Biosolids Processing Contract Reduction Approved by MWRD Board

Metropolitan Water Reclamation District (MWRD) Board of Commissioners Meeting
September 19, 2019

Board Actions:
The Board approved the authority to decrease the amount of a 20-year contract with Metropolitan Biosolids Management, LLC. to design, build, own, operate, finance, and maintain a 150 dry tons per day biosolids processing facility at the Stickney Water Reclamation Plant. After discussion and comments the Commissioners approved this contract price reduction of $2,301,917.50 from $199,537,840.13 to $197,235,922.63. (Agenda Item #41 19-0890)  

• Commissioner Davis wanted to understand why the decrease does not align with the original contract and why the devaluation.  It was stated that due to a very wet spring and summer there has been a decrease in the amount of dry biosolids being processed. The amount of processed dry biosolids has gone from 120 Tons per day to 100 tons per day. This does not align with the original contract of 150 tons per day.
• Public speaker, Mike Archer, stated that this could cost the taxpayer more money.  Davis asked if next year is a drier year would this contact need to be amended. Answer from staff:  the contract would be reviewed again. Commissioner Davis asked for a full report on this issue. 
• Mike Archer’s request for a meeting with staff was approved.  

Action on deferrals from previous meeting:

• Authority to advertise a contract for a pilot study of the Calumet Water Reclamation Plant with the goal of finding a cost-effective method to remove phosphorus from the effluent discharge which ends up in the Gulf of Mexico was passed.  Commissioner Shore did want more information as to what happens to the phosphorus when it is removed.  (Agenda Item #20 19-0819)
• A resolution asking for authority to advertise a one-year contract to bid on legal notices the district issues such as original entrance and promotional civil service examinations, general contract, etc. Commissioner Garcia wanted to make sure this was advertised daily and well circulated. He is going to work with Procurement to make sure this happens. This was passed. (Agenda Item #21 - 19-0846)
• A resolution to issue a purchase order and enter into a 3 year agreement with HR Solutions and Services LLC. for On-site Training Services;  E.G.,  Sexual Harassment and other inappropriate Workplace Behaviors and Value of Diversity. The contract is not to exceed $296,700.00.  Commissioners Garcia and Shore want to make sure this is the best training and stated they want to read the evaluation of this program when it is completed. This was passed. (Agenda Item #27 -  19-0801)

Items Deferred:
Authorization to exercise an option to extend an agreement for one year, for the professional legal services, of Valentine Austriaco & Bueschel, P.C. that represent the MWRD in connection with bankruptcy and collection matters. Commissioner Garcia questioned the choice of Law Firms. He wanted to know why they chose a firm that was not on list of firms that the MWRD regularly uses. It was stated that this firm specializes in this type of law and that is why they were chosen. There was much discussion on this issue and Commissioner Garcia wanted more information. It was deferred. (Agenda Item #17 - 19-0897)

Deleted Items:
1. Authority to advertise for a contract to provide Web Housing and support of Oracle Primavera software was deleted by the Executive director Brian Perkovich with no comment. (Agenda Item #25 - 19-0875)
2. Authority to commence statutory procedures to lease up to 75+ acres of District real estate located south of Lockport Powerhouse between the DesPlaines River and the Main Channel in Crest Hill, Illinois for installation of a photovoltaic solar plant. (Agenda Item #49 - 19-0913) This item was deleted for more information.

• Commissioner Garcia wanted to know about this lease and why there were restrictions that this property be used solely for  a solar plant.
• Commissioner Shore also was concerned and suggested this be put to an RFP to the marketplace.
• It was stated that a Task Force was formed consisting of engineers, law department and research department and they concluded that the best use for this land would be for a solar plant. This land would not be good for recreation or other uses due in part to difficulty in accessing this land, and it is near a Com-ed sub- station.   This item could be on the agenda for the next MWRD Board Meeting in October.

​Observed by: Nancy Marcus                     Meeting Length: 2 hours plus a 1 hour break for Executive Session