Lake County Board extends emergency declaration until Sept. 8

A divided Lake County Board on Tuesday voted to extend the emergency declaration prompted by the COVID-19 crisis until Sept. 8 or until Gov. J.B. Pritzker cancels his emergency order, whichever comes first.

The county's declaration initially was issued in March, and it's been extended several times. It allows board Chair Sandy Hart and other officials to make purchases related to the emergency without board approval.

The declaration also enables officials to continue operating an emergency operations center and keeps the county eligible for state and federal emergency funds.

The board approved the extension 13-8. Democrat Diane Hewitt of Waukegan joined seven Republicans in opposition.

Not all of the board's Republicans opposed the extension. Steve Carlson of the Gurnee area and Linda Pedersen of Antioch voted for it.

The board met remotely Tuesday due to the pandemic.