MWRD Board Requests More Background Information on Several Agenda Items

Metropolitan Water Reclamation District (MWRD) Board Meeting
March 5, 2020        

Approved Items with Discussion:

• #9, 20-0181: Discussion took place about the transfer of the $20,000,000.00 of Accumulated Investment Interest Income to the MWRD Retirement Fund.  Questions were asked about the use of minority owned investment firms and in what way these funds will be allocated for investments.  The outside investment manager is Marquette Investment; Commissioners asked what they charge for their services.
  
• #23, 20-0207:  Authority to lease 14.02 acres of improved District real estate at 6400 South Archer Avenue in Bedford Park, Illinois; Main Channel parcel 33.01.  Currently, there is a tenant on the property.  The Board requested more information.
  
• #33,  20-0209  Discussion about the authority to amend the easement agreement dated March 24, 1949 between the District and Cornerstone Properties (successor in interest to ComEd) to use and maintain District owned portions in Stickney and Forest View.  Commissioners questioned Com Ed’s obligation to alert the District about any problems occurring and would like this to be included in the new agreement.

Deferred or Deleted Items:

• #13, 20-0177 Deferred by Commissioner Davis - more information was requested regarding why this money is sent to a law firm instead of directly to the Coalition and who the Coalition members are.
  
• #14, 20-0205 Deferred by Commissioner Garcia - Much discussion took place about the relationship of this engineering project to the future Lincoln Yards Project. The Commissioners were assured that the project would have taken place because of TARP’s inadequate connections and are looking for others that need correction. The Commissioners requested more information.
  
• #15, 20-0184 Ex. Director deleted a request to advertise for Scavenger Services estimated cost of $3,883,400.
  
• #31, 20-0217 Deferred by Commissioner Garcia - More information was requested before the reappointment of Jose Lopez as Commissioner on MWRD’s Ethics 

Commissioner Requests

1. Mr. Garcia requested a list of minority investment participation
2. Ms. Shore requested new leases include additional notices to the District
3. Mr. Davis requested the Diversity Department provide the Board message ready notices for district events.

All Commissioners were present

Observed by:  Pat Lind                                Meeting Length:  1 hr. 45 min.