Title
Ordinance amending the Lake County Standards of Conduct for appointed officials to boards and commissions.
Staff Summary
• Illinois Public Act 098-0779 authorizes a county board in a county with a population between 300,000 and 2,000,000 residents to, by ordinance, adopt a code of conduct regarding the fiscal responsibility and procurement authority, as required by State law, local ordinance, or county board policy.
• On November 11, 2014, the Lake County Board adopted the Lake County Standards of Conduct, with subsequent amendments on July 9, 2019 and July 13, 2021.
Body
ORDINANCE
WHEREAS, the County Board of Lake County is the appointing authority for more than 70 local appointed units of government encompassing nearly 300 appointees; and
WHEREAS, the County Board Chair has the authority to appoint individuals to serve on the governing bodies (such as boards and commissions) of various units of local government and agencies throughout Lake County, and the individuals appointed must be confirmed by the County Board; and
WHEREAS, Illinois Public Act 097-0084 (55 ILCS 5/5-1133(a)) authorizes a county board in a county with a population between 300,000 and 2,000,000 residents to, by ordinance, require any unit of local government or agency to which the county board chairman or county executive nominates and the county board confirms a majority member appointments to provide the county with detailed information; and
WHEREAS, pursuant to the 2020 Census, the population of Lake County is 714,342; and
WHEREAS, pursuant to Illinois Public Act 098-0779 (55 ILCS 5/5-1133(b)), counties may, by ordinance, adopt a code of conduct regarding the fiscal responsibility and procurement authority, as required by State law, local ordinance, or county board policy, as well as the accountability, transparency, and ethical conduct of county appointees, in addition to those requirements mandated by law for and applicable to the appointees to any unit of local government, agency, or commission for which the county board chair, county executive, or county board serves as the appointing authority; and
WHEREAS, pursuant to Illinois Public Act 098-0779 (55 ILCS 5/5-1133(b)), counties may, by ordinance, provide for the removal of an appointee when it is established that an appointee has violated the code of conduct and reasonable notice and opportunity for a hearing have been provided; and
WHEREAS, Lake County adopted the Lake County Standards of Conduct at its November 11, 2014 meeting and subsequently amended the Lake County Standards of Conduct on July 9, 2019 and July 13, 2021; and
WHEREAS, the Financial and Administrative Committee has made amendments to its Ethics and Conduct Code, formerly identified as the Ethics Ordinance; and
WHEREAS, it is the intent of the Financial and Administrative Committee to ensure appointees comply with the state’s Open Meetings Act requirements and that the language in the Lake County Standards of Conduct be consistent with the Act.
NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT ORDAINED, by this County Board of Lake County, Illinois, that in substantial conformance with the attached “SOC - Clean” be adopted and be made effective immediately; and
BE IT FURTHER ORDAINED, by this County Board of Lake County, Illinois that the recitals are hereby incorporated into this ordinance; and
BE IT FURTHER ORDAINED, by this County Board of Lake County, Illinois, that the Financial and Administrative Committee, or a commission overseen by the Financial and Administrative Committee, shall be responsible for the administration of the Lake County Standards of Conduct for appointed boards and commissions in accordance with the Ethics and Conduct Code; and
BE IT FURTHER ORDAINED, that this ordinance shall be filed with the County Clerk.
DATED at Waukegan, Illinois, on May 13, 2025.