Nick Huber, restoration ecologist for the Lake County Forest Preserves at Greenbelt Forest Preserve. Nearly $4.5 million in habitat restoration projects are targeted for funding with the district’s initial referendum bond issue. Courtesy of R. Scott McNeill

The first installment of $155 million in funding overwhelmingly authorized last fall by Lake County voters will be in the bank within weeks and ready to apply to a variety of projects.

Forest preserve commissioners Wednesday unanimously approved an ordinance to borrow $25.5 million by issuing general obligation bonds to be sold to investors at auction Aug. 28.

A closing is scheduled for Sept. 10 at which point the funds will be on hand to spend. Payment of principal and interest for the 20-year bond issue is expected to add about $5

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