I hope you all had a safe and festive Halloween - it was great to see some of you in costume! As we approach the holiday season, I hope you can enjoy time with your family and loved ones.

I look forward to celebrating the anniversaries and milestones of employees at our Recognition Dinner and Holiday Party on Friday, December 2. With the pandemic preventing us from gathering and celebrating those with service milestones, we will be recognizing milestones over the past three years. All full-time employees and a guest are invited to celebrate. We hope you can join us!

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It’s that time of year again! Open Enrollment is the time to review your benefit options, add or drop coverage, meet with Mission Square/AFLAC, and ask questions when HR takes their show on the road.

2021 and 2022 were unique years for benefits utilization. 2020 and the pandemic brought a low utilization year and corresponding low/moderate increases to plan costs, while late 2021 and 2022 saw significant increases. 2023 brings higher increases to plan costs.

As is the case with other organizations, the increases will be shared between the City and employees. Per pay period for medical coverage, employee premiums will increase $1.00 for single coverage and $16.73 for full family coverage. City contributions per pay period will increase $42.77 per pay period for single coverage and $103.19 for full family coverage. Deductibles and copays will not increase, and dental premiums will not increase this year.

To help the City continue our efforts to provide competitive, high-quality benefits, the City is conducting a Salary and Benefits benchmark survey. The survey results will help us better understand how our benefits package compares to our peers, and will help ensure the City maintains a financially sustainable health insurance model that is competitive with the marketplace. The results of the benchmarking survey will be shared with the organization in the future.

Take care,

Jason

Join the festivities, bring a guest, and celebrate three years of milestones and retirements! Look for your invite via email and regular mail!

RSVP for you and a guest by November 18!

November

Open Enrollment

7a.m-10:00 a.m.

CROYA

Employee 2023 Open Enrollment Guide

Appointments are NOT required.

November

Open Enrollment

2-4:30 p.m.

Public Safety Classroom

Employee 2023 Open Enrollment Guide

Appointments are NOT required.

November

Open Enrollment

7-9:30 a.m.

Public Safety Classroom

Employee 2023 Open Enrollment Guide

Appointments are NOT required.

1:1 With Mission Square Rep Jeff Cook

9:30 a.m. - 12:30 p.m.

Public Safety Conference Room

Make an appointment for your 1:1 with Jeff Cook.

1:1 With Mission Square Rep Jeff Cook

1:30-4 p.m.

MS - Prairie Conference Room

Make an appointment for your 1:1 with Jeff Cook.

November

Open Enrollment

7-11:30 a.m.

MS - Lunch Room

Employee 2023 Open Enrollment Guide

Appointments are NOT required.

2-4:30 p.m.

Public Safety Classroom

Appointments are NOT required.

The City's Computer Purchase Assistance Program is available to all full-time employees who have completed probation. Borrow up to $2,500 interest-free for the purchase of a home computer or laptop. Loan payments are made through payroll deductions over a two-year period.

*If selected, you do the legwork in finding the computer equipment. The purchase must be approved in advance of receiving the loan. Guidelines can be found here.

To participate, please submit your written justification to HR no later than November 28, 2022. The justification should include how this program will benefit you and the City. You don't have to know what type of computer you wish to purchase at this stage.

We will award up to 9 grants for January 1, 2023. You must have your purchase made within 30 days of your award date. Don't miss out on an opportunity to participate in this program!

If you have any questions, please contact HR at hr@cityoflakeforest.com.

Now is the time to apply for the 2023 Tuition Reimbursement Program. If it is determined that funds are available for this program, they will be ready to use beginning in Fiscal Year 2023 (5/1/2023-4/30/2024).

Eligibility:

Fulltime employee who has successfully completed probation
Determined to be eligible through department head recommendation, the City’s succession planning, and consistently exhibited satisfactory job performance

Application Process:

Those already participating in the program do not need to re-apply
Submit a written justification to your department head by November 14
Detail how participation in the program will benefit the department, the City and the employee
Department head supporting justification indicating how this fits with the department’s succession plan needs to be submitted to the HR Director by November 17

Wesley Kennedy

Building Maintenance

Maintenance Worker II

Wesley brings his knowledge and skills from his previous employer Carpentry Connection. He is a dad who enjoys spending time with his family. Wesley has a love for boating and camping.

Salvador Enriquez

Police Department

Police Officer

Salvador comes to the City from the Chicago Police Department. He enjoys playing baseball and coaching both his son's T-ball team and his daughters softball team.

George Issakoo

Office of the City Manager

Assistant City Manager

George comes to the City from the Village of Brookfield. He has a Bachelor's in Political Science with a Minor in Economics, and a Master's in Public Policy and Administration. George is a Chicago sports fanatic "Go Cubs!" He is a Mixed Martial Arts fan and a practitioner of Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu. He also enjoys music, books and movies.

Growing Families

Steven and Taralynn Werchek (Fire)

Gavin Wyatt - 10/12

Jason and Mary Olson (Rec)

Hudson John - 10/18

Paul and Corrissa DaiZovi (Police)

Maevery Lou - 10/16

Brad and Chrissy Custer (Fire)

Rose Christine - 11/2

NOVEMBER BIRTHDAYS

Visit the Lake Forest Library to sign up for upcoming events

November

Understanding Fintech: Digital Wallets, Neobanks & more (Virtual)

7:00 - 8:00 p.m.

Zoom

Financial technology or "fintech" is changing the way we handle our money. Each app has a different set of services, requirements, and fees. Regulations and protections created for traditional banking services don't necessarily apply. Learn how fintech tools work and what to look for before transferring money with Cash App, Venmo or Zelle; depositing money with neobanks such as Chime, Sofi, and T-Mobile Money; or linking bank accounts and credit cards to digital wallets like Apple Pay and Google Pay.