Category: Bio Gas Production

Clean Energy is Topic of Discussion at MWRD Board Meeting

3/22/2023

Metropolitan Water Reclamation District (Mwrd) Board Meeting
March 16, 2023

Board Action:
Clean energy:

Item 15 #23-1215 The Board authorized an increase in the cost estimate for a Biogas Combined Heat and Power System, EWRP, to $10,344,000. This item had been deferred from the March 2, 2023 meeting. Commissioner Garcia asked staff to give the Board “a clear memo” on where the MWRD is going with clean energy. In related discussion, Commissioner Corral-Sepulveda asked if a current study on bio-gas would provide insight the agency could apply to other facilities. Executive Director Perkovich said the bio gas study applied mostly to the Hanover Park plant, and that it should be available to the board in draft form by summer. He noted the study might apply to all the MWRD facilities that had digestor gas. Commissioner Corral-Sepulveda asked staff to consider using clean hydrogen as fuel in future projects.
Item 16 #23-0246 Authorization to exercise an option to extend agreement or administer a reverse auction to procure electricity and renewable energy credits (RECs) under Contract 20-RFP-24 for years 2025 and 2026. The Board approved authorization but Commissioner Spyropoulos noted the board was being asked to approve something with two options, and requested reports to the Board on the impact of each option on the business of the MWRD.

Nutrient Removal and Recovery:

Item 23 #23-0267 The Board granted authority to advertise Contract 21-091-3P Phosphorus Removal Modifications to Battery D, O’Brien Water Reclamation Plant, estimated cost between $16,638,205 and $20,140,985. Contractor is AECOM, and the project cost estimate is $17.5 million.
The MWRD must install biological phosphorus removal in all wastewater treatment facilities by July 31, 2025 to meet new federal total phosphorus effluent limits beginning August 1, 2027. Enhanced phosphorus removal through return activated sludge fermentation will be used. The fermentation of return activated sludge in this process encourages the growth of phosphorus accumulating organisms, stabilizes phosphorus removal, and allows for greater phosphorus removal under less favorable influent conditions, according to the project report.

Stormwater Management

Item 35 #23-0260 The Board approved a $203,864 increase to the cost of decommissioning the Thornton Transitional Reservoir in the Calumet service area. IHC Construction Companies holds the contract. The increase brings the new contract amount to $26,100,447.
Item 36 #23-0289 Commissioner Spyropoulos questioned why the non-tax revenue for the stormwater fund in the revenue and spending report for 2022 exceeded the budget. Executive Director Perkovich said he would get back to her via e-mail.

New Business:

Commissioner Davis introduced a statement, including a tight timeline, asking the Board to approve a motion at the April 6th Board meeting to establish a Department of Justice, Equity, Diversity and Inclusion within the Agency, with its own Director. The statement requested staff to provide a budget estimate and staffing requirements by May 21st, in time for funding to be included in the Agency’s 2024 budget. Commissioner Davis envisions a 5-year implementation process, and noted the MWRD’s need to seek legislative authority from the State to create such a department.
President Steele responded to Commissioner Davis’s statement, noting his was a statement – not a motion. She reminded the board that she, Executive Director Perkovich, and MWRD Department Heads were already crafting inclusionary policies. A memo about a reorganization was given to Board members that morning, she said, and she asked for coordination between Board and Staff efforts.
Subsequent discussion revealed other commissioners had become impatient with the Agency’s progress on inclusion. It was not clear if the majority of the Board was willing to break with Steele and staff and embrace Commissioner Davis’s urgent appeal.

Public comment: Emmanuel Koubarakis, Consulate General of Greece, addressed the board regarding recognition of Greek Independence Day.

Observer - Laurie Morse No Executive Session No Study Session

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Egan Water Reclamation Plant Biogas Project Seeks Expansion to Include More Infrastructure

3/25/2022

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Metropolitan Water Reclamation District MWRD) Board Meeting
March 17, 2022

Board Action:

An item requested the RFP for the Biogas Combined Heat and Power system for the Egan Water Reclamation Plant (Schaumburg) be dramatically increased from $2M to $10M because it was decided the processor needs a building of its own to function properly. The item was deferred, and Executive Director Perkovich was asked to return with “unbundled” cost estimates. Commissioners Davis, Perry, Sepulveda, Spyropoulos, and Marita emphasized that a fourfold increase in Scope of Work needs to be broken down better for commissioners to understand. This Egan biogas project will be the flagship installation before other plants are considered. (Item 14 22-0235)
There was abundant discussion about a contract forfeit for a small contractor because it could not deliver the material at its quoted contract price. Commissioners were indignant that the MWRD must forfeit contracts and have to go out for bid to spend larger amounts, with seemingly no consequence to the forfeited contractor other than they could not bid again for one year. Com. Davis, Marita, Perry, and Sepulveda urged pursuing legal recourse rather than forfeiting the contract. The item was deferred so that Dir. Perkovich could investigate further. (Item 15 22-0279)
Com. Dubuclet expressed interest in the farming contract at Hanover Park and wondered if the practice could spread to other sites. Dir. Perkovich said that so far only Hanover Park was viable. (Item 24 22-0259)
VP McGowan wondered why the 19 year contract at McCook Reservoir Excavation with Vulcan Construction Materials was being increased and how long the contract had to run. Dir. Perkovich replied that Vulcan had owned the land for McCook and the contract expired in 2028. (Item 26 22-0234)
The knowledge exchange programs with Dubai and Singapore were both deferred. Com. Davis expressed concern about Dubai’s labor practices and political repression. (Items 31 and 32, 22-0291 and 22-0294)

New Business:

World Water Day is March 22. Chicago now recognizes potable water as a basic human right. Coms. Davis and Garcia look forward to the Disparity Study results. They also both want MWRD to publish COVID 19 results from spot wastewater testing.
VP McGowan wants to make sure that even small contracts are required to utilize MBE subcontractors and requested that Dir. Perkovich return with a policy.

All commissioners were in attendance in-person.

Observer - Amy Little

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MWRD Commissioners ask for a Sharper Contract Bidding Process

10/11/2020

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Metropolitan Water Reclamation District (MWRD) Board Meeting
October 1, 2020

In general, the commissioners are digging deeper into the way contracts are defined and bidders’ responses screened. Comm. Davis asked the rhetorical question "can we sharpen the process to screen in/out bidders with response components that are incomplete or inaccurate”.

Approved General Agenda Items

20-0799 The staff received commissioner commendations for its efforts to diversify Bond underwriters and for the Districts AAA bond rating.
20-007 Request to amend the Resources Recovery Ordinance to reduce the tipping fee and increase breweries' willingness to sell and haul their waste to the Calumet Plant was approved without comment after being deferred at the September 17, 2020 board meeting. One of the reasons for deferral was the commissioners repeated request that ordinance and policy changes be presented to the board 30 days prior to placing on the formal agenda for a vote.
20-0738 Authority to advertise for a Management Services Contract to perform real time energy reverse actions and advisory services passed after considerable comment. Comm. Shore noted that it has been 10 years since the District adopted the reverse auction process for procurement of electricity. Comm. Shore indicated that she wants a determination made as to how this fits into the District's Climate Action Plan and that it is time for a systematic review of green energy options. It was also noted that the County and the City use a sealed bid process.
20-0821 Authority to advertise for Biogas Combined Heat and Power System contract at a cost of $2 million was approved after discussion. Comm. Spyropoulos asked the Executive Director (ED) to state his level of confidence in this project and then asked for a six month progress report. ED Perkovich stated that he feels "good" about the approach and that it is an example of/for the future.
20-0776 A contract to furnish and deliver salt and calcium chloride for year at various plant sites for sidewalks and driveways was approved. Comm. Spyropoulos asked for a memo on the environmental impact.
20-0787 Approved a contract for television inspection and recording of sewers and manholes at various locations to National Power Rodding Corporation for just under $2.6 million.
20-0790 Approved a contract to install mechanical mixers at the Stickney Water plant in an amount not to exceed $8.7 million plus a 5% allowance for change orders.

Deleted/Deferred Items

Agenda Item # 14-20-0789 Authority to advertise a contract for Farm Management Support Services at a cost of $375,000 was deleted by the ED without comment.
Agenda Item #21 -20-0773 Authority to cut a purchase order with Next Generation Technology for enhancements to the District's new website in the amount of $300,000 was again deferred by Comm. Garcia. This is the contract Comm. Shore said in September that she was underwhelmed by the contractor's presentation. Garcia asked for a second deferral because his questions to the staff were "not answered appropriately"

Future Items

Watch for a new date and time as the afternoon Study Session on non-profit organization's concerns with the implementation of the updated Ethics Ordinance was postponed due to repeated virtual technical difficulties that could not be corrected.
The 2021 budget session is scheduled to start on Thursday, October 15, 2020 at 2:00 pm. Topics: Budget and Employment and/or Capital Improvement Items

Observer: Diane Edmundson Length of Meeting: 2.5 hours

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Clean Energy is Topic of Discussion at MWRD Board Meeting

Egan Water Reclamation Plant Biogas Project Seeks Expansion to Include More Infrastructure

MWRD Commissioners ask for a Sharper Contract Bidding Process

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