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:

• Administration:  A 1-year extension of the intergovernmental agreement allowing Cook County’s Office of Independent Inspector General to serve as MWRD Inspector General. This item had been deferred by Commissioner Davis in the April 4th Board meeting. MWRD will pay $600,000 for services covered by the extension.  #15 24-0244           The Board previously approved an $10.9 million dollar contract with IHC Construction for roof replacement at the Lue-Hing Maintenance and Repair complex at the Stickney Water Reclamation Plant. A series of change orders in March resulted in the Board approving an increase in the contract with IHC in an amount not to exceed $11,144,401 million. #29 24-0265
• Phosphorous removal:     The Board previously approved a $16 million contract with IHC Construction for a Phosphorus removal facility at the Calumet Water Reclamation Plant.  At this meeting the Board approved an increase, to an amount not to exceed $16,334,179 million.   #28 24-0261

Stormwater Management: 

• The Board approved authority to advertise a contract to rehabilitate Salt Creek intercepting Sewer #3 at a cost estimated between $16 and $19 million dollars. The project is located in Brookfield and LaGrange Park, which have combined sewer systems. The district expects to award a construction contract in October, and estimates completion in April 2026. Item #11 24-0260
• Commissioners approved the section of the Village of Posen to receive MWRD assistance in planning stormwater projects.  Several communities had submitted proposals.  

During public comments, Tessa Murray, who spoke for the Friends of the Chicago River, praised the selection, saying the program was designed to provide assistance to flood-affected communities lacking capacity to do this on their own.  Ms. Murray encouraged the District to expand the conceptual stormwater program to more than one community in future years. She also suggested the projects include green infrastructure as part of their flood control options. #33 24-0264

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:

1. The first motion for executive session was to discuss collective bargaining.
2. The second motion to discuss employment matters for a specific individual, including disciplinary action and dismissal.

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                       

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.

• Commissioner Davis spoke for the deferral of the contract for replacement of boilers 3, 4, & 5 and MCC Replacement. He emphasized that he did not oppose the contract, but rather felt it prudent to consider carefully, given the large sticker price.
• Comm. Davis asked how much gas emissions would be reduced. Executive Director Perkovich could not give a number but said they would be much more efficient. Commissioner Davis asked for a comparison between CHP system and boilers. The director replied that the CHP system would not produce enough heat and that it is complementary but not a replacement for boilers. Boiler life span was raised. Engineers put it at 30 years. The current boilers are now at 40 years. 
• Comm. Davis  said that he needed time to consider.
• President Steele asked Mr. Perkovich if this item was time sensitive. He replied that the department would like to begin ASAP, but a week or two would not be a problem.
• Roll call vote to defer for a second time was held. Aye: 8  Nay: 1. Commissioner Garcia requested a memo answering all the questions asked on this item.

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:

• Agenda Item #32-23-0369- Board granted authority to enter into intergovernmental agreement with the Village of Worth for Flood Control Project in the Worth Woods Subdivision.
• Agenda Item #33-23-0370-Board granted authority to negotiate and enter into an Agreement with the Village of Schaumburg and the Village of Hanover Park for the design, construction, operation and maintenance of the Springinsguth West Branch DuPage River Stream  Corridor Improvements in an amount not to exceed $1,250,000.

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 

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: 

• 23-0337-#36- Report on Stormwater Submittals. Commissioner Garcia urged that the Board do more of these projects. 
• 23-0303-#21- Executive Perkovich asked that the item increasing the landscaping maintenance contract be deleted. Board approved.
• 23-0324-#10- This item was to grant the authority to advertise a contract fo the Small Business Program. Commissioner Garcia said that considering staffing levels, might it not be prudent to not move ahead right now. ED agreed. Mr. Garcia wanted to be sure there was enough staff in place to do the job right. Board voted unanimously on a roll call vote to delete the item.

Deferred Items:

• Commissioner Coral Sepulveda requested that 2 agenda items to issue purchase orders and enter into agreements for Professional Environmental Engineering Service for Real Estate be deferred.  (Agenda Items #15 and #16)
• President Steele requested deferral of Agenda Item #18 - authority to award a contract for boilers & MCCC replacement at the Stickney Water Reclamation Plant, amount not to exceed $22,976,100.

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:

• The MWRD Board recognized retiring Inspector General Patrick M. Blanchard. Commissioners expressed appreciation for his integrity and wished him well in his retirement. Mr. Blanchard complimented the agency on its high standards of administration. 
• Commissioners Morita and McGowan were lauded for their service to the MWRD. Ms. Morita will be leaving to take a seat on the Cook County Board, while Ms. McGowan will retire having been the third longest serving commissioner in the history of the agency.

Much of the rest of the meeting was spent in discussion of a review of amendments to the Affirmative Action Ordinance. 

• Commissioner Corral Sepulveda was particularly concerned that the language of the ordinance be clear and concise, and that there be a common understanding of the intent of the document both among commissioners and the staff.
• There was a consensus that the MWRD would acknowledge the certification of other agencies, but would continue to be a self-certifying agency.
• Commissioner Corral-Sepulveda said that in examining the language, parts of the process could be confusing to those who were applying for certification. The process needs to be streamlined.
• Commissioner Spyropoulos  suggested it would be reasonable to accept the work that another agency had already done and to simply add whatever might be missing.
• Commissioner Corral-Sepulveda was concerned that the staff did not seem to be clear on the intent of the Board.  
• There was some discussion of the need for the verification process to be done before the bidding. Commissioner Morita asked why it could not be an ongoing process.
• President Steele expressed a hope that this be passed in December. However, there seemed to be many unanswered questions, leading Commissioner Garcia to suggest that another study session was necessary before finalization.
• The vote at this meeting would be to continue to review. (Agenda Item 22-014A, #38)

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.

• 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