Lake County briefs

Employee insurance costs up:Vernon Hills employees will pay more for health insurance following recent action by the village board. The move, made as part of the budget process, will adjust the amount employees pay for monthly health insurance premiums from 15 percent to 20 percent. With the increase, employees will pay about $82 per month for single PPO coverage and about $175 for an employee and spouse. Monthly HMO costs will increase to about $78 for a single and $168 for employee plus spouse.Metra parking to increase:Parking rates at the Vernon Hills Metra commuter train station will increase March 1. Metra has agreed with a village request to increase the daily fee on all spaces, including daily and long-term, from $1.50 to $1.75. Bimonthly passes also will increase from $50 to $55 effective with the March/April pass. The village had asked to increase the daily fee to $2, but Metra said that would be overly burdensome for consumers. The two parking lots have a combined 680 spaces. About 200 to 230 spaces are used each day, according to the village.Road work discussion:Diane O'Keefe, deputy director of highways for the Illinois Department of Transportation, will hear suggestions for Lake County road projects during an open house Tuesday, Jan. 26. This is opportunity for the public to provide input directly to IDOT regarding future state road and intersection improvements. The session, which will cover IDOT's proposed five-year improvement program, is from 4 to 6 p.m. in Building C, College of Lake County, on Washington Street west of Route 45, Grayslake.Big Bad Wolf on trial:Teacher Tamara Graham's third-grade class will present the traditional trial of Big Bad Wolf at noon Tuesday, Jan. 26 at Woodland Elementary East in Gages Lake. Graham's class in the Gurnee-based Woodland Elementary District 50 system has been studying a language-arts unit on folktales. Pupils have been comparing two versions of the classic story "The Three Little Pigs." One version is from the porker's point of view and the other from the wolf. Children also have been studying the judicial system and U.S. government so the Big Bad Wolf trial will allow them to combine their knowledge. Lake County Circuit Judge Raymond McKoski will preside over the wolf's trial. He's been the judge in the wolf's case since the program's inception 12 years ago. A jury will issue a verdict in Big Bad Wolf's case.Lake Zurich surveys calls:The village of Lake Zurich is asking residents to respond to a 12-minute phone survey assessing village effectiveness and community priorities. The village is teaming with Northern Illinois University for the survey. The university is making the calls and its name will appear on caller ID. Residents with questions regarding the survey can contact village hall.