The Tribune asked candidates in contested races for Lake County Board five questions about issues facing county government.
This week the Tribune is running responses from those candidates. The following answers are from candidates in District 11. For a full list of answers from candidates in districts 4, 6, 13, 15 and 21, click here.
What is the biggest issue facing Lake County residents, and how would you address it as a County Board member?
Steven W. Mandel (Democrat): Pension costs and the slow growth economy threatens all Illinois governments and makes it very hard to hold down taxes and fees. We must create efficiencies in government by sharing services, consolidating small governments, and looking to the private sector to provide services while maintaining quality. The State must deal with their own fiscal problems without putting additional costs on local governments as well as continue to fund past revenue sharing commitments to us.
Laura Lambrecht (Republican): The State of Illinois’ continued mismanagement and fiscal insolvency is having a larger impact on local governments each year. The State has taken revenue streams away while forcing unfunded mandates on the County. As they continue to pass the buck and shirk responsibilities, the County will have to deal with the repercussions.
Lake County needs to also seriously review the current infrastructure under its jurisdiction including space issues at the County Courthouse. We will need to invest in the future of Lake County by expansion of the courthouse or the building of a new one. Other county departments are scattered in various locations in buildings that often do not serve the county well. Investments in roads, efficient facilities and other infrastructure that will have a lasting value to the county should be a priority in the next 10 years.
Lake County and the Chicago Metropolitan Planning Agency are to conduct a land-use study for a proposed extension of Highway 53. Do you support the extension? What issues should the study take into consideration?
Steven W. Mandel (Democrat): If it follows all the environmental restrictions and remediation recommendations and does not raise taxes or fees I would consider supporting. What issues should the study take into consideration? Suburban sprawl is a big concern that could have a negative impact on water supply, natural habitat, and increased costs for government. As we provide infrastructure to less populated areas of the County we must understand the capacity of our resources and be able to limit development to work within a realistic and holistic County wide plan.
Laura Lambrecht (Republican): I do support the extension; the study will need to look at how to be environmentally sensitive to the areas they are going through. Sound Walls, berms, lowers speed limits, size of highway and even using a lower grade on the highway all could help environmental impact of this important project. Also a traffic study of how truck transportation can be routed around Chicago directly to the business’s in Lake County should be part of the needs study. Right now those traveling from Schaumburg north on Rt 53 reach a barrier that prevents easy access to Lake County and its many businesses, which have suffered over the years as a result. The barrier also prevents free flow of goods between counties and the region. Plans to expand Rt. 53 have been around for over thirty years. It is time to get them off the table and put them in a more shovel ready position.
Motorola Mobility’s announcement this summer it would leave Lake County for Chicago and lay off employees in the process came as a surprise to many people in the county, including elected officials. As a County Board member, what would you propose county do to retain employers like Motorola Mobility and also attract new jobs?
Steven W. Mandel (Democrat): Absolutely, I think we need to continue to work with employers and business to create incentives and support to provide jobs for our residents. Lake County has much to offer and we need to continue to network with Lake County Partners and market our County. I would focus on urban areas for redevelopment where folks need jobs and infrastructure is underutilized.
Laura Lambrecht (Republican): It is unfortunate that they moved, and it is very hard to compete when communities are willing to throw incentives that will eventually have a negative effect on their budget to take from neighboring communities. In the end, it will be a loose/loose for both of the communities.
When you start down a road of giving incentives, unless there is great economic gain, it will definitely hurt the community in the long run.
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Most businesses in Lake County complain of inadequate infrastructure and roads that prevent them from access to their plants, factories and offices. If a truck filled with Motorola products has a difficult time traveling through Lake County, that remains a negative. We need to address infrastructure issues including roads, access to water and sewers. We need to assess the traffic situation and improve it through better timed stop lights and more right and left turn lanes. More communication between such employers and the county would be invaluable in assessing their needs, wants and desires to determine if they can be met economically. Such communication has been subpar and I will advocate increasing it dramatically.
The Lake County Assessor’s Office has indicated that even though property assessment valuations are generally lower this year, property taxes aren’t likely to decline for residents. As a County Board member, how would you respond to residents frustrated that they aren’t seeing property tax relief even in difficult economic times?
Steven W. Mandel (Democrat): A shrinking total assessed value actually means that we all have to pay more per dollar assessed. The only way to help residents control their tax increases is to shrink governments in the districts. My answer in question one deals with how I will promote relief for the taxpayer by creating a new model for governments that provide services for reduced costs.
Laura Lambrecht (Republican): It remains a frustration because of so many taxing bodies that affect our tax bills. The county has performed well in holding the line on spending and keeping taxes in line, but school districts, municipal governments, fire districts, townships, libraries and other entities raise their rates to compensate for lower property values. I would advocate a measured tax freeze which would prevent tax bills from automatically rising absent a local referendum. Playing with valuations needs to stop.
The Lake County Board recently approved a “planned unit development” concept for a shopping center in Ela Township on a property owned by the Dimucci family. Even with tighter controls on the site, neighbors still objected to the potential size and scope of the project. Did the board make the right decision, and if a developer makes a specific proposal for the site, what should be considered in the county’s review?
Steven W. Mandel (Democrat): I have not reviewed the testimony on this issue and honestly do not have the facts to make an informed decision. I know this issue has been going on for a long time and decision was agreed to by adjoining municipalities. I would work on pushing these kind of issues back to the municipalities but also understand the private property rights of landowners and requirement to work within our County zoning if petitioned.
Laura Lambrecht (Republican): The county board had a number of meetings with all of the residents, and offered them a number of interaction points. The vote of the board was unanimous. It is important to have shovel ready sites throughout Lake County if we are to promote business moving to Lake County. When and if a company is ready to move, if we do not have zoning, infrastructure, and sewer ready to go, the business will not come but move to another community where those things are available. Takeda came because the county did over $3M of sewer work. We need to be proactive on getting shovel ready sites for business.
If and when the developer makes specific proposals, it should again go through the county review and the neighbors will again have another opportunity to have input into what is built at the site. Nowhere during the process did they give approval to a specific plan, and in fact a specific plan was not presented only a general concept, which leads it back to the county for final approval.
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