Company Profile
Company Overview
A picturesque community located high on the bluffs overlooking Lake Michigan, Lake Forest is one of the eight suburban communities north of Chicago that are collectively referred to as “the North Shore.” Just 30 miles from downtown Chicago, Lake Forest’s 20,059 residents are spread out over 16.8 square miles of which approximately 95% is zoned single-family residential. The western boundary of the City is the Illinois Toll Road (I-94) with three interchanges serving the City. With two commuter railroads, the divided four-lane U.S. Route 41, which connects to the Edens Expressway on the south and Wisconsin 1-94 on the north, scenic Green Bay Road and Sheridan Road (Illinois 137), the four-lane Waukegan Road (Illinois 43), and the abovementioned Illinois Toll Road, the transportation arteries serving Lake Forest are exceptional.
LAKE FOREST CITY GOVERNMENT BACKGROUND
The charter under which the City of Lake Forest was incorporated provides advantages not available to cities incorporated under the general statutes enacted by the legislature after the adoption of the 1870 Illinois Constitution. The main advantage is that the charter permits Lake Forest to be administered efficiently and economically with a minimum number of separate government bodies.
The City Council is the legislative and policy-making body. It includes the Mayor and eight Aldermen, two from each of the City’s four wards. The Mayor is elected biannually for a two-year term and Aldermen are elected to staggered two-year terms, with one Alderman elected from each Ward annually. Aldermen receive no compensation and the Mayor receives an annual $10 salary. The charter also provides for the appointed offices of City Treasurer, City Marshal and Collector, and City Supervisor (now ceremonial officers)—all of whom serve one-year terms and receive token salaries of $10 per year.
The day-to-day operations of Lake Forest’s government are in the hands of a full-time, professional, salaried City Manager who oversees 252 employees and an annual budget of $69 million. The Manager is appointed by the Mayor, with the approval of the City Council. The current City Manager has been in his position for 16 years. The Fire Chief is appointed by the City Council, but is one of the City’s ten Department Heads who work with and is responsible to the City Manager for providing high-quality, responsive services to the residents and others who work or visit in the community.
Company History
The City of Lake Forest was incorporated as a City under a charter granted by the Illinois legislature in 1861. The community was primarily founded to support the establishment of church-related educational institutions. By World War I, however, the list of property owners in Lake Forest read like a Who’s Who of the rich and famous in Chicago. These prominent businessmen chose to make Lake Forest their permanent residence or they had their summer homes in the community. Lake Forest is also known for the quality and character of its architecture whether erected for residential, religious, educational or public purposes. For example, Market Square located in downtown Lake Forest was constructed in 1916 and was reported to be the first shopping center in the U.S. Today Market Square is home to many nationally recognized retail businesses as well as unique specialty stores.
Over the last decade Lake Forest has continued to develop 900 new residences. The City is beginning a transition from a developing community to a fully developed community. It is a family-oriented community with excellent schools and outstanding recreational opportunities for its residents.
Benefits
The City of Lake Forest provides employees with an extensive benefits package. A summary of some of these benefits may be downloaded by going to the following link:
http://www.cityoflakeforest.com/emp/emp2.htm