February 10, 2026 – The Lake County Board convened at 9 a.m. with 18 members present, including two participating electronically (Member Schlick for work reasons, Vice Chair Cunningham due to illness). The meeting included employee recognitions, proclamations, public comments, a lengthy debate on the Responsibility and Firearms Legislation (RIFL) Act, and approval of several resolutions.
Today is Tuesday, February 10, 2026. I called Lake County Board meeting to order at 9 a.m. The 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. 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 board members are physically present. We have been notified in advance by Member Schlick that he requests to participate electronically due to work reasons. A physical quorum is present. If there's no discussion, I'll ask county staff to know to the minutes that Member Schlick is present and eligible to vote on matters before the county board today. And eventually I know he will join us. Maybe there's something wrong with the um screen, so we will look into that. Um before we go any further, is there anyone board members would like us to remember during our moment of silence, please. Thank you, Member Maine. Yes, I believe um many of us got the um everyone got the email from um Greg Keppen about the passing of George Bell, who had been uh long-term very many years, served on the zoning board of appeals, and um really served this county well, and he had a great historical view of um what things had been and understanding neighbors and and things like that, and he was uh a great source of wisdom, and so I'd like to remember him and uh all he did for the county and of course his family, because any time you volunteer your time, you're taking time away from your family, also. Thank you. Member Kasman. Back off the uh uh member main's comments um about Mr. Bell. He uh at one point I was going to join the Housing Board of Appeals and found out it wasn't compatible with my school board office. Um, but when I showed interest, he pulled me aside, he had me meet all the members. He was so kind to me and and really trying to explain um in great detail what the ZBA did. And I I just it's um I'm sorry to hear of his passing. I know um he treated me that way, he must have treated everyone that way, and he really appreciated people who had an interest in government, and um his devotion to the county is evident in his years of service. Thank you. Thank you. Member Campos. Thank you, Chair. Um, today I want us to remember Mark L. Pierce from Round Lake Beach. Uh, with a heavy heart. We remember an eight-year-old boy, a child whose life was cut tragically short due to neglect and abuse. Uh Marquell had his entire life ahead of him. Dreams yet to be dreamed, milestones yet to be reached, and laughter yet to be heard. Um learning and discovering the world with the safety and love every child deserves. Instead, that future was stolen. As you bow your heads, please remember Markel, not for the abuse that he endured, but for the innocence, the light, and the potential of his future. His passing is a painful reminder of our shared responsibilities. And make sure that no child ends their life in in abuse. If you abuse a child in Lake County and that abuse results in death, you will be tried for murder. If you see abuse or neglect, please call your local police department or call the Lake County Child's Advocacy Center at 847-377-3155. Thank you. Thank you. Anyone else? Thank you. I also wanted to uh remember um that little eight-year-old boy's sibling who was taken to the hospital um severely undernourished with signs of abuse. Um so please remember uh that sibling as well and another call that you could make as a Department of Children and Family Services, 1800 25 abuse. Um so thank you. And I do apologize. I did speak with Vice Chair Cunningham, who is attending remotely, so I do want to state that per our county board rules in the open meetings act, I wasn't I was notified in advance by Vice Chair Cunningham that she requests to participate electronically due to illness. So seeing no issues with that, I'll declare her present and eligible to vote on matters before the county board today. And then I just wanted to ask our county administrator, do we know of what's going on with the screen?