Metropolitan Water Reclamation District (MWRD) Board Meeting
May 16, 2024

Board Action:

• The Board, with no discussion on the merits, approved all items on the Consent agenda, except for #13 which was withdrawn by the Executive Director (authority to advertise a contract to remove and replace pavement at various locations, Item 24-0396).  The items approved included authorizing the staff to negotiate and enter into intergovernmental agreements for 13 projects dealing with stormwater management in different areas across the County:  Broadview, Brookfield, Forest Park, Franklin Park, Glenview, Hoffman Estates, Markham, North Riverside, Northlake, Willow Springs, Hillside, Chicago, and the Cook County Forest Preserve District.  (Agenda items 47 through 59)
• The intergovernmental agreement with the Forest Preserve District is for land acquisition, concept planning, and preliminary engineering for a flood control project near the confluence of Deer Creek and Third Creek that is expected to provide increased flood protection for Ford Heights, Glenwood, Thornton, South Hollland, Calumet City, and Lansing.  Friends of the Chicago River expressed its support for this item during Public Comments. (Item 24-0415)
• While not directly related to the merits of the rejection of bids for another proposed flood control project on Midlothian Creek in Robbins, Commissioner Davis did raise questions which he said would further his understanding of the effectiveness of the MWRD’s procurement process.  Commissioner Davis asked what factors lead to a determination that a bid is incomplete.  The response was failing to properly address diversity requirements, failing to provide signatures, and failure to provide the required bond.  (Agenda Item 5.)
• The Board then went into Executive Session and took a lunch break before returning to open session to complete the meeting with New Business.  Because of the expected length of the break (well over an hour), this Observer left and watched the remaining few minutes via video.

Time of meeting (without break and executive session):  1 hour and 15 minutes

Observer:  Priscilla Mims

Metropolitan Water Reclamation District (MWRD) Board of Directors Meeting
May 2, 2024-10:30 a.m.

Board Action:

​Agenda #40 (24-0338) The MWRD staff presented a report on the DIA (Disproportionately Impacted Areas) communities that will receive infrastructure assistance.

• Commissioner Davis asked about the current criteria for selection. The original criteria list was developed in 2019. Has this criteria been updated? And did commercialization penalize some of the communities?  
• Staff spokesperson, Dr. O’Connor, assured the commissioners that they are eager to work with them to update the criteria. There are many projects underway on the south side that will slow down the flow to the Thornton reservoir. If communities are not selected (e.g. Cicero), they can still benefit by the Green Schoolyard initiative.
• Commissioner Corral-Sepulveda asked E.D. Perkovich about the goals of the program. She urged development of clear measurable goals and noted that developing these requires great expertise. Commissioner Garcia asked for an update that includes what Chicago is doing in this area. He stressed the  importance of knowing how other governmental entities are solving these issues.
• Final consensus was that the commissioners were pleased with the staff work and were interested in being actively involved in updating the criteria for the infrastructure program.

Agenda #3 (024-005) The Ordinance to give authority to amend the Watershed Management Ordinance-Wetlands Jurisdictional  Determination was passed. Ayes: 8 Nays: 0 Ab. 1

PUBLIC COMMENTS:

• Friends of the Chicago River spoke in support of agenda #40, the Green Infrastructure Program.
• Resource Environmental Solutions spoke for a 3-year extension to the program that identifies stormwater projects. 

DELETED ITEMS: Executive Director Perkovich deleted #1, 2 and 27.

•   #1- Ordinance 024-003- providing the transfer of an amount from the 459 Capital Improvements Bond Revenue Sub-Fund to pay for certain non-Tunnel and Reservoir Plan related expenditures….
•     #2-024-004-Ordinance providing for the transfer of an amount from the 459 Capital Improvements Bond Revenue Sub-Fund to pay for certain Tunnel and Reservoir Plan related expenditures…
•     #27-24-0327-Authority to award Contract Landscape Maintenance at Various Service Areas to Lizzette Medina & Company.

Consent agenda (#1-41, except for #1,2,3, 27) was passed unanimously.

EXECUTIVE SESSION: Commissioners met to discuss personnel matters.


Meeting adjourned: 11:55 a.m. on an unanimous vote. 

Observer: Georgia Gebhardt

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 of Directors Meeting
March 21 2024

Board Action:

• There was a single substantive item discussed at the meeting.  Utilizing a proposed contract for beneficial reuse of biosolids, Commissioner Garcia asked the Director of Maintenance and Operations John Murray where the MWRD was at with regard to resuming the distribution of biosolids for residential use.  Director Murray confirmed that the MWRD has continued to provide biosolids for use at golf courses and some other non-residential locations.  Director Murray said there are no current plans to resume making biosolids available to residents, which was paused three years ago. Commissioner Garcia said that he is often asked by residents who liked the program as to when it would resume.  Comm. Garcia asked if there was a fact sheet available to use to educate the public and whether a marketing program should be resumed.  President Steele also expressed interest.  Comm. Flynn asked about the costs to the district for this program, which Director Murray said was one of the more expensive programs, but had lots of public relations benefits. The upshot was that Director Murray will consult with Executive Director Perkovich and put together some information for the Commissioners.  However, Director Murray did say that the MWRD had stopped producing the material, so that not much would be available this year in any case.
• All 33 items on the Consent Agenda were approved by a 5-0 vote (Commissioners Brady-Davis, Brown, and Pogorzelski were absent from the meeting and Commissioner Spyropoulos was absent when the vote was taken).

Upcoming events:

• The MWRD plans to have floats in a number of upcoming parades.  Members of the public who would like to be part of this should contact [email protected].  The next parade will be the Greek Independence Day parade in Greek Town on April 7.
• Thursday, March 27, 12 to 1 at 100 E. Erie:  Lunch & Learn in honor of Women’s History Month featuring Dr. Claudia Hernandez, incoming President of the Chicago Dermatological Society, speaking on skin cancer prevention and general skin care practices.  Register by March 26 at MWRD.EventRegistration​

Observer - Priscilla Mims                                     Meeting time:  41 minutes (no executive session)

Metropolitan Water Reclamation District (MWRD)
​Board of Commissioners Meeting
March 7, 2024

Agenda Items:

• Resolutions 2-4;( 24-0149-24-0167)- The Board of Commissioners recognized the upcoming St. Patrick’s Day Parade, the Shannon Rovers Irish Bagpipe Band, and the contributions of John J. Fitzpatrick and Mary G. Harris (Mother Jones). Irish-Americans were praised for their support of labor in the Chicago area.
• Kevin Byrne, the Irish consul, was honored.  He spoke on the bond between the City of Chicago and Ireland. 
• #5-24-0170- The MWRD comptroller informed the Board that the District has been awarded Certificates of Achievement for Excellence in Financial Reporting in 2023, and for the MWRD Retirement Fund and Retiree Health Care Trust for fiscal year 2022.

Stormwater Management:

• The commissioners lauded the intergovernmental agreement with the Chicago Board of Education. “Space to Grow” is a program that diverts stormwater on school property, plus it provides a safe place for children to play. Commissioner Davis spoke in support of this green infrastructure in schools and urged that the MWRD push to extend this to the suburbs as well. It is hoped that federal funds can be found to allow this program to move into the suburbs.

New Business: 

• Commissioners used the time to highlight various activities such as the Polar Plunge, Women’s History Month and their participation in various panel discussions. 

Consent Agenda was passed unanimously by roll call vote. 

Observer: Georgia Gebhardt                    Meeting Length:  10:30 to 11:40                Executive Session:  None

Metropolitan Water Reclamation District (MWRD) Board Meeting​
February 15, 2024-10:30 A.M.

Public Comment: One comment from Friends of the Chicago River

Board Action:

• 24-0104-#36- Commissioner Davis remarked on the study of the stormwater training system. He said an extension of the study had already been granted. Since the purpose is not to keep studying, he would not be supportive of more extensions. Commissioner Sepulveda pointed out the need to explore all organization suggestions and that the pilot program had been impacted by Covid
• 24-0116-#24- Commissioner Garcia asked what efforts MWRD was making to build opportunities for minorities and women. Director Perkovich answered that they continue to build a vendor database. This agenda item relates to a particular type of hauling. Commissioner Garcia requested a specific list.
• 24-0108-#8- Commissioners Garcia and Brady-Davis asked if MWRD used eco-friendly supplies during cleaning. Staff replied that it was the policy of MWRD to choose those friendly materials whenever possible. Commissioners asked that the item be deferred in order to gain further details.
• 24-0100, 0106, 0099-#14, 17, 27- All these agenda items were related to AT&T. Commissioner Flynn requested a specific breakdown of goods and services.

Consent agenda, with exception of the deferred item #8, was approved by unanimous vote: Ayes: 9    Nays: 0

New business:

• Commissioner Davis thanked the Friends of the Chicago River for its comments related to leasing of MWRD land. They urged the MWRD to exercise care and to pay attention to environmental issues when leasing agency property.
• President Steele called attention to the Annual Black History Program  to honor the Reverend Jesse Jackson. 

Meeting adjourned: 11:20 a.m. (Meeting length: 50 minutes)

Observer: Georgia Gebhardt