Metropolitan Water Reclamation District (MWRD) Board Meeting
May 19, 2022

Public Speaker:

• A representative from the Sierra Club was the public speaker and he wanted the MWRD to be aware what is planned for the wetlands located on 55 acres near Rodenburg and Irving Park roads next to the Schaumburg Metra Station.  In 2018 the village of Schaumburg sold this land to Experior Transportation and the plan is to build a corporate headquarters, warehouse space and fueling station with storage tanks for trucks on top of the wetlands.  This will upset the natural ecosystem and destroy the natural flow of water, disperse wildlife, leaks in fuel storage tanks could contaminate underground water table, and the neighborhood and school will be exposed to polluted air.

​Board Action:

• The Board passed a resolution recognizing May as Asian/Pacific American Heritage Month and honored Asian Americans Advancing Justice Chicago, a nonprofit organization that has a “mission to advance civil and human rights for Asian Americans and to build and promote a fair and equitable society for all.”
• MWRD received the Government Finance Officers Association Distinguished Budget Presentation Award for its 2021 budget.  A budget that is comprehensive and understandable improves transparency for residents and assures that tax dollars are being spent appropriately.  To win this award MWRD leaders and the financial team met demanding criteria showing their commitment and professionalism.
• The board approved authority to advertise a  $11.4 million contract to furnish and deliver polymer.  Polymer is used in the wastewater treatment plants to create larger waste particles that can separate from water and to help manage the process of drying and condensing  biosolids.  The use of polymer makes the treatment process more efficient and cheaper.
• Commissioner Davis brought up the subject of rain barrels.  These barrels capture rainwater from roofs and keep this water out of the sewer system helping to prevent sewer overflows and flooding.  Rain barrel water is naturally free of chlorine, lime and calcium.  Rain barrels can be ordered from MWRD.

Observed by  Michele Niccolai

Metropolitan Water Reclamation District (MWRD) Board Meeting
May 5, 2022

Commission McGowan opened the meeting by calling for the deletion of the proposed amendment to the Affirmative Action Ordinance without discussion until the Board holds a Study Session on the recent Disparity Report.  No date has been set.  All nine commissioners voted to delete without discussion. Agenda Item #1 022-006.)    

Only two other items were pulled for discussion.  Both because the market rate for chemicals, in this case Sodium Hypochlorite and Magnesium Chloride, is widely fluctuating and the vendors do not want to commit to more than a year’s rate.  Hence, they will have the opportunity to rebid the rate for year two of the contract.  After an explanation that during each contract year, the rate would remain the same regardless of market conditions, the items were returned to the agenda. (Agenda Items #13 22-0397 and #17 22-0425.)

All agenda items were approved with the exception of Item #1 above and two others that were deleted by the Executive Director without discussion.

There were no Stormwater Management contracts on the agenda. No Executive Session was held and no New Business was offered

​Observer:  Diane Edmundson