Kudos to Joe Gabanski, Cory Kazimour, and Bernard Pondexter for being the first three people to read the last edition of What's Happening!
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Where can you find the information you need to stay connected with what's happening across the City? Here!
Scroll through for department news and updates. There's a lot of information, so save this email to reference throughout the month or view the What's Happening archive. If you have questions about something included here, feel free to reach out to the person listed.
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- City Hall serves as an Early Voting site for all Lake County voters for the November 8 General Election, so if you live in Lake County you can vote at City Hall! Early Voting runs Monday, October 24 through Sunday, November 6. Learn more.
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The Winter Dialogue Newsletter will be shared for internal review by early next week. Watch for the final edition in early November.
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Communications Specialist Maddie Szczerba has accepted a full-time position with a marketing agency in Minnesota and her last day with the City will be Monday, October 17. Please join us in wishing Maddie the best with her next adventure! Please contact Dana Olson with any communication related needs while we search for a new PT Communications Specialist.
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Read more about your colleagues on Lake Forest Love. Read the latest Q&A's with Fleet's Ron Gramer and Forestry's Kelly Bougher!
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Staffing Updates
Due to ongoing health issues, it is with regret, both his and ours, that Mark Rockwell has resigned his position as Plumbing Inspector in the Community Development Department. Plans are underway to finalize an agreement with a licensed plumber to fill this vacant position on a part time, temporary basis while we conduct a search for a full time licensed plumber.
Saturday Market – Celebrate the Holidays
The City will host the second annual Saturday Market – Celebrate the Holidays two Saturdays in December at the Telegraph Road Train Station. This event will offer residents that chance to shop for unique holiday gifts, eat some good food, and visit with friends. The Market will be from 10:30 am-2:30 pm on December 10 and 17. We are looking for staff volunteers to help with set up, on site support during the Market, and clean up. Please contact Michelle Friedrich (x3511) if you are willing to take a two hour shift. Thank you in advance!
Election Signs
Election campaign signs are permitted on private property between now and the November 8 election. Signs are not permitted on public properties or in the parkway except near early election sites (City Hall). Complaints about election signs can be directed to Community Development. There is no limitation on where election signs are permitted ON ELECTION DAY.
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Submitted By: Assistant Finance Director, Diane Hall
- The City has been awarded the Government Finance Officers Association (GFOA) Popular Annual Financial Report (PAFR) Award for the FY21 fiscal year. This award adds the City to a select few governmental units achieving GFOA’s “Triple Crown” winners. There are only 293 governmental units in the United States out of more than 89,000 that achieve this recognition. The award will be presented at the November 7 City Council meeting.
- Finance is in the process of gathering vendor information to comply with Illinois Public Act 102-0265 effective January 1, 2022. A report will be generated for the City website to identify vendors classified as small business, minority, women or veteran-owned business. Letters and forms are in the process of being distributed to current vendors. This will be a new requirement going forward for all new vendors. If you receive any questions from vendors or need the new form, please reach out to Matthew Bachler.
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FY24 Budget process is underway. Plan-It submittals were due on October 12 and are currently being reviewed by the Finance Department.
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Fee schedules have been distributed to departments for review, with a due date of October 21. Proposed changes will be presented at the November Finance Committee Budget workshop.
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Our Public Safety Open House is back! Bring your family/friends and join us this Sunday, October 16 from 11 am-2 pm at the Public Safety Building.
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- Save the date! Friday, December 2 is our Employee Holiday Party and Recognition Dinner. Invitations will be sent to employees’ homes and via email.
- Be sure to check out October Connect – HR’s latest newsletter.
- Flu Shots start this week! Appointments are not required but recommended. See flyer for details.
- We’re Hiring! IT Support Specialist, Parts Technician, PT Communications Specialist, and more! Check out our Job Board and don’t forget about the referral program.
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It’s Cyber Security Awareness Month! October is Cyber Security Awareness Month and it’s a perfect time to refresh the brain on some important tips for keeping you and your information safe.
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Think Before You Click: Recognize and Report Phishing: If a link looks a little off, think before you click. It could be an attempt to get sensitive information or install malware.
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Update Your Software: Don't delay -- If you see a software update notification, act promptly. Better yet, turn on automatic updates.
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Use Strong Passwords: Use passwords that are long, unique, and randomly generated. Use password managers to generate and remember different, complex passwords for each of your accounts. A password manager will encrypt passwords securing them for you!
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Learn more about Cyber Security Awareness Month!
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Mobile App 2.0. Didn’t we JUST implement the Lake Forest Now App?! Two awards, 4,000+ downloads and almost two years since we went live with the App, we are in need of ways to stay current and fresh with industry trends. We have engaged with a new vendor to ensure our mobile app reflects today's standards. We’re looking for feedback from you on this as well! If you have some new ideas, pain points, or any feedback at all feel free to reach out to Jim Shaw.
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City-Wide Security Camera Project. If you’ve been following along at home, we mentioned the Security Camera Project a few What’s Happening’s ago. Anyway, we’ve now put out the RFP for the project and have received interest from a number of potential vendors. These proposals are due on October 19, at which point we’ll be elbows deep in paper and thumb drives. We’ll then be spending the following weeks reviewing and scoring these proposals as we work with the project team towards identifying the best fit for the City.
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We’re Hiring!! We’re currently looking for an IT Support Specialist to join our team! We are looking for this role to be a jack-of-all-trades within our department, but have a focus in hardware rollout/upgrades, desktop support, and asset management. If you or anyone you know is interested in this role, please be directed to the preceding link. NOTE: Applicants must have an affinity for tacos.
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Deerpath Park Synthetic Turf Athletic Fields Project
Submitted By: Assistant to the Director of Public Works, Jim Lockefeer
Project design works continues as design is quickly approaching the 70% milestone! The project team continues to meet on a weekly basis to provide feedback the design consultant team. Once the design phase is complete, the City Council will consider funding project construction and discuss next steps.
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CROYA
- CROYA’s first ever Big Wheel Grand Prix had 25 races!
- CROYA’s High School Fall Retreat registration begins on Wednesday, October 12.
- CROYA’s High School service meeting to benefit Breast Cancer Awareness is Wednesday, October 12 from 7-8 pm.
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CROYA’s Poinsettia Sale begins on Wednesday, October 19. Order form will be available at croya.com. For more information, contact Susan Simms.
- CROYA’s Middle School meetings are on Tuesdays at 4 pm. High School meetings are on Wednesdays at 7 pm.
- CROYA is open after school from 3:30-5:30 pm (starting at 2:30 pm on Mondays).
- CROYA’s Cooking Club is every Thursday from 4-5 pm.
Forestry
- Fall parkway tree planting is occurring.
- The Fall Native Plant Sale is coming up on Saturday, October 29 at Mellody Farm Nature Preserve!
- Upcoming: Holiday light installation.
Parks
- Fall fertilizing of turf areas are underway.
- We are currently preparing to winterize irrigation systems.
Cemetery
- We are still busy with funerals.
- Fall leaf pick-up preparation is still underway.
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Recreation
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It's all about NYC at Lake Forest Dance Academy! They brought in guest choreographer Ashley Becker Payne from Quest Intensive, based out of NYC on Monday, October 10 for a three-hour tap choreography session for the performance company dancers. And in other exciting news, LFDA is planning its trip to NYC for June 2023! This amazing trip includes Broadway shows, dance workshops, and more and has been on hold since 2017. They are so excited to share this experience with their dancers once again.
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Four recreation staff members attended the annual National Recreation and Park Association Conference held in Phoenix, Arizona from September 20-23. This conference is a great educational opportunity and networking event that has solid programming sessions and always sparks new, creative ideas in parks and recreation.
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Our athletics staff is excited to announce that beginning in January of 2023, Junior Scouts Girls Softball Travel Teams will potentially be formed in age groups 16U, 14U, 12U, and 10U. The travel program will be an intensive component of Jr. Scouts Girls Softball, as they strive to achieve the goal of developing Lake Forest High School Girls Softball student-athletes. Tryouts are on October 15 - spread the word!
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Building Maintenance
Submitted By: Building Maintenance Supervisor, Erik Huston
- We are currently making repairs to some building concrete steps and ramps.
- Exterior wall repairs to the warming house walls in the parks are happening.
- We have hired a new full time employee, Wesley!
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Engineering
Submitted By: Superintendent of Engineering, Byron Kutz
- Paving is underway for the Burr Oak Area Storm Sewer Improvement Project with all restoration expected to be completed by late October.
- Next week, the paving contractor for IDOT will be grinding Deerpath from Westmoreland to Golf.
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Work continues on ComEd’s bridge on Deerpath that carries the Skokie Valley Bike Path. The contractor currently is maintaining 2-way traffic during the day to limit impacts to schools. Tentatively, all lanes of Deerpath Road are planned to be completely closed from Ahwahnee Lane to Route 41 beginning the evening of Friday, November 4 through early morning Monday, November 7 so that the bridge deck beams can be installed. The new bridge and the Skokie Valley Bike Path are expected to re-open by mid-December 2022. For more information, visit the ComEd Bridge webpage.
Fleet
Submitted By: Fleet Maintenance Supervisor, Ron Gramer
- We are preparing equipment for the upcoming snow and ice season.
- Refurbishment of fire truck #212 continues.
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Sanitation
Streets
- We are currently installing underground electrical for the Water Distribution Pressure Sensor Project.
- End of the year asphalt patching program has arrived.
Water & Sewer
Submitted By: Water & Sewer Supervisor, Rich Volpe
- We are pouring concrete pads and installing the conduit for the Distribution Pressure Sensor Project.
- Currently ditching and correcting drainage issues at the Compost Center.
- Finishing up lead service verification in meter pits.
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Water Plant
- Adjusting plant for lower distribution flows.
- Preparing for fall sludge work.
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October is Breast Cancer Awareness Month. This year, in addition to wearing our pink ribbon pins and placing pink ribbon decals on our vehicles, we have created a commemorative patch. For a $20 contribution, donors will receive a commemorative patch. Throughout the month we will be accepting donations at the Public Safety Building, as well as at planned events.
- Oct 16: 11 am-2 pm at the Public Safety Open House, 255 W. Deerpath.
- Oct 29: 8 am-noon at Gerhard's Bakery, 720 N. Western Ave.
Keep an eye open for additional pop-up sites!
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We've been sending "What's Happening" for awhile now - what do you think? How can we do better?
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The City of Lake Forest, Illinois | Website
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