Category: Independent Inspector General MWRD

MWRD Inspector General Intergovernmental Agreement Renewed for 1 year

3/18/2022

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.

Commissioner Sepulveda stated that the one-year extension indicates it is appears more that nice to have in the future if wanted. Commissioner Davis stated that the anticipated cost of a separate IIG for the District would double the current annual cost of $600,000. #25 22-0229
[Reference: At the January 6th board meeting, commissioners approved the 2022 Legislative Agenda which included MWRD lobbying the State to set up its own independent IG office. When questioned by commissioners, President Steele said that it would be “nice to have the approval in pocket”.]

Without discussion by the board, the agenda included budget reports for the 4th quarter and the 2021 fiscal year. #36 22-0220

Stormwater Management

A Right of Way Ordinance was approved establishing the right-of-way for construction, operation, and maintenance of a Des Plaines River Flood Control project in Maine and Northfield Townships. Agenda Item #1 R22-001
Approved a Flood Control contract in Crestwood for a total of $7.968 million. #26 22-0201
Approved increasing the Rain Barrels contract expenditure. Commissioner Spyropoulos asked if a
no-cost option is available. Executive Director Perkovich said no, but that a reduced cost will stay in place. #32 22-0196

Contracts Over $5 Million

Approved RFP for Boiler and MCC Replacements at the Stickney Plant - estimated cost between $14.7 and $17.8 million Dollars #16 22-0205
A deleted request at the last meeting was approved. The District will issue an RFP for professional engineering services for work at the O’Brien Plant in Skokie. Staff met with Skokie City and Park District representatives to work out details and will include Odor Control in the RFP. Commissioner DuBuclet asked if the District can develop a policy on plant odor control, and the response was that odor is too difficult to quantify. Commission McGowan abstained. #17 22-0216

Observer: Diane Edmundson

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MWRD Board Focuses on 2022 Legislative Program

1/10/2022

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Metropolitan Water Reclamation District (MWRD) Board Meeting
January 6, 2022

Board Action:
The MWRD Board singled out four items for discussion:

the 2022 Legislative Program
translation expenses
IGA with the Village of Glenview.
the expenses under $9900

All roll call votes passed unanimously.

2022 Legislative Program: (Agenda Item #21-22-0013)

Commissioner Davis expressed concern with the program on two fronts. 1) Commissioners submitted sixteen items and only one was included; 2) Timing was a problem. Commissioners did not see the memo until hours before the December adjournment. He said he needed assurance that this would change to at least two months to discuss. Executive Director Perkovich stated that the timeline could be adjusted.
Commissioner Spyropoulos expressed a need for more research on pension bonds. President Steele said the Board might need a study session on this topic.
Commissioner Corral Sepulveda questioned legal aspects of communicating notifications such as late filing fees, expressing confidence in the traditional method of communicating via certified mail rather than email. The Executive Director said that users preferred the electronic opt-in because of its convenience.
Office of Independent Inspector General (IIG): Several Commissioners questioned why the MWRD would need to have their own IG when the current partnership with the Cook County IIG was working so smoothly. Mr. Perkovich said using the Cook County IIG is going well, however, the proposed legislation would allow another option for the MWRD to have their own IIG. The current agreement with Cook County expires this year. President Steele stated that the MWRD initially did not have the authority to establish an IIG, but that they should have the option to do this.
Several commissioners supported Commissioner Davis’s call for more in depth discussions on the legislative program. They called for regular updates from the MWRD staff in Springfield. Mr. Perkovich committed to these updates. He also stated that the legislative information had been sent out in September.
Commissioner Sepulveda asked how the Board could be sure that their messaging was consistent when they lobbied representatives in the General Assembly. Mr. O’Connor, the team legislative leader, said he would issue a weekly email to be sure the commissioners were well informed.

Translation Expenses (Agenda Item #18-22-0015)

Commissioners requested more detailed information on translation increases.
The Executive Director explained they are expanding dissemination of information to more groups. Currently, information is sent in Spanish, Polish, Chinese, and English.
Commissioner Garcia commended the outreach and asked staff to expand to Arabic as well

Storm Water Management:
IGA with the Village of Glenview for flood abatement: (Agenda Item #22-22-0007)

Commissioner McGowan expressed concern about the MWRD’s reimbursement process, considering that the Village of Glenview does not have its own diversity program.
The staff reassured her that funds would only be transferred after Glenview had demonstrated compliance. The affirmative action department pays in increments and no funds are disbursed unless the goals are met. Dr. Barry of the diversity department monitors this.

Deferred or deleted items: None

New business:

The MWRD Board of Commissioners welcomed Chakena D. Perry, the commissioner appointed by Governor Pritzer to fill the vacancy left by Debra Shore. Commissioner Perry was formerly a staff member for Commissioner Morita, a former Deputy Press Secretary for Chicago Public Schools, and one of Chicago Scholars “35 under 35.” She earned a BA in history at Connecticut College and is currently a candidate for an MA in public policy from the Harris School of Policy at the University of Chicago.

Observer - Georgia Gebhardt

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MWRD Board Postpones Consideration of the Watershed Management Ordinance Amendment

5/6/2019

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Metropolitan Water Reclamation District (MWRD) Board Meeting
May 2, 2019

Items of Interest that were discussed:

Executive Director Brian Perkovich pulled from the agenda at the start of the meeting, Item 9 (File #O19-004), the proposed Amendment to the Watershed Management Ordinance (“WMO”). This Amendment contains a number of changes to the WMO (1) to effectuate Watershed Specific Release Rates by June 6, 2019, as required by Article 5 of the WMO, (2) to incorporate updated rainfall data for the State of Illinois, and (3) to provide clarity on the regulatory requirements and moving guidance and explanatory information from the WMO to the Technical Guidance Material. Based on comments from Commissioner Davis, it appeared that the Amendment was pulled to allow more time to respond to questions from individual Commissioners. The Executive Director told this Observer that he expects the Amendment to be on the agenda for the May 16 meeting.
During the “New Business” section of the meeting, Executive Director Perkovich gave an update on the status of the Tunnel and Reservoir Plan (“TARP”) in light of the heavy rains the past week. The McCook system, which serves central Chicago and 36 suburban communities, was at full capacity, storing approximately 5.1 billion gallons. The Kirie TARP system in the center of northern Cook County was storing nearly 300 million gallons. The Calumet system serves the far South Side of Chicago and 13 south suburban municipalities and was storing 3.5 billion gallons. All of this water will be pumped back to MWRD water reclamation plants for treatment when conditions permit. The Executive Director did not expect to have to release any water into Lake Michigan. The Commissioners praised the MWRD staff for all that they had been doing.
The Commissioners were also given an update on the status of the Intergovernmental Agreement with Cook County for the County’s Independent Inspector General (“IG”) to provide similar services to the MWRD. It is expected that the Agreement will be fully executed in the next week or so. The IG (Patrick Blanchard) is planning a series of meetings with employees at the plants and main office to explain the role of the IG and how to contact him. A brochure about the IG is being prepared that will be sent to all employees. The IG says he expects to have the two employees called for in the Agreement to be at the MWRD very soon.
The MWRD is celebrating its 130th anniversary by hosting open houses on May 18 at its Calumet, O’Brien, and Stickney plants, which include tours, free compost, free oak saplings, and kid-friendly activities. People are also encouraged to bring unused medications for proper disposal.
Commissioner McGowan said she had given a package of information to each Commissioner concerning the time capsule that was installed with the Nicholas G. Melas Centennial Fountain (located on the north bank of the main branch of the Chicago River to the east of the Sheraton Hotel) in 1989, the centennial of the creation of the Chicago Sanitary District, now known as the MWRD. This time capsule is to be opened in 2089, and Commissioner McGowan wants to make sure that, in case she isn’t around, the other Commissioners will continue to pass on the information so that the time capsule is not forgotten.

Observed by: Priscilla Mims Meeting Length: 1 hour 45 minutes

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Water District Board Adopts Cook County Independent Inspector General Ordinance

4/22/2019

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Metropolitan Water Reclamation District (MWRD) Board Meeting
April 18, 2019

What did the Board decide?

Agenda Item 019-003 - Adoption of Cook County Independent Inspector General Ordinance for services to the MWRD

Discussion of the proposed Inspector General ordinance centered on who will receive summary reports from investigations, including an investigation of an individual commissioner. The Cook County ordinance sends them to the “chair and applicable personnel.”
Commissioners Shore and Davis were concerned that confidentiality be protected and that the report not be distributed to the entire board. Patrick Blanchard, head of the Cook County Office of the Independent Inspector General, gave assurances that only the Board president, applicable personnel, and the involved individual would receive the report. Indeed, the individual under scrutiny would need to submit a written request before the report could be released. Blanchard also assured the commissioners that the quarterly reports, sent to the entire board, would have no identifying information that would cause a breach in confidentiality.
Commissioner McGowan expressed concern that the term, “chair and applicable personnel,” was too general. MWRD counsel stated that there was specific language in the ordinance delineating precisely who was on the list to receive information.
Public Comment: Representatives of four organizations made statements in support of the ordinance: League of Women Voters of Cook County, the Civic Federation, the Better Government Association (BGA), and Reform Illinois.
Before the final vote, all commissioners went on record with their full support for the role of the Independent Inspector General and the importance of transparency in government. The final vote accepted the Cook County ordinance without amendments. Vote: 9 ayes 0 nays

Agenda Item 19-0319

The Energy Efficiency Project under the Agreement with the Public Building Commission of Chicago was discussed again, after having been considered at the last meeting.
Commissioner Shore reiterated support for lighting efficiency but still had questions about why this needed to be contracted out. Staff stated that it could be done in-house, but would take significant time away from other jobs.
Commissioner Shore said that it’s a fact that there will be savings from the project, so there is no need for an outside group to guarantee this. Doing it in-house would save the commission fee. Commissioner Steele said that they are now in the third phase of the project and might have to pay a “walkaway” fee of $175,000. Shore pointed out that $375,000 would be saved, even if the “walkaway” fee applied.
Final vote: 8 ayes 1 nay

Board adjourned and went into executive session to discuss open meetings and retention of legal counsel.
Regular MWRD Board meeting convened after executive session.

New business:

Commissioner Shore expressed concern about the effect of the Fox-Conn project on Des Plaines River flooding in Cook County. She requested that staff research this.
Commissioner Avila expressed interest in increasing the dollar amount that would trigger projects that must come before the Board for consideration.
Commissioner Garcia urged all commissioners to sign a letter opposing the citizenship question on the census form.

WORKSHOP ON STORMWATER MANAGEMENT followed. The topic of the session was the proposed 2019 Watershed Management Ordinance.

MWRD engineering department gave a presentation. Commissioners Shore and Davis asked about water quality. It is not mentioned in the act. Staff replied that the EPA had jurisdiction, but that commissioners could request a study if they wished.
There was some discussion about the technical guidance manual. Commissioner Shore was concerned with moving items outside the ordinance. Her concern was that this might weaken those items and be open to challenge.
Shore asked what appeal process does the general public have? Answer: the WMO has a limited appeals remedy. Only the one with the permit can appeal. Commissioner Davis joined Shore in concerns about water quality and the appeals process.

Observer left the workshop at 3pm while it was still in session..

Observed by: Georgia Gebhardt Meeting Length: 90 minutes

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Water Board approves Watershed Management Amendment Unanimously

4/7/2019

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Metropolitan Water Reclamation District (MWRD) Board Meeting
April 4, 2019

Several items were discussed during the Committee of the Whole.

(Agenda Item 19-0319) This involved a purchase order and an agreement with the Public Building Commission of Chicago to implement Energy Efficiency Projects. Commissioners Garcia and Shore questioned the amount of savings and return on investment. Shore questioned whether the contract management was worth the fees and asked if the energy audit could have been done in-house. The PBC charges a 7% fee for contract management. Staff indicated that a walkaway fee would apply and would negate any savings.
(Agenda Item 19-0329) This contract involved post award services. Part of those services is to verify results. Commissioner Davis questioned the wisdom of the contractor verifying its own results. Wouldn’t an independent provider be better suited to do this in the future?
(Agenda Item 19-0241) This contract for Hazardous Waste Disposal has been deferred the past four meetings. Commissioner Davis stated he was still uncomfortable with the contract and would vote to abstain. He said there was a need to look at best practices in contract awarding in the future. The final vote: 6 ayes, 1 nay, 1 abstention, 1 present.

At noon the Board went into executive session for 30 minutes to discuss a matter under litigation.

When Board reconvened for the regular board meeting, the following two items were announced:

Commissioner Morita received a Water Impact Award.
Status of the Inspector General was announced. All comments are due next Wednesday, April 10. The item will appear on the agenda of the April 18 board meeting or the May meeting. Commissioner McGowan informed the board of her possible recusal when the Board deals with this issue.

Observed by: Georgia Gebhardt Meeting length: 10:30-12:40 Executive session: 30 mi

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Water Reclamation Board Approves Intergovernmental Agreements for Green Alley Improvement Projects

3/24/2019

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Metropolitan Water Reclamation District (MWRD) Board Meeting
March 21, 2019

What did the Board decide?

The Board approved Intergovernmental Agreements with seven communities for Green Alley Improvement Projects.

What else did the Board discuss or refer to committee?

Board deferred again a contract with a company that some commissioners felt had companion corporations with numerous violations. They directed legal to contact Indiana EPA to see if they had any concerns about their track record.

Unexpected Votes, Events, Testimony or Items to Watch for in the Future

In New Business, Commissioner McGowan noted she had met with the prospective Inspector General candidate. She would be requesting a meeting with legal to discuss whether she should vote on this issue when it does come to the Board.

Any Other Comments or Observations

MWRD received the Government Finance Officers Award for a Distinguished Budget Presentation for the 2018 Budget.

Observer - Peggy Kell Meeting Length: 47 min + 1:19 min

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MWRD Inspector General Intergovernmental Agreement Renewed for 1 year

MWRD Board Focuses on 2022 Legislative Program

MWRD Board Postpones Consideration of the Watershed Management Ordinance Amendment

Water District Board Adopts Cook County Independent Inspector General Ordinance

Water Board approves Watershed Management Amendment Unanimously

Water Reclamation Board Approves Intergovernmental Agreements for Green Alley Improvement Projects

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