57 cents for specific purposes of assisting in maintenance and other costs associated with the county's voter registration system to facilitate communication with the centralized statewide voter registration system as required by Title III, Section 303 of the Help America Vote Act of 2002.

3:29

Motion to approve by member Clark.

3:31

Second by member Volitic.

3:33

Good morning, Clerk Vega.

3:34

Good morning, uh Chair Frank and committee members.

3:37

This grant, we get this grant every year from the state board of elections.

3:40

This year our appropriation is about 440,000.

3:43

It pays for the voter registration audit where we audit the voter rolls to keep them accurate.

3:49

We will be conducting one this fall.

4:03

For that contract that was just approved on consent.

4:14

So uh just so I'm clear on the budgeting timeline.

Discussion Breakdown — Share of Meeting

Economic Development████████████████████████24%

Mosquito Abatement█████████████████████21%

Technology and Innovation█████████9%

Environmental Protection███████7%

Pest Control Services███████7%

Procedural█████5%

Public Engagement█████5%

Procurement Strategy█████5%

Budget█████5%

Summary of Proceedings

Lake County Financial & Administrative Committee Meeting - August 7, 2025

The Lake County Board's Financial and Administrative Committee met on Thursday, August 7, 2025, at 8:31 a.m. under Chair Frank's leadership. The meeting covered consent items, a major economic development presentation, several resolutions, and a proposal to dissolve the South Lake Mosquito Abatement District. Discussions included job creation, environmental sustainability, and local governance.

Consent Calendar

Items 8.1 through 8.12 were approved unanimously, including routine approvals.

Public Comments & Testimony

Economic Development Opportunity (8.14): Tom Mallard, representing Waukegan Mayor Sam Cunningham, expressed gratitude for the county's partnership consideration. He noted Waukegan lost 30,000 industrial jobs and committed $150,000 for site preparation at the Johns Manville site.
South Lake Mosquito Abatement District Dissolution (8.18): Multiple residents spoke:
- Dean Mosher (Highland Park resident, former SLMAD trustee) urged dissolution, citing higher costs per square mile (three to four times more than neighboring towns) and loss of local control, referencing a 2013 aerial spraying incident.
- Randy Merrill (Riverwoods Preservation Council) argued dissolution would increase costs for municipalities and homeowners, leading to less testing and more private, unregulated pest control.
- Laura Trevino (resident) highlighted economies of scale, public health benefits, and the decennial committee's recommendation to retain the district.
- Dr. Lester Raffaell (retired pathologist, SLMAD trustee) emphasized prevention of vector-borne diseases and urged preservation.
- Sarah Merritt (Riverwoods Preservation Council) stressed the district's role in targeted, environmentally responsible mosquito control, protecting pollinators.
- Chris Ford (trustee) noted the district has low taxes, a million dollars in reserves, and no debt, and argued dissolution would harm service.

Discussion Items

Economic Development Opportunity (8.14): Derek Vandervorst (CEO, SoLarge USA) presented the company's lightweight, recyclable solar panels made without toxic materials, aiming to build a U.S. factory. The preferred site is the 110-acre Johns Manville brownfield in Waukegan, with potential for a net-zero facility and community solar. The company is competing with a Kansas greenfield site. Kevin Considine (Lake County Partners) facilitated. Committee members expressed strong support for continuing talks, noting alignment with county sustainability goals and the opportunity to revitalize an environmental justice community. Key points: the site requires cleanup cost support, zoning changes, and annexation of a borrow pit; SoLarge needs a decision by end of September 2025. The committee agreed to develop a specific proposal.
Pest Control Services (8.16): Discussion arose about the Orkin contract's use of rodenticides and their potential harm to wildlife. Members requested a review of alternatives before the one-year renewal, with direction to bring the renewal back to this committee for approval.
South Lake Mosquito Abatement District Dissolution (8.18): Assistant County Administrator Dan Hall explained the process: approving the proposing ordinance triggers an audit by the county finance department (30 days), then a public notice period allows a backdoor referendum. If no referendum, the board can pass an authorizing resolution leading to dissolution (6–18 months total). Members debated cost savings, local control, and the district's effectiveness. Some argued the audit only shows cash balances, not service efficiency. The committee heard that other Lake County municipalities manage mosquito control without a district.

Key Outcomes

8.13 Grant: Approved unanimously for $440,326.57 from the Illinois State Board of Elections for voter registration system maintenance.
8.15 Naval Station Agreement: Approved unanimously for an intergovernmental support agreement to demolish housing at Halsey Village in North Chicago, with Navy funding and county oversight.
8.16 Pest Control Contract: Approved with the condition that the one-year renewal will come back to the committee for review, and staff will explore less toxic alternatives.
8.17 Sheridan Crossing Remediation: Approved unanimously for a sub-recipient agreement with North Chicago to manage $4 million in federal funds for environmental cleanup.
8.18 Mosquito District Dissolution: Approved with dissent (Member Maine and Vice Chair Parekh opposed). The proposal moves to the full County Board; if approved, an audit will be conducted and further steps taken.

Meeting Transcript

Good morning. It is 8:31 a.m. on Thursday, August 7th, 2025. I call to order the Lake County Board's Financial and Administrative Committee. In addition to being able to attend in person, remote attendance has been made available to the public via Zoom at the link on the agenda per county board rules and the open meetings act. Attendance via remote means is permitted for qualifying reasons, as long as the majority of the committee members are physically present, which they are. We were notified in advance by Vice Chair Parek that uh he's requested to participate electronically due to a qualifying reason. A quorum is present and he will be uh marked present and able to participate unless there is an objection. Member Maine. Yeah, I just what's the qualifying reason? I don't have it in front of me. Oh our rules are unlike the forest preserved, don't require that you say that's correct. At the county, we don't we don't we're not required to state it. Is there an objection? Okay. Um and I was notified in advance by member Hewitt that she's unable to be here. And unfortunately. So that is an excused absence today. I have no chair's remarks except to say on the agenda. Um, I know that sometimes we will reorder things if we have a lot of folks here for an individual topic. We do have a couple of substantial conversations today. So I think we're going to stick to the order as on the published agenda, and we'll go uh as as published. Would you please rise and join me in the Pledge of Allegiance? And to the Republic for we could stand one nation under God, indivisible with liberty and justice for all. Can we have a roll call poll? Yes. Thank you. Member Clark here. Chair Frank? Here. Member Hewitt is absent. Member Maine, present. Vice Chair Park. Here. Member Peterson. Member Bolitzick. Thank you. On to uh unfinished business. We have none. Our new business begins with consent agenda items 8.1 through 8.12. Any request to pull any of those items. Motion to approve by member Clark, second by member Peterson. Comments or questions on any of the consent agenda items. Seeing none, all in favor, please say aye. Aye. Aye. Any opposed? Consent agenda items are approved. On to our regular agenda. 8.13 is a resolution accepting the Illinois State Board of Elections Voter Registration State Grant 2026 and authorizing an emergency appropriation in the amount of 440,326.57 cents for specific purposes of assisting in maintenance and other costs associated with the county's voter registration system to facilitate communication with the centralized statewide voter registration system as required by Title III, Section 303 of the Help America Vote Act of 2002.

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