Metropolitan Water Reclamation District (MWRD) Board Meeting
January 8, 2026

The Board adopted the 2026 Illinois Legislative Priorities and all other items on the agenda unanimously with little discussion. 

2026 Legislative Priorities (Agenda #23, File No. 25-0968)

• Seek amendment of the District Act pertaining to the industrial waste program, known as the Sewage & Waste Control Ordinance, to increase the civil penalty ranges  for administrative show cause enforcements and for circuit court enforcements, and provide that civil penalties are also available for “per-pollutant” violations and regulatory multiple day violations.  The goal is to incentivize industrial users to improve their pretreatment systems and comply with the Ordinance.
• Seek amendment of the District Act to authorize pay raises for the Board (no mention of by how much) if the Board acts before January 1, 2027 and approves the raise by a 2/3 vote.  
• Seek to amend the District Pension Code to change the 4.19 statutory multiplier to the Actuarially Determined Contribution; raise the taxable wage base on which employee contributions are made to satisfy the Social Security “Safe Harbor’; and allow the District to use any lawfully available revenue source to make its statutory contributions to the Retirement Fund.
• Seek to amend the District Act to allow those participating and completing the apprentice program to take the civil service exam right away.  Because of the delay in people being able to take the exam, a number of these former apprentices cannot wait and take jobs elsewhere.
• Seek to repeal Section 19 of the District Act pertaining to potential District liability for rain-induced flooding.  This section dates to 1907 and was enacted to address issues related to construction of the Sanitary & Ship Canal.  However, some plaintiffs have sought to utilize it for current and different situations.  While the District has been successful in defending that this Section is not applicable, deletion of the Section would save the District time and money.
• Identify opportunities to support legislation pertaining to water re-use and PFAS. Points to HB 2955, the PFAS Wastewater Citizen Protection Act which passed the House and will be picked up by the Senate in the 2026 Spring Session.  Specific bills will be brought to the Board for a determination of support.

Other approved items deferred from December 18 meeting:

• The agreement with the Cook County Sheriff for the Prescription Drug Take-Back Program for 2026 at a cost to the MWRD of up to $80,000.  Comm. Davis thanked his Board colleagues for the 3 prior deferrals which allowed time for more review and consideration.  Comm. Waller asked that the funding amount include funding for community events.  President Steele asked that Comm. Waller provide an email explaining exactly what she wants.  (Agenda #21, File No. 25-0885)
• Awarding a contract for SEPA 3 Paver Walkway Improvement for up to $191,525. (Agenda #16, File No. 25-0962)

New Business

• Vice President Flynn touted the enactment of the PFAS Reduction Act in Illinois which will phase in elimination of PFAS from firefighting equipment.

Time of meeting:  1 hour, including a break and Executive Session between the Committee of the Whole portion and reconvening as the Board to vote on all the items.

Observer:  Priscilla Mims

Metropolitan Water Reclamation District (MWRD) Board Meeting
December 18, 2025

Agenda Items Approved:

• ​After a month of deliberations and a public hearing, the board approved annual tax levies and adopted a 2026 final budget of $1.8B that includes investing in public infrastructure, stormwater and flood management, and with new consideration of the long-term environmental and financial implications of permit compliance.  Soon to be available is an online interactive budget dashboard*  The 2025 budget was just under $1.7B. Ordinance 025-0004A 
• They also adopted an Ordinance establishing the minimum qualifications and duties for the MWRD Inspector General and are convening search and selection committees for appointing an IG to replace the current interim, Patrick Blanchard, whose contract was extended thru June 2026 at the December 4, 2025 board meeting.  025-012
• Previously twice deferred by Commissioner Sepulveda, the board approved a $250,000 contract with Web-based Compliance Software.  Commissioner Sepulveda asked that in the future RFPs include a “no charge” provision to allow business to upload redundant information from other submissions.  #22 25-0848

Agenda Items Deferred/Deleted: 

• For the 3rd time, Commission Davis asked that the Intergovernmental Agreement with the CC Sheriff’s Office for the Prescription Drug Take-Back Program in the amount of $80,000 be deferred so that his team can digest the responses received from MWRD staff.  The board agreed to the deferral but voiced several strong supporting comments including those reported in the November and then again at the December 4 meeting.  Brady-Davis said she understands that the issue isn’t the value of the program but who pays.  Garcia strongly supports and wants more boxes in communities in 2027.  Sepulveda asked that staff develop a strategy for getting the pharmaceutical association(s) more involved in 2027.  #43 25-0885
• Commissioner Flynn deferred a $191,525,00 landscaping contract for a Paver Walkway Improvement.  No reason was given.  #35 25-0962
• President Steele deferred with no discussion the Recommendations for the State of Illinois 2026 Legislative Program.  Expect to see it on the January 8, 2026 agenda.   #45 25-0968

Other Interesting Items:  

• Authorization was given for payment to the Water Research Foundation for the 2026 Annual Research Commitment not to exceed $190,663.  Commissioner Waller now serves on a new committee covering IT Data Centers: Understanding Economic Considerations and Opportunities for Water and Wastewater Utilities  #20 25-0941

No Executive Session; All commissioners present; Length of meeting: 70 minutes 

Observer - Diane Edmundson

Metropolitan Water Reclamation Water District (MWRD) Board Meeting  
February 6, 2025

Commissioner Cam Davis deferred authorization to continue an $80,000 payment to the CC Sheriff’s office Prescription Drug Take-Back program.  He noted that in January of 2022,  the Illinois Legislature passed a law to shift the cost of take-back programs to the Pharmaceutical Companies and asked what progress staff has made to effect this change.  He is open to passing the resolution for a period of 2-3 months, and noted that when, in the past, he asked staff when it would be ready, he was told “we will look into it”. President Steele voiced her strong support for the intergovernmental agreement and noted that 95.5% is for administrative costs. Waller noted that it would likely be the Pharmaceutical Manufacturers Association that would be the contact and the one responsible for payment. Several commissioners asked for more information including the legislative text, a 2-year invoice of costs, next steps/ timelines.   #24 25-0082

Other Items of Interest

• Attorney, Jeffrey Mathis, was appointed as a Hearing Officer for hearing appeals under the MWRD’s User Charge Ordinance; for conducting proceedings under the Sewage and Waste Control Ordinance and the Watershed Management Ordinance; and for conducting other administrative proceedings as needed.   #1 25-0102
• The Board approved Ordinance 025-002 directing the County Clerk to reduce the levy of taxes on Capital Improvement Bonds for the levy year 2024.  Commissioner Brady-Davis thanked the Treasurer for the reduction and for saving taxpayer money.  #2 025-002
• Cam Davis asked about the cost/benefit of approving Staff’s request to accept pricing for the purchase of Renewable Energy Credits for 2025 and 2026. The Director of Operations & Maintenance said it would result in an $800,000 cost of energy savings for the District.  #7 25-008
• The Board authorized payment in the amount of no more than $100,000 to the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers for the MWRD’s share of the cost for the Upper Des Plaines River and Tributaries Study.  Commission Waller used this as an example of the type of items she would like to see be “hot linked” in the agenda to provide more information and transparency to the public. President Steele asked the Executive Director to meet with Commissioner Waller and bring forward a proposal to the board for consideration.  #23 25-0106
• Approval was granted to settle an eminent domain easement lawsuit for $197,500 to be paid  from the Stormwater Management Fund for the Addison Creek Channel improvements project. #25 25-0110
• Approved a contract not to exceed $7.14 M to haul processed biosolids from two plants. 
  
•       Meeting Length:  45 minutes    NO Executive Session     No Public Speakers    
  
•  Three Commissioners were absent [Garcia, Brown, Sepulveda]

​Observer - Diane Edmundson

Metropolitan Water Reclamation District (MWRD) Commissioners
Special Meeting of MWRD Committee on Budget and Employment
November 7, 2019

The Committee met to consider the Executive Director’s 2020 Budget Recommendations contained in the October 15 book, along with the proposed changes submitted by the Executive Director on October 30, 2019.  The initial recommendations and the changes may all be accessed at http://mwrd.legistar.com/calendar.aspx  and clicking on the “meeting details” for the entry for this Nov. 7 meeting.  The Recommendations as amended were accepted. 

Next Steps in Budget Process:

• Public Hearing on Dec. 5 at 2 pm
• Special Board Meeting on Dec. 12 at 10:30 am to consider further amendments and adopt budget
• Board Meeting on Dec. 19 at 10:30 am to consider any further, and final, amendments

Budget Overview (reflecting changes):

• Total proposed budget of $1.089 billion, a decrease of 10.9% from 2019.
• Total proposed tax levy is $652.6 million, an increase of 1.4% from 2019.
• Number of employees (Full Time Equivalents, or FTEs) are 1,953, down by 14 from 2019.

The Commissioners heard from representatives from each MWRD department who presented the overview of that department’s proposed and 2019 budget and employee count, the 2019 operational highlights, and the primary initiatives for 2020.  Their slide presentations may also be found at http://mwrd.legistar.com/calendar.aspx. Only a few of the Commissioners asked questions.  Here are some of the highlights:

• Maintenance & Operations will be issuing a Request for Proposal (RFP) for marketing and developing biosolids.  Plan to hire an outside firm rather than add staff because need to fine new outlets.  The changing weather that is bringing more rain increases the costs to the District.
• Engineering plans to review contract language and requirements to see if more bids for RFPs might be obtained to ensure the MWRD is getting the most favorable prices. 
• Stormwater Management averages only 37 days after submission to issue permits.  In 2020, the plans are to continue the Addison Creek Reservoir construction and award the Addison Creek Chanel Improvements project to reduce overbank flooding.  Commissioner Shore said she remains concerned that the MWRD has had problems spending all of the tax levy for the Stormwater Management Fund in past years, though it appears that that will be done in 2019.  She wonders if consideration should be given to contracting outside of the District if Staff cannot generate enough projects internally.
• The Monitoring and Research Department had a long list of accomplishments for 2019 and a number of new projects for 2020.  The Director explained that the employees are now organized by programs and projects, rather than particular specialties.  In the past, if you were in the soil area, you only worked on soil-related projects.  This new organization means they can work more efficiently and so will be able to eliminate 6 unfilled positions.
• The Law Department expects that the revised Ethics Ordinance will be ready before the end of 2019.  Commissioner Davis raised the idea of the Board hiring its own attorney.  The General Counsel responded that that could be done, but the Law Department’s client is the MWRD, and the Board is part of the MWRD.
• The General Administration Budget is up by $2.8 million over 2019; $2.4 million of which is proposed for a 2% increase in the salaries of non-union employees.  Low-flow toilets were installed in the main MWRD building in 2019.  Already in 2019 the prescription drug collection program has exceeded the number of pounds of drugs collected and disposed of in 2018.
• Public Affairs helped create a road show to celebrate the 130th anniversary of the MWRD, and has a new storybook for children called “Where Does My Poop Go?”!!!
• Commissioner Shore asked the Director of Information Technology whether there is a need for a Chief Information Security Officer.  Director Sudduth said that he is going to try to recruit someone who could help fill that role, but there is a great demand for qualified people in the private sector at higher salaries  He may also look to outside services.
• Human Resources has an RFP coming for a compensation and benefits study to be completed in 2020.  Commissioner Shore asked that the staff advise what the impact on the budget the parental leave policy has had.
• During 2020 the Commissioners and staff will embark on a new 5-year strategic plan.
• Commissioner Shore asked whether the MWRD should consider seeking legislation from Springfield that would permit the District to contribute larger amounts to the Pension Fund, particularly when the District has one-time revenues, such as the TIF-surplus that the City of Chicago is releasing to the MWRD and the other government entities.

Observer:  Priscilla Mims

Metropolitan Water Reclamation Board Meeting -  June 16, 2016   

Significant Decisions Made:
Approval of funds for a 20 foot wide Inflow/Tunnel to the McCook Reservoir (Agenda Item 18-16-0629)

• Project over rides the Army Corps of Engineers proposed eight foot tunnel. 
• To relieve flooding along the Des Plaines River at LaGrange and Hillside
• Project will be  accomplished through blasting and digging and not by the more expensive tunnel boring machine  
• Construction will begin promptly with proposed completion by 2020 
• Projected cost not to exceed $113,158,880
• Will employ approximately 1,077 people.  .

Prescription Drug Take-Back Program Expansion (Agenda Item 37-16-0629)

• The MWRD Board approved a $100,000 Intergovernmental Agreement to partner with the Cook County Sheriff’s Office (CCSO) for expansion of this program. 
  
• Up to 2/3 of the funds will be used for operational/administrative expenses. 
  
• Remaining 1/3 of funds will be used for purchase and installation of drug collection receptacles.
  
• The agreement is for one year and is renewable. 
  
• Currently more than one-half of Cook County districts are considered “collection deserts” with fewer than 5 takeback sites.  

Restriction of Herbicides (Agenda Item 31-16-0618) 
The Board passed a motion to adopt a policy restricting the use of toxic and persistent herbicides on landscaped areas and around facilities and infrastructure of the MWRD. 

Other Items of Note:

1. The Board gave formal recognition to the Midwest Pesticide Action Center and their Midwest Grows Green Initiative for their 22 years of providing safer alternatives to the “90 million pounds of herbicide product on lawns and gardens each year”. (Agenda Item 34-16-0642)
2. The Comprehensive Annual Financial Report of the MWRD Retirement Fund for 2015 was given an unqualified opinion by the Fund’s independent auditor, Legacy Professionals LLP.   (26-16-0615)
3. The MWRD will end rainbarrel distribution on December31, 2016.  
   
4.  All regular board meetings will begin at 10:30 a m until the end of 2016.  

Eleanor Prince - observer