Predicting the future: A look ahead at 2009 in Lake County

A new year doesn't always mean a fresh start, although in 2009 several ongoing issues, events and projects are expected to be resolved. The economic crisis is a wild card, however, that may ripple across Lake County as communities may be forced to make difficult decisions on how much they can afford to spend. With road salt more than triple the usual price, for example, entities that plow and salt roads have been conserving supplies. But multiple storms already have stressed budgets. Following is a look ahead at some of the expected events of note for 2009, in no particular order.

On the road

Though preliminary work began in 2007, motorists in 2008 became accustomed to lane shifts and megadoses of construction on the Tri-State Tollway from O'Hare International Airport to the Wisconsin state line.

The halfway point of the $1.3 billion widening to four lanes in each direction recently was reached, and the work will move from northbound to southbound lanes. Traffic configurations will change but the same number of lanes that were open before work starts will remain open during construction.

Local impacts are expected for bridge work at Ballard, Central, Rockland, Half Day, O'Plaine, and Rosecrans roads, Milwaukee, Sanders and Grand avenues and Washington Street.

By the end of 2009, there will be four lanes open in each direction essentially from Indiana to Route 173 near the Wisconsin border.

Another major project involves the reconfiguration of the 1940s-era Grand Avenue/Route 41 interchange in Gurnee. The bulk of the work will involve shifting the ramps from the left to the right on each side of Route 41. The project is expected to be completed in late 2009.

Other major road projects scheduled to get underway are the widening of Route 45 from Route 137 to Route 120 in Grayslake and the widening of Route 83 from Petite Lake Road in Lake Villa through Antioch to the Wisconsin state line.

The meat of construction for those projects is scheduled for 2010.

How much more active the 2009 road construction will be is unknown. Lake County will have an additional $29 million available from a sales tax increase.

Other projects potentially could move off the drawing board depending on the details of President-elect Barack Obama's proposed public works plan and movement on a state capital bill.

Window shopping

Groundbreakings for big shopping projects will be virtually nil, with plans for the former fairgrounds in Grayslake and a retail center in Lindenhurst stalled. Still, two major commercial projects are being planned in 2009.

In Round Lake Beach, it took more than three years of approvals, but Wal-Mart Stores Inc., says it is moving ahead with construction of a Supercenter at Route 83 and Monaville Road.

Scheduled to be completed in late fall 2009, it will replace Wal-Mart's original Round Lake Beach store, which opened 20 years ago in a shopping center along Rollins Road. The new store is expected to add 150 to 200 new jobs.

Details are less clear for a proposed Costco store at the Tri-State Tollway south of Route 60 in Mettawa.

The proposal generated several lengthy public hearings and ignited public sentiment against a village board it said was being unresponsive.

The board agreed to sell property it owns to Costco but has not begun review of specific details of the plan. A lawsuit filed by a resident regarding the process also is pending.

Local elections in Mettawa are expected to be spirited as the Mettawa Transparency Party, formed because of the Costco controversy, is fielding a slate of candidates to challenge the incumbents.

Otherwise, experts have predicted more store closings and say filling empty spaces will be the mantra in 2009.

Plunging sales taxes have taken a toll on most communities. That becomes critical because those funds often are used to pay for a significant portion of day to day expenses.

Whether that trend continue or how deep it gets could force some towns into budget cuts and other tough choices.

Building blocks

Though commercial and residential development is expected to grind to a halt in 2009, there will be a number of other large projects underway.

Lake Villa's newest and largest park is expected to be complete by summer. Being built on 18 acres at the Lehmann Mansion, the park will include football, soccer and baseball fields, a fitness trail including exercise stations and a hockey rink that can be frozen in winter and used for roller hockey in the summer. Cost was about $700,000.

On Peterson Road just east of Route 60, Behm Homestead Park is scheduled to be dedicated in May. Fremont Township developed the 28-acre parcel into a recreation area featuring soccer/football, football, lacrosse, softball and baseball fields, playgrounds, a horseshoe pit and walking path with exercise stations. The exact opening of the $1.9 million facility to the public has not been determined but football is expected to begin in July.

On a larger scale, Lake County's $23 million central permitting facility is expected to be finished in December 2009. Located at the county's Libertyville campus at Winchester Road and Milwaukee Avenue, the building is planned as a one-stop shop for three permitting departments: planning, building and development; environmental health; and, stormwater management.

To the north at the Fourth Lake Forest Preserve, the Lake County Forest Preserve District's public safety and maintenance center also is expected to be substantially complete in 2009 with move in scheduled for February 2010. The $23 million facility will replace cramped space occupied by forest district rangers and maintenance staff and equipment at a farmhouse and other buildings at the Lakewood Forest Preserve near Wauconda.

And, the Lake County Health Department's $26 million administrative and clinical office building in Waukegan will be substantially complete. The building will bring a number of programs under one roof for more coordinated, efficient and accessible care.

Other public improvements anticipated in 2009 new library buildings are expected to be built in Fox Lake and Vernon Hills. Substantial renovations also are planned for Cook Memorial Library in downtown Libertyville.

Also in Libertyville, construction of an $8.6 million parking deck begins Jan. 5 at the southeast corner of Brainerd Avenue and Lake Street. The deck is scheduled to be complete by Labor Day.

To your health

The first new hospital in Lake County in 30 years could be on the horizon. The Illinois Health Facilities Planning Board on Jan. 6 and 7 is scheduled to review a proposal for a 132-bed acute te care hospital near Deep Lake Road and Route 132 in Lindenhurst.

Vista Health Systems has been trying to secure approval for the $106 million facility for more than a year. If the plan is approved, Vista would eliminated 108 beds at Vista East Hospital in Waukegan.

In another health-releated matter, Lake Forest Hospital is set to convert its Acute Care Center on Route 120 in Grayslake to a free-standing emergency center. Ambulances will be able to take patients there for treatment of minor, outpatient emergency room needs.

In the courtroom

Several high-profile cases could be resolved in 2009 after years in process.

Jerry Hobbs III, charged with the murders of his 8-year-old daugther and her 9-year-old friend in May 2005, is scheduled for trial on April 30. Both girls were stabbed multiple times in a Zion park. Hobbs is being held without bond.

A scheduling conference is will be held Jan. 21 for former Green Oaks Mayor Tom Adams. Adams, who also served as chairman of the Lake County Republican Party from 2002 to 2004, was arrested in July 2006 after police said he e-mailed child pornography to a police officer in Florida.

Lake County Circuit Judge David Hall is scheduled for trial Feb. 23. Hall was arrested and charged with DUI and resisting arrest following a traffic stop in April 26 near Vernon Hills.

And, Juan Rivera is scheduled to go on trial for the third time for the August 1992 rape and murder of Holly Staker in a Waukegan apartment where she was baby-sitting two children. Rivera twice has been convicted and was sentenced to life in prison after both convictions. The first conviction was overturned on appeal and a third trial was ordered.

Buyer's market

One entity expected to be busy in 2009 is the Lake County Forest Preserve District, which won voter approval for $185 million in bonds to buy land and improve facilities.

Land prices have dropped 10 to 15 percent and builders are unloading their holdings, giving any entity with cash an opportunity. The district has a wish list of 10,000 acres ranked by priority and is expected to be busy in the market.

Most of the bond proceeds or about $148 million would replenish land acquisition funds. About $37 million would be used for improvements, such as fishing piers and trails.