Thirteen municipalities across Cook County received 193 certificates of purchase from the 2011 Scavenger Sale as part of the county’s No Cash Bid Program, President Preckwinkle announced today. The No Cash Bid program is one of the county’s economic development tools designed to help municipalities and other taxing bodies acquire tax delinquent property for reuse as private development, and for tax exempt municipal use.

Today the Cook County Board approved President Preckwinkle’s Solid Waste Management Plan (SWMP) for suburban Cook County, the first plan generated in 12 years. The SWMP outlines the county’s current level of waste generation, disposal and recycling, and makes recommendations for improvement. President Preckwinkle’s 2012 Plan reimagines traditional solid waste planning. Instead of focusing on landfilling and waste-to-energy conversion, the SWMP first recommends source reduction (preventing waste in the first place), then reuse, then recycling, followed by energy recovery.

In its first year of operation, the Cook County Board of Review online filing system received appeals on more than 90,000 PINs for the 2011 tax appeal session. Property owners filed over 25% of their appeals online, including over 36% of all individual appeals. The online filing system is the first phase in modernizing the Cook County Board of Review and makes the appeal more open, more accessible, and easier for homeowners to navigate.

Governor Pat Quinn, Cook County President Toni Preckwinkle and Mayor Rahm Emanuel today unveiled MetroChicagoData.org, the nation’s first “convergence cloud” site that brings public data from the City of Chicago, Cook County and the State of Illinois into a single open portal to help increase service efficiencies, access to vital information and new innovation. We are collaborating with our partners, the City of Chicago and Cook County, to not only break down the barriers between us and increase government transparency, but also to apply the lessons learned in the world of information technol

In honor of Women’s History Month, County Board President Toni Preckwinkle, the Cook County Commission on Women's Issues, and the Cook County Board of Commissioners joined together to host the 15th Annual Cook County Unsung Heroine Awards at a breakfast ceremony at the Chicago Cultural Center today. The event was emceed by Ms.

Cook County Clerk David Orr reminds voters tomorrow is the last chance to participate in Early Voting before Tuesday's Presidential Primary. If you are at all concerned that you won't make it to your polling place on Tuesday, visit an Early Voting site before 5 p.m. tomorrow, Orr said. Tomorrow is also the deadline for the Clerk's office to receive mail ballot applications, Orr said. Voters do not need an excuse to early vote or vote by mail. More than 12,697 suburban Cook County voters have requested mail ballots.

In honor of Women’s History Month, The Cook County Commission on Women's Issues, County Board President Toni Preckwinkle, and the Cook County Board of Commissioners are joining together to host the 15th Annual Cook County Unsung Heroine Awards at a breakfast ceremony on Thursday, March 15, 2012, at the Chicago Cultural Center, at 8:30 a.m. The event will be emceed by Ms.

Cook County Board President Toni Preckwinkle announced today the formation of the Cook County Sustainability Advisory Council (CCSAC) which will be co-chaired by Anne Pramaggiore, President and CEO of ComEd, and Chris Kennedy, past President of Merchandise Mart Properties, Inc.

Cook County Board President Toni Preckwinkle today appointed Carmita Vaughan, CEO of Citizens United for Research in Epilepsy (CURE) to the Illinois Medical District Commission. Preckwinkle cited Vaughan’s strong managerial experience, her familiarity with medical issues and healthcare, and her deep-rooted commitment to service as her main reasons for her selection for this important position. “Ms. Vaughan’s dedication to medical research, public health and compassionate service will serve her well on the IMDC,” said President Preckwinkle.

At the National Association of Counties (NACo) Legislative Conference this past weekend, Cook County Board President Toni Preckwinkle passed a resolution in support of the “Marketplace Fairness Act,” a bipartisan proposal aimed at leveling the playing field between local retailers with a physical presence in a community and online retailers. United States Senator Richard Durbin (D-Ill.) introduced this proposal last November that, if passed by the United States Congress, would permit states to mandate large online retailers to collect sales taxes that governments are owed today. Marketplace