Category: Flood Control

Water Reclamation Board Approves Negotiations to Hire Cook County's Independent Inspector General Services

5/25/2018

Metropolitan Water Reclamation District (MWRD) Board Meeting - May 17, 2018

What did the Board decide?

After a year of discussions and education, the Board gave authority to its staff to enter into discussions with Cook County to explore terms related to authorizing Cook County’s Independent General to serve as MWRD’s Inspector General. Congratulations to Board Chair Spyropoulos and Board member Shore for their leadership on this issue. (Agenda Item 31 (18-0493))
The Board also approved Ordinance PWR 18-001 establishing the prevailing wage for the MWRD covered employees the same as that for Cook and Fulton County. The Illinois Department of Labor will publish the prevailing rate schedule. (Agenda Item 48)
Approved a $2 million purchase order with V3 Companies of Illinois, Ltd for engineering services for Contract #18-848-5F, Program management of Stormwater Master Planning in Separate Sewer Service Area. In recommending the purchase order, the District said “The District has completed five Stormwater Master Plan Pilot Studies. The findings of these studies indicated that to provide structural protection from a 100-year flood event would require exorbitant investments by the District and local communities if traditional gray solutions or even solutions that blend green and gray infrastructure were utilized. Coupled with the experience gained in the on-going Phase II Flood Control Project in the Village of Robbins, it is increasingly evident the District needs to broaden its traditional approach to managing stormwater by identifying collaborative opportunities….” Contract deliverables are: 1) Summary of stormwater data collected from communities and prioritization of future study areas; 2) guidance document for stormwater master planning in separate sewer areas; and 3) individual study profiles to assist in developing RFP’s for future master plans.

Just before ending the board meeting before noon, Commission McGowan asked for an Executive Session (ES) to discuss an employee discipline problem. At 1:09 p.m. the ES was still in progress with no notice as to when it would break to reconvene the Board meeting. This Observer left the meeting but checked in later that day to determine that the Board did approve its consent agenda as modified which included the above three items.

Observer - Diane Edmundson Meeting Length: 3 hours +

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Water Reclamation District Purchases Flood Prone Properties

3/22/2018

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Metropolitan Water Reclamation Board of Directors Meeting - March 15, 2016

What did the Board decide?

The consent agenda included the purchase of 32 flood prone properties for $4,681,280. The Intergovernmental Agreement was between Franklin Park and the Cook County Land Bank Authority.

What else did the Board discuss?

There was discussion on an hourly rate cap for outside legal services in addition to increasing legal fees for the firm Schiff Hardin LLP in connection with renewable energy projects, from $450,000 to $550,000.

Items to Watch for in the Future

The Board President directed staff to look into expanding paid maternity leave to 6 weeks for the birth parent.

Any Other Comments or Observations

After welcoming the St. Patrick’s Day parade organizers, Plumbers Local #130, and parade queen, we were all serenaded by the Shannon Rovers. Very spirited!

Observer - Peggy Kell Meeting Length - 1 hour, 16 minutes

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McCook Reservoir Fills During Latest Rain Storm

3/6/2018

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Metropolitan Water Reclamation District (MWRD) Board Meeting - March 1, 2018

What did the Board decide:

The Board issued purchase orders for Phosphorus Removal Feasibility Studies for Stickney, O’Brien, and Calumet Water Reclamation Plants in the amount of $917,668.00.
Deferred change order for increasing consulting fee to Schiff Hardin LLC for representing the District in renewable energy projects.
Authorized a pilot project to install SigaGuard cyber security to monitor gate movements and analyze data gathered(at no cost to the District).

What else did the Board discuss:

There was discussion on the ability of the McCook Reservoir to fill during the last rainstorm while the ground was snow covered and frozen thus averting any area flooding and reversals into Lake Michigan. Biggest test since the September 2008 storm.

Other Testimony:

Mr. Blakemore continued his advocating for a Inspector General for the MWRD.

Observer - Peggy Kell Meeting Length - 67 minutes

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Water District Board Approves New Management and Financial Plan for McCook Project

12/1/2017

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Metropolitan Water Reclamation District (MWRD) Board Meeting - November 16, 2017

Significant Decisions Made:

Two options have been proposed and generally agreed upon to move forward with the management of funds for the final phase of the McCook project. These may direct the lump sum of money granted to the MWRD for completion responsibilities rather than to the escalating costs of the Army Corps of Engineers. Management would be taken over by the MWRD and their software.
Concern was voiced about the previous phase costing far over budget; $250,000.00/year was the proposed cost while the realized was $2,000,000.00/year. This last phase is proposed to cost $46,000,000.00 to be used to stabilize the walls of tunnels already created along with the two tunnels left to dig. The Board requested information about the percentage of cost overrides that might occur. This phase of the project will not likely have as many setbacks and will be managed more closely in house.

Other Items of Interest:

Discussion and questions were raised about using the Army Corps of Engineers instead of e-Builder Inc. for delivering a project management system and technical support services. The conclusion agreed upon found the Army Corps of Engineers to be less than satisfactory and timely on other projects and more costly. $937,017.21 is Requisitioned for continued service with e-Builder.
Authority to advertise contract 14-113-5F. This is a test case for storm water retrofits for Real Time Controls and a rainwater harvesting system for the Dearborn homes in Chicago. 300,000 gallons are expected to be harvested to reduce basement back up in that area. The cost is estimated to be between $855,000.00 and $1,035,000.00. Chicago currently has two billion gallons of storage.
The value of using Environmental Resource Associates, a water environment research service, over other similar organizations was raised by Commissioner Shore. It was explained that this is a priority technology not seen anywhere else as of yet holding a patent. The hope is for them to become self sustaining, stay in the Chicago area, and that they will find better ways to target specific pollutants. MWRD is requesting $19,000.00 for research and training.
$50,300.00 is requested to enter an agreement for a Biocatalyst technology research project study by Microvi Biotech Inc for at the O’Brien Water Reclamation Plant.
A Resolution sponsored by the Board of Commissioners is given to congratulate the Shedd Aquarium and two organizations; “Washed Ashore” and “Art To Save the Sea” for creating sculptures of sea life made by Angeline Potsy using 38,000 lbs.of recycled materials found in or around waterways in Oregon.
500 million plastic straws are used daily in the United States. The hope is to spark changes in consumer habits. This Exhibition called “Shedding The Straw” is currently on display at the Shedd Aquarium.
In honor of Veterans Day Resolutions were given to Jesse White a former Army Paratrooper and Harry Sawyer a Navy Veteran and current Assistant Director of Veteran Affairs. Mr. Sawyer talked about help and opportunities offered to homeless veterans through the Heinz facility in Maywood, the Prince Home in Matino, and the Jesse Brown Home at Damon and Taylor in Chicago.

Observer - Pat Lind Meeting Length - 90 minutes

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Addison Creek Flooding Addressed by Water Reclamation Board

6/12/2017

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Metropolitan Water Reclamation District (MWRD) Board Meeting - June 1, 2017

Highlights of meeting:

A purchase order was approved to acquire parcels of land and to contract with a law firm to represent the District in acquiring these property rights in connection with the construction, operation and maintenance of the Addison Creek Channel Improvements Project. This project involves the municipalities of Northlake, Stone Park, Melrose Park, Bellwood, Westchester, and Broadview and will reduce flooding along Addison Creek in these towns. Approximately 2,200 properties should expect relief from flood damage.
Hanover Park Water Reclamation Plant (HPWRP) is a waste water, raw sewage treatment facility. This plant owns 200 acres, known as Fischer Farm, adjacent to HPWRP. "This farmland also includes 100 usable acres for growing corn, oats and soybeans. Solids produced at this HPWRP are recycled as soil conditioner for the farm fields." MWRD received authority to award Contract Farming to Oros & Busch Application Technologies, Their services include land application of waste water residuals.
The Chatham Neighborhood of Chicago is an area where basements are prone to flooding. It is also common for the yards and streets to be flooded. The Center for Neighborhood Technology (CNT) has already been working in this neighborhood to address the flooding with community groups and residents suggesting practical and affordable improvements such as repositioning downspouts, adding rain gardens and backflow preventers to help keep property dry. The MWRD entered into an Intergovernmental Agreement (IGA) with and will make payment to the City of Chicago to share the cost of a research pilot study in this neighborhood to reduce basement backups and flooding. The pilot study will evaluate up to 40 homes for a combination of flood control devices and passive storage systems and be headed by CNT.

Resolutions:

The Board officially recognized the "Recovery on Water" rowing team that uses the Chicago waterways, for the positive impact it has made on the lives of many breast cancer survivors. For more information on Recovery on Water.
The Board also recognized the Veterans of WW II especially at the 73rd Anniversary of D-Day, June 6, 1944 and Honor Flight Chicago.
Chicago landscape photographer Brad Temkin was congratulated by the Board on being named as a 2017 Guggenheim Fellow for his project "The State of Water", containing photographs of MWRD infrastructure and other cities' water management infrastructure.

These items were deferred from the agenda:

Purchasing of new and replacement computer hardware from HP Inc.
The resolution recognizing Dr. Lakhwinder S. Hundal's 25 years of service and contribution to the field of soil and water environment.

Observer: Michele Niccolai

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Water Reclamation Board Approves Negotiations to Hire Cook County's Independent Inspector General Services

Water Reclamation District Purchases Flood Prone Properties

McCook Reservoir Fills During Latest Rain Storm

Water District Board Approves New Management and Financial Plan for McCook Project

Addison Creek Flooding Addressed by Water Reclamation Board

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