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MWRD Hears Concerns from ETHOS Regarding the Proposed South Works Project

4/17/2025

Metropolitan Water Reclamation District (MWRD)
Board Meeting
April 17, 2025

The request to advertise a contract to furnish and deliver lamps and emergency lighting was deleted by the Acting Executive Director (Agenda Item # 18, 25-0294). All other agenda items were approved, with no discussion of the merits.

Ann Hokum of ETHOS (Environment, Transportation, and Open Space, a registered block club in the South Shore Community) raised concerns about the proposed Quantum Computing development at the South Works site and the potential toxic pollutants at the site that could impact Lake Michigan through storm water run-off. The group is also concerned about the issue of industrial water usage at the site and wants to make sure there is a closed system used to prevent any discharges.
Commissioner Waller did pull the reappointment of two people to the MWRD’s Ethics Commission for discussion, but in order for an explanation as to how the public can find out how to submit a complaint to the Ethics Commission. Acting Executive Director John Murray said that the information is on the MWRD web site. Note: This Observer did a search on the MWRD web site and found the information is located at https://mwrd.org/what-we-do/management-and-administration/ethics-commission-and-ethics-advisor
During the New Business section, President Steele and Commissioners McElroy Kirkwood and Brady-Davis talked about the MWRD’s trip to Springfield the prior week to meet with legislators of both parties to lobby for their legislative priorities. Commissioner Waller mentioned one bill that the MWRD supported, HB2515, that has passed out of the House and is now in the Senate. This bill is called the PFAS Wastewater Citizen Protection Act.

While not discussed, there were 2 items pertaining to Stormwater Management:

A report on submittals from municipalities and townships seeking assistance through the MWRD’s Voluntary Flood-Prone Property Acquisition Program (Agenda Item #29, 25-0308.) There were 3 submissions, identifying 40 properties. After review, 2 of the 3 proposals in Lyons and Markham are recommended as projects, but for a total of 22 properties. There will be a subsequent request for Board approval to negotiate intergovernmental agreements.
A request for authority to enter into an intergovernmental agreement with the Village of La Grange Park for the MWRD to fund $4 M of the total estimated cost of $13.2 M for a Central Area Sewer Separation Project. This project is expected to mitigate flooding, benefitting an estimated 522 structures, and to reduce impacts on local roadways by increasing sewer capacity ad providing detention for excess stormwater runoff.

Length of Business Meeting: 30 minutes, with an Executive Session of 1 hour and 10 minutes prior to New Business at the end of the meeting.

Observer: Priscilla Mims

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MWRD Board Establishes Office of Independent Inspector General

4/9/2025

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Metropolitan Water Reclamation District (MWRD)
Board Meeting,
April 3, 2025

After unsuccessful negotiations with the Cook County Office of the Independent Inspector General to renew its Intergovernmental Agreement for investigative services, the MWRD moved ahead to establish its own office and prepare to begin a search for an experienced person to lead the department. The board also approved the appointment of retired Cook County Inspector General, Patrick Blanchard, to work for the MWRD as the Interim Inspector General. Mr. Blanchard was in charge of the MWRD’s IIG responsibilities under the intergovernmental agreement until his retirement in late 2023. Items #2&3 25-0277, 025-010

Other Items of Interest

The board approved advertising for very high-skilled laboratories to respond to the MWRD’s request for analysis of per and polyfluoroalkyl substances and absorbable organic fluorine in wastewater samples. Will also test biosolids. Commissioner Steele said that only the best of the best labs can do this right now; which, down the road, might be worth bringing in-house. Commissioner Waller made several requests of a technical nature, and President Steele asked that Waller send her an email containing both her requests and her comments. #12 25-2406
At the March 20, 2025, Commissioner Garcia deferred two furnish and deliver contracts asking that Procurement look to see if the contracts can be “unbundled” to allow for small minority and women owned businesses to compete. At this meeting, he voted to approved the contracts after hearing that neither unbundling or changing from one to a two-year contract to meet the dollar threshold for furnish and deliver contracts to come under the diversity requirements of the District were not practical in this instance. President Steele said that this long-time vendor for the glass and plastic labware was very good. Garcia asked for an analysis over a 10-year period on whether prices change that much from year to year. #22&23 25-0226, 25-0236
Several 2024 excellence awards were received in financial reporting, budgeting, retirement fund and its health care fund.

New Business

President Steele announced that 2025 is the 5th year of MWRD’s current Strategic Plan and that Interim Executive Director, John Murray, will roll out a plan in May to start the process of developing the next five-year plan.

Deleted or Deferred Agenda Items

Interim Executive Director Murray deleted Item #34-0273 which is the authority to negotiate an intergovernmental Agreement with the Chicago Transit Authority for the Red Line Extension Project.

NO Executive Session

Observed by: Diane Edmundson Meeting Length: 63 minutes

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MWRD Hears Concerns from ETHOS Regarding the Proposed South Works Project

MWRD Board Establishes Office of Independent Inspector General

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