Residents urge county help on dark intersection, liquor-density and homelessness during public comment

Several members of the public raised transportation safety, alcohol availability and homelessness at the Aug. 12 Lake County Board meeting. Wayne Thoren told the board the intersection of Route 60/83 near Mundelein is extremely dark at night, causing sight-line problems and a high crash rate; he asked for overhead lighting and a speed-limit reduction to 40 mph between Midlothian and Route 176 and asked the county to coordinate with state and village officials. Thoren said FOIA records he obtained showed 111 accidents from Jan. 2019 through Sept. 2024 with 31 percent occurring at night. Brother Blanks, speaking for a local community-arts group, described a planned “Lake County Taste of Africa” outdoor event on Aug. 16 (801 McAllister Avenue between Lennox and Eighth Street) and said vendors have sanitation licenses and some permits; he said he would follow up with his commissioner to confirm compliance for an outdoor event. Rayon Edwards urged board members to press local mayors about liquor licensing, saying alcohol is a leading contributor to crashes and community harm, and asked the board to address homelessness; he said PADS (local shelter organization) had been unhelpful when he referred people and invited board members to a Southside Reunion event on Aug. 31. Board members did not take formal action on public comments; several members acknowledged the concerns and directed residents to relevant municipal contacts or county staff for follow-up.