Title
Ordinance for the naming of Lake County owned property, including land, parks, and structures.
Staff Summary
• Lake County does not have an established process or criteria for naming of Couty owned property.
• This ordinance will ensure no building or structure of the Lake County government may be named, re-named, or name removed except pursuant to an official Board action by the Lake County Board.
• Nominations for naming of public facilities and land shall be made only in writing by a majority of a quorum of Board Members to the Finance and Administration Committee and shall strictly adhere to established criteria.
• This ordinance does not apply to the naming of public streets, roads, alleys and other similar thoroughfares.
Body
ORDINANCE FOR THE NAMING OF LAKE COUNTY OWNED PROPERTY, INCLUDING LAND, PARKS, AND STRUCTURES.
WHEREAS, Lake County does not have an established process or criteria for naming of County owned property; and
WHEREAS, the Finance and Administration Committee, directed staff to develop an ordinance for the nomination, review, and naming of Lake County facilities, structures, and land; and
WHEREAS, this ordinance establishes a process and criteria to be used by the Lake County Board to review all nominations for naming of facilities, structures, and land.
NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT ORDAINED, by this County Board of Lake County, Illinois, no building, structure, or land of the Lake County government may be named, re-named, or name removed except pursuant to an official Board action by the Lake County Board; and
BE IT FURTHER ORDAINED, that nominations for naming of Lake County facilities, structures, and land shall be made only in writing by a majority of a quorum of Board Members to the Finance and Administration Committee; and
BE IT FURTHER ORDAINED, that this process shall not apply to the naming of public streets, roads, alleys and other similar thoroughfares; and
BE IT FURTHER ORDAINED, that the Lake County Board shall consider naming of buildings and structures using the following criteria:
1. Proposed name shall have a strong positive image and should stand the test of time.
2. Proposed name shall have appropriate regard of a geographical, historical, ecological, or functional purpose.
3. Proposed name shall commemorate places, people, or events that are of continued importance to the town, county, region, state, and/or nation.
4. Proposed name shall have broad public support.
5. Proposed name shall recognize outstanding accomplishments by an individual for the good of the community.
6. Proposed name of an individual shall consider the quality of the involvement to the County or their community along with the length of service by the individual.
7. Proposed name of an individual shall be deceased.
8. Proposed individual cannot be currently in any public or governmental office.
9. Proposed name shall not result in the undue commercialization of the facility.
10. Other such factors may be considered as the Lake County Board deems appropriate; and
BE IT FURTHER ORDAINED, this Ordinance shall be in full force and effect from, and after, its passage and adoption by this County Board of Lake County, Illinois.
DATED at Waukegan, Illinois, on February 10, 2026.