Metropolitan Water Reclamation District (MWRD) Board Meeting
August 13, 2026

A motion to reappoint David Ormsby as a public relations consultant for one year for up to a maximum amount of $48,000 generated a great deal of discussion.  This discussion ultimately appeared to lead to a consensus that Commissioners should hold a study session to discuss the overall strategy for MWRD communications.  The reappointment was also subsequently approved by a unanimous vote. (Agenda Item 1, File No. 26-0546)

• Comm, Davis pulled the item for discussion stating that he was planning on voting “no” on the item because he thinks that the MWRD should be issuing a request for proposal (RFP) for a public relations consultant and allowing bids for the service.  Comm. Davis said that this was at least the 3rd time this non-compete contract had been entered into with Mr. Ormsby.  The original appointment under such a contract without seeking bids was done so under emergency circumstances.  That is no longer the case, said Comm. Davis, and as good stewards of taxpayer money, the MWRD should seek bids from others, as well as Mr. Ormsby, for this service.
• Executive Director Murphy said that he has used Mr. Ormsby to advise how to handle crisis situations facing the MWRD, including the recent storms and the misinformation that the MWRD was leasing land for use by a data center.  President Steele and several others also commented on how helpful Mr. Ormsby has been.
• Comm. Brown suggested that the Board consider having a study session on what the MWRD should be looking for -  that is what the scope of work should be.  Other Commissioners stated support for this and suggested expanding to a comprehensive strategy for communications.  
• Executive Director Murphy stated devising what the RFP should encompass and then preparing it and seeking bids would likely take at least 6 months.  Therefore, he recommended going forward with the one-year reappointment.
• Comm Davis said he could support the reappointment with the understanding that an RFP would be developed.

Deferred Agenda Items:

• Authority to advertise for sign-language interpreter for a 3-year period. President Steele said she was deferring but wanted to allow Commissioners to discuss.  Comm. Waller raised the number of free tools available for online captioning in lieu of sign-language, but Exec. Director Murphy explained that the sign-language interpreter would be used for in-person meetings.  Look for this item to come up at a future meeting.  (Agenda Item 21, File No. 26-0545)

All other items were approved, including:

• The appointment of James E Fisher as the Director of Human Resources.  Mr. Fisher’s resume, included in the Board packet, shows that he has worked for the MWRD since 2004 in various human relations jobs, including, most recently, Associate Director of Human Resources.  Comm. Garcia congratulated Mr. Fisher and said he had four challenges for him:  (1) to expand the programs with community colleges to help develop the workforce for the future; (2) to have the testing for jobs take place at more than one site to expand the number of candidates; (3) to address hard-to fill positions; and (4) to develop year-round internships. (Agenda Item 45, File No. 26-0556.)
• The Resolution that states that the MWRD has no existing or planned agreements relating to data center development on MWRD-owned property.  While this item was not discussed, the Resolution explains that a data center industry web site published a claim that a data center was planned for development near the MWRD’s Stickney Water Reclamation Plant.  The Town of Cicero then adopted a resolution erroneously opposing the MWRD’s approval of a data center at the Stickney Plant.  (Agenda Item 50, File No. 26-0562.)
• Two items granting the authority for the MWRD to negotiate inter-government agreements with Melrose Park and Northfield for stormwater projects, with the amount the MWRD would contribute to be decided during negotiations.  (Items 47 and 48, File Nos. 26-0548 and 26-0553)

New Business

• President Steele said apropos of Comm. Garcia’s comments on expanding testing sites, she was happy to announce that Governor Pritzker signed into law HB 4426 which the MWRD had been supporting with provides flexibility to the MWRD as to when and how often to hold exams for civil service jobs.  She said that this will allow interns to be able to take exams and then be hired for permanent jobs without delay.  President Steele thanked the House Sponsor, Michael Crawford, and the Senate Sponsor, Adrienne Johnson, along with Governor Prtizker.  This is now Public Act 104-0607.
• President Steele also announced there would be a Study Session on the proposed new Strategic Plan on August 26 at 2 pm.

Public Comments

• Shalonda White, who has worked for the MWRD for 25 years, expressed her worry about what she sees as a disconnect between MWRD leadership and employees. She said she and others do not feel known or appreciated, in contrast to the past.  She said there had been mostly silence from leadership after all the recent storms even as employees also have been dealing with flooding and other damage while they have been showing up to do their jobs.  
• President Steele said she appreciated Ms. White’s comments, which President Steel said could not have been easy for her to make.  President Steele also expressed surprise, but said that “we will work on that connection.” During New Business, President Steele thanked the employees of the MWRD for all that they did during the recent storms, saying that she had planned on doing this before hearing Ms. White’s comments.

Time of meeting:  2 hours and 50 minutes, including a 1 hour and 10-minute Executive Session and 2 breaks of 5 minutes and 10 minutes.  (Started at 10:30 am and adjourned at 1:20 pm.)

Observer:  Priscilla Mims

Metropolitan Water Reclamation District (MWRD) Board Meerting
July 16, 2026

The District’s second initiative to expand its Schoolyard Program to the Suburbs was approval by the Board to enter into an intergovernmental agreement with School District #104 and the Village of Summit for the design, construction, operation and maintenance of a “Space to Grow project” that would serve an elementary and a middle school.  The cost for the District is projected at $3.6 million, and 775 thousand gallons of water are expected to be captured.   #41 26-0487
       #Davis thanked E.D. Murray for finding the money for this important project as the 
         District has been struggling to identify funders.
       #Garcia suggested setting up a foundation for Space To Grow and other green projects.
       #Murray noted that a legislative change would likely be needed to set up the foundation
            ( It is expected to appear on the 2027 Legislative Priorities )

The Board agreed to the purchase order with IHC Construction for engineering design, construction, and installation services to Rebuild the Calumet’s Plant “Dewatering” facility at a cost not to exceed $82,225,000M. Due to the Chicago Transit Authority’s Red Line extension, trucking digested sludge from the lagoons to the drying beds is no longer practical.  #18-260475  

The Board also approved increasing an IHC contract by $31M to $15,597M for Phosphorus Removal Modifications at the O’Brien water reclamation plant.      #27 65-0477

James Mohler, Executive Director of the MWRD Retirement Fund presented the 2025 Audit Results for the MWRD Retirement Fund.  Below are highlights:     #35 26-0464  
    *Market Value of Assets up by $240M over the last two years.  Up to $1.79B
    *Net pension liability decreased by $173M over the last two years.
    *Over the last 7 years, the Fund’s cumulative net annual return of 8.8% exceeded the actuarial   
     assumed rate of return of 7%. 
    * Report assumes the board will remain focused on diversifying this portfolio to reduce risk.

Trinity Christian College has leased 57 acres of MWRD land for athletic fields since 2008 but closed at the end of the 2026 school year.  The board approved signing the lease over to Chicago Christian Schools at the current lease rent of $136,800.    #40 26-0489

New Business
Commissioner Brady-Davis asked for an update on the Harvey stormwater/flood control retention project.  Ans:  late 2026 for demolition; work starts in 2027 and finishes in 2028.  When finished, 209 homes will be protected and 7.5 million gallons of water captured.
Brady-Davis also asked what investment is needed in S. Suburban Cook County to prepare for the future.  Ans:  A feasibility study on this question will soon be ready.

Executive Meeting:  YES                             
Deletions or Deferrals:  NO

Observer:  Diane Edmundson

Metropolitan Water Reclamation District (MWRD) Board Meeting
 June 18, 2026

Agenda Items

• Item #26-0432 authorized a contract in the amount of $409,420,079 to Michels Construction for sludge removal from the O’Brien Water Reclamation Plant. This was a deleted item from the June 4 Board meeting.

Stormwater Management

• Item #26-0444 authorized the additional amount of $40,000 added to the Stormwater Management fund to continue the rain barrel program.

New Business

• Item #26-0461 authorized a bond sale of General Obligation Capital Improvement and Refunding Bonds in the amount of $475,000 along with contracts for underwriting, legal advisory services, ad financial advisory services. 

Commissioner Requests

• Comm. Garcia requested the Executive Director to provide when there is a funding shortage for the Rain Barrel Program 
• Comm. Waller requested the Green Neighbor Guide be tied in with the Rain Barrel Program 
• Comm. Corral Sepúlveda requested if additional survey emails can be sent to participants in the Rain Barrel Program at the 1 to 2 year mark and the possibility of adding the option to subscribe to the District Newsletter at the time of rain barrel purchase

No Executive Session

Observer - Peggy Kell           

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
May 7, 2026

All agenda items were approved unanimously, other than one item which was deleted by the Executive Director:  item 15, Authority to advertise a Contract to furnish and deliver janitorial supplies to various locations (#26-0324).

There was quite a bit of discussion at today’s meeting, with the most centered around how to reach more municipalities with the Green Alley Program for which municipalities are invited to solicit projects to install permeable pavers to help alleviate stormwater run-off and flooding, which the MWRD will partially fund.  The list of approved projects was discussed in the Observer Report for the April 16 meeting.  At today’s meeting, the proposed intergovernmental agreements were on the agenda (items 34 to 41).

• The projects are in areas all across the County, with the MWRD contributing up to the dollar amounts indicated:  Dolton ($556,100 for 2 alleys, #26-0304); Forest Park ($214,300 for 1 alley, #26-0305); Maywood ($1, 005,400 for 2 alleys, #26-0306); Norridge ($410,00 for 2 alleys, #26-0307); Northlake ($263,600 for 2 parking lots, #26-0308); River Forest ($195,600 for 1 parking lot, #26-0309); Riverdale ($449,900 for 1 alley, #26-0310); and Skokie ($464,500 for 2 alleys, #26-0311).  
• The letters seeking approval of the agreements all cited that these were chosen in part because of the visibility of the projects.
• Comm. Waller expressed her support, but noted that none of the projects are in Chicago and asked what are the barriers to Chicago submitting applications.  The MWRD meets quarterly with the Chicago Department of Water Management, but Comm. Waller noted that the alleys fall under the auspices of the Chicago Department of Transportation.  Executive Director Murray explained that it is much easier to have a single point of contact with Chicago.  President Steele said that Chicago has its own stormwater management ordinance, which is generally not true for the smaller municipalities.
• Exec. Director Murray also mentioned that each of the 50 Alders in Chicago gets menu money each year in the budget to fund infrastructure projects, but the Alders and their wards have other priorities for that money than permeable pavers.  But in any event. If Alders want to submit a proposal for their ward, Exec. Director Murray said they should be encouraged to work through the Dept of Water Management.
• Comm. Davis separately raised his willingness to work on accelerating more support for Disadvantage Impacted Areas which do not have the money to partially fund these projects.
• Comm. Corral Sepulveda asked Exec Director Murray for an update on the conversations with the Dept. of Water Management subsequent to this meeting.  She also asked whether a marketing package could be put together on the various programs for use with the Chicago Park District and others, similar to what they have for the programs with the Chicago Public Schools.
• Comm. Davis stated that President Trump has proposed drastic cuts to the federal funds for Clean Water and Clean Drinking Water which helps funds the MWRD programs, and asked Executive Director Murray to update the Board on what the national organization to which the MWRD belongs is doing to push back on these proposed cuts.

Another item that generated discussion was the item seeking authority for the MWRD to participate in the yearly WEFTEC (Water Environment Federation's Technical Exhibition and Conference) Operations Challenge.  (Agenda item 31, #26-0291)

• Estimated cost is $30,000, including travel.  The MWRD has been competing since 2007.
• Comm. Corral Sepulveda said she supported this because it builds morale, incentivizes employees to push themselves, builds leadership and team building, and builds intergovernmental relations.  Comms. Garcia, Brown, Waller and President Steele all agreed.  President Steele also said that it results in the participating employees carrying out their responsibilities with precision, accuracy, and speed.

Other discussion included:

• Comm. Waller citing the value of all the programming for Chicago Water Week, May 3-9).  Among the programs was one on Chicago’s proposed Green Infrastructure program, which is now open for public comments.
• In response to a question from Comm. Corral Sepulveda, the Acting Director of Operations explained the Distributed Control System Test Cabinet proposed to be purchased for the Calumet Water Reclamation Plant will allow for testing outside of a live system and the parts can also be used as back-up. (Agenda item 16, #26-0275)
• Comm. McElroy Kirkwood verified that if the extension of the CTA does not go forward, the MWRD has the right to reacquire the land and easements approved to be sold to the CTA at the same price.  (Agenda item 33, #26-0318)
• President Steele thanked the staff for the Open House event at the O’Brien Plant, and noted that upcoming Open Houses will be held at the Stickney Plant on May 16 and at the Calumet Plant on May 30 from 10 am to 3 pm.
• Comm. Brown reported that under the Cook County Safe Disposable Pharmaceutical program, from Dec. 1, 2024 thru Nov. 30 2025, 36,458 pounds of unused and/or expired pharmaceuticals were collected from 139 sites and safely disposed of preventing them from getting into the water system.  The MWRD was responsible for 45 of those sites and 9,085 pounds.
• The MWRD is heading to Springfield next week for a lobby day with the General Assembly.

Time of meeting:  1 hour 45 minutes, including a 25-minute Executive Session.

Observer:  Priscilla Mims

Metropolitan Water Reclamation District (MWRD) Board Meeting​
April 16, 2026-10:30 A.M.

Agenda Items:

​#12-26-0265- Commissioner Waller asked ED Murray to outline the current benefits of membership in CURRENT. ED Murray reported that MWRD was a founding member. Current concentrates on emerging technologies and work force development. The focus is on technical development. Our membership gives the MWRD a place on the resource consortium. The National Science Foundation has given funding to the organization and there is always the possibility that the MWRD can be a possible recipient of these grants.

#23-26-0257- Commissioner Waller was pleased to see the MWRD was putting remaining BTU’s to use. ED Murray said that the MWRD uses all the energy during the winter months. He said that he would be happy to give a full report to the Board on savings. As to whether the MWRD can reach energy neutrality, the District uses a lot of energy to pump water out of the two deep tunnels. Also an aging infrastructure impacts energy use. 

#30-26-0260- Report on the Green Infra-structure: Commissioner Kirkwood asked if the MWRD reached out to every municipality. Murray said yes.  What are the requirements to participate?

1. Apply, 2) All applications are then evaluated. 3) The MWRD also helps municipalities to develop projects, if they do not have sufficient staff to complete applications themselves.

The MWRD staff does all of the evaluations in house. Projects are done on a yearly basis. Commissioner Brady-Davis asked if there have been projects done in Dolton. Murray replied that they are currently working with Dolton staff to make that happen. President Steele reminded all commissioners that they should publicize the program to community leaders when they are out and about.

Commissioner Davis asked how the work with disproportionately impacted communities is going? Murray replied that there are two staff members (one a civil engineer)  helping with outreach and that it is working pretty well.  President Steele agreed. Commissioner Davis asked if the “technical assistance” has resulted in the creation of successful projects. ED Murray committed to getting more information on this to the Board.

Deferred or Deleted Agenda Items-

Three items deferred from the April 2 Board meeting were not mentioned at the April 16 meeting. They are agenda items #4,6, & 7.
#4-26-0235- Authorization to revise Contract Change Order Policy for Capital Improvement Construction Projects.
#6-26-0216- Authority to advertise Contract 26-023-11. Furnish and Deliver Lab Chemicals to various locations. 
#7-26-0217- Authority to advertise Contract to Furnish Deliver Stem Gate Valves to Various Locations for One Year. 
These items were all deferred at the April 2 meeting by Commissioner Garcia, who was absent from the April 16,  2026 board meeting.

New Business: 

• President Steels congratulated the Office of Public Affairs for receiving a Gold Level award for education and community outreach work.
• Commissioner Davis brought up the reduction of remote work from 4 to 3 days. He said that remote work reduces stress and helps to retain a strong work force. Commissioner Waller agreed, saying that remote work promotes more diversity in the work force.

Summary of Requests for more information from the Executive Director:

1. Commissioner Brown requested a list of communities that have applied to Green Infrastructure Program in the last 3 years.
2. Commissioner Corral Sepulveda asked for a list of the communities that applied but were not approved and why.
3. Commissioner Davis requested information on the success of the District’s technical assistance to disproportionately impacted communities.

Observer: Georgia Gebhardt                    Meeting Length - 40 minutes       No Executive Session