Open Lands Bagpipes & Bonfire Recap, City Updates, and Mayor George Pandaleon | Lake Forest Podcast

In this special episode of the Lake Forest Podcast, hosts Pete Jansons and Joe Weiss are joined by former Lake Forest Mayor George Pandaleon. 🎙️

We kick off with a recap of the Open Lands Bagpipes & Bonfire event 🥁🔥, held on Sunday, September 29, at the Middlefork Farm Nature Preserve. Attendees enjoyed Highland games, a marching piper procession, and a warm community bonfire. The event supports LFOLA's mission to connect people to nature. 🌳

Learn more about the Open Lands Bagpipes & Bonfire event:
Event Info https://lfola.org/events-calendar/cel...

https://www.grumforlakecounty.com/

https://www.maryforlakecounty.com/mar...

Beyond the event, the conversation covers important updates on:
🚒 New Police Station: Discussing plans and comparisons with Wilmette’s police station project.
💰 City Spending & Taxes: Breaking down property taxes, the high school referendum, and potential tax rebates.
🏗️ Lake County Shore Development: Exploring the $73 million plan to protect Lake Michigan's shoreline.
📈 Pension Liabilities: How Lake Forest manages pension obligations for long-term stability.
🏘️ Business Development: Discussing downtown storefronts, TIFs, and local retail challenges.
Proceeds from the Bagpipes & Bonfire event support LFOLA's mission to connect all to nature through outreach and land stewardship.

Key Moments:
0:00
3:05 Pre Show Chat Bagpipes and Bonfires party at Joe's
4:00 Fire at Lake Forest Dump?
4:58 Former Mayor of Lake Forest, Illinois, George Pandaleon
6:31 Lake County Shore Development plan https://capitolnewsillinois.com/news/...
6:58 Caleb Williams new house in Lake Forest? https://www.barstoolsports.com/blog/3...
8:27 Former Lake Forest, Illinois, Mayor George Pandaleon background
10:14 Council Meetings re: City Spending
10:51 New Police Station
15:23 How much is the Wilmette Police Station in comparison? https://www.wilmette.gov/Faq.aspx?QID...
16:46 What is the issue with this property? What don't people get?
18:17 Financing Bond for Turf Fields vs The High School referendum bond issue
20:30 Blame on Randy for taxes versus Dr. Montgomery of the School District. Can we get a rebate on how the School District got the money versus how they should have?
22:12 How does the tax bill break out? What are we paying for?
23:10 Can we ask for a rebate from Dr. Montgomery and the School District?
24:19 How can the taxpayers get their money back like Mayor Urlacher and Mettawa, IL?
24:52 Pension liabilities?
31:19 What are the Lake Forest, Illinois, Opposition Groups going to complain about next?
32:39 What will the Opposition Group advertising be? What will they cry about?
35:05 What is the beef against this property?
35:45 Rec Center needs help
37:05 Lake Forest will get the Police Station done at least half the cost of Wilmette, and we get a new fire station too!
40:05 Lake Forest police involved with Highland Park massacre
40:35 Mayor George going to roll call during 2020 chaos to address the troops
44:30 Any opinions on Lululemon looting?
45:50 How do we get more businesses other than art galleries in storefronts of Lake Forest, Illinois?
50:00 TIFs?
52:50 How does a Mayor make a TIF fair to current renters?
54:30 Utilization of the Deer Path New Field
57:25 Private donations and Lake Forest Beach Walkway
1:00:00 Lake Forest Hospital ER bad rap
1:01:50 Dr. Mass and Immediate Care on Waukegan Road—Great Place for ER care