The Des Plaines River Water Reclamation facility in Buffalo Grove will see the replacement of aging equipment thanks to federal funding approved this week. | Photo: Lake County Government

Lake County is slated to receive more than $14 million in infrastructure funding as part of a new federal bill signed into law by President Joe Biden.

Biden signed the 2022 Consolidated Appropriations Act on Tuesday, according to The White House.

A list of projects submitted by Lake County’s U.S. Representatives Brad Schneider and Lauren Underwood along with U.S. Senator Dick Durbin through the Community Projects Funding and Member Designated Projects federal initiatives were selected.

The infrastructure projects aim to mitigate flooding, strengthen emergency operations, replace aging infrastructure and expand behavioral health service, Lake County officials said.

“Over the years we’ve worked closely with our federal delegation on Lake County’s infrastructure needs,” Lake County Board Chair Sandy Hart said.

“We are extremely excited to hear that they have been successful in their efforts to obtain federal funding for some of our critical projects. We thank our legislators for their tireless advocacy and commitment to successfully garner this funding. It will allow Lake County to be better prepared to handle challenges in emergency communications, flood management and behavioral health that will benefit residents and businesses now and into the future,” Hart said.

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$7.7 million will go towards the construction of a new storm sewer and flood storage facility to reduce flooding near Naval Station Great Lakes in North Chicago.

$3 million will go towards a project aimed at reducing flooding impacts to transportation, homes and businesses near Dady Slough Lake in Waukegan.

$1.3 million will go towards improvements to the nearly 100-year-old dam on Sylvan Lake in order to protect hundreds of homes in Long Grove and Hawthorn Woods.

$1 million will go towards the construction of a new facility integrating Lake County’s Emergency Operations Center with expanded 911 operations and technology.

Officials say the new dispatch center will improve the response, coordination and value for Lake County communities and agencies.

$1 million will allow the Lake County Health Department Libertyville Mental Health Center to double their physical capacity to provide substance use counseling, medication-assisted treatment and counseling to children and youth.

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$400,000 will go towards the replacement of aging equipment that operates the Des Plaines River Water Reclamation facility in Buffalo Grove.

The facility serves thousands of residents and is a critical part of Lake County’s sanitary sewer systems.

“We have worked tirelessly to build strong legislative relationships with mayors, the General Assembly and our federal delegations,” said John Wasik, Lake County Board Member (District 6) and Chair of the County Board Legislative Committee.

Wasik said the process started nearly three years ago and involved visits to 11 different legislative offices in Washington and personal meetings between Lake County staff and the county’s federal partners.

“These strong bonds resulted in Rep. Schneider, Rep. Underwood and Sen. Durbin delivering funding for major infrastructure and other projects and services that will alleviate flooding, improve mental health care and create living wage jobs. We thank everyone for their extraordinary work and focused attention on Lake County’s needs,” Wasik said.

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