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Record of Proceedings

Lake County Board Meeting - October 13, 2026

County Board — Tuesday, October 13, 2026
BodyLake County, Illinois
SessionCounty Board
DateTuesday, October 13, 2026
StatusFILED
Video Record
0:00 / 1:32:20

Original source
Transcript — VerbatimClick a timed line to jump · ⧉ to share it

Speaker numbers apply only to this recording.

Speaker 1

1:01

Morning.

1:01

Today is Tuesday, October 13, 2026.

1:04

I call the Lake County Board meeting in order at 9 a.m.

1:07

This meeting is being recorded and live streamed on Zoom.

1:10

The recording will be posted to Lake County.tv and Lake County.com.

1:16

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

1:22

I had no notification from anyone that they would like to attend remotely.

1:27

However, I did hear from Member Hunter that there was an accident.

1:30

Fortunately, he was not involved in said accident, but he will be running a little late.

1:35

So before we get started, is there anyone any members would like us to remember in a moment of silence today, please?

1:42

Thank you, Member Schlick.

Speaker 2

1:44

Thank you, Chair.

1:45

I ask that you join me in remembering Joel Hans Handelsman this morning.

1:48

The name may sound familiar as you'll see Mary Handelsman is on our agenda as a member of the Manitoba Creek Drainage District.

1:55

Her husband unfortunately passed away on October 7th.

1:57

So I ask you to help me remember Joel and send our sympathies and our well-being to uh Mary as she deals with this tragedy.

2:04

So thank you.

Speaker 1

2:05

Thank you.

2:06

Member Altonberg, followed by Member Frank.

Speaker 3

2:10

I think I joined Member Frank, and we want to remember all the victims of the October 7th massacre in Israel, as well as all the victims of the war that has followed.

2:24

And we wish there will be peace in that region as soon as possible.

2:29

Thank

Speaker 1

2:30

you.

Speaker 3

2:30

Member Frank.

Unassigned speaker

2:32

Yeah.

Speaker 4

2:32

Thank you, Chair.

2:33

Thank you, Member Altamer, for

Unassigned speaker

2:35

that.

Speaker 4

2:36

Um, I know we've all remembered in recent days, but I just want to make note of

Unassigned speaker

2:41

the

Speaker 4

2:41

passing of Chicago Bears legend, Mike Dick.

2:44

A long time Lake County resident.

2:46

And of course, the Bears are an important part of Lake County and the entire uh Chicago Bears family uh mourns his passing.

2:54

Thank you, Chair.

Speaker 1

2:55

Thank you.

2:55

Anyone else?

2:56

Okay, if you join me in a moment of silence, please.

3:13

Member Maine, if you would lead us in the Pledge of Allegiance, please.

Speaker 5

3:16

I've allegiance to the flag

Speaker 1

3:19

of the United States of America

Unassigned speaker

3:21

and to the Republic for which it stands on one nation under God,

Speaker 5

3:26

indivisible with liberty and justice for

Unassigned speaker

3:30

all.

Unassigned speaker

3:31

Thank

Speaker 1

3:31

you.

3:31

May I have a roll call, please, Clerk Vega.

Speaker 6

3:34

Member Altenburg?

3:35

Here.

3:36

Member Cumpos.

3:38

Member Casbin.

Speaker 7

3:39

Here.

Speaker 6

3:40

Member Clark.

3:41

Member Danforth.

3:43

Member Ewing.

3:45

Member Frank.

3:46

Here.

3:47

Member Hart.

3:48

Here.

3:48

Member Hewitt.

Speaker 8

3:49

Here.

Discussion Breakdown — Share of Meeting
Public Service Recognition████████████████16%
Veterans Assistance█████████████13%
Procedural████████████12%
Public Safety██████████10%
Public Health████████8%
Public Engagement███████7%
Technology and Innovation█████5%
Transportation Safety████4%
Alcohol Regulation████4%
Summary of Proceedings

Lake County Board Meeting - October 13, 2026

The Lake County Board convened on Tuesday, October 13, 2026, at 9:00 AM. The meeting included recognitions of employees and community partners, public comments, approval of a consent agenda, and several resolutions on transportation, public health, and technology. Key decisions included funding for opioid settlement programs, a major road improvement project, and a new special service area for sewer needs.

Consent Calendar

  • Items 7 through 45 were approved on a single roll call vote (16-0, with Member Hunter recused from Item 15). Item 39 (hazard mitigation plan) was removed and voted on separately.

Recognitions & Proclamations

  • Melissa Burke (35 years, State's Attorney's Office) – recognized for supporting victims of crime, including the Highland Park parade shooting.
  • Keith Caldwell (35 years, GIS Division) – recognized for leading mapping modernization and dual addressing efforts.
  • Captain Stephen Yargos – honored for his service as commanding officer of Naval Station Great Lakes (2013-2026), noted for community partnerships and the Halsey Village demolition project.
  • Operation Green Light for Veterans – proclamation encouraging green light displays for Veterans Day.
  • Digital Inclusion Month (October 2026) – highlighted broadband progress: 1,400+ locations eligible for infrastructure, 16,000+ households without internet, 8,400+ without a computer, 6,600 residents trained, 2,000 laptops distributed. Lake County named a "visionary digital inclusion trailblazer" by NDIA.
  • National First Responders Day (October 28) – honoring 4.6 million first responders nationwide.
  • Domestic Violence Awareness Month – noted Lake County's pilot domestic violence fatality review team.

Public Comments & Testimony

  • Michael Oester (ER physician) – opposed a proposed 500+ apartment development at Washington & Hunt Club in Gurnee, citing flooding, traffic, and zoning concerns; requested the Planning, Building, Zoning & Environment Committee review. Also urged using opioid settlement funds for medication-assisted treatment rather than incarceration.
  • Brother Blank's (Black Abolition Movement for the Mind) – proposed renaming the South Manor Community Garden to the Mary Ross Cunningham Community Garden; also requested an inquiry into whether the late County Democratic Board Chair excluded Senator Adrian Johnson from a meeting due to optics.
  • Pat Kubker – complained about inability to cross Washington Street/Hunt Club Road due to road widening, flooding, and lack of response from Lake County DOT; expressed frustration with staff and road design.
  • Isabella Sabau – alleged mishandling of her complaints by the Sheriff's Office; claimed a sheriff's deputy pushed her and that court cases were improperly deleted.

Discussion Items

  • Liquor License Ordinance (Item 46) – reduced number of liquor licenses from 117 to 113 to match current usage. Approved unanimously.
  • Health & Community Services Report – noted flu/COVID/RSV vaccines available; reported loss of SAMHSA mental health first aid grant (trained 31,000 adults, 542 youth, led to 15,000 referrals); highlighted new federal Medicaid work requirements starting 2027 affecting ~26,538 ACA adults (19.4% of Lake County's 136,375 Medicaid enrollees).
  • Opioid Settlement Funds (Item 48) – approved $500,000 in funding recommendations (emergency appropriation of $205,000). Roll call passed 16-0.
  • Old McHenry Road Right-of-Way (Item 52) – appropriated $7,600,000 from quarter-percent sales tax for right-of-way acquisition for improvements from Fairfield Road to Forest Drive, including grade separation. Roll call passed 16-0.
  • Special Service Area No. 18 (Item 53) – established for Del Mar Woods subdivision to fund sanitary sewer improvements; staff praised for 10-year effort.
  • Dig Once Policy (Item 54) – approved a policy to coordinate utility installation with road construction to reduce future digging.
  • Contract Modification (Item 55) – authorized $2,746,416 for FGM Architects for design/construction administration of a multi-department building on the Libertyville campus.
  • Beach Park Fire Protection District Appointment (Item 56) – appointed Richard Ludawise as trustee. Approved.

Key Outcomes

  • Consent agenda passed (16-0, Member Hunter recused on Item 15).
  • Liquor license reduction ordinance passed unanimously.
  • Opioid settlement resolution passed (roll call 16-0).
  • HIDTA grant acceptance passed (roll call 16-0).
  • Emergency appropriation for 19th Judicial Circuit ($426,031.43) passed (roll call 16-0).
  • FY2027 legislative agenda approved unanimously.
  • Old McHenry Road right-of-way funding passed (roll call 16-0).
  • Special Service Area No. 18 established unanimously.
  • Countywide All Natural Hazards Mitigation Plan annual report accepted (Item 39).
  • Dig Once policy approved unanimously.
  • Contract modification for multi-department building approved unanimously.
  • Richard Ludawise appointed to Beach Park Fire Protection District.
  • Meeting adjourned until November 10, 2026.

Meeting Transcript

Morning. Today is Tuesday, October 13, 2026. I call the Lake County Board meeting in order at 9 a.m. This meeting is being recorded and live streamed on Zoom. The recording will be posted to Lake County.tv and Lake County.com. In addition to being able to attend in person, remote attendance has been made available to the public via Zoom. I had no notification from anyone that they would like to attend remotely. However, I did hear from Member Hunter that there was an accident. Fortunately, he was not involved in said accident, but he will be running a little late. So before we get started, is there anyone any members would like us to remember in a moment of silence today, please? Thank you, Member Schlick. Thank you, Chair. I ask that you join me in remembering Joel Hans Handelsman this morning. The name may sound familiar as you'll see Mary Handelsman is on our agenda as a member of the Manitoba Creek Drainage District. Her husband unfortunately passed away on October 7th. So I ask you to help me remember Joel and send our sympathies and our well-being to uh Mary as she deals with this tragedy. So thank you. Thank you. Member Altonberg, followed by Member Frank. I think I joined Member Frank, and we want to remember all the victims of the October 7th massacre in Israel, as well as all the victims of the war that has followed. And we wish there will be peace in that region as soon as possible. Thank you. Member Frank. Yeah. Thank you, Chair. Thank you, Member Altamer, for that. Um, I know we've all remembered in recent days, but I just want to make note of the passing of Chicago Bears legend, Mike Dick. A long time Lake County resident. And of course, the Bears are an important part of Lake County and the entire uh Chicago Bears family uh mourns his passing. Thank you, Chair. Thank you. Anyone else? Okay, if you join me in a moment of silence, please. Member Maine, if you would lead us in the Pledge of Allegiance, please. I've allegiance to the flag of the United States of America and to the Republic for which it stands on one nation under God, indivisible with liberty and justice for all. Thank you. May I have a roll call, please, Clerk Vega. Member Altenburg? Here. Member Cumpos. Member Casbin.

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