[{"_1":2,"_123":-5,"_124":-5},"loaderData",{"_3":4,"_26":27},"root",{"_5":6,"_17":10,"_18":19,"_20":21,"_22":10,"_23":-5,"_24":-5,"_25":10},"user",{"_7":8,"_9":10,"_11":10,"_12":-5,"_13":-5,"_14":15,"_16":-5},"roles",[],"isAuthenticated",false,"isPremium","planName","subscriptionStatus","featureFlags",{},"insightsBudget","isDevelopmentHost","userPreferences",{},"recaptchaSiteKey","6LcvOJcUAAAAAHsB-gPGfGktcRlKpH7OTIU_dMTD","isImpersonating","impersonation","affiliateStatus","isFreedomPortal","routes/v2/article/layout",{"_28":29,"_30":31},"notFound",true,"relatedArticles",[32,75,87,99,111],{"_33":34,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":40,"_41":42,"_43":44,"_45":46,"_47":48,"_49":50,"_51":52,"_53":54,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":60,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":66,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},"mediaId",6020068,"mediaKeyId","5769851-9c1ba16b74578e77e0048f132871916f","parentId",5769851,"title","Studio North unveils six finalists in City of North Chicago rebrand; council will vote after local review","audioSeconds",828,"startMs",2972000,"endMs",3800000,"viewUrl","/Search/View?dp=1&key=5769851-9c1ba16b74578e77e0048f132871916f&start=2972&end=3800","thumbnailUrl","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/5769851-9c1ba16b74578e77e0048f132871916f/thumbnail_2972000.jpg","articleUrl","/articles/6020068/North-Chicago/Lake-County/Illinois/Studio-North-unveils-six-finalists-in-City-of-North-Chicago-rebrand-council-will-vote-after-local-review","mediaUrl","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6020068-dc1055ad0e133fdfeca2c76155807fda/orig.mp4?Expires=1775402499&Signature=L-c4wNONS4nyuzaZDVC7iiMJb87Y0DDvM0ITP1EL3lUO2QNNHVZ3HbDnflwzC28DE3InJAxVQ~3IAja~hm0W4l1Q~27acbDDfOvQFgoI2aUqkLprtFLlOAAVVYCHQqgoF7ORE4vf7clf~nHHC5pkX8WNDCohzG~scKOWPXzzMab~u4BnsJVnxf0wClyL9YgP2uaelMZj0Lx46hbpxjodzg72qH6hrssI4iKk526FAiln3HziZsOO-vsV7~yVuU8xLvjCS40dx315iTu-ui3yAukDVzBGV1S3-d4R5dLpZvY6k80ZoGySLU1kSIM2r8iJuTvivIkWVfsrzWIjCSuw5A__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","author","North Chicago Illinois","date","2025-09-11T20:18:37Z","article","Studio North presented a public process and six finalist logo/tagline concepts to the council’s Committee of the Whole and asked aldermen to review designs with constituents before a planned vote later this month.
Presenters from Studio North described a multi‑phase process — stakeholder interviews, a documentary, surveys and community days — that produced a four‑part brand promise and a short list of six finalists. Studio North said the top three vote getters during the community process emphasized the clock tower, rooted history and a community anchor; other finalists referenced a rising sun and a stylized anchor tied to the city’s naval history.
The mayor and city staff said they will distribute the presentation deck to aldermen, collect feedback and return with a recommended choice and a formal vote at a subsequent meeting (the presenters asked aldermen to consider a vote to finalize the brand at the September 16 session so the city can publicly debut the identity at a documentary screening scheduled for Sept. 26 at North Chicago Community High School).
Council members and staff discussed swapping taglines among designs, adjusting color options and ensuring the chosen mark is flexible for long‑term use. No final selection or expenditure was made at this meeting; Studio North will continue community engagement and return with a proposal for formal adoption.
","mediaType","Video","parentTitle","North Chicago COUNCIL & COMMITTEE MEETINGS 09.02.25","oneSentenceSummary","Studio North presented six logo/tagline finalists to the council and community; staff expects aldermen to review the designs and vote on a preferred identity in a subsequent meeting so the city can debut the brand at a September documentary premiere.","taxTitle","North Chicago, Lake County, Illinois","taxId",55514,"location","headline","","shortSummary",{"_33":76,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":77,"_41":78,"_43":79,"_45":80,"_47":81,"_49":82,"_51":83,"_53":84,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":85,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":86,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},6020073,"Public Works details pump failures, requests funds to rebuild pumps and clean raw‑water wet well",127,3047000,3174000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=5769851-9c1ba16b74578e77e0048f132871916f&start=3047&end=3174","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/5769851-9c1ba16b74578e77e0048f132871916f/thumbnail_3047000.jpg","/articles/6020073/North-Chicago/Lake-County/Illinois/Public-Works-details-pump-failures-requests-funds-to-rebuild-pumps-and-clean-rawwater-wet-well","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6020073-2d1e3ea3baeb3a87696aef22a8a90dae/orig.mp4?Expires=1775402499&Signature=bElih3nlLzaqVTdf~yR3RHjSP9qjIfZXDgU~NxpJ1hO3f1SArJsac4ujYZ53CJWA63y9z-yHK~C1hWjcb37qc84rDxR4zQ1ss6ImZHRZRzWvTNtv8YKyAhXA7oqrpyoYw14XF-GvPVBzrPp5jc4L1Mdpb5zGfEOv~oVno5O0iSWN7RtlvT6ml72iz9DqiY9BRAdAm3ibgn23q5COwAlHhd66OByMSof0BnDdSrYABHlb9mctyFtwWBpsPlHyNnglNkk9SOloCUoFGUffQD40BvAVOIVywu2uicp6ng~1ds29VXfQ73ucj1Ztl0qy1m-W77jqWO0nPIAH4eyobEujpw__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","Public Works staff told the council’s Public Works Committee that a raw‑water pump failure required urgent attention and that sediment accumulation in an intake wet well must be cleaned before additional pumps are rebuilt.
City engineer Steve and plant staff explained the city operates four raw‑water pumps that serve a large industrial customer (AbbVie). Two pumps had been rebuilt last year and were operating; a second rebuilt unit failed after staff discovered a submerged intake door had been left open for an extended period (staff said roughly six years), allowing sediment, zebra mussels and debris to enter and bypass intake screens.
Staff requested authorization for work that covers two elements: (1) rebuild a third pump (estimates and quotes included in committee packet) and (2) repair the intake door and remove the accumulated sediment and plugged screens in the wet well. Staff described the requested amount as a maximum not‑to‑exceed sum (figures in packet: pump rebuild about $147,000 plus a contingency; the public works item referenced a $272,000 maximum in committee discussion). The work would restore the third pump so the city can provide three pumps when AbbVie requests higher summertime flows (engineer said each pump can deliver about 8 million gallons per day).
Committee members asked about steps to prevent recurrence; staff said they will institute a monthly exercise and signoff procedure for the intake doors and add routine check sheets and maintenance logs. Staff also said prior turnover in plant staff contributed to the oversight and that outside vendors will continue routine maintenance while staff rebuild institutional knowledge.
No final contract award was recorded at the committee meeting; staff asked for authorization to proceed with repairs and included contingency funding estimates. The committee discussion focused on technical details, maintenance protocols and plans to document door operations going forward.
","Public Works reported a failed raw‑water pump and requested authorization for work to rebuild a third pump and remove sediment from an intake wet well, citing an inadvertently left‑open door that allowed six years of sediment accumulation; staff said AbbVie currently requests two pumps and the city needs three operational pumps to meet demand.",{"_33":88,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":89,"_41":90,"_43":91,"_45":92,"_47":93,"_49":94,"_51":95,"_53":96,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":97,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":98,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},6020078,"Council awards Sheridan Crossing soil remediation contract, schedules kickoff with Lake County",510,2412000,2922000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=5769851-9c1ba16b74578e77e0048f132871916f&start=2412&end=2922","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/5769851-9c1ba16b74578e77e0048f132871916f/thumbnail_2412000.jpg","/articles/6020078/North-Chicago/Lake-County/Illinois/Council-awards-Sheridan-Crossing-soil-remediation-contract-schedules-kickoff-with-Lake-County","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6020078-062d80ee8b683d7ec5b4fb81300aac08/orig.mp4?Expires=1775402499&Signature=Uir-qPnfGXeT3pqITY5AdzIzvXZLywUewYSFBvErixbBu-YkoKLlo7CyR5H-YHWXp3iLcsWjXJIMTJvhBfuywt~QFF7K6Ow~C685ozTchel7SD7RgMvu-veDHkUH5ny3EpiMqGyb7cvziLvOTv7vTO8w8sJs6PSrwibwkLxO6XT2yhsvQnnTSHRXN-5BIV5MDct30AlSCKFuaI6tjPyq0ImpSeSFMFGLbpaseBr5AtLW9b9uASm2Vgk5kHP4K2S9x8BVoCeHYMSX7PXhKq-d1WvoYf87K3GnKdFTO-6OTakdm298VTnxoaKdUJRbgWXB1FC8UlaeQceACILq6e2GVw__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","The City Council voted to award a soil remediation contract for the Sheridan Crossing site to the vendor listed in the packet with a bond not to exceed $1,194,970 and announced a public kickoff with Lake County on Friday, Sept. 5.
Alderman Evans moved to approve the Sheridan Crossing soil remediation project award to “free flow 200 and terra bond” with a not‑to‑exceed price of $1,194,970; Alderman Brooks seconded. The motion passed on a roll call vote with all present aldermen voting aye.
Mayor Rockingham and staff invited the community to the Sheridan Crossing remediation kickoff at Martin Luther King Drive and Sheridan Road on Friday, Sept. 5 at 1 p.m. Staff described the award as a step to remove contamination from the site and create a “clean canvas” for future redevelopment; the mayor said the site cleanup is a collaboration with Lake County.
No amendments to the award were recorded at the meeting. The city will coordinate cleanup work and community outreach ahead of subsequent planning and redevelopment decisions for the Sheridan Crossing parcel.
","The council awarded a remediation contract for Sheridan Crossing to the apparent low bidder with a bond not to exceed $1,194,970 and announced a project kickoff coordinated with Lake County on September 5.",{"_33":100,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":101,"_41":102,"_43":103,"_45":104,"_47":105,"_49":106,"_51":107,"_53":108,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":109,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":110,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},6020082,"Council approves hourly rate increase for Anselblink legal services after discussion",704,1676000,2380000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=5769851-9c1ba16b74578e77e0048f132871916f&start=1676&end=2380","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/5769851-9c1ba16b74578e77e0048f132871916f/thumbnail_1676000.jpg","/articles/6020082/North-Chicago/Lake-County/Illinois/Council-approves-hourly-rate-increase-for-Anselblink-legal-services-after-discussion","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6020082-d883f3b3401aa18ecd1202a475068470/orig.mp4?Expires=1775402499&Signature=AcODXF20B3peyctg8yLg9Pf1FZuIOtpI3CpxfmaCJBEC4wYFNzLpj6JPFSPXuzhhmA~hheIB-LiOXj-nhU7tKG-LPmM5AGS97hJ9c91vOEOhEIkgRKc-MQ2HJLeIYvpQexmGU51e6B6-KmhTC-wpv4mWFMzH62~GUJiE9ivLwwEwznoZl~9toxn-7NzhZiDLnqoNaf3rUxRTYCpEuAhEKbfqeFURtR2zdC1ROxi9U4fiopO-czxny39SkFKhwStvSroYbjtn6hqyGtE6xemby0ed4tuJYGqEHW7ROcMuXIZjF75yjdg9LNDF8C7EvPC9wNCcJDKEPLR8gKRnq~1FiA__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","The City Council approved a proposed hourly rate increase for outside counsel Anselblink during the regular agenda, with a separate direction to review whether the city should consolidate council representation to a single attorney.
Alderman Evans moved to approve the firm’s requested rate increases; Alderman Allen seconded. Council discussion included questions from Alderman Jackson about the number of attorneys attending council meetings and a request for a monthly outline of services and itemized billing. Anselblink representatives explained they use multiple attorneys to cover specialized areas, that the firm has 45 attorneys overall, and that the proposed increases were intended to reflect current market rates.
According to the figures presented by the firm, partner rates would increase by 30 cents (a 14% increase over the 2021 rate of $2.10 in the transcript — transcript numbers reflect firm’s internal rate schedule), associates by $0.20 (10% increase) and paralegals by $0.10 (7.7% increase). The firm noted those increases are below the cumulative inflation rate since 2021.
The council approved the motion on a roll call vote with all present aldermen voting aye. The approval included a stipulation that staff and the council would revisit whether the council should have a single attorney dedicated to council meetings, and that staff would provide more detailed monthly billing outlines upon request.
","The council approved a proposed rate increase for the city’s outside law firm Anselblink (presented by John), with a stipulation to revisit whether the council should rely on a single attorney in future meetings.",{"_33":112,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":113,"_41":114,"_43":115,"_45":116,"_47":117,"_49":118,"_51":119,"_53":120,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":121,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":122,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},6020087,"North Chicago council schedules review of draft ordinance regulating kratom and synthetic THC products",4145,247000,4392000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=5769851-9c1ba16b74578e77e0048f132871916f&start=247&end=4392","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/5769851-9c1ba16b74578e77e0048f132871916f/thumbnail_247000.jpg","/articles/6020087/North-Chicago/Lake-County/Illinois/North-Chicago-council-schedules-review-of-draft-ordinance-regulating-kratom-and-synthetic-THC-products","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6020087-44d47112920bfe8d38640618201cb30d/orig.mp4?Expires=1775402499&Signature=H275GlKOI3LuiCNN1kJIEq4VegT0o90gURqOdkobLZL9F8pUs3lBp3A3T2w4efLVHDBQq6-F19cjxmbYK8t-qyMsAn1vVTTB5XBhrKdMbt1-LiQXZj1TWRL4aCV6b2-aDj3~SDG-~XEf7owQZRxwMLKnC6e5hgbaSU4a5jSHZjCEQ4zRHajTT3YraQbL5tW3uLLRhQtkd-eTDNWQJlmqO450XJlWwenLJ-8fBxUotTu1KaipFle9FbypRPBviOn7muYoI95Ad3rLY2VJz2~MmSjeQgUIWNv2x4Oa-m1rqsX2LyvicSKrvLAjxFTq1htM1k-aD0ei30Uy8HqQHBM2~Q__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","Dozens of residents and health professionals spoke at public comment urging the City of North Chicago to preserve access to natural kratom while restricting synthetic derivatives, and staff responded by asking the council to move a draft ordinance to committee for further study.
Advocates including Misty Brown, who described herself as a “fierce kratom advocate and activist,” and Dr. Heidi Sikora, a retired nurse practitioner and health care executive, told the council that many people in the community use whole‑leaf kratom to manage chronic pain or addiction recovery. Jim Pratt and Michael Fasano, residents who said they consume kratom for pain and insomnia, and Laura Romney, a chronic‑pain patient, also urged restrictions target semi‑synthetic products rather than a wholesale ban on the plant.
Chief of staff (unnamed) told the council a draft ordinance prepared by the city attorney is in the meeting packet and asked the council to send the item to committee for more research. Staff said it had already contacted the Illinois Department of Public Health and Lake County Health Department and reviewed FDA, CDC and NIH materials, but staff also said more work is needed to reconcile some scientific and regulatory claims heard tonight. The chief of staff asked that the matter be tabled to the September 15 committee meeting so staff can return with additional analysis.
Speakers repeatedly distinguished “whole‑leaf” or natural kratom products from concentrated, semi‑synthetic products commonly referred to in the meeting as “7‑OH” or “7‑hydroxymitragynine,” which speakers and some federal notices characterize as more potent and riskier. Advocates requested education programs, age restrictions (21+), behind‑the‑counter sales and testing/labeling to keep natural kratom available while removing dangerous synthetic products from shelves.
Council members did not vote on the ordinance; staff asked the council to carry the draft ordinance forward to committee on September 15 and return with additional technical and enforcement details. The chief of staff said enforcement mechanisms would be critical to any local policy, and the council noted Oak Park’s ordinance as an example to review.
The city attorney’s draft ordinance and staff followup will determine whether the council considers a full ban, an age‑restricted retail model, or targeted prohibitions on specific formulations. No formal code change or ban was adopted at this meeting.
","After hours of public comment from kratom users and health professionals, city staff asked the council to send a draft ordinance banning sales of certain synthetic THC and kratom products to committee for more research before deciding on a ban or age‑restricted sale.","actionData","errors"]

Article not found

Studio North unveils six finalists in City of North Chicago rebrand; council will vote after local review

Public Works details pump failures, requests funds to rebuild pumps and clean raw‑water wet well

Council awards Sheridan Crossing soil remediation contract, schedules kickoff with Lake County

Council approves hourly rate increase for Anselblink legal services after discussion

North Chicago council schedules review of draft ordinance regulating kratom and synthetic THC products