SPRINGFIELD –State Senator Terry Link, working with the College of Lake County, the Illinois Federation of Teachers and the Illinois Education Association, is bringing the Illinois Department of Central Management Services to Lake County to explain the Medicare Advantage plans to state retirees and retired teachers around the area.

“I want to make sure our retirees have the answers they need to make an informed decision on which health insurance plan they choose,” said Senator Terry Link.  “This is an important decision for retirees, and I want to ensure CMS is available to answer everyone’s questions.”

Benefit experts will be on hand to help retirees sign up or change insurance providers.

The seminar will take place:

Saturday, November 16, 2013
Seminar will begin at 2:30 PM (to last approximately two hours)
College of Lake County – Room C-005
19351 West Washington St. Grayslake, IL

All retirees with questions are encouraged to attend this or another seminar. Retirees who do not select a Medicare Advantage plan by the December 13 deadline will lose access to state-subsidized insurance.

If you have any questions or concerns please call Sen. Link’s office at 847-821-1811 or click here for more information from CMS.

For maps of the College of Lake County please click here.

Area residents have considered Lakeside Tower in Waukegan a blight on the community for years. Those people took the opportunity yesterday to ask the Illinois Senate Legislative Petition Committee to encourage housing officials to investigate and take action.

Eleven witnesses, including neighbors, city officials and the Lakeside Tower property manager, provided testimony during a hearing at Waukegan City Hall. Senator Terry Link represents Waukegan and sponsored the petition on behalf of his constituents calling for a full investigation by Housing and Urban Development. Lakeside Tower is a concern because of unsafe and deteriorating conditions of the property and some indications of increased crime activity in the area.

Witnesses for the city suggested conditions are improving since they suspended the owner’s business license, while neighbors testified they have not seen improvements.

The issue came to the attention of the Illinois Senate as a petition from concerned citizens. Senator Link responded by sponsoring a legislative measure and bringing it to the committee. Link pledged to the committee and the petitioners a report on Tuesday’s hearing will be posted online and forwarded to HUD.

Related: Committee hears first Senate legislative petition

 Senator Terry LInk was pleased to welcome representatives of several area park districts on Tuesday for Parks Day at the Capitol. Link greeted professionals from Gurnee, Mundelein, Vernon Hills, Waukegan and Wheeling Park Districts.

To help residents of Lake County in need of affordable housing, State Senator Terry Link (D-Waukegan) introduced Senate Bill 1244.

The legislation would add a $3 surcharge to any real-estate related document to fund the Lake County Affordable Housing Trust Fund.

“For young people just getting their feet wet and for older people who no longer have a fixed income, it can be difficult to find affordable housing,” Link said. “My hope is that this surcharge will help the hardest-hit residents of Lake County find an affordable place to live.”

Potential projects to be funded with the surcharge include: housing production, including new construction, redevelopment and rehabilitation; down-payment assistance to homebuyers; rehab assistance to homeowners; preservation of existing affordable assistance; and more. 

All funds generated from the surcharge would stay in the county. According to the Lake County Affordable Housing Trust Fund, one in five renters is severely cost-burdened.

SB1244 was assigned to the Local Government Committee and awaits further action.