Metropolitan Water Reclamation District (MWRD) Board Meeting April 18, 2024 8 Members present, Commissioner Corral-Sepulveda attended remotely, and Commissioner Spyropoulos was absent. The Board meet in regular session for 20 minutes before going into executive session. In that 20 minutes Board approved the full consent agenda without comment or questions. Approved items include:
Stormwater Management:
Executive session: A 2-hour closed session was held after the completion of Old Business and approval of the consent agenda. In motioning to close the meeting, two purposes were cited:
New Business: There were announcements following the executive session. No significant new business. The meeting adjourned about 10 minutes after return from executive session. Observer: Laurie Morse
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METROPOLITAN WATER RECLAMATION DISTRICT (MWRD) BOARD MEETING
APRIL 4, 2024 Administration: Commissioner Davis said he would like more time for the Board to internally assess the arrangement allowing the Cook County IIG to serve as the MWRD's IIG. He noted the Inspector General’s role is to investigate waste, fraud and abuse, and while he saw nothing wrong with the current situation, it was important for the Board to fully vet the extension. The contract expires May 16th. The Commissioner suggested the Board come back to the issue in the next two meetings. The MWRD has budgeted $600,000 for the service, and the proposed extension is for 1 year. #14 24-0244 All other items on the agenda were approved without discussion. Those items included: Aquatic Invasive/nuisance Species: The MWRD allows the US Army Corps of Engineers to use District land on the main channel of the Chicago River near Romeo Road and 135th Street in Will County to operate and maintain barriers designed to keep nuisance species (including giant carp) from traveling further upriver. This partnership was first agreed to in February, 2002. The Board voted to approve a 2-year extension of that easement agreement, allowing the Corps to continue its work for a nominal fee of $10. #24 24-0245 PFAS: The Board agreed to advertise a contract for analysis of Per- and Polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) in wastewater samples. The estimated cost is $98,000. #4 24-0236 New Business: The Commissioners amended standing committee Chairpersons and Co-Chairpersons for the remainder of 2024. (Note: Commissioner Garcia is no longer Co-chair of the Real Estate Committee). #25 24-0184 and #26 24-0182 Executive session: A brief closed session was held after the completion of the consent agenda. Meeting length: 47 minutes including executive session. 8 Members present, Commissioner Garcia was absent for the majority of the meeting, but re-joined for the final 10 minutes Observer: Laurie Morse Metropolitan Water Reclamation District (MWRD) Board Meeting
April 20, 2023-10:30 A.M. Agenda Item #21-23-0327-Commissioners voted to defer a $22,976,100 contract for three boilers at the Stickney Plant.
Agenda Item #5-23-0376- Comptroller of MWRD presented the report on Governmental Finance Officers Association Distinguished Budget Presentation Award for 2022. MWRD was lauded for excellent achievement in financial reporting for the MWRD Retirement Fund and the Retiree Health Care Trust for 2021. Stormwater Management:
Executive Session: Requested by Commissioner Corral Sepulveda to discuss the recent Inspector General report. Adjourn to executive session at 11:30 a.m.; End of Executive session: 12:07 p.m. New business: Commissioners recounted many events planned to celebrate Earth Day. Meeting adjourned: 12:33 p.m. Observer: Georgia Gebhardt MWRD Board Okays 1-Year Extension of Agreement to Share Services of Cook County Inspector General4/16/2023 Metropolitan Water Reclamation District (MWRD) Board Meeting
April 6, 2023; 10:30 a.m. MWRD Commissioners authorized an agreement for an additional year in which the MWRD would share the services of the Cook County Independent Inspector General (IIG). Commissioner Spyropoulos asked if the MWRD was not getting its own Inspector General. Executive Director Perkovich said that they are in an interim phase with the resignation of Mr. Blanchard, the previous Cook County IIG. The one-year extension will give staff time to clarify issues. As of now, while the MWRD is legally permitted to have its own IIG, it will continue to use Cook County’s. Commissioner Garcia requested a timeline on this process. Director Perkovich said this could be done. The authorization was approved unanimously on a roll call vote. (Agenda Item #13 - 23-0304) Stormwater Management:
Deferred Items:
New Business: Commissioner Spyropoulos raised the issue of cyber-security attacks. The Commissioner felt that the Board should be more proactive on this issue and requested they hold an Executive Session for discussion. There was no executive session. Meeting Adjourned: 11:28 a.m. Observer: Georgia Gebhardt Commissioner Davis absent. Metropolitan Water Reclamation District (MWRD) Board Meeting
November 17, 2022; 10:30 A.M. Board Recognitions:
Much of the rest of the meeting was spent in discussion of a review of amendments to the Affirmative Action Ordinance.
Agenda Items 22-0931, 0932, 0933 (#8, 9, 10) Commissioners requested quarterly reports from lobbyists to monitor the progress of making companies responsible for PFAS. Commissioner Spyropoulous suggested that there be a specific schedule of dates for the reports. Commissioners Garcia, DuBuclet and Morita asked for updates from the executive director. Agenda Item 22-1033 (#37) This was an item to enter into an intergovernmental agreement with the city of Evanston as part of the green infrastructure program, one of whose goals is to expand into the suburbs. The Executive Director reported they are working with consultants now to increase participation. There has not been an overwhelming response from suburban schools. Commissioner Davis suggested it might be because there are no cohesive funders in suburban areas, like there are in the City of Chicago. Executive Director said they would work to improve outreach. Consent agenda (#1-38) was unanimously approved on a roll call vote, except for #27 which was deferred. New business: Will do a poll to find a date after Thanksgiving for study session on affirmative action amendments. Observer: Georgia Gebhardt Metropolitan Water Reclamation District (MWRD) Board Meeting
March 3, 2022-10:30 a.m. Of the 42 agenda items, six were pulled for discussion or a question. Among those was the issuance of a purchase order and an amendment to the agreement with Cook County authorizing the CC Office of the Independent Inspector General to serve as the MWRD’s IG for an additional one-year period at an amount not to exceed $600,000. What prompted discussion was the one-year period instead of three.
Stormwater Management
Contracts Over $5 Million
Observer: Diane Edmundson |
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