
Thank you for visiting my website. It is an honor and privilege to serve as the Cook County Board Commissioner and Forest Preserve District Board Commissioner for the 13th District which includes the following Cities and Villages: 49th & 50th Wards of the City of Chicago, the City of Evanston and the Villages of Glencoe, Glenview, Kenilworth, Lincolnwood, Morton Grove, Niles, Northfield, Skokie, Wilmette and Winnetka.
Although our Cook County government has a low profile, it is a vast operation with many important responsibilities and an annual budget of $6 billion. It is responsible for operating our court system, jail, maintaining over 69,000 acres of forest preserves, and acting as a healthcare safety net through the operation of three hospitals and sixteen clinics.
The purpose of this site is to provide information on Cook County government and the Forest Preserve District of Cook County as well as links to other government resources. I regularly post news stories and information on County and Forest Preserve issues which may be of interest to you. Additionally, my legislative library contains up-to-date information on County and Forest Preserve legislation.
I encourage you to contact me with any questions or ideas you have regarding Cook County or the Forest Preserve District. I hope you find this site useful. Thank you for taking the time to visit.
Sincerely,
 Larry Suffredin
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April 2021
Office Address 2510 Green Bay Road Evanston 60201
Note: Due to the pandemic, staff are working remotely.
Jane Balaban Honored as 2021 Unsung Heroine
Skokie resident Jane Balaban received the 2021 Unsung Heroine Award for the 13th Cook County district from the Cook County Commission on Women’s Issues on March 4. Jane is a tireless champion of the forest preserves and an environmental volunteer extraordinaire. Her efforts have contributed to dramatic improvements in the local forest preserves and brought together hundreds of volunteers annually who work to enrich the biodiversity of public nature preserves. Read more.

Statement from Cook County Health regarding the Johnson & Johnson Vaccine April 13, 2021
Following guidance released this morning from the US Food and Drug Administration and the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Cook County Health will pause the use of the Johnson & Johnson vaccine until the FDA and CDC complete their review. Depending on the vaccine location, individuals with appointments for J&J this week will receive Moderna or Pfizer. Those who do not wish to receive the Moderna or the Pfizer vaccine should call 833-308-1988 to cancel or reschedule their appointment. Today’s appointment release, currently scheduled for 3PM, will not include appointments for Johnson & Johnson. The Cook County Department of Public Health has asked all Johnson & Johnson partners to pause using the vaccine as well. Cook County Health will provide additional information as it becomes available. Following CDC/FDA guidance, individuals given the J&J vaccine who are experiencing severe headache, abdominal pain, leg pain, or shortness of breath within three weeks after receiving the shot should contact their health care provider.
COVID19
Vaccination Virtual Town Hall
On February 2, there was a virtual Town Hall Meeting on the vaccine. To watch this event click here. To read the frequently asked questions from the event click here. To view the slides from the event click here.
Vaccine Information
As we all struggle to return to normal life, the process of moving from worrying about protective gear to contact tracing to vaccination continues. The lack of vaccine has put the northern part of Cook County at a disadvantage. Fortunately, there now seems to be increased vaccination delivery and additional sites to receive a vaccine.
While patience is still the key to survival, there is hope we can get most people vaccinated in the coming weeks.
Below is important information on COVID-19 vaccinations.
Cook County is open to statewide residents
All Cook County Sites are open to all Illinois residents. The State is supplying increased vaccinations.
Please use the following link to make a reservation here or call 833-308-1988.
Cook County Vaccination Report
Here is Cook County’s weekly report on vaccination distribution dated April 12, 2021. These reports are updated weekly. Past reports can be found here. This report does not include Evanston, Skokie and Chicago as these municipalities have their own independent health departments.
Other vaccination sites
In addition, you can request reservations at the following sites:
- If you live in suburban Cook County (and do not live in Evanston and Skokie) click here
- If you live in Chicago, click here.
- If you live in Evanston, click here.
- If you live in Skokie, click here.
In addition, you can register for a vaccine appointment at these private pharmacies:
Walgreens
Walmart
CVS
Jewel Osco
Mariano’s
Important Coronavirus Information from the Centers for Disease Control
How Coronavirus spreads:
-Between people who are in close contact with one another (within about 6 feet). -Through respiratory droplets produced when an infected person coughs or sneezes.
The best way to prevent illness: -Avoid close contact with people who are sick. -Avoid touching your eyes, nose, and mouth. -Stay home when you are sick. -Cover your cough or sneeze with a tissue, then throw the tissue in the trash. -Clean and disinfect frequently touched objects and surfaces using a regular household cleaning spray or wipe. -Wash your hands often with soap and water for at least 20 seconds, especially after going to the bathroom; before eating; and after blowing your nose, coughing, or sneezing. -If soap and water are not readily available, use an alcohol-based hand sanitizer with at least 60% alcohol.
Here are six reliable sources of up- to-date information:
1) The Centers for Disease Control https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-nCoV/index.html
2) Illinois Governor JB Pritzker https://coronavirus.illinois.gov/s/
3) Cook County Department of Public Health https://cookcountypublichealth.org/
4) Cook County Forest Preserves https://fpdcc.com/coronavirus-disease-covid-19-events-locations-precautions/
5) Social Vulnerability Index across different areas of Cook County https://maps.cookcountyil.gov/svi/
6) COVID-19-related fatalities by location, time, age, gender and race/ethnicity https://www.cdc.gov/nchs/nvss/vsrr/covid_weekly/index.htm
Cook County has text system and hotline to provide COVID-19 updates “AlertCook,” offers subscribers a direct line of communication to receive updates from Cook County Government related to public health alerts and emergency management. Send a text, "AlertCook," to 888-777 to opt-in and receive the latest COVID-19 alerts and information. Normal texting rates may apply.
Cook County Department of Public Health has a COVID-19 hotline and email address for the general public to receive answers to frequently asked questions. The hotline number: 708-633-3319 and email address, ccdph.COVID19@cookcountyhhs.org, will be staffed between the hours of 9 a.m. and 4 p.m. Monday through Friday.
Many Property Tax Exemptions will Auto-Renew this Year Due to COVID-19
Exemption applicants can now file online at Assessor’s website
Cook County Assessor Fritz Kaegi reminds property owners that due to the COVID-19 pandemic, the Illinois legislature is allowing the Assessor’s Office to automatically renew many property tax exemptions for tax year 2020. The following exemptions will automatically renew this year, for homeowners who received them last year for tax year 2019 and who remained eligible in 2020:
- Homeowner Exemption (annual auto-renewal)
- Senior Exemption (annual auto-renewal)
- Senior Freeze Exemption (2020 auto-renewal)
- Persons with Disabilities Exemption (2020 auto-renewal)
- Veterans with Disabilities Exemption (2020 auto-renewal)
In the next couple of weeks, hundreds of thousands of households will receive mail from the Assessor that confirms the auto-renewal of the exemptions placed on their homes. All exemptions will be applied to the second installment property tax bills issued in summer of 2021.
Property owners are advised that the first installment bill that was recently mailed to property owners does not reflect 2020 exemptions or assessment appeal, or COVID adjustments. By law, it is 55 percent of the total taxes paid the previous year.
The Assessor’s Office also identifies households who may be newly eligible for exemptions (such as homes that recently sold before January 1, 2020) and homes that have not received an exemption in the last two years. The Assessor’s Office mails Taxpayer Exemption Booklets directly to these homeowners. The booklets contain applications and instructions on how to apply for the Homeowner, Senior, and Senior Freeze Exemptions if eligible.
Applications for new exemptions are also available online via the Assessor’s website at cookcountyassessor.com and are due March 31, 2021.
In addition, the Assessor’s Office determines which properties may qualify under state law for the Longtime Homeowner Exemption, and mails an application to these homeowners.
Additional information regarding all exemptions may be found by visiting the Assessor’s website, www.cookcountyassessor.com/exemptions.
RESOLUTIONS PASSED BY THE COUNTY BOARD HONORING THE 937 LIVES OF COOK COUNTY 13TH DISTRICT RESIDENTS WHO HAVE DIED FROM COVID-19 through March 8,2021.
IN MEMORIAM
WHEREAS, Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) is a deadly infectious disease that has swept across our county, state, nation and world; and
WHEREAS, anyone can contract COVID-19, regardless of race, color, sex, age, religion, disability, national origin, ancestry, sexual orientation, or gender identity; and
WHEREAS, as of June 10, 2020, COVID-19 had killed more than 400,000 worldwide, 115,000 in the United States, 5,900 in Illinois and 4,000 in Cook County; and
WHEREAS, each of the departed leave family, friends and communities in mourning; and
WHEREAS, as of June 10, 2020 COVID-19 had killed 445 residents who lived in the 13th District of Cook County; and
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