Metropolitan Water Reclamation District (MWRD) Board Meeting –
October 1, 2026

Deleted Agenda Item

• Item (2) 26-0687 Without comment or discussion John Murray, Executive Director, deleted the motion to appoint Patrick M. Blanchard as MWRD Inspector General from the agenda.

Housekeeping:

• Item (1) 26-0680. The Board approved the dates and times for regular board meetings in 2027

Biosolids  and PFAS (forever chemicals) disposal; 2 items deferred, one roll call vote requested
Items (12 and 13) 26-0657 and 26-0658  Commissioner Waller deferred these related items, but invited discussion. Staff sought authority to advertise a contract to transport dried sewage solids from its Lawndale Avenue Solids management area (LASMA) in Willow Springs and the Calumet solids management area (CALSMA) in Calumet to Hanover Park for disposal at the District’s 100 acre corn and soybean farm at the Hanover Park treatment facility. (projected transport cost $4.2 million and an additional $31.7 million for “beneficial reuse” of the biosolids on the farm).
Item (9) 26-0623 Commissioner Waller at the September 17th meeting had deferred this motion to advertise for a contractor to farm the Hanover Park property, including injecting biosolids underground; field prep, planting, fertilizing and harvesting crops.  At today’s meeting, Commissioner Waller asked Board President Steele to hold a roll call vote on the proposal.  (Projected cost $1.12 million over 3 growing seasons.  Much of that cost covers injecting bio solids waste into the earth.)
What followed was a robust discussion between the Executive Director Murray and Commissioner Waller, and then among all the Commissioners.  

• Commissioner Waller requested data on the concentration of PFAS in the biosolids that would be transported and applied to the farmland, and asked that MWRD data relating to these forever chemicals be made available to the Public. 
• At first Executive Director Murray said those data were already public and available on-line.  When Commissioner Waller repeated that it was the PFAS data she was interested in, ED Murray corrected himself, and said the District continued to collect PFAS data and that he would be comfortable releasing that data in January, 2027.
• In the course of that discussion, it was established that the MWRD was already tracking PFAS sources (discharge “hotspots) in its on-going data collection.  
• Commissioner Waller asked if approval of this biosolids farm disposal plan could wait until the PFAS concentration data was available to the Board.  ED Murray said likely not, that there was a long planning timeline. It was understood at the meeting that the bio solids had to be disposed of somewhere.
• Commissioner Waller said that while federal and state regulators had not issued regulations regarding safe levels of PFAS, Colorado had issued guidelines.  Could the Executive Director give the Board some idea of the PFAS concentrations in the District’s biosolids so she could compare with the Colorado guidelines?  ED Murray declined, but offered to give the board a memo with this information after the meeting.
• Prior to the role call vote on Item 9, other Commissioners made general comments that did not address health or environmental concerns of releasing PFAS-contaminated biosolids into the environment.  
• Commissioner Garcia noted that nearly everything we use and wear has PFAS in them, so he would vote in favor of injecting the biosolids into the District’s farmland.  
• Commissioner Corral-Sepulveda noted that until there were State and Federal Regulations governing PFAS, the District was in compliance, and biosolid disposal was the District’s responsibility.  She would vote yes.
• Commissioner Yumeka Brown asked staff to communicate any trends they find in the PFAS data when the time comes, and any concerns the Board should be made aware of.  She indicated she would vote yes.
• Vice President Flynn commented that the Hanover Park farm belonged to the District.  “I plan to vote yes. It is our property. We own this property.” 
• When it came to a vote, Commissioners Cameron Davis and Sharon Waller voted against authorizing Item 9.   All other Commissioners voted yes to approve seeking bids for biosolids disposal and management on MWRD’s Hanover Park farmland.

Stormwater Management

• Item (36) 26-0626 The Board authorized staff to negotiate and reach an intergovernmental agreement with the Village of LaGrange to design, construct and operate the 50th Street storm sewer flood relief project for an amount not to exceed $15.3 million.  

All Commissioners present                  Executive Session (None)
Observer: Laurie Morse                                                    

Metropolitan Water Reclamation District (MWRD) Board Meeting
September 3, 2026

Com. Waller Urges the MWRD to Require Measurable Goals in its Strategic Plan

• Com. Waller asked to defer item 6, adoption of the MWRD strategic plan for 2027-2030, until measurable goals are included in its timeline.  She also asked for revisiting the plan on a yearly basis to understand MWRD progress.  V.P. Flynn, Pres. Steele, and others reminded her that it has taken 60 staff members six months to come up with the strategic plan.  Com. Coral-Sepulveda asked ED Murray why there aren’t metrics.  Murray said that with the advent of AI they will have metrics faster and number goals by March, 2027 in some treatment plants, but it had not been possible before the plan was written.  Murray explained that metrics can be added to the plan in 2027, but Com. Waller believes numbers rather than improvement is better for a strategic plan.  Coms. Flynn and Coral-Sepulveda prefer to give a directive to ED Murray, but the deferral stands.  It will return to the agenda unchanged for the next meeting while Com. Waller seeks information.

Public Urges Slow Decision on Lucas Berg Wetlands

• There were two speakers in favor of postponing the MWRD’s sale of wetlands in the Worth area known as Lucas Berg for mixed use development.  Both speakers, one from the Friends of Chicago River, one from the Chicago Harbor Safety Committee and a resident of Worth, spoke in favor of putting off a decision on the sale of the MWRD property because it is currently a wetlands and absorbs stormwater, until the Cook County Forest Preserve can make a decision on purchase of the land.  Item 30 on Worth Woods (Lucas Berg) potential sale for mixed use development was deferred.

Other Items

• Item 27, a decrease in the MWRD’s purchase order of Ferric Chloride (a routine purchase), which ameliorates Phosphorus in treatment plants, was questioned by Com. Davis.  Apparently food processors generate large quantities of Phosphorus.  Com. Davis asked if it was possible to require reducing the effluent before it comes to MWRD.
• Com. McElroy-Kirkwood asked about item 10, an asphalt repaving project PO, to see if permeable pavers could be used instead.  ED Murray said the MWRD always tries to use the pavers when appropriate.
• The MWRD honored the Friends of the Chicago River and Doug McConnell for its second annual Chicago River Swim on September 20.  The swim raises awareness and generates funds for ALS and supports swim education for Chicago kids in need.  The event has raised awareness of river cleaning projects worldwide, including in Berlin, and has prompted a similar event in the Thames River, London.

Time of meeting:  1 hour and 15 minutes with no Executive Session

Observer:  Amy Little

Metropolitan Water Reclamation District (MWRD) Board Meeting
August 13, 2026

A motion to reappoint David Ormsby as a public relations consultant for one year for up to a maximum amount of $48,000 generated a great deal of discussion.  This discussion ultimately appeared to lead to a consensus that Commissioners should hold a study session to discuss the overall strategy for MWRD communications.  The reappointment was also subsequently approved by a unanimous vote. (Agenda Item 1, File No. 26-0546)

• Comm, Davis pulled the item for discussion stating that he was planning on voting “no” on the item because he thinks that the MWRD should be issuing a request for proposal (RFP) for a public relations consultant and allowing bids for the service.  Comm. Davis said that this was at least the 3rd time this non-compete contract had been entered into with Mr. Ormsby.  The original appointment under such a contract without seeking bids was done so under emergency circumstances.  That is no longer the case, said Comm. Davis, and as good stewards of taxpayer money, the MWRD should seek bids from others, as well as Mr. Ormsby, for this service.
• Executive Director Murphy said that he has used Mr. Ormsby to advise how to handle crisis situations facing the MWRD, including the recent storms and the misinformation that the MWRD was leasing land for use by a data center.  President Steele and several others also commented on how helpful Mr. Ormsby has been.
• Comm. Brown suggested that the Board consider having a study session on what the MWRD should be looking for -  that is what the scope of work should be.  Other Commissioners stated support for this and suggested expanding to a comprehensive strategy for communications.  
• Executive Director Murphy stated devising what the RFP should encompass and then preparing it and seeking bids would likely take at least 6 months.  Therefore, he recommended going forward with the one-year reappointment.
• Comm Davis said he could support the reappointment with the understanding that an RFP would be developed.

Deferred Agenda Items:

• Authority to advertise for sign-language interpreter for a 3-year period. President Steele said she was deferring but wanted to allow Commissioners to discuss.  Comm. Waller raised the number of free tools available for online captioning in lieu of sign-language, but Exec. Director Murphy explained that the sign-language interpreter would be used for in-person meetings.  Look for this item to come up at a future meeting.  (Agenda Item 21, File No. 26-0545)

All other items were approved, including:

• The appointment of James E Fisher as the Director of Human Resources.  Mr. Fisher’s resume, included in the Board packet, shows that he has worked for the MWRD since 2004 in various human relations jobs, including, most recently, Associate Director of Human Resources.  Comm. Garcia congratulated Mr. Fisher and said he had four challenges for him:  (1) to expand the programs with community colleges to help develop the workforce for the future; (2) to have the testing for jobs take place at more than one site to expand the number of candidates; (3) to address hard-to fill positions; and (4) to develop year-round internships. (Agenda Item 45, File No. 26-0556.)
• The Resolution that states that the MWRD has no existing or planned agreements relating to data center development on MWRD-owned property.  While this item was not discussed, the Resolution explains that a data center industry web site published a claim that a data center was planned for development near the MWRD’s Stickney Water Reclamation Plant.  The Town of Cicero then adopted a resolution erroneously opposing the MWRD’s approval of a data center at the Stickney Plant.  (Agenda Item 50, File No. 26-0562.)
• Two items granting the authority for the MWRD to negotiate inter-government agreements with Melrose Park and Northfield for stormwater projects, with the amount the MWRD would contribute to be decided during negotiations.  (Items 47 and 48, File Nos. 26-0548 and 26-0553)

New Business

• President Steele said apropos of Comm. Garcia’s comments on expanding testing sites, she was happy to announce that Governor Pritzker signed into law HB 4426 which the MWRD had been supporting with provides flexibility to the MWRD as to when and how often to hold exams for civil service jobs.  She said that this will allow interns to be able to take exams and then be hired for permanent jobs without delay.  President Steele thanked the House Sponsor, Michael Crawford, and the Senate Sponsor, Adrienne Johnson, along with Governor Prtizker.  This is now Public Act 104-0607.
• President Steele also announced there would be a Study Session on the proposed new Strategic Plan on August 26 at 2 pm.

Public Comments

• Shalonda White, who has worked for the MWRD for 25 years, expressed her worry about what she sees as a disconnect between MWRD leadership and employees. She said she and others do not feel known or appreciated, in contrast to the past.  She said there had been mostly silence from leadership after all the recent storms even as employees also have been dealing with flooding and other damage while they have been showing up to do their jobs.  
• President Steele said she appreciated Ms. White’s comments, which President Steel said could not have been easy for her to make.  President Steele also expressed surprise, but said that “we will work on that connection.” During New Business, President Steele thanked the employees of the MWRD for all that they did during the recent storms, saying that she had planned on doing this before hearing Ms. White’s comments.

Time of meeting:  2 hours and 50 minutes, including a 1 hour and 10-minute Executive Session and 2 breaks of 5 minutes and 10 minutes.  (Started at 10:30 am and adjourned at 1:20 pm.)

Observer:  Priscilla Mims

Metropolitan Water Reclamation District (MWRD) Board Meerting
July 16, 2026

The District’s second initiative to expand its Schoolyard Program to the Suburbs was approval by the Board to enter into an intergovernmental agreement with School District #104 and the Village of Summit for the design, construction, operation and maintenance of a “Space to Grow project” that would serve an elementary and a middle school.  The cost for the District is projected at $3.6 million, and 775 thousand gallons of water are expected to be captured.   #41 26-0487
       #Davis thanked E.D. Murray for finding the money for this important project as the 
         District has been struggling to identify funders.
       #Garcia suggested setting up a foundation for Space To Grow and other green projects.
       #Murray noted that a legislative change would likely be needed to set up the foundation
            ( It is expected to appear on the 2027 Legislative Priorities )

The Board agreed to the purchase order with IHC Construction for engineering design, construction, and installation services to Rebuild the Calumet’s Plant “Dewatering” facility at a cost not to exceed $82,225,000M. Due to the Chicago Transit Authority’s Red Line extension, trucking digested sludge from the lagoons to the drying beds is no longer practical.  #18-260475  

The Board also approved increasing an IHC contract by $31M to $15,597M for Phosphorus Removal Modifications at the O’Brien water reclamation plant.      #27 65-0477

James Mohler, Executive Director of the MWRD Retirement Fund presented the 2025 Audit Results for the MWRD Retirement Fund.  Below are highlights:     #35 26-0464  
    *Market Value of Assets up by $240M over the last two years.  Up to $1.79B
    *Net pension liability decreased by $173M over the last two years.
    *Over the last 7 years, the Fund’s cumulative net annual return of 8.8% exceeded the actuarial   
     assumed rate of return of 7%. 
    * Report assumes the board will remain focused on diversifying this portfolio to reduce risk.

Trinity Christian College has leased 57 acres of MWRD land for athletic fields since 2008 but closed at the end of the 2026 school year.  The board approved signing the lease over to Chicago Christian Schools at the current lease rent of $136,800.    #40 26-0489

New Business
Commissioner Brady-Davis asked for an update on the Harvey stormwater/flood control retention project.  Ans:  late 2026 for demolition; work starts in 2027 and finishes in 2028.  When finished, 209 homes will be protected and 7.5 million gallons of water captured.
Brady-Davis also asked what investment is needed in S. Suburban Cook County to prepare for the future.  Ans:  A feasibility study on this question will soon be ready.

Executive Meeting:  YES                             
Deletions or Deferrals:  NO

Observer:  Diane Edmundson

Metropolitan Water Reclamation District (MWRD) Board Meeting
 June 18, 2026

Agenda Items

• Item #26-0432 authorized a contract in the amount of $409,420,079 to Michels Construction for sludge removal from the O’Brien Water Reclamation Plant. This was a deleted item from the June 4 Board meeting.

Stormwater Management

• Item #26-0444 authorized the additional amount of $40,000 added to the Stormwater Management fund to continue the rain barrel program.

New Business

• Item #26-0461 authorized a bond sale of General Obligation Capital Improvement and Refunding Bonds in the amount of $475,000 along with contracts for underwriting, legal advisory services, ad financial advisory services. 

Commissioner Requests

• Comm. Garcia requested the Executive Director to provide when there is a funding shortage for the Rain Barrel Program 
• Comm. Waller requested the Green Neighbor Guide be tied in with the Rain Barrel Program 
• Comm. Corral Sepúlveda requested if additional survey emails can be sent to participants in the Rain Barrel Program at the 1 to 2 year mark and the possibility of adding the option to subscribe to the District Newsletter at the time of rain barrel purchase

No Executive Session

Observer - Peggy Kell           

Metropolitan Water Reclamation District (MWRD) Board Meeting
June 4, 2026

Agenda Items

• Interim Inspector General Patrick Blanchard’s term of service was extended to December 31, 2026 in the amount not to exceed $150,000. Chicago Bar Association is still working through a list of candidates for this position.

Stormwater Management

• Item #26-0393 authorized the purchase of three properties in Midlothian for a flood control project on the Cal-Sag Tributary in the amount of $339,000.

Deferred or Deleted Agenda Items

• Deleted item 26-0365 for Activated Sludge removal from O’Brien Water Reclamation plant in the amount of $389,933,408.

New Business

• Adam Pulley, Principal, and Ben Packett, Manager, from Clifton Larson Allen gave a presentation to the Board on the 2025 Audit Results of the Metropolitan Water Reclamation District of Greater Chicago and of the Metropolitan Water Reclamation District Retiree Health Care Trust Fund.

Commissioner Requests

• Comm. Steele requested the past research comparing electric versus gas vehicles to be shared with the board and Comm. Corral Sepúlveda requested a report on the recent activity the Task Force has conducted.                        

Executive Session - Yes, to discuss minutes of meetings lawfully closed under the Open Meetings Act.

Observer: Peggy Kell