Metropolitan Water Reclamation District (MWRD) Board Meeting –
October 1, 2026

Deleted Agenda Item

• Item (2) 26-0687 Without comment or discussion John Murray, Executive Director, deleted the motion to appoint Patrick M. Blanchard as MWRD Inspector General from the agenda.

Housekeeping:

• Item (1) 26-0680. The Board approved the dates and times for regular board meetings in 2027

Biosolids  and PFAS (forever chemicals) disposal; 2 items deferred, one roll call vote requested
Items (12 and 13) 26-0657 and 26-0658  Commissioner Waller deferred these related items, but invited discussion. Staff sought authority to advertise a contract to transport dried sewage solids from its Lawndale Avenue Solids management area (LASMA) in Willow Springs and the Calumet solids management area (CALSMA) in Calumet to Hanover Park for disposal at the District’s 100 acre corn and soybean farm at the Hanover Park treatment facility. (projected transport cost $4.2 million and an additional $31.7 million for “beneficial reuse” of the biosolids on the farm).
Item (9) 26-0623 Commissioner Waller at the September 17th meeting had deferred this motion to advertise for a contractor to farm the Hanover Park property, including injecting biosolids underground; field prep, planting, fertilizing and harvesting crops.  At today’s meeting, Commissioner Waller asked Board President Steele to hold a roll call vote on the proposal.  (Projected cost $1.12 million over 3 growing seasons.  Much of that cost covers injecting bio solids waste into the earth.)
What followed was a robust discussion between the Executive Director Murray and Commissioner Waller, and then among all the Commissioners.  

• Commissioner Waller requested data on the concentration of PFAS in the biosolids that would be transported and applied to the farmland, and asked that MWRD data relating to these forever chemicals be made available to the Public. 
• At first Executive Director Murray said those data were already public and available on-line.  When Commissioner Waller repeated that it was the PFAS data she was interested in, ED Murray corrected himself, and said the District continued to collect PFAS data and that he would be comfortable releasing that data in January, 2027.
• In the course of that discussion, it was established that the MWRD was already tracking PFAS sources (discharge “hotspots) in its on-going data collection.  
• Commissioner Waller asked if approval of this biosolids farm disposal plan could wait until the PFAS concentration data was available to the Board.  ED Murray said likely not, that there was a long planning timeline. It was understood at the meeting that the bio solids had to be disposed of somewhere.
• Commissioner Waller said that while federal and state regulators had not issued regulations regarding safe levels of PFAS, Colorado had issued guidelines.  Could the Executive Director give the Board some idea of the PFAS concentrations in the District’s biosolids so she could compare with the Colorado guidelines?  ED Murray declined, but offered to give the board a memo with this information after the meeting.
• Prior to the role call vote on Item 9, other Commissioners made general comments that did not address health or environmental concerns of releasing PFAS-contaminated biosolids into the environment.  
• Commissioner Garcia noted that nearly everything we use and wear has PFAS in them, so he would vote in favor of injecting the biosolids into the District’s farmland.  
• Commissioner Corral-Sepulveda noted that until there were State and Federal Regulations governing PFAS, the District was in compliance, and biosolid disposal was the District’s responsibility.  She would vote yes.
• Commissioner Yumeka Brown asked staff to communicate any trends they find in the PFAS data when the time comes, and any concerns the Board should be made aware of.  She indicated she would vote yes.
• Vice President Flynn commented that the Hanover Park farm belonged to the District.  “I plan to vote yes. It is our property. We own this property.” 
• When it came to a vote, Commissioners Cameron Davis and Sharon Waller voted against authorizing Item 9.   All other Commissioners voted yes to approve seeking bids for biosolids disposal and management on MWRD’s Hanover Park farmland.

Stormwater Management

• Item (36) 26-0626 The Board authorized staff to negotiate and reach an intergovernmental agreement with the Village of LaGrange to design, construct and operate the 50th Street storm sewer flood relief project for an amount not to exceed $15.3 million.  

All Commissioners present                  Executive Session (None)
Observer: Laurie Morse                                                    

Metropolitan Water Reclamation District (MWRD) Board Meeting
June 4, 2026

Agenda Items

• Interim Inspector General Patrick Blanchard’s term of service was extended to December 31, 2026 in the amount not to exceed $150,000. Chicago Bar Association is still working through a list of candidates for this position.

Stormwater Management

• Item #26-0393 authorized the purchase of three properties in Midlothian for a flood control project on the Cal-Sag Tributary in the amount of $339,000.

Deferred or Deleted Agenda Items

• Deleted item 26-0365 for Activated Sludge removal from O’Brien Water Reclamation plant in the amount of $389,933,408.

New Business

• Adam Pulley, Principal, and Ben Packett, Manager, from Clifton Larson Allen gave a presentation to the Board on the 2025 Audit Results of the Metropolitan Water Reclamation District of Greater Chicago and of the Metropolitan Water Reclamation District Retiree Health Care Trust Fund.

Commissioner Requests

• Comm. Steele requested the past research comparing electric versus gas vehicles to be shared with the board and Comm. Corral Sepúlveda requested a report on the recent activity the Task Force has conducted.                        

Executive Session - Yes, to discuss minutes of meetings lawfully closed under the Open Meetings Act.

Observer: Peggy Kell 

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.