League of Women Voters of Cook County
  • Home
  • About
    • About
    • LWVCC Positions
    • LWVCC Action and Testimony
    • LWVCC Activities
    • LWVCC Interest Groups >
      • Budget & Structure
      • Criminal Justice
      • Cook County Health
  • Voter Info
  • Observer Reports
    • Cook County Board Observer Reports
    • MWRD Board Observer Reports
    • CCH Board Observer Reports
    • Forest Preserve Board Reports
  • Make Your Voice Heard
    • Cook County Board
    • Cook County Elected Officials
    • MWRD Board

Skokie Sports Park Allowed to Sell and Consume Alcohol on Premises

9/13/2020

0 Comments

 
Metropolitan Water Reclamation District (MWRD) Board  Meeting
September 3, 2020

Agenda Items

  • All agenda items approved except for three items that are listed below. Resolution honored Robert Johnson for his work with STEM and Future Cities engineering programs. You can see him on YouTube.
  • Resolution honored the 19th Amendment Passage, 100 years ago.
  • Resolution honoring Sister Jean on her 101st birthday. Older than the amendment!
  • Item #23 -It was emphasized that the seal coating for roads and patching, contains no coal tar.
  • Item #49 - 87% of the levy has been collected. The Assessor will put in a Covid equalizer for the 2021 budget process.
  • Item #53 - The Skokie Sports Park will be able to sell and consume alcohol on the premises. MWRD gets 25% of sales.
Stormwater Management
  • Items #56 and #57 extended the Green Alley Program in River Grove and Skokie. It was emphasized that the Villages maintain the local projects but if maintenance is found to be lacking, MWRD will step in to fix it. The Village would then have to reimburse MWRD for the cost of this maintenance.
Deferred or Deleted Agenda Items
  • Item #15 (rescinding of contract for native landscape areas maintenance) was deleted before the meeting. 
  • Items #18 (affirmative action questions on contract advertising for marketing of biosolids) was deferred. It has been difficult to find subs that are qualified to sell the biosolids.
  • Item #32 (more discussion needed on purchase order with firm that was to do the Affirmative Action Ordinance Disparity Study) was deferred. 
Observer - Peggy Kell                    Meeting Length: 2 hours 15 minutes
0 Comments

MWRD Receives Positive Retirement Funds Report for 2019

8/9/2020

0 Comments

 
Metropolitan Water Reclamation District (MWRD) Board Meeting
August 6, 2020


Retirement Fund Report:  
  • Item 48, 20-0636:  Had a 18.3% return on investments last year, putting it well above average.  Fund is at the highest valuation ever.  However, payments out exceeded contributions by existing employees.  Given that employees being hired now pay in lower contributions (and in turn will receive lower payouts) than those who are now retiring, expect that payouts will continue to be higher than contributions in the foreseeable future.  Why returns on investment are so important.  Good that the Board has been authorizing additional payments, such as the extra $20 million in March this year, to help shore the Fund up. For 2020, reported that at the end of the 1st quarter, the Fund was down by 17%, but has recovered much of the loss during the 2nd quarter. Now at minus 3.6%.  

Some Items Passed with Discussion:
  • Item 49, 20-0590:  Added Juneteenth to the list of days that an employee can select from to use as an “Additional Holiday.”  
  • Item 51, 20-0521:  Authority to commence statutory procedures to lease 5,097+ sq.ft. of District land located on southeastern bank of Collateral Channel at 3152 S. California, Chicago.  Deferred from July 16 mtg to allow neighborhood groups to weigh in.  Richard Golf from Lakeshore Recycling System reported during the Public Comment Period that the company had met with neighborhood group and had meeting scheduled with Friends of the River.  Ald. George Cardenes (12th ward) spoke in support.  Comm. Davis asked that contract include a provision that lessee will comply with all state and federal requirements, including those regarding emergency planning; that emergency contact information be posted at the site in both Spanish and English; and that the lessee have a Spanish-speaking person available.  
  • Item 54, 20-0648:  Authorization to declare as surplus and not required for MWRD use and sell to the Illinois Department of Transportation 0.15 acres located south of the Cal-Sag Channel in Alsip, Illinois.  During Public Comments, Friends of the River said that it wants to make sure that this sale would not adversely impact the long-term goal of connecting 2 channels of water.  Comm. Garcia pointed out that if MWRD doesn’t sell, IDOT can instead use eminent domain to acquire.  
  • Item 57, 20-0623:  Intergovernmental agreement with Cook County Forest Preserve for a green infrastructure retrofit of a parking lot in unincorporated Proviso Township.  The permeable pavers and bioretention areas to be constructed are expected to mitigate flooding in the area.  MWRD contributing a little less than half ($203,107) to the total expected cost of $486,215.  Comm. Garcia asked about participation goals by the Forest Preserve, which are actually higher than the MWRD’s with respect to MBE/WBE.  Comm. Garcia wants to have a separate discussion in the future on the MWRD requiring other entities to use the MWRD goals, if the other entity’s goals are not higher, for the entire project, not just for the amount contributed by the MWRD, as currently provided. 

Items to Watch for at Future Meetings:
Items Deferred:
  • Item 18, 20-0622:  Authority to advertise for professional services to market EQ (Exceptional Quality) Biosolids.  Comm. Garcia continues to be troubled that the District doesn’t have a single person/department overseeing a comprehensive strategy for dealing with bio-solids.  Also troubled by the lack of participation goals and would like an estimated return on investment.  Other Commissioners wanted to move forward because MWRD does not have marketing expertise and needs help, particularly given the elimination of trade shows due to COVID.  Comm. Morita also asked for staff memo to be prepared on where the District is with regard to the bio-solid program. 
  • Item 30, 20-0602:  Authority to award contract to furnish janitorial supplies.  Comm. Garcia deferred and wants to know how many MBE/WBE, etc. entities participated and whether other government entities have goals for this kind of contract.  President Steele pointed out that this is a “furnish and deliver” contract which, under current Board rules, does not need participation goals.  However, this is part of the ongoing discussion regarding a possible modification of the Affirmative Action Ordinance.
Items Deleted:
  • Item 11, 20-0591:  Authority to advertise for professional services to conduct facility needs studies for Hanover Park and Lemont Water Reclamation Plants.  Comm. Shore concerned that it has only been 10 years since the last Master Plan and Executive Director agreed that normally would expect a Master Plan to have a useful life of at least 20/30/40 years.  But main issue is the Comm. Shore wanted the scope to be expanded to include study of inflows during rain events.  Deleted, rather than deferred item so that scope could be expanded (which may also impact cost).
  • Item 27, 20-0631:  Authority to issue purchase order for creation of Stormwater Master Plan for Avalon Park, Englewood, Greater Grand Crossing, and South Shore Study Area. (Deleted by Exec. Director, no discussion.)
Potential Amendment to the Ethics Ordinance:
  • Comm. Davis said at the end of the meeting that he has heard from a number of non-profit groups that do not lobby for themselves, but for the public good, that they are being hurt by being treated as “lobbyists” and required to pay fees under the current Ethics Ordinance.  He would like to fine-tune the ordinance, but wants to have a Study Session at least 30 days after any proposed amendment to allow time for public comment.

Length of Meeting:  4.5 hours (including 70 minute Executive Session before last hour of meeting)

Observer - 
Priscilla Mims
0 Comments

Stormwater Management Agreements Approved for 5 Study Areas

7/22/2020

0 Comments

 
Metropolitan Water Reclamation District (MWRD) Board Meeting
​July 16, 2020 


All 9 Metropolitan Water Reclamation District Board members were present at the meeting.  Due to technical difficulties, only audio recording, without video, was available. The meeting also included input from several public speakers via phone hookup; MWRD Executive Director Brian Perkovitch and Director of Engineering Dr. Catherine O’Connor also participated.

Agenda Items 
The Board approved all agenda items except #54, which was deferred.
The following agenda items were treated as a group:
Issue a purchase order and enter into an agreement for Request for Proposal 19-RFP-32 Professional Services for Stormwater Master Plan for 
  • #28 20-0531  Butterfield Creek Study Area Contract 18-848-AF, with Baxter & Woodman, Inc., in an amount not to exceed $249,140.00. 
  • #29 20-0545  North Creek and Deer Creek Study Area, Contract 18-848-BF with Strand Associates, Inc., in an amount not to exceed $245,314.00.  
  • #30 20-0546  Dixmoor, Dolton, Harvey, Phoenix, Posen, and Riverdale Study Area Contract 18-849-AF, with Donahue & Associates, Inc., in an amount not to exceed $250,000.00.
  • #31 20-0549  Willow Creek and Weller Creek Study Area Contract 18-848-CF, with CDM Smith, Inc., in an amount not to exceed $291,188.00. 
  • #32 20-0550  Austin, Humboldt Park, and West Garfield Park Study Area Contract 18-849-BF, with Stantec Consulting Services, Inc., in an amount not to exceed $249,970.00.
Commissioner Shore questioned whether some of the subwatersheds not included in storm water study areas had been omitted because they were not within the corporate boundaries. Dr.O’Connor affirmed that these areas had not been included because it was not known how to recover the associated costs.  Commissioner Shore asserted that these subwatershed areas should be included and Commissioner McGowan stated that the fees should be assessed first and the project should continue. She requested that staff visit the omitted areas.
The cost of a large contract was decreased slightly:

#39 20-0498 Authority to decrease Contract 18-611-11, Repair and Alterations to Various Water Reclamation Facilities in the Stickney Service Area and Other Installations, to Independent Mechanical Industries, Inc., in an amount of $470,099.70 from an amount of $12,962,035.59 to an amount not to exceed $12,491,935.89.

Two affirmative action policies were unanimously approved:
  • #46 20-577  Authority to adopt a policy for increasing opportunities with the Metropolitan Water Reclamation District of Greater Chicago for small business enterprises that are lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender owned and operated to be designated as “LGBTBE Policy” .
  • #47 20-0578 Authority to adopt a policy for increasing opportunities with the Metropolitan Water Reclamation District of Greater Chicago for small business enterprises that are owned and operated by persons with disabilities to be designated as “BEPD Policy  

#53 20-0486  Authority to negotiate an intergovernmental agreement with the City of Chicago to reroute a section of the West Side 9 Interceptor, which had been deferred from the June Board meeting, was approved.  

Stormwater Management
  • #67 20-0566  Authority to enter into an Intergovernmental Agreement with and make payment to the City of Des Plaines for the acquisition of flood-prone properties in an amount not to exceed $800,000.00.  Approved unanimously.
    
Miscellaneous and Deferred Agenda Items
#54 20-0521 Authority to commence statutory procedures to lease a parcel of District real estate located on the southeast bank of the Collateral Channel.   
  • Several Commissioners spoke approvingly of Lakeside Recycling Systems, the potential lessee,  and were in favor of proceeding.  Others were concerned that feedback had not been obtained from community groups despite     attempts by Lakeside Recycling.  The difficulty of getting input from under-resourced community groups in light of the current pandemic and economic conditions in the Little Village area was noted. 
  • Commissioner Morita requested the item be deferred, and the deferral was agreed to unanimously.

Commissioner Requests
  • Commissioner McGowan requested the Executive Director have staff look into adding a Juneteenth option to the 6 Commissioner holidays currently offered.  Employees would then be able to choose one of 7 options for their Commissioner holiday at no extra cost to taxpayers.

Observer:  Ann Bolan                        Length of Meeting:  3 ½ hours
0 Comments

MWRD Board Forwards Land Deal for Crestwood Casino Project

10/4/2019

0 Comments

 
Metropolitan Water Reclamation District (MWRD) Board Meeting
October 3, 2019


What did the Board decide?

Approved 99-year lease for 44.4 acre property for Crestwood development project (
AgendaI Item #16, 19-0992)
  • The board unanimously accepted an initial annual rental bid of $820,626 from the City of Crestwood.  It is not clear if the lease is contingent on Crestwood receiving a casino license from the State of Illinois. The lease is for 99 years, a departure from the MWRD’s typical lease length of 39 years.  There was no discussion of the 35% reduction in annual rent from the minimum $1,262,500 Commissioners authorized for this property at their August 8, 2019 meeting.  
  • During public comment Chelsey Grassfield, policy specialist for Friends of the Chicago River, addressed the board, seeking vigilance in maintaining 60-100 foot required setbacks from the river and advocated use of sustainable landscape design when the MWRD reviews site plans for the 44.4 acre parcel bordering the Cal-Sag canal that the City of Crestwood will lease from the MWRD.  The community is seeking a casino license to anchor development on this property.  Ms. Grassfield said leaseholder’s focus should be on the health of the river and maintaining established waterway standards.
  • Later in the meeting Commissioner Cameron Davis inquired when the public would again be able to comment on sustainability and design of the development of the property. Staff said the MWRD would review site plans when they are available, and Commissioners could participate in the process.

2020 Regular Board Meeting Calendar approved  (Agenda Item #1 - 19-0998)

Study of Affirmative Action hiring record deferred (Agenda Item #23 - 19-0993) 
  • The MWRD is required to conduct a study of disparity in its Affirmative Action hiring practices.  This item would have authorized request for proposals seeking an outside contractor to perform the analysis at an estimated cost of $200,000.  
  • Commissioner Marcelino Garcia asked for this item to be deferred until he had time to discuss his concerns with staff.  He said that he wanted this to be a meaningful accounting of the District’s minority hiring practices, and not just the minimum required by law.  After supporting comments from Commissioners Frank Avila, Barbara McGowan, and Board President Kari Steele, the Board directed staff to schedule a study session for them on progress in minority hiring practices
  • Commissioner Garcia then asked to remove this RFP authorization item the Board’s agenda until after the study session.

Allocation for expert witness testimony deleted from agenda
 (Agenda Item #29 - 19-0952)
  • This item would have budgeted $200,000 for expert witness testimony in an ongoing lawsuit.
  • It was removed from the agenda without comment by Executive Director Brian Perkovich

Bio solids bagging contract deferred (Agenda Item #18- 19-0937) 
  • The MWRD gives away biosolids (compost) to the public at its Stickney plant. People can take it away in their own containers, but the District pays to bag some of the material for distribution.  This item proposed to seek and pay a contractor $45,000 over a 3-year period to pick up composted biosolids from the Harlem Ave. composting facility, transport them to an off-site location, bag it, and return the filled bags to the Stickney Plant.   
  • In response to Commissioners’ questions, staff said the plan would produce 5,000 bags of compost per year at a cost of $15,000 per year. Commissioner Debra Shore asked for cost-comparisons between buying the bagging equipment and having MWRD employees do the bagging and outsourcing.  Commissioner Barbara McGowan questioned the process of transporting the compost back and forth.  
  • Commissioner Marcelino Garcia questioned the value of the project, saying that while it is very nice that the District gives away composted biosolids, the MWRD lacks a plan to monetize and distribute it products at scale.  “We need to industrialize and sell the products we create,” he said.  “We need a staff person who is dedicated to this idea, and who can move us forward.” The Commissioners agreed to defer this item until it could be more fully explored.

Other discussions of interest:
  • Commissioner Mariyana T. Spyropoulos questioned why certain contracts were rejected and why the District received so few responses to some requests for proposals. She asked if specifications for services were being too narrowly written. She suggested a look at procedures for contracting.
  • Commissioner Marcelino Garcia questioned if minority guidelines were being observed when the District added scope or funding to existing contracts.  There were several items on the agenda that did add funds to existing contracts, and he highlighted them. Staff said that they would be attentive to this issue.

Observer - Laurie Morse                                       Meeting Length - 2.5 hours

0 Comments

Water Reclamation Board Delays Revising Affirmative Action Ordinance

2/12/2018

0 Comments

 
Metropolitan Water Reclamation District (MWRD) Board of Commissioners Meeting  
February 1, 2018 
   


What did the Board decide?
  • At the motion of Commissioner McGowan, the Board removed from the Consent Calendar proposed amendments to the Affirmative Action Ordinance and sent the Ordinance back to the Affirmative Action committee for further study.  
  • The Board also removed from the Consent Calendar a proposed ordinance instructing the County Clerk to reduce the levy of taxes on the District’s General Obligation Bonds because the District has enough money to redeem all the bonds in full.  The Board took no further action on the proposed ordinance which had been submitted by the Finance Committee.

What else did the Board discuss or refer to committee? 
  • The Board went into Executive Session to discuss “probable” and “imminent” litigation.

​Unexpected Votes, Events, Testimony or Items to Watch for in the Future
  • Perennial speaker George Blakemore urged the Board to create an Inspector General for the District.  

Other Comments or Observations
  • Commissioner Timothy Bradford has died; it will require 8075 votes for a write-in candidate in the March primary to move that candidate’s name to the November ballot.  Meanwhile, the Governor holds power of appointment for the seat. 

Observer - Kelly Kleiman                                         Meeting Length - 90 minutes
0 Comments

Water Reclamation District Lobbies for $34.7M Federal Grant for McCook Deep Tunnel Project

12/30/2017

0 Comments

 
Metropolitan Water Reclamation District (MWRD) Board Meeting - December 21, 2017            

Decisions Made:

  • Agreed not to reconsider the 2018 budget of $1.15 billion or tax levy approved at its December 14, 2017 meeting.
  • Approved a $324,000 one-year final extension contract with O’Connell & Dempsey, LLC to perform Federal legislative consulting services in Washington, DC for Phase 2 of the McCook Deep Tunnel Project.  The District is close to receiving a $34.7 million lump sum grant, and the E.D and most of the Board believe this extension is necessary to ensure the final steps of the grant process are executed.  The current lobbying contract expires 12-31-17.
  • Approved a request to advertise for outside counsel legal services.  Executive Director, David St. Pierre, noted that the District needs to build its data base of qualified firms.  President Spyropoulos requested that the District set a limit on the hourly rate charged and noted that the Cook County Board has set a rate of $185 per hour for outside counsel.
  • Approved a purchase order and contract amendment with e-Builder, Inc. for $937,027 to furnish and deliver a project management system and technical support to track projects for diversity and affirmative action purposes. Commission Steele asked for a summer study session to take a deeper dive into the affirmative action and diversity initiatives of the District.

Items to Watch for at Upcoming Meetings:
  1. Watch for a special session to create an office of an Independent Inspector General.
  2. Watch for a decision to grant the Morton Grove Niles Water Commission an 18 month temporary and a 70 year 1,848 sq. ft. non-exclusive easement to construct, install, operate, maintain, repair and remove a pump station and a 30 inch water main on part of the North Shore Channel parcels in Evanston and Skokie.  Fees will be charged.  The Mayors of both Morton Grove and Niles asked for a decision at this Board Meeting.  Executive Director, St. Pierre, removed the resolution from the agenda pending answers to questions raised.  Morton Grove and Niles are currently getting their water from Chicago.
  3. Commissioner Shore called for a clear definition of sexual harassment from the H.R. and Legal Departments, asked for feedback in early 2018, and called for the development of “Best Practices” for workplace sexual harassment.

​Observer - Diane Edmundson                                          ​ Meeting Length - 90 minutes                   

0 Comments
<<Previous

    Author

    Individual authors are credited at the end of each report.

    Archives

    January 2021
    December 2020
    November 2020
    October 2020
    September 2020
    August 2020
    July 2020
    June 2020
    May 2020
    April 2020
    March 2020
    February 2020
    January 2020
    December 2019
    November 2019
    October 2019
    September 2019
    August 2019
    July 2019
    June 2019
    May 2019
    April 2019
    March 2019
    February 2019
    January 2019
    December 2018
    November 2018
    October 2018
    September 2018
    July 2018
    June 2018
    May 2018
    April 2018
    March 2018
    February 2018
    January 2018
    December 2017
    November 2017
    October 2017
    September 2017
    August 2017
    July 2017
    June 2017
    May 2017
    April 2017
    March 2017
    February 2017
    January 2017
    December 2016
    November 2016
    October 2016
    September 2016
    June 2016
    May 2016
    April 2016
    February 2016
    January 2016
    December 2015

    Categories

    All
    Affirmative Action Plan
    Bio Gas Production
    Bio-gas Production
    Bio Solids
    Bio-solids
    Bonds
    Budget
    Contracts
    Environmental Cleanup
    Flood Control
    Independent Inspector General MWRD
    Metropolitan Water Reclamation District
    MWRD
    Nutrient Trading
    Odor Control
    Pensions
    Prescription Drug Disposal
    Public Comments
    Rain Barrels
    Real Estate Issues
    Storm Water Management
    Taxes
    Tree Planting
    Water Quality
    Watershed Management

    RSS Feed

LEAGUE OF WOMEN VOTERS OF COOK COUNTY
332 S. Michigan Ave., Suite 634
Chicago, IL 60604

312/939-5935 x 4
info@lwvcookcounty.org
Terms and Conditions of Use
© Copyright League of Women Voters of Cook County, Illinois. All rights reserved.
Membership Information
CONTACT US
  • Home
  • About
    • About
    • LWVCC Positions
    • LWVCC Action and Testimony
    • LWVCC Activities
    • LWVCC Interest Groups >
      • Budget & Structure
      • Criminal Justice
      • Cook County Health
  • Voter Info
  • Observer Reports
    • Cook County Board Observer Reports
    • MWRD Board Observer Reports
    • CCH Board Observer Reports
    • Forest Preserve Board Reports
  • Make Your Voice Heard
    • Cook County Board
    • Cook County Elected Officials
    • MWRD Board