Cook County Commissioner Gregg Goslin

2011 Miami Woods Restoration Report

admin — Wed, 08 Feb 2012 17:35:59 +0000

North Branch Restoration Project Stewards Kent and Jerry Fuller have produced the annual report of progress in the Miami Woods Forest Preserve for 2011 and a review of the restoration activity over the past 10 years.

Commissioner Goslin will present this report, which details the successes and challenges affecting this project, into the official record at the Cook County Forest Preserve Meeting in March, 2012.

The Miami Woods Forest Preserve extends for one mile along the west side of the North Branch of the Chicago River in the Village of Morton Grove. It contains around 100 acres of natural area.

Last December marked the completion of 10 years of intensive work in Miami Woods, which is part of the North Branch Restoration Project. Kent Fuller reports that over the past 10 years, Miami Woods Forest Preserve was host to 293 workdays, drawing 7,559 volunteers visits and a total of 20,760 hours of volunteer work. In 2011 alone, volunteers contributed 1,878 hours of work in Miami Woods.

Thank you to the Fullers and their energetic team of volunteers who are helping restore the Miami Woods Forest Preserve! To read the entire report, which describes what the Fullers call the “five pillars”, please click here to download the full report from the North Branch Restoration Project website.

The North Branch Restoration Project is a group of dedicated citizens that work to help protect and restore native Illinois ecosystems. They are an entirely volunteer organization, and hold regular weekday and weekend volunteer work days to complete their restoration activity. You can find information about the workday schedule and how to get involved on the their website.

Illinois Counties Association Scholarships

admin — Mon, 06 Feb 2012 11:10:34 +0000

Applications for the Illinois Counties Association (ICA) Scholarship program are due May 11, 2012. Scholarships are available to students attending an accredited college or university for the 2012-2013 academic year.

Up to 15 ICA Scholarships of $3,000 are available to incoming freshman and the John H. Stroger Memorial Scholarship is available for $3,000 for students Masters level or above.

Applications are available for download at the ICA website and can be submitted online via e-mail. Along with the electronic application, you must submit:

Resume
Two letters of recommendation
Endorsement statement from County Official
500-word Personal statement
300-word Essay on an Issue facing youth in your community
High School or College Transcript

For more information on the scholarships, you can download the brochure.

National Spay/Neuter Month in Cook County

admin — Fri, 03 Feb 2012 20:52:34 +0000

February is National Spay/Neuter month and the Cook County Department of Animal & Rabies Control will be offering a rebate for spay/neuter costs to help solve our country’s pet overpopulation problem.

Participating veterinarians will receive a $40 rebate for any dog, cat or ferret spayed/neutered during February; this rebate will be passed along to the customer.

Contact your local veterinarian or the Cook County Department of Animal & Rabies Control for more information.

Election Judges Needed

admin — Thu, 02 Feb 2012 17:04:14 +0000

The Cook County Clerk’s office is seeking citizens to serve as election judges for the March 20th Presidential Primary. Election judges will receive $170 for completing a hands-on training class and serving on Election Day from 5 a.m. until the polls close. Click here to get more information and apply online.

County Board LIVE

admin — Wed, 01 Feb 2012 11:12:59 +0000

Live streaming audio of the proceedings of the Cook County Board is now available through the Cook County website. Tune in to listen to today’s Board Meeting at 10am.

Northfield Township Appeal Seminar

admin — Tue, 24 Jan 2012 17:13:04 +0000

Northfield Township will be open for 2011 Board of Review appeals between January 10 and February 8, 2012. Property owners are invited to attend a property tax appeal seminar for the Cook County Board of Review on Monday, January 30th at 7pm at the Glenview Public Library.

These seminars will educate taxpayers on how to file a successful tax appeal in a time when the economy is putting added pressures on home and business owners.

The hour-long session will include a presentation explaining how property taxes are calculated and outlining the appeal procedure of the Board of Review. Before the end of the evening, taxpayers will have an opportunity to work with Board of Review analysts to address their specific questions.

The event will be free to the public and there is no fee to appeal. Taxpayers are asked to bring copies of their most recent tax bills.

Taxpayers may appeal online by visiting www.cookcountyboardofreview.com or may visit the Northfield Township office at 3801 West Lake Avenue in Glenview for assistance with preparing appeals.

The seminar will be held on Monday, January 30th from 7 pm – 8:30 pm at the Glenview Public Library,1930 Glenview Road in Glenview.

Hosted by Board of Review Commissioner Dan Patlak, Northfield Township Assessor Patricia Damisch and Cook County Commissioner Gregg Goslin.

Taxpayers may also appeal online by visiting www.cookcountyboardofreview.com or may visit the Northfield Township office at 3801 West Lake Avenue in Glenview for assistance with preparing appeals.

Please contact the Board of Review at (312) 603-3644 with any questions.

Wheeling Township Appeal Seminar

admin — Thu, 05 Jan 2012 16:23:50 +0000

Wheeling Township is open for open for 2011 Board of Review property tax appeals until January 20, 2012. Property owners are invited to attend a property tax appeal seminar for the Cook County Board of Review on Monday, January 16th at 7PM at Arlington Heights Memorial Library.

This seminar will educate taxpayers on how to file a successful tax appeal in a time when the economy is putting added pressures on home and business owners.

The hour-long session will include a presentation by Board of Review Commissioner Dan Patlak that will help taxpayers understand how property taxes are calculated and explain the appeal procedure of the Board of Review. Before the end of the evening, taxpayers will have an opportunity to work with analysts from the Board of Review to address their specific questions.

The event is free to the public and there is no fee to appeal. Taxpayers are asked to bring a copy of their most recent tax bill.

The seminar will be held on Monday, January 16th at 7PM at Arlington Heights Memorial Library (500 N. Dunton Ave, Arlington Heights)

Hosted by Board of Review Commissioner Dan Patlak and sponsored by Wheeling Township Assessor Jerry Sadler, Cook County Commissioner Gregg Goslin, Cook County Commissioner Timothy O. Schneider and State Representative David Harris.

Please contact the Board of Review at (312) 603-3644 with any questions.

Taxpayers may also appeal online by visiting www.cookcountyboardofreview.com.

FPD Picnic Permits on Sale January 3rd!

admin — Fri, 30 Dec 2011 19:29:09 +0000

The Forest Preserve District of Cook County will begin selling 2012 picnic permits online and in person on Tuesday, January 3.

In-person sales will take place from 8am – 4pm at the Forest Preserve District of Cook County General Headquarters, 536 N. Harlem Avenue, River Forest, Illinois.

Online sales can be accessed here and will also open at 8am on January 3rd.

Following this, online sales will remain available 24 hours a day.

Normal hours for in-person sales are Monday – Friday from 9am – 4pm, and will begin on Wednesday, January 4.

A Picnic Permit must be obtained by groups of 25 or more. Only two picnic permits per person or organization are allowed per year.

Permit prices vary based on the size of the group and the amenities available at the grove. Permits for groups larger than 399 people must be purchased in-person at the River Forest General Headquarters location.

2012 County Budget Message

admin — Wed, 21 Dec 2011 18:19:43 +0000

Lower Taxes, Less Spending, Reduced Headcount.
Commissioner Goslin is pleased to report that on Friday, November 18th, the Cook County Board of Commissioners approved the 2012 Budget by a vote of 16-1.

This streamlined budget reduces the Stroger sales tax increase another 25%, following a 50% reduction of the sales tax increase approved by the Board in February 2011. The final 25% of that sales tax increase will be eliminated in 2013.

I opposed many of the tax increases approved in the 2012 budget, including taxes on some tobacco products, a parking fee at county court houses and the adjustment of a variety of fees associated with permits and inspections to make them market rate. I did, however, support a tax on wholesale wine, beer and spirits–this modest alcohol tax will be dramatically offset by the reduction in the county sales tax rate. The total county tax we pay for wine, beer and spirits was less in 2011 than it was in 2010, will be less in 2012 than 2011 and will again be less in 2013 than 2012.

Work on the 2012 budget began March 1, 2011. It was a transparent, thorough and professional process. The final product was the result of compromise, collaboration and concessions, utilizing professional benchmarks such as the STAR Performance Management program. The approved budget includes a variety of County-wide strategic reform initiatives that will transform county government and tackle the structural deficit in the years to come. These initiatives include:

Centralized Management of all banking & financial relationships
Consolidation of disparate, inefficient IT functions
Overhaul of Time Management Policy
Creation of Shared Services Center

Put short, this is a comprehensive and forward-thinking budget that incorporates key structural changes to County operations and makes significant investments in operational efficiency.

The Daily Herald newspaper editorial in support of this budget concluded with this paragraph:

“And it’s worth noting that for whatever complaints this budget has attracted, the process has not suffered from the animosity seen elsewhere in politics. Indeed, we can think of some governmental leaders about 200 miles south or 700 miles east who could take a lesson from what’s happening in Cook County – and we hope school, municipal and county agencies throughout the suburbs are paying attention, too.”

Bottom line: Cook County taxes are dropping, spending is lower and its workforce is shrinking. The County continues on its new trajectory of smaller government!

2012 FPD Budget

admin — Fri, 16 Dec 2011 17:14:37 +0000

Chairman Goslin led the Forest Preserve Finance Committee through the Forest Preserve budget process this winter. On Thursday, December 15th, the 2012 FPD Budget was approved unanimously at the Special Meeting of the Forest Preserve District Board.

The total proposed appropriation for FY2012 is $195 million. This includes:

$58M general operating budget, a 1.5% increase from 2011
$5.7M for Construction and Development
$13.8M for Capital Improvements
$10.1M for Real Estate Acquisition, including $4M in new money
$15.5M for Brookfield Zoo (the Zoo raises $48.5M)
$9.6M for Botanic Garden; (the Garden raises $19.8M)

The main objectives for the District in 2012 are:

Focusing on greater accountability by implementing recommendations from the desk audit and achieving compliance with the Shakman rules

Continuing to restore our natural forests, savannahs and prairies

Continuing to identify and acquire key land parcels and create connections between District properties

Expanding public outreach initiatives and educational programs, particularly for children

Building and leveraging the District’s conservation, land restoration and environmental protection work by continuing to grow our volunteer corps

Completing a new Land Acquisition Plan, releasing a more transparent Capital Improvement Plan, and completing a plan for the District’s new initiative to restore and expand its historic campgrounds