Harvey Residents Urge MWRD to Relocate A Planned Stormwater Management Project

Metropolitan Water Reclamation District (MWRD) Board Meeting
August 10, 2023

Eight Harvey residents, including Harvey 2nd Ward Alder Colby Chapman, spoke during the public comment period at the beginning of the meeting urging that a proposed stormwater management project be moved.  They had all just learned on July 15 about a proposed retention pond that the MWRD is proposing to build in partnership with the City of Harvey.  Ald. Chapman explained that 31 parcels of land are to be purchased to build that retention pond and a surrounding green area in order to help relieve flooding for 209 homes in the area.  However, at least some of these 31 parcels contain homes in which some of these speakers live, so if the project goes forward, these residents will have to move. The speakers complained about the failure of the City to engage with them early on.  They also said there are many blocks in Harvey with either vacant land or abandoned homes, and the speakers hoped the project could be moved to one of these areas.

This Observer checked, and the MWRD Board authorized the MWRD staff to negotiate and then execute an intergovernmental agreement with the City of Harvey for this project at this location at the February 2, 2023 Board meeting (Item 23-0133).

President Steele promised the speakers that either her office of the Executive Director’s office would arrange a meeting with the speakers, Alder Chapman, the Mayor of Harvey and the MWRD to discuss the project.  

Item Deferred:

• Comm Brown deferred the proposal to appoint David Ormsby, Inc. as a Public Relations Consultant for the MWRD for a one-year period for an amount not to exceed $48,000.  Comm. Spyropoulos said she thinks the contract should be bid out.  Comm. Davis said that while he thinks the MWRD does need public relations assistance, he is not clear as to how the operations will benefit from the contract as worded.  Commissioners Flynn and Garcia both expressed support for going forward.  (Agenda item #2, 23-0801.)

Other Items Discussed and then Approved:

• Two items dealt with the termination of a lease agreement with the U.S. Navy for 2 parcels of land by the North Shore Channel and then a sale of that land, along with 2 other parcels to the City of Chicago on the basis that the MWRD has no need for that land.  The City apparently plans to use the land for housing for asylum seekers.  The City shall pay the MWRD $1.5 M.  Comm. Davis suggested using part of the proceeds for its Pension Fund.  (Agenda items 75 & 76, 23-0798 and 23-0799)
• At the last meeting, Comm. Corral Sepulveda had deferred a proposal to advertise a contract for a consultant to design, create and implement a Small Business Enterprise (“SBE”) program.  This program is the result of the Disparity Study in 2022 which led the Board to support creation of such a program to allow smaller contracts to be available for bidding by SBEs as prime contractors. (Agenda #15, 23-0688)
• In response to a question from Comm. Corral Sepulveda, Executive Director Perkovich said that the proposal to advertise for sign language services for 3 years starting Jan. 1, 2024 for an estimated cost of $225,000 was for an employee who needed such services.  However, Mr. Perkovich said the contract would also cover sign language services in languages, other than English, in case they were needed.  (Agenda #24, 23-0736)
• Comm. Corral Sepulveda pointed out that the MWRD struck a low bid for small streams maintenance because of the failure of the bidder to submit a signed subcontractor’s letter of intent from the Women-owned Business Enterprise as required.  The difference in bids was about $600,000.  (Agenda #49, 23-0738) The entire procurement process, including situations like this, was to be discussed in the afternoon study session.
• Comm. Corral Sepulveda had deferred from the last meeting a purchase order to increase a contract for Interpersonal Frequency LLC by $100,000 (a 33% increase) to deal with change orders for the final design, review, development and launch for the District’s new web site.  The Commissioner asked for a roll call vote on this item because she was not pleased with the process here, including the fact that some of the material in response to her questions was redacted.  Comm. Davis asked for reassurance that the launch would be completed by the end of the year, and he got it from the head of Public Affairs.  This item passed on a vote of 8 to 1, with Comm. Corral Sepulveda voting no.  (Agenda #51, 23-0651) 

Except for the one deferral, all other items on the Agenda were approved, including 3 stormwater management items.  (Agenda items 77, 78, and 79, 23-0760, 23-0761, and 23-0762)

New Business:

• President Steele announced that the MWRD had received several awards from the National Association of Clean Water Agencies and extended its streak of 100% for meeting standards for discharges.  She also noted that the MWRD had received another patent related to removing dissolved solids.
• Comm. Brown congratulated the staff for the MWRD keeping its AAA rating after review by Fisk.
• Comm. Davis noted that August 26 is Women’s Equality Day, recognizing the anniversary of the effectiveness of the 19th Amendment which gave women the right to vote.  He also called out the League of Women Voters for their efforts in educating all voters.

Observer:  Priscilla Mims