2011 Miami Woods Restoration Report 2012 County Budget Message Deer Grove East Restoration Update Business License for Unincorporated Cook
2011 Miami Woods Restoration Report
2012 County Budget Message
Deer Grove East Restoration Update
Business License for Unincorporated Cook
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.
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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.
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The Deer Grove East restoration project currently underway is expected to restore 25.5 acres of historic wetland habitat and enhance 14.5 acres of existing wetland.

Openlands, the contractor completing the project, worked with ecologists from FPDCC, the Army Corps of Engineers and other partner agencies to create the master restoration plan.

We recently received an update from Openlands about the ongoing project, including details on a new community volunteer group for Deer Grove East.
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A new Cook County law requires all businesses in unincorporated Cook County to hold a General Business License (GBL). The purpose of the GBL is to ensure businesses operating in unincorporated Cook County are in compliance with public health and safety standards, as well as with all other County ordinances.

Business owners must apply for the GBL, which is good for two years, and pay the $40 license fee online. Businesses out of compliance may be subject to a $1000 fine.
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Wheeling Township Appeal Seminar

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. Read More…

 

FPD Picnic Permits on Sale January 3rd!

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.

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2012 FPD Budget

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. Read More…

 

Public Safety Funding

Commissioner Goslin stood with fellow County officials to announce restoration of key public safety funding in the 2012 budget. The $4.5 million restores 15 attorneys, 14 Victims Witness Staff, 5 Investigators and 8 members of the legal support staff in the State’s Attorney’s Office and 10 attorneys, 27 investigators and 1 administrative assistant to the Office of the Public Defender.

 

County-wide Reforms

Commissioner Goslin, along with several reform-minded colleagues, stood with president Toni Preckwinkle to announce county-wide reform initiatives expected to increase accountability throughout the County and yield long-term savings. The initiatives include centralizing the management of all banking and financial relationships throughout the County, consolidating IT functions, overhauling the County’s time management policy, and creating a shared-services center to ensure best practices and centralized management and oversight.

 

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