Public Hearing on 2017 MWRD Budget - December 1, 2016
The Civic Federation was the only speaker at this Public Hearing. However, Commissioner Avila at the end of the hearing raised concerns about the process being followed for selecting people for Deputy Director positions. Laurence Msall, President of the Civic Federation, a non-partisan government research organization, expressed support for the proposed $1.13 billion proposed budget, stating that:
However, Mr. Msall also expressed the concern over the size of the unfunded liabilities under the pension fund, despite the strides that the MWRD has taken and is taking. The Civic Federation’s report on the budget can be found HERE. While not pertinent to the budget, Commissioner Avila expressed concern that only one person (presumably the Executive Director) was making decisions about who would be hired for Deputy Director positions. Executive Director St. Pierre stated that Deputy Directors are only hired when an existing Director states an intention to retire. When that happens and the Board approves a deputy position, there is a 3-person team who interviews candidates and makes a recommendation as to whom should be hired. President Spyropoulos suggested that the process be circulated for review by the Commissioners. Commissioner Shore pointed out that if any employee feels the process has been unfair, there are procedures in place to deal with any complaints. Observer - Priscilla Mims
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Metropolitan Water Reclamation District Board Meeting
Afternoon study session focused on the MWRD’s Capital Improvements budget for 2017. October 20, 2016 President Spyropoulos called the meeting to order at 10:30 am, and ended proceedings at noon. A PUBLIC HEARING on the MWRD’s proposed Capital Budget for 2017 was held following the Board meeting. Highlights from the Board meeting:
PUBLIC HEARING ON THE MWRD’s POPOSED CAPITAL IMPROVEMENT PLAN for 2017: The MWRD released its draft 2017 Budget on October 11, 2016, and this study session was the first opportunity Commissioners had to question staff on the capital improvement plan described in the budget draft. Staff is proposing a $1.131 billion budget, which translates into roughly $117.27 per $100,000 of assessed value for real property tax payers in Cook County. The taxpayer burden is unchanged from 2016, but the full budget appropriation is $112 million (9%) less than in 2016, largely because of a decrease in the Capital Improvements Bond Fund. To view a copy of the MWRD 2017 Budget click HERE Dr. Catherine O’Connor, Director of Engineering, presented the MWRD’s $348 Capital Improvement Program, based on the MWRD’s strategic business plan, which strives to add value, achieve excellence, recover resources, and lead partnerships. She noted the $348 million in capital appropriations requested will support “2,500 good union jobs in our service area.” Add value: Ms. O’Connor noted that the indoor sludge thickening plant at Stickney “smells like roses” (cost: $162.2 million) has added value by reducing neighborhood odors and concentrates bio solids. She detailed dozens of similar improvements, including a $35 million project to improve the pump station in Calumet, a $43 million project to rehab the Salt Creek Intercepting Sewer, and the $107 million investment in the McCook Reservoir Des Plaines inflow tunnel, slated to be completed in fall of 2019. The MWRD only very recently gained legislative authority to participate in voluntary buyouts of repeatedly-flooded residential properties as a flood control measure. Director O’Connor detailed a plan to buy out 163 homes in flood prone areas between 2017 and 2019 at an estimated cost of $43 million. The MWRD’s portion of these buyouts is less than 100%, with federal and local dollars supplementing the Agency’s contributions. Ms. O’Connor said the buyouts are less expensive than engineered flood-control solutions. DesPlaines will see the largest number of buyouts – about 42 homes in two different phases. The MWRD will pay only 24% of the cost of the DesPlaines residential property acquisitions. Riverside Lawn, Stone Park, and Franklin Park will also see more than 30 flood prone homes purchased and torn down through agency partnerships. Leveraging Partnerships: The MWRD seeks to leverage its stormwater dollars using strategic partnerships. The largest of these is a $25 million contribution to the City of Chicago’s $57 million tunnel project that will divert stormwater overflow from the North Branch of the Chicago River in the city’s Albany Park neighborhood to the North Shore Channel near Lincolnwood. This is a flood control project that does not address water quality improvement. Resource recovery: The MWRD has recently focused more intently on profiting from resource recovery at its treatment plants.
Observer: Laurie Morse Observers: Priscilla Mims and Laura Davis
Meeting Date: December 17, 2015 Significant Decisions Made: The 2016 Budget. The MWRD Board at a Special Meeting on December 10 voted to approve a budget of $1,251,955,410 for the 2016 fiscal year that begins January 1. Per law, the MWRD may revise the budget at the first regular Board meeting following that vote. At this meeting, the Board approved a $20,000 increase to the Corporate Fund, bringing the total budget to $1,251,955,430. The total budget for 2016 is $38 million higher, or 3.2% greater, than that for 2015. The total number of positions is 1,976 (6 more positions than in 2015). Motions to reconsider the budget failed, which means that the 2016 budget is now final. The full budget is available on the MWRD web site: www.mwrd.org. The 2016 Property Tax Levy. The MWRD also finalized the total 2016 property tax levy of $577,833,062. The MWRD votes separately for the tax levies for each of the different funds: Corporate, Construction, Reserve Claim, Stormwater Management, Retirement, and Bond Redemption and Interest funds. Motions to reconsider these tax levies also failed, meaning that the tax levy is finalized. This is $18 million greater than 2015, which is a 3.3% increase. Items to Watch for the Future: New rules for public speakers. Under existing procedures, speakers may speak separately up to 3 minutes each on any individual item. They may also ask questions within that time period. At this meeting, George Blakemore spoke separately on several different items. A member of the Green Party also spoke and raised questions on different items that were responded to by Executive Director David St. Pierre following the 3 minute speaker limitation. Commissioner Michael Alvarez suggested that the MWRD Board look at other government bodies’ rules for public speakers and change to conform to them. Presumably, this will mean allowing a speaker to only speak once, rather than separately on different items. It may also mean eliminating the ability of speakers to raise questions that will be responded to. Broadcasts of meetings. Commissioner Frank Avila asked that the Board look at televising the meetings on a public access channel. Currently, one can watch the meeting live via the web site, and videos of the meeting are made available on the web site after a short delay. Next Meeting: January 7, 2016 at 10 am. |
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