OPENPUBLICA · PUBLIC MEETING RECORD
Record of Proceedings

Lake County Board Meeting - September 9, 2025

County Board — Tuesday, September 9, 2025
BodyLake County, Illinois
SessionCounty Board
DateTuesday, September 9, 2025
StatusFILED
Video Record
0:00 / 2:36:05

Transcript — Verbatim
1:00

Good morning.

1:01

Today is Tuesday, September 9th, and I call the Lake County Board meeting to order at 9 a.m.

1:06

This meeting is being recorded and live streamed on our website, Comcast Channels 18 or 30 and ATTU versus Channel 99, as well as on Zoom at the link on the agenda.

1:17

In addition to being able to attend in person, remote attendance has been made available to the public via Zoom.

1:22

No one has let me know that they could not be here this morning.

1:27

So I do not need to read that statement.

1:30

Before we get started, is there anyone our board members would like to remember or um think about uh during our moment of silence, please?

1:40

Thank you, Member Schlick.

1:41

Thank you, Chair.

1:42

I ask everyone to join me this morning to remember Ed Lockmire, a village of Wokanda resident.

1:47

Uh Ed passed away unexpectedly days before his 79th birthday.

1:51

Ed was a pillar of the Wilkana community both both in his official capacity as a trustee for the village of Wakanda and currently trustee for the township of Wakanda in his unofficial capacity, where he was a member of a number of community groups and and committees to look after our natural resources, uh the Wakanda Moose Lodge.

2:09

Ed was just a very stoic yet comforting personality to be around, and he'll be greatly missed in the village of Wakanda.

2:15

Thank you.

2:16

Thank you.

2:17

Anyone else the board would like us to remember?

2:20

Okay, if you join Oh, I'm sorry, Member Peterson.

2:25

Ann Maine will be here, but she is running a little late.

2:28

Okay, perfect.

2:29

Thank you very much.

2:29

If you thank you, Member Hewitt.

2:32

I just like everyone to keep uh the family of Mr.

2:39

Sears, who passed away this past week.

2:42

He was crushed by a vehicle.

2:45

And I just want everyone to please keep this family in their thoughts.

2:49

Thank you.

2:50

Thank you very much.

2:52

All right.

2:52

Seeing nothing else, if you join me in a moment of silence, please.

3:18

And to the Republic for each and visible with liberty and justice for all.

3:59

She's on her way.

4:00

Member Parak.

4:03

Member Peterson.

4:04

Present.

4:05

Member Roberts.

4:06

Here.

4:07

Member Schlick.

4:08

Here.

4:09

Member Melitzig.

4:10

Here.

4:11

Member Watson.

4:12

Here.

4:12

17 members.

4:14

Thank you.

4:15

Um, we have no addenda to the agenda, and we have some special recognitions and presentations today.

4:20

The first one is a special recognition recognition honoring Dulce Ortiz for her hard work, dedication, and commitment to the Lake County community.

4:29

Um, it will be read by Isaiah Campos, as Isaiah said, Dulce is unable to attend this morning.

4:35

Um, but we have some people here from Manoamano who will accept this recognition.

4:41

So, Member Campos.

5:00

And whereas Dulce Ortiz's lifelong commitment to public service and social justice began as a young immigrant and has since flourished in her work as executive director of Mano Amano, where she works to create opportunities for immigrant families, empowering them to integrate into American life.

5:14

And whereas Dulce Ortiz has straight has strengthened communities through her service on numerous boards and advisory councils, including as board president of the Illinois Coalition for Immigrant and Refugee Rights, IC ICER, a member of the community trust committee of the Illinois Supreme Court Commission on Access to Justice and on the Illinois Department of Human Services, Social Services Advisory Council.

5:41

And whereas Dulce Ortiz has through gubernatorial appointments contributed to the Illinois Commission of Environmental Justice, the Health and Human Service Task Force, the High the Hydrogen Economy Task Force.

5:55

And in April 2021, she became the first Mexican immigrant woman elected to serve as Joaquin Township trustee.

6:03

And whereas, as a leading advocate for underserved and vulnerable populations, Dulce Ortiz has been a driving force behind various impactful initiatives, including serving as co-chair of the Clean Power Lake County, where she has worked to promote environmental justice and clean energy and the protection of public health in Joaquin and Lake County since 2013.

6:27

And whereas Dulce Ortiz's impactful work has earned her recognition beyond the local level, including being featured in the Emmy Award winning documentary series, Years of Living Dangerously, highlighting her role in the Clean Power Lake County campaign and as champion of environmental justice and sustainable energy practices.

6:47

And whereas Dulce Ortiz's dedication to the health and well-being of her community has been exemplified by her leadership role and securing the passage of the coal ash bill in Springfield.

6:58

A landmark victory that will ensure strong environmental protections for the communities affected by coal ash pollution, and whereas Dulce Ortiz's uh contributions extend far beyond her professional roles, as she has served on the boards of numerous organizations in the areas of environmental protection, health, and government working to build a stronger, more equitable future for all.

7:18

And whereas Dulce Ortiz's work exemplifies the core values of service, compassion, and perseverance, and her passion for creating a brighter, healthier, and more job just future and an inspiration to us all.

7:31

Now, therefore, be it recognized by this county board of Lake County, Illinois, that Dulce Ortiz, highlighted by the by board member Asai Campos is recognized for her outstanding leadership, advocacy, and commitment to social justice, environmental stewardship, and community empowerment.

7:48

Dated Joaquin, Illinois, September 9th, 2025.

Discussion Breakdown — Share of Meeting
Public Safety███████████████████████████27%
Public Health██████████10%
Immigration█████████9%
Emergency Management████████8%
Public Works███████7%
Mental Health Awareness██████6%
Workforce Development██████6%
Procedural█████5%
Community Engagement████4%
Summary of Proceedings

Lake County Board Meeting - September 9, 2025

The Lake County Board convened on Tuesday, September 9, 2025, at 9 a.m. The meeting included special recognitions, public comments, and several resolutions. Key discussions focused on a joint resolution for emergency medical dispatch training and the county's response to federal immigration operations.

Consent Calendar

  • Items 7 through 35 were approved unanimously after removing item 13 (reappointment of Jennifer Mashad to the Long Grove Fire Protection District, which was later approved separately with one abstention).

Special Recognitions

  • Dulce Ortiz: Recognized for her advocacy on immigrant rights and environmental justice. Dulce Ortiz appeared via Zoom, thanking the board and noting the bittersweet nature of the award given current federal immigration policies.
  • Joint Statement with City of North Chicago: Read by Member Campos, the statement addressed federal immigration operations at Naval Station Great Lakes, affirming that local law enforcement will not participate in federal immigration enforcement and that Lake County remains a welcoming community.
  • Suicide Prevention Awareness Month: Proclaimed September 2025. Statistics shared: over 49,000 annual suicide deaths in the U.S. (one every 11 minutes), 12.8 million adults contemplate suicide annually, firearms used in 50% of suicides, and suicide is the second leading cause of death for ages 10-14. Lake County saw a 5% decrease in suicides in 2024 (79 deaths) and a 21.6% decrease through July 2025. The Coroner's office emphasized safe gun storage.
  • Workforce Development Month: Proclaimed September 2025. The Lake County Workforce Development team was recognized for its role in connecting job seekers and employers.
  • 30th Anniversary of Lake County Health Department as a Federally Qualified Health Center (FQHC): Celebrated 30 years of service. In 2024, the FQHC served 32,095 unique patients across 113,189 visits at nine locations.
  • Safe Gun Storage Month: Proclaimed September 2025. Statistics: over 80% of K-12 school mass shooters stole guns from family members, firearms are the leading cause of death for children ages 1-19, and 76% of unintentional shootings involving children used unsecured guns. The new Illinois Safe Gun Storage Act was noted, but speakers urged gun owners to also secure firearms in vehicles.

Chair's Remarks

  • Chair Hart presented a

Meeting Transcript

Good morning. Today is Tuesday, September 9th, and I call the Lake County Board meeting to order at 9 a.m. This meeting is being recorded and live streamed on our website, Comcast Channels 18 or 30 and ATTU versus Channel 99, as well as on Zoom at the link on the agenda. In addition to being able to attend in person, remote attendance has been made available to the public via Zoom. No one has let me know that they could not be here this morning. So I do not need to read that statement. Before we get started, is there anyone our board members would like to remember or um think about uh during our moment of silence, please? Thank you, Member Schlick. Thank you, Chair. I ask everyone to join me this morning to remember Ed Lockmire, a village of Wokanda resident. Uh Ed passed away unexpectedly days before his 79th birthday. Ed was a pillar of the Wilkana community both both in his official capacity as a trustee for the village of Wakanda and currently trustee for the township of Wakanda in his unofficial capacity, where he was a member of a number of community groups and and committees to look after our natural resources, uh the Wakanda Moose Lodge. Ed was just a very stoic yet comforting personality to be around, and he'll be greatly missed in the village of Wakanda. Thank you. Thank you. Anyone else the board would like us to remember? Okay, if you join Oh, I'm sorry, Member Peterson. Ann Maine will be here, but she is running a little late. Okay, perfect. Thank you very much. If you thank you, Member Hewitt. I just like everyone to keep uh the family of Mr. Sears, who passed away this past week. He was crushed by a vehicle. And I just want everyone to please keep this family in their thoughts. Thank you. Thank you very much. All right. Seeing nothing else, if you join me in a moment of silence, please. And to the Republic for each and visible with liberty and justice for all. She's on her way. Member Parak. Member Peterson. Present. Member Roberts. Here. Member Schlick. Here. Member Melitzig. Here. Member Watson. Here. 17 members. Thank you. Um, we have no addenda to the agenda, and we have some special recognitions and presentations today. The first one is a special recognition recognition honoring Dulce Ortiz for her hard work, dedication, and commitment to the Lake County community. Um, it will be read by Isaiah Campos, as Isaiah said, Dulce is unable to attend this morning. Um, but we have some people here from Manoamano who will accept this recognition. So, Member Campos. And whereas Dulce Ortiz's lifelong commitment to public service and social justice began as a young immigrant and has since flourished in her work as executive director of Mano Amano, where she works to create opportunities for immigrant families, empowering them to integrate into American life.

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