Adam Schlick: 2024 candidate for Lake County Board District 2

Bio

Party: Republican

Office Sought: Lake County Board District 2

City: Wauconda

Age: 42

Occupation: Battalion Chief

Previous offices held: Lake County Board Member, Wauconda Village Board Trustee and Wauconda Park District Commissioner

Why are you running for this office, whether for re-election or election for the first time? Is there a particular issue that motivates you? If so, what?

As your representative on the Lake County Board, I have always believed that the most pressing issues are best addressed at the local level. Our communities deserve leaders who are not only experienced but also deeply committed to solving our local challenges with transparency, pragmatism, and a dedication to public service.

If re-elected, I will continue to champion fiscal responsibility. My priority has always been to maintain a balanced budget while limiting any increases to the tax levy. In these times of economic uncertainty, it is more important than ever that we find innovative ways to stretch every dollar, ensuring that the burden of inflation is not simply passed on to our taxpayers.

In addition to my work on the board, I am particularly proud of my contributions to the Lake County Forest Preserves. These preserves are among the most pristine and beautiful in the state of Illinois, and it is our responsibility to protect and preserve them for future generations.

If you are an incumbent, describe your main contributions. Tell us of any important initiatives you've led. If you are a challenger, what would you bring to the board and what would your priority be?

One of my proudest accomplishments has been crafting and finalizing our new policy on large-scale grade and fill operations.

During my last campaign, a project was proposed in the Village of Round Lake — a large grade and fill operation disguised as a recreational opportunity, known as the “ski hill project.” Although the Round Lake Village Board ultimately voted it down following significant citizen opposition, the project revealed a loophole in our code that could be exploited.

In collaboration with the Building, Planning, and Zoning Director, we developed a carefully crafted code amendment to ensure that such projects are subject to proper zoning and oversight. My hope is that this new regulation will prevent future “mud mountain” projects from being proposed in Lake County.

Describe your position regarding the balance between county spending and revenues as it exists today, then describe the chief threats you see looming in the future and how the county should deal with them.

When I joined the county board, we had maintained a couple of years of zero tax levy increases while keeping a balanced budget. Much of that was due to the significant federal funds provided by the CARES Act and the American Rescue Plan Act, which supported various capital initiatives.

However, with most of that money now allocated and the cost of goods and services rising, last year presented the challenge of minimizing our financial impact on taxpayers.

Unfortunately, the majority of my colleagues chose to levy the maximum amount instead of tightening the budget and taking only what was necessary. A group of us, in collaboration with our CFO, demonstrated that we could still achieve everything essential with just a 2.5% levy increase by deferring some new programs to future budget years.

This approach was not unprecedented, as the same board adopted a similar strategy with the Lake County Forest Preserve, approving only a 2.7% levy increase instead of the full 5%.

Does there need to be more bipartisanship and cooperation on the county board? If yes, what would you do to help make that happen?

Over the years, the county board has experienced increasing political division and a decline in bipartisanship.

When I first joined, you could definitely feel and see some of these tensions. Coming from the municipal world, where boards are nonpartisan and often composed of a diverse range of political ideologies, I was used to working with members who, while we may not have agreed on national issues, shared a common love for our community. That spirit of collaboration was not a foreign concept to me.

Though I haven’t often felt unheard due to being in the minority party, I would like to see a greater effort to base committee assignments — particularly chair and vice-chair roles — on experience and expertise rather than political affiliation.

What do you see as the greatest need in your district from a county (roads, etc) and forest preserve (facilities, amenities) standpoint?

From a county road perspective, I believe we need to take a serious look at the safety of Fairfield Road. It is a heavily traveled road where vehicles often reach high speeds. In particular, the intersection of Fairfield Road and Chardon Road needs attention.

Just a few months ago, there was a fatal accident, and in the months leading up to it, several significant accidents occurred due to the curve of the road and the speed of vehicles.

On the Forest Preserve side, my focus is on the continued progress at Lakewood Forest Preserve. Having the largest preserve in my district is a privilege, but it’s disappointing that it remains one of the most outdated, with fewer amenities compared to other preserves.

I’m pleased that staff have been responsive to my input over the past two years, and we are making great strides in improving it. My hope is that we can continue this momentum and perhaps one day even bring the Bess Bower Dunn Museum back to the Lakewood complex.

What have constituents in your district been asking about that you would like to see addressed in some fashion?

The issue I’ve been hearing about more frequently is the ongoing struggles with our waste hauler agreement. While most residents recognize that having a single hauler helps reduce wear and tear on our roads and saves them money on their monthly bills, customer service has significantly deteriorated. It’s become common for me to forward resident complaints to building, planning, and zoning just to get issues resolved.

With the renewal period approaching in the next term, I want to ensure that we address these recurring issues. I plan to advocate for stronger provisions in the next agreement to hold the waste hauler accountable for substandard service. I’d also like to explore options for clearly defining responsibilities to make the resolution process more efficient.

Is the county/forest board behind the pay curve compared to other jurisdictions and how can the county/forest board best strive to attract and retain key employees?

I’ve noticed that while some of our compensation aligns well with similar-sized government organizations, there are certain technical positions where we fall slightly behind. This is especially apparent in the Stormwater Management division, where we have been lagging compared to both the private sector and similar roles in other sectors — particularly when it comes to engineers and wetland specialists.

The good news is that I believe we’re all in agreement on the path forward. With our new Director of Human Resources working diligently, we are making significant progress. She is currently completing a comprehensive compensation study, which will provide us with a road map to ensure we are competitively pricing our salaries moving forward. I’m confident this will help us address these discrepancies and position us more favorably in the marketplace.

Do you think the forest preserve should proceed with an agreement with Waukegan Port Authority for 52 acres of Waukegan Savanna? Why or why not?

I would not be in favor of moving forward with an agreement with the Waukegan Port Authority on the 52 acres.

Initially, I was open to the idea when asked about our willingness to proceed, as there was mention of potential long-term benefits to the district, such as trail expansion. However, since then, it appears that many promises made by the Waukegan Port Authority — specifically around environmental impact studies and public hearings — have not been fulfilled.

While I understand that none of the land acquired from the forest preserve would have a runway on it, this proposal seems to contradict the core mission of the forest: “To preserve a dynamic and unique system of natural and cultural resources, and to develop innovative educational, recreational, and cultural opportunities of regional value, while exercising environmental and fiscal responsibility.”

Given these inconsistencies, I believe we need to carefully consider the implications of this agreement.

Is there a general issue or concern on your radar you would like to see the county/forest board address?

I believe it’s time to revisit the county ordinance on open burning. While the restrictions on leaf burning were put in place due to health and safety concerns, I don’t think we’ve provided residents with larger properties sufficient alternatives for disposing of landscape materials. One particular provision that needs addressing is the restriction on burning branches and sticks to winter months only.

Just a few weeks ago, a major storm came through our area, bringing down a large number of branches. While residents in municipalities had access to brush pickup services, those in unincorporated areas were left without a convenient option.

This highlights the need for more flexibility in the ordinance, especially for unincorporated residents. I look forward to starting this conversation soon and exploring potential adjustments.