Metropolitan Water Reclamation District (MWRD) Board Meerting
July 16, 2026

The District’s second initiative to expand its Schoolyard Program to the Suburbs was approval by the Board to enter into an intergovernmental agreement with School District #104 and the Village of Summit for the design, construction, operation and maintenance of a “Space to Grow project” that would serve an elementary and a middle school.  The cost for the District is projected at $3.6 million, and 775 thousand gallons of water are expected to be captured.   #41 26-0487
       #Davis thanked E.D. Murray for finding the money for this important project as the 
         District has been struggling to identify funders.
       #Garcia suggested setting up a foundation for Space To Grow and other green projects.
       #Murray noted that a legislative change would likely be needed to set up the foundation
            ( It is expected to appear on the 2027 Legislative Priorities )

The Board agreed to the purchase order with IHC Construction for engineering design, construction, and installation services to Rebuild the Calumet’s Plant “Dewatering” facility at a cost not to exceed $82,225,000M. Due to the Chicago Transit Authority’s Red Line extension, trucking digested sludge from the lagoons to the drying beds is no longer practical.  #18-260475  

The Board also approved increasing an IHC contract by $31M to $15,597M for Phosphorus Removal Modifications at the O’Brien water reclamation plant.      #27 65-0477

James Mohler, Executive Director of the MWRD Retirement Fund presented the 2025 Audit Results for the MWRD Retirement Fund.  Below are highlights:     #35 26-0464  
    *Market Value of Assets up by $240M over the last two years.  Up to $1.79B
    *Net pension liability decreased by $173M over the last two years.
    *Over the last 7 years, the Fund’s cumulative net annual return of 8.8% exceeded the actuarial   
     assumed rate of return of 7%. 
    * Report assumes the board will remain focused on diversifying this portfolio to reduce risk.

Trinity Christian College has leased 57 acres of MWRD land for athletic fields since 2008 but closed at the end of the 2026 school year.  The board approved signing the lease over to Chicago Christian Schools at the current lease rent of $136,800.    #40 26-0489

New Business
Commissioner Brady-Davis asked for an update on the Harvey stormwater/flood control retention project.  Ans:  late 2026 for demolition; work starts in 2027 and finishes in 2028.  When finished, 209 homes will be protected and 7.5 million gallons of water captured.
Brady-Davis also asked what investment is needed in S. Suburban Cook County to prepare for the future.  Ans:  A feasibility study on this question will soon be ready.

Executive Meeting:  YES                             
Deletions or Deferrals:  NO

Observer:  Diane Edmundson

Metropolitan Water Reclamation District (MWRD) Board of Directors Meeting
May 2, 2024-10:30 a.m.

Board Action:

​Agenda #40 (24-0338) The MWRD staff presented a report on the DIA (Disproportionately Impacted Areas) communities that will receive infrastructure assistance.

• Commissioner Davis asked about the current criteria for selection. The original criteria list was developed in 2019. Has this criteria been updated? And did commercialization penalize some of the communities?  
• Staff spokesperson, Dr. O’Connor, assured the commissioners that they are eager to work with them to update the criteria. There are many projects underway on the south side that will slow down the flow to the Thornton reservoir. If communities are not selected (e.g. Cicero), they can still benefit by the Green Schoolyard initiative.
• Commissioner Corral-Sepulveda asked E.D. Perkovich about the goals of the program. She urged development of clear measurable goals and noted that developing these requires great expertise. Commissioner Garcia asked for an update that includes what Chicago is doing in this area. He stressed the  importance of knowing how other governmental entities are solving these issues.
• Final consensus was that the commissioners were pleased with the staff work and were interested in being actively involved in updating the criteria for the infrastructure program.

Agenda #3 (024-005) The Ordinance to give authority to amend the Watershed Management Ordinance-Wetlands Jurisdictional  Determination was passed. Ayes: 8 Nays: 0 Ab. 1

PUBLIC COMMENTS:

• Friends of the Chicago River spoke in support of agenda #40, the Green Infrastructure Program.
• Resource Environmental Solutions spoke for a 3-year extension to the program that identifies stormwater projects. 

DELETED ITEMS: Executive Director Perkovich deleted #1, 2 and 27.

•   #1- Ordinance 024-003- providing the transfer of an amount from the 459 Capital Improvements Bond Revenue Sub-Fund to pay for certain non-Tunnel and Reservoir Plan related expenditures….
•     #2-024-004-Ordinance providing for the transfer of an amount from the 459 Capital Improvements Bond Revenue Sub-Fund to pay for certain Tunnel and Reservoir Plan related expenditures…
•     #27-24-0327-Authority to award Contract Landscape Maintenance at Various Service Areas to Lizzette Medina & Company.

Consent agenda (#1-41, except for #1,2,3, 27) was passed unanimously.

EXECUTIVE SESSION: Commissioners met to discuss personnel matters.


Meeting adjourned: 11:55 a.m. on an unanimous vote. 

Observer: Georgia Gebhardt

Metropolitan Water Reclamation District (MWRD) Board Meeting
​May 4, 2023

Board Action:

• After four years of interdepartmental task force research and collaboration, interaction between MWRD commissioners and staff, a public comment period, and multiple drafts, the Board adopted its climate action plan [CAP] to be updated on an annual basis. #23-0392.  Item #34. Commissioner Garcia requested that the Monitoring and Research Committee develop a virtual presentation for employees and the public and also a tracking plan.  The full plan can be found on the MWRD website’s home page at www.mwrd.org.  Click on Strategic plan and the link to the Climate Action Plan will pop up as well.  
• Item #19, 23-0400 A purchase order in the amount of $1.5+ million was deleted by the Executive Director without comment.  It was to retain a legal firm to represent the District in acquiring certain property rights for the construction of the Central Park Stormwater Detention Basis and sewer improvements in Harvey for an additional amount of $400,000.
• All other Items were approved including #22, 23-0327 to award a contraction for $22,976 million to replace the boilers at the Stickney Plant.  This item had twice been deferred in April partially due to its cost.  Two public speakers, Cliff Haefke, Director of Energy Resources Center at UIC and Mike Archey decarbonization strategist and long-time advocate for the District rethinking how it uses its Biogas effluent, spoke against purchasing the boilers and rethinking how it will capture and use its biogas.

Items of Additional Interest

• Item #27, 23-0396 approved increasing a previous purchase order to increase consulting support services from $2.1 to $2.5 million at the Calumet Plant to help the District determine where phosphorous is coming from and to help reduce it coming into the plant.
• Item #18 -23-0399 approved entering into an agreement with Questica LTD to purchase a Public Sector Budget System for an amount not to exceed $1.52+ million dollars.  Commissioner Garcia stated that the District’s procurement system needs to be included.  He said that the District can function with the current system until 2040.  ED Perkovich responded that he would provide a timeline and goals.
• Commissioner Sypropoulos sponsored a resolution recognizing Chicago River Day, and Chelsey Grassfield, Policy Manager of Friends of the Chicago River, accepted the award and thanked the board.

Observer:  Diane Edmundson                 No Executive Session                    No new Business