Metropolitan Water Reclamation District (MWRD)
Board Meeting
April 17, 2025

The request to advertise a contract to furnish and deliver lamps and emergency lighting was deleted by the Acting Executive Director (Agenda Item # 18, 25-0294).  All other agenda items were approved, with no discussion of the merits.  

• Ann Hokum of ETHOS (Environment, Transportation, and Open Space, a registered block club in the South Shore Community) raised concerns about the proposed Quantum Computing development at the South Works site and the potential toxic pollutants at the site that could impact Lake Michigan through storm water run-off.  The group is also concerned about the issue of industrial water usage at the site and wants to make sure there is a closed system used to prevent any discharges.
• Commissioner Waller did pull the reappointment of two people to the MWRD’s Ethics Commission for discussion, but in order for an explanation as to how the public can find out how to submit a complaint to the Ethics Commission.  Acting Executive Director John Murray said that the information is on the MWRD web site.  Note:  This Observer did a search on the MWRD web site and found the information is located at https://mwrd.org/what-we-do/management-and-administration/ethics-commission-and-ethics-advisor
• During the New Business section, President Steele and Commissioners McElroy Kirkwood and Brady-Davis talked about the MWRD’s trip to Springfield the prior week to meet with legislators of both parties to lobby for their legislative priorities.  Commissioner Waller mentioned one bill that the MWRD supported, HB2515, that has passed out of the House and is now in the Senate.  This bill is called the PFAS Wastewater Citizen Protection Act.

While not discussed, there were 2 items pertaining to Stormwater Management:  

• A report on submittals from municipalities and townships seeking assistance through the MWRD’s Voluntary Flood-Prone Property Acquisition Program (Agenda Item #29, 25-0308.)  There were 3 submissions, identifying 40 properties.  After review, 2 of the 3 proposals in Lyons and Markham are recommended as projects, but for a total of 22 properties.  There will be a subsequent request for Board approval to negotiate intergovernmental agreements.
• A request for authority to enter into an intergovernmental agreement with the Village of La Grange Park for the MWRD to fund $4 M of the total estimated cost of $13.2 M for a Central Area Sewer Separation Project.  This project is expected to mitigate flooding, benefitting an estimated 522 structures, and to reduce impacts on local roadways by increasing sewer capacity ad providing detention for excess stormwater runoff.

Length of Business Meeting:  30 minutes, with an Executive Session of 1 hour and 10 minutes prior to New Business at the end of the meeting.

Observer:  Priscilla Mims

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

MWRD President Kari Steele commented that this might have been the shortest Board meeting ever.  For the first time (at least since the League has been observing), none of the Commissioners identified any of the 38 agenda items for discussion at the meeting.  The Commissioners said that all their questions had been answered by the Executive Director prior to the meeting.  All items were passed unanimously, and included:

• An amendment to the User Charge Ordinance which is to recover each user’s proportional share of the operations, maintenance, and replacement costs incurred by the MWRD for the treatment and disposal of sewage, industrial waste, and other wastes generated by the user.  This amendment will be effective January 1, 2025.  (Agenda item 1, #UC24-001)
• A number of purchase orders and awards of contracts.  Several of the low bidders for the contracts were well under the District’s estimate of the expected costs, including Items 21 (#24-1054, 25% lower), 22 (#24-1056, 34% lower), and 24 (24-1058, 14% lower).
• Authority to negotiate and enter into an intergovernmental agreement with the Villages of Crestwood and Midlothian for the design, construction, land acquisition, maintenance, operation, and ownership of the Flood Control Project on the Calumet-Sag Tributary C for up to $5.5 M. (Item 38, #24-1099)

During the time for Public Comment a person from the Historical Society of Harvey raised objections to the taking of homes for the proposed flood control project there, which has been the subject of public comments over many recent meetings.

This was newly-elected Commissioner Sharon Waller’s first meeting. The seat formerly held by Mariyanna Spyropoulos, who was elected as Cook County Clerk for the Circuit Court, has not yet been filled by an appointee of the Governor.  All other Commissioners were present except Eira Corral Sepulveda.

Length of meeting:  50 minutes, including a 15-minute Executive Session.

Observer - Priscilla Mims

Metropolitan Water Reclamation District (MWRD) Board Meeting
May 16, 2024

Board Action:

• The Board, with no discussion on the merits, approved all items on the Consent agenda, except for #13 which was withdrawn by the Executive Director (authority to advertise a contract to remove and replace pavement at various locations, Item 24-0396).  The items approved included authorizing the staff to negotiate and enter into intergovernmental agreements for 13 projects dealing with stormwater management in different areas across the County:  Broadview, Brookfield, Forest Park, Franklin Park, Glenview, Hoffman Estates, Markham, North Riverside, Northlake, Willow Springs, Hillside, Chicago, and the Cook County Forest Preserve District.  (Agenda items 47 through 59)
• The intergovernmental agreement with the Forest Preserve District is for land acquisition, concept planning, and preliminary engineering for a flood control project near the confluence of Deer Creek and Third Creek that is expected to provide increased flood protection for Ford Heights, Glenwood, Thornton, South Hollland, Calumet City, and Lansing.  Friends of the Chicago River expressed its support for this item during Public Comments. (Item 24-0415)
• While not directly related to the merits of the rejection of bids for another proposed flood control project on Midlothian Creek in Robbins, Commissioner Davis did raise questions which he said would further his understanding of the effectiveness of the MWRD’s procurement process.  Commissioner Davis asked what factors lead to a determination that a bid is incomplete.  The response was failing to properly address diversity requirements, failing to provide signatures, and failure to provide the required bond.  (Agenda Item 5.)
• The Board then went into Executive Session and took a lunch break before returning to open session to complete the meeting with New Business.  Because of the expected length of the break (well over an hour), this Observer left and watched the remaining few minutes via video.

Time of meeting (without break and executive session):  1 hour and 15 minutes

Observer:  Priscilla Mims

Metropolitan Water Reclamation District (MWRD) Board Meeting 
January 18, 2024 

24-0027  The item, passed in 2023, allows the MWRD to accept renewable energy credits for solar and wind on MWRD property.  Com Davis wanted to know what kind of progress has been made on soliciting leases to build solar or wind projects on MWRD property.  MWRD staff has shown sites like Fulton County to various interested parties but to date, has received no proposals.  Davis asked what barriers they have encountered.  The largest barriers are the location to the grid and start-up costs.  Com. Davis asks why the MWRD can’t do it themselves if there are no interested parties so far.  The staff will revisit the task force findings.  

Com. Coral-Sepulveda asked for updates regarding the Hanover Park plant where, she reminded the board, plans had been presented a few months ago.  Staff said they would investigate.

24-0016  This item was deferred for a second time.  Com. Coral-Sepulveda asked that the RFP for the Deferred Compensation Plan administrator be delayed and deferred while she goes over race and gender make-up requirements and charitable work with ED Perkovich, MWRD Executive Director.. 

24-0047  Com. Spyropoulos asked why the bid for the Algal assessment was so much more expensive than the original estimate.  Staff responded that the original estimate was based on a price from a contractor who chose not to submit a bid, hence it was underestimated originally.  

24-0042  This item was deferred by request of Com. Flynn, while staff and board review affirmative action goals of the contractor for subcontractors.  

24-0035  Com. Brady-Davis brought up this item to advertise an RFP for flood control of the Midlothian Creek.  She wanted to thank the staff for including the community of Robbins, IL in putting together the requirements and for all their hard work.

Observer - Amy Little

Metropolitan Water Reclamation District (MWRD) Board Meeting 
​October 20, 2022

Agenda Items
The Board in a series of resolutions recognized October 18th as the 50th anniversary of the Clean Water Act. The District is also celebrating the centennial of the Cal-Sag Channel.  Commissioner Spyropoulos remarked on the return of wildlife to the Chicago area waterways since the Clean Water Act was implemented, and noted the law continues to protect our waterways and our drinking water.

The day’s agenda included authorizations to pay for MWRD memberships in three national trade associations in the water industry.  Commissioner Davis pulled these items for discussion, and then deferred their approval until the Board knows more about the lobbying strategies of these organizations and how they are planning to hold PFAS polluters accountable for PFAS clean-up. “Our taxpayers should not be paying the cost of removing PFAS,” Davis said. “Manufacturers should be responsible.”

• 22-0931. Item 8. Authorization for pay 2023 membership dues ($16,725.00) to the Water Reuse Association. Deferred
• 22-0932. Item 9.  Authorization to pay annual membership dues ($93,880.) to the National Association of Clean Water Agencies (NACWA). Deferred
• 22-0933. Item 10. Authorize payment of $24,426 in membership dues to the American Water Works Association. Deferred

Commissioner Davis asked to see proposed legislation by the trade associations regarding PFAS, and if it holds manufacturers responsible for removal costs. Other Commissioners agreed, adding questions for staff. Commissioner Corral-Sepulveda asked for an assessment of the issue from the MWRD’s federal lobbyist, and asked for a report on proposed PFAS legislation in Illinois. Commissioner Morita said life cycle accountability of products should require producers of PFAS to pay back taxpayer-funded clean ups. Commissioner Garcia asked for information on what entities are responsible for guiding PFAS clean up. Commissioner McGowan requested a staff note on the benefits the District receives from these Trade Associations.

22-0948. Item 15.  Funding for a technical assistance program. Commissioner Corral-Sepulveda deferred this item, saying funding proposed for the program did not seem adequate to achieve its goals. 

22-0947. Item 32. Report on change orders and time extensions approved by the Director of Engineering from June through September 2022. Commissioner Davis questioned why the district had so many change orders, and suggested implementing a process that can more precisely scope projects. Executive Director Perkovich agreed, saying he would go back to staff and take a look at their process.

Bio solids

• 22-0913. Item #27 The Board authorized an increase in its contract with Metropolitan Biosolids Management, L.L.C., to design, build, own, finance, operate and maintain a 150-dry-tons per day Biosolids processing facility at the Stickney Water Reclamation Plant.  The contract also allows the vendor to “beneficially use” the biosolids product for a period of 20 years. The $1.3 million contract increase brings the new contract amount to $192 million.
• 22-0917. Item #14 Staff authorized a call for bids to re-pave and rehabilitate the Lawndale Avenue solids management area.  The MWRD estimates the paving cost will be $8.1 million.

Both of these items were approved as part of the consent agenda without Board questions or comment.

Stormwater Management

• 22-0938. Item 11.  Board members approved an increase in the estimated cost of building the main drop shaft at the Chicago River on Armitage Avenue. The drop shaft is part of a flood control project on Chicago’s north side, and part of the Agency’s Tunnel and Reservoir Plan (TARP). The MWRD did not supply the original cost estimate. The revised estimated cost to construct the drop shaft is now $12 to $14.5 million. This item was approved without discussion as part of the consent agenda.

Deferred or Deleted Agenda Items

• The Exec. Director deleted item # 39 – Thank you to P. Blanchard, Retiring Inspector General
• Commissioner Davis deferred #22-0932, 0932, 0933, Items 8-10
• Commission Corral-Sepulveda #22-0948, Item 15

Observer - Laurie Morse                                      No Executive Session