Lake County Gazette

The Bangs Lake Outfall Improvement Project has been awarded a grant as part of the Department of Commerce and Economic Opportunity Stormwater Capital Improvement Plan (STOCIP). The lake, which features a watershed spanning approximately 3,000 acres, experiences overflow beginning at Phil’s Beach and traversing various properties including those owned by the Park District, School District, Public Works, businesses, and residents.

In 2022, Village staff collaborated with representatives from the Lake County Stormwater Management Commission to identify potential improvement projects eligible for a $30 million county-wide grant funding program. Following a scoping study completed shortly thereafter, a grant submission was made.

Design engineering commenced in October 2023 to enhance the grant scoring of the project. The proposed improvements include stream bank enhancements, a new overflow system with automated gate control, installation of new storm sewers and box culverts, construction of retaining walls, utility relocation, sheet piling work, and tree and vegetation removal. The project encompasses around 4,000 linear feet of streambank improvements.

In July 2024, an intergovernmental agreement (IGA) was reached between the Village and Lake County SMC with an anticipated grant amounting to $2,729,654 towards project completion. Design engineering and bidding processes were finalized by January 2025 with final IGA approvals and bid awards concluded in February.

Construction is scheduled to take place throughout 2025.

A video showcasing the grant program can be viewed here: Round2.0 DCEO Grants in Action.