Metropolitan Water Reclamation District (MWRD) Board Meeting
April 2, 2026; 10:30 a.m.

Board Discussion and Action:
Commissioner Garcia raised the issue of the difficulty of finding minority women vendors. He asked if the MWRD was reaching out to vendors outside of the agency’s data base. Staff replied that they also review data bases from the City of Chicago and found no firms that fit the need.  Commissioners asked if staff reached out to Cook County and to the State. It was suggested that perhaps they needed to reach  beyond the virtual to identify vendors. 
Commissioner Corral-Sepulveda asked about certification activity and about how MWRD determines how far to reach out for vendors. She asked if contractors can be certified after the contract has been adopted. Staff said yes, this “rolling” certification can be done. 
Commissioner Garcia asked that there be better reporting of the numbers and the process. President Steele requested ED Murray to include all the questions/answers on this subject in an email to the commissioners. She also reminded the commissioners that they should send their questions through the Executive Director. He will then direct them to the appropriate staff for response.  #5-0212

Commissioner Kirkwood asked why polymer is crucial. ED Murray explained that it is used in sludge thickening, separating water and solids in the production of cake.  Commissioner Waller asked if this expenditure would be required if the Red Line extension was not happening and could the MWRD recover any costs from the CTA. Murray answered that there would be no reimbursement. He explained that they would use pumps to pump sludge into a geo-pool where it settles out in fifteen days. Centrifuges are much quicker. Centrifuges are expected to be online by 2028.  #8-26-0222

Commissioner Brady-Davis expressed appreciation that the Harvey Sewer Improvements project was getting underway. This is an 18-month project. She asked how this is being communicated to the citizens of Harvey. Staff replied that communication is hard-wired into every contract.  Several commissioners asked for assurance that this communication would be happening and indeed, that those involved should “over communicate” to the citizens. Commissioner Garcia asked if there were any budgetary issues in Harvey. Murray replied that the capital funding was through grant money. Harvey is only responsible for the ongoing maintenance after project completion.     #9-26-0225

Comm. Garcia Deferred Agenda Items: # 4,6,7   All dealing with inability to find minority contractors due to specifics of need.

Duration of Meeting: 66 minutes
Executive Session: No               

Observer: Georgia Gebhardt    

Metropolitan Water Reclamation District (MWRD) Board Meetings
December 4, 2025

The Board held  

• The Annual Meeting at which President Steele presented her Annual Message which can be found HERE by clicking on the link “President’s Message 2025” (item 25-0893). 
• The regular Board meeting, with information provided below. 
• The public hearing on the proposed 2026 budget for the public to provide any comments, but no one spoke.  

At the regular Board meeting, all items were approved, except for Agenda Items 20, 33, and 34, which were deleted by the Executive Director; and Agenda Items 9 and 32, which were deferred.

• Commissioner Sepulveda requested a second deferment of an authority to advertise a contract to furnish, deliver and install web-based compliance software at an estimated cost of $250,000.  (See the observer report for the November 20 meeting.)  Since this was the second deferment, a vote had to be taken and the deferment was approved. There were no comments or questions about this Item 25-0848 (agenda item #9).
• Commissioner Davis deferred Item 25-0885 (agenda item #32), the proposal to amend and extend the intergovernmental agreement with the Cook County Sheriff’s Office for its prescription drug take-back program at a cost of up to $80,000 for 2026.  Comm. Davis said that he continued to have problems (also raised last year) with using taxpayer money for the take-back program which, now under law, the drug companies are required to pay for.  Comm. Flynn and President Steele both expressed support for the MWRD continuing in the program, with President Steele saying that the MWRD contribution allows for receptacles and drug pick-up in communities where there otherwise would be none.  

Also discussed:

• Authority to advertise a contract to create in Harvey a 23-acre stormwater detention basin to provide flood storage and installation of storm sewer to convey the stormwater to the basin and allow discharge into the Wood Street storm sewer system.  Cost is estimated to be between $11.4 M and $13.8 M.  This project is expected to provide flood reduction for 209 structures. Comm. Davis asked about the annual maintenance costs for these facilities should Harvey not perform its duties to maintain.  Exec. Director Murray said that they would be nominal.  In response to a question from Comm. Sepulveda, Exec. Director Murray said that the MWRD had the sole authority to pick the vendors for the construction, with Harvey playing no role. (Agenda item 10, Item 25-0897)
• Comm. Garcia thanked the Board members who back in 2007 created the Other Postemployment Benefits Fund, which is used to cover the costs of the MWRD providing medical and prescription drug benefits to qualifying employees and their eligible spouses and dependents.  Under the existing policy, $5 M was to be provided to the Fund in 2026.  However, the Fund is above 100% of its funding goal.  So no payment will be made in 2026 and the Policy for the Fund has now been amended to provide that funds will only be deposited in the future to maintain the 100% funding goal.  (Agenda item #1, Item 25-0908)

During public comments, Cook County Commissioner Josina Morita, a former MWRD Commissioner, presented a resolution from herself and Cook County Board President Toni Preckwinkle congratulating John Murray on his appointment as the MWRD Executive Director.

Length of regular Board meeting:  55 minutes

Observer:  Priscilla Mims

Metropolitan Water Reclamation District Board of Commissioners Meeting
​November 20, 2025

After serving eight months as Interim Executive Director, John Murray was offered and accepted the position on a permanent basis.  This was the second stint for Mr. Murray as an “interim”.  He will likely be vacating the position of Director of Maintenance and Operations. #26 25-0875

Other Agenda Items:

• Commissioner Corral Sepulveda deferred Item #6, a Furnish and Deliver contract for web-based compliance software at an estimated cost of $250,000. She then asked for information on the scope of the contract. E.D. Murray responded that they do not typically release information until the contract is complete, but he promised to send her a summary.   #6 25-0848
• Commissioners Waller & Flynn thanked staff for report on Public Notification of Dischargers found in significant noncompliance with pre-treatment standards or other requirements. See attachments #1-2 of the non-compliance report for the list of companies found not to be in compliance and a 4-year comparison.  Item #20 25-0868
• Commissioner Waller commented that she had addressed a question to staff on the possibility for allowing a reuse of water credit applied against noncompliance penalties and was given reasons why it could not work.  She then challenged the staff to rethink its position.  She also went on to mention that Congress has HR 2940 under consideration which would grant a 30% tax credit for onsite reuse both individually and in partnerships; and that the Water Reuse Association is looking for funding for water reuse projects when water and wastewater run thru separate sewers. President Steele said that she looks forward to a meeting with staff and Commissioner Waller to talk about her ideas and then to present to the full Board for a decision.

New business: 

• MWRD received the Outstanding Geology & Environmental Award.  The deep tunnel, known as TARP, being built for water retention during heaving storms was cited as one of the reasons the Agency was singled out for this recognition.
• Commissioner Waller noted the November 8 propane gas explosion at a Homeless encampment at a park on land owned by the MWRD on the NorthShore Channel. The blast was felt by nearby residents. She urged the MWRD to assist in finding housing, especially for couples who do not want to be separated, and to help facilitate the encampment removal before cold weather sets in.  Steele asked Waller to meet with her that afternoon for Steele to put Waller in touch with local elected officials that could help with the situation. Flynn asked for Murray to provide information on previous MWRD efforts in regard to the encampment.
• Commissioner Flynn congratulated all recent retirees from the MWRD.

Executive Session: Yes. To discuss minutes of lawfully closed meetings and to discuss items regarding the Open Meetings Act – 26 minutes.                     Attendance:  8 Commissioners present – absent:  1 (Brown)

Observer:  Georgia Gebhardt

Metropolitan Water Reclamation District (MWRD) Board Meeting
March 20, 2025

Resolution lauding retiring Executive Director Brian Perkovich.  Commissioners joined in wishing the ED well and thanking him for his 31 years of service at the MWRD.

Board Action:
Commissioner Garcia requested agenda items #21 and #22 be considered together. 

• The items involved the awarding of a contract to Furnish and Deliver Glass and Plastic Labware, etc.
  
• Commissioner Garcia had many questions about how many vendor bids were received, how long the procurement would take and whether there were participation goals. How many were one-year contracts vs multi-year? Wouldn’t it be more efficient to do multi-year contracts which would increase the amount so that MG goals can be applied? 
  
• ED Perkovich was not able to answer these detailed questions at the meeting but said he would respond. 
  
• Commissioner Garcia’s requested deferral of both items.
• Commissioner Kirkwood stated that asking these questions before the meeting would be better. Commissioner Waller suggested that smaller contracts were good for diversity. 
• Commissioner Sepulveda stated a need to understand the logic for smaller contracts, asking how do we assess which is better?   25-0225 and 25-0227

Agenda Item #31 gave authority to approve an Amended Agreed Order of Settlement for MWRD v. Electronic Plating Co.

• The MWRD Legal Department stated that compliance with the hearing officer ruling is best for the MWRD. Commissioner Davis asked if this would deter future noncompliance and asked what monitoring device would be used to ensure this. Would the monitoring be daily? weekly? Answer: there would be sampling every day
• Commissioner Waller expressed wish for deferral and an exploration of a new settlement. She stated that she would be voting no.
• Commissioners Flynn and Brady-Davis expressed reservations but would vote yes. 
• Commissioner Sepulveda chastised the company for violating board orders; MWRD will be increasing penalties in the future.
• Counsel for the company stated that his client will comply. 
• ommissioner Davis stated that this is a lesson that the Board needs to revisit the compliance penalties.  Commissioner Kirkwood requested a roll call vote.   Aye: 8        Nay: 1. 25-0154

Deferred or Deleted Agenda Items:

• Deleted by Executive Director: # 19 (25-0201) and #27 (25-0224)
• Deferred:  Items #21and #22 by Garcia (see above)  
• #23-0236 by Steele with no discussion. Resolution to award a $14.9 million contract for chemical phosphorus removal in treated water at the O’Brien plant before release into the river.

New Business:

• Commissioner Flynn raised issue of industrial hemp as a new cultivar. She proposed that the Board investigate this. 

Observer:  Georgia Gebhardt         ​Meeting Length - 109 minutes - No Executive Session

Metropolitan Water Reclamation District (MWRD) Board Meeting
September 19, 2024

Board Action:
​There was a long Commissioner discussion about the award of the 39th Street conduit rehabilitation to Michels Trenchless for a higher bid than Instituform, who bid $3 million less (the total bid was over $40 million), but for which Instituform did not make a good faith effort to comply with the MWBE requirements of the MWRD.  The issue is that MWRD be fiscally responsible to taxpayers while at the same time requiring 12% MWBE participation.  Coms. Davis and Garcia needed more questions answered before committing to the higher bid, and seven commissioners voted to delete the item from the agenda.  (Item 24 #24-0786)

Coms. Corral-Sepulveda and Spyropoulos voted against the deletion.  The Procurement department keeps a list of MWBE approved subcontractors that could do work for the award winner.  Michels Trenchless apparently did not meet the 12% MWBE hurdle either, but Instituform had asked for a complete waiver.  During Public Comment the VP of Sales for Instituform spoke in opposition to the bid award to Michels Trenchless, in a repeat of the September 5 MWRD meeting.  

Com. Brady-Davis promised that they would have the report covering the MWBE process by the December meeting.  The consultant’s full procurement report with recommendations is also due in December.

The state lobbying contracts with four law firms for another year was deferred by Pres. Steele, with no discussion.  (Item 28 #24-0803)

With the exception of Items 24 and 28, all other board items were approved including the twice deferred EMS PRISM Compliance Mgmt. Software License Contract. (Item 15 #24-0690)

Public Comment - Environmental groups spoke in support of Urban Agriculture to reduce flooding and decrease urban food insecurity

• Speakers from the Cook County Farm Bureau and Friends of the Chicago River spoke in support of the MWRD’s resolution to use available land for urban agriculture projects. (Item 4 #24-0817) 
• Friends of the Chicago River supports the MWRD plan to lease sixteen acres OF WATER at the Schaumburg Egan Plant to install a floating solar array.  Com. Davis thanked the MWRD staff for innovation in helping to make the floating solar panels a reality. (Item 42 #24-0813).

Observer:  Amy Little                              The meeting lasted 90 minutes with no Executive Session.

Metropolitan Water Reclamation District (MWRD) Board Meeting
September 5, 2024

Items Discussed:
During the public comment period, the vice president for sales of Insituform Technologies USA LLC spoke against the proposed awarding of a bid for the 39th Street conduit rehabilitation –phase II to Michels Trenchless Inc, (Agenda Item #53, File # 24-0786).

• Michels bid was for $42.3 M, while Insituform’s was for $40.4 M.  According to the material with the agenda, Insituform’s bid was rejected for failure to meet the MBE, WBE, and VBE goals.  Insituform had requested a waiver of those goals, but, according to the agenda materials, the MWRD staff determined that the company did not substantiate a good faith effort to comply with the goals.
• Insituform’s vice president said the company felt it had made a good faith effort and has a subcontractor that does not have a WBE certification from Chicago or the MWRD, but does have other national certification.  The vice president also asked whether the MWRD had ever granted a waiver.
• This item was pulled from the Consent Agenda and deferred by Vice-President Flynn.

The only other item discussed was the proposed purchase order for EMS PRISM Compliance Management Software renewal (Agenda Item 27, File #24-0690).

• This item was deferred at the last meeting by Commissioner Davis (see the observer report for the August 8 meeting).
• Commissioner Garcia asked for a second deferral because he had not had all his questions answered.  
• Because this was a second deferral, a vote had to be held, and the motion to defer was passed 8 to 0.

New Business:  Commissioner Davis asked for a status report by the next Board meeting concerning the Environmental Justice Grant received by the MWRD from the Environmental Protection Agency.

Total meeting time:  50 minutes, plus an Executive Session which Vice-President Flynn said was to discuss labor negotiations.
All Commissioners present except Commissioner Spyropolous.

Observer:  Priscilla Mims