Metropolitan Water Reclamation District (MWRD) Board Meeting - September 6, 2018

Board Votes/Decisions: 

• Four Resolutions [#18-0844,47,49,50] with reports on rejection of proposals dealing with bio-fuels recovery and delivery were removed from the agenda by the Executive Director pending further discussion.  At the post meeting study session on capital expenditures in 2019, the Executive Director (ED) said the District is not abandoning resource recovery or biofuels, but it is at a “reset to look at it all holistically”.
• An Executive Session was called during the meeting with one of the items being a discussion of the District’s information security procedures.  After which, approval was given to increase a current contract for an Emergency Forensic Cyber Audit of the District’s information Technology System.  
• Under Stormwater Management, the board approved payment to the Chicago Park District for the construction, operation, and maintenance of green infrastructure at three parks in Chicago.  The Board also awarded payment to several other communities and entities for “green infrastructure” improvements.

Items to Watch for in the Future:

• #18-0832  - Authority to advertise an $8 to $10 million dollar contract for replacement of stop logs, gates, and other equipment at the Lockport Powerhouse was deleted by the Executive Director.  No reason given.
• #18-0923 – Request to recognize the authority of the Governor to fill the vacancy of Commissioner Bradford by the appointment made on March 23, 2018 was removed from agenda. (Note: The Governor moved David Walsh from his appointed board seat to fill Mr. Bradford’s and then appointed Kenneth Dunkin to Walsh’s board seat.)
• #18-0922 – Requesting that board members receive parental leave was deferred

Other Comments or Observations:
1. The Board took several minutes to talk about the recent Calumet explosion where one employee was trapped when part of the roof collapsed.  Employees and the fire and police departments were lauded for their prompt and efficient response.  An independent Review is underway.

2. Following the Board Meeting, a Study Session was held to present progress to date and 2019 projections for major capital expenditures dealing with infrastructure and equipment upgrades and stormwater management measures. 

• This includes odor control upgrades at the Calumet and Stickney plants.
• No actual expense projections were included in the public presentation. 
• Commissioner Dunkin asked about minority contracts followed by response: 1.) Ex. Dir. Murray said that going forward the District will try to reduce the size of contracts to make it more feasible for minority organizations to bid.  2.) Staff will prepare a summary of minority contracts that have been awarded over the last 3-4 years.

To see video or read the minutes of this meeting click here: mwrd.legistar.com 

Observer - Diane Edmundson                                                        Meeting Length:  2 1/2 hours

MWRD Board Meeting -  February 4, 2016

There are odor issues at Thornton Quarry that the MWRD is taking steps to remedy before the Spring rains come.  They will purchase 13 additional solar mixers to better aerate the combined sewer overflow water in the reservoir that fills the Thornton Quarry during and after a heavy rain event.

MWRD will also purchase “odalogs” or odor detectors, for the Thornton Reservoir to better monitor low levels of Hydrogen Sulfide in the air immediately surrounding the reservoir.  The odalogs (and shelters to house them) will be placed around the perimeter of the old quarry.

There have been a dozen calls from households in Harvey over a month’s period for December through January, complaining about odors.It was suggested that odor results be posted on local towns’ websites which are adjacent to the Thornton Quarry, including Harvey, Homewood, Thornton, and South Holland.  There are currently MWRD “hotline” contacts on these towns’ websites to be able to report any odor issues.

The odalogs may be repurposed for any other MWRD site with odor sensitivity due to combined sewer overflows when the need arises.

The 13 mixers will join seven already existing mixers that are anchored to the quarry floor and float on the surface of the liquid to mix the water in order to eliminate rotting odors.  This total of twenty mixers is thought to be sufficient to aerate the water in the reservoir.  

Since smells were already detected in the winter, the MWRD finds it urgent to install both the detection machines and the mixers before the Spring rains begin.

Observer - Amy Little