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 
October 16, 2025

Special meetings: 2 special meetings of the Board
The Board of Commissioners of the Metropolitan Water Reclamation District of Chicago meet twice, once in the afternoon of October 16 and also on the morning of October 17th.  The purpose of both meetings was to consider candidates to fill the vacancy in the office of MWRD Executive Director. The meetings were called to order and immediately closed for executive sessions. No action was taken by the Board following either executive session.  The district is currently led by interim Executive Director John Murray.  The previous Executive, Brian Perkovich, retired.

Board Action on October 16 at scheduled Board Meeting

Stormwater: 

• Item #39 25-0778 The Board agreed without discussion to pay the City of Markham to acquire a flood-prone property in an amount not to exceed $450,000.
• Item #28 25-0773 The Board approved without discussion a contract with the engineering firm Bowman Consulting to design a flood control project in Northfield township in an amount not to exceed $2.2 million. That stormwater project, approved previously, will address a 3-mile corridor extending from Glenwood Ave. in Glenview to the Chicago River near Oakton Community College.  It is intended to provide flood relief for 114 single and multi-family residences.

Real Estate:

• Item #15 25-0752 Authorization to accept initial annual rental bid by Sanchez Group to lease 13 acres of District lands bordering the Chicago Sanitary and Ship Canal near the Stickney water treatment plant for a 39-year term for $396,084. This item was pulled for discussion by Commissioner Brady-Davis, who asked staff what benefit could come from allowing such a lengthy lease and how would the rent be adjusted during the least term? Staff replied that long-term leases were preferred so tenants could invest in improvements on the land.  MWRD attorney Susan Morakalis explained rents are adjusted annually with the Consumer Price Index as benchmark and the property value is re-assessed every ten years. The item was returned to the consent agenda.
• Item #19 25-0751 The Board authorized without discussion the sale of less than an acre of District land located at 6861 North Milwaukee Avenue in Niles, Illinois, setting a minimum sale price of $92,130. The parcel is part of the former Niles pumping station near the Des Plaines River. 

Large purchases:

• Item 25 25-0753 The Board approved without discussion awarding Kemira Water Solutions, Inc.  a contract for $21.6 million to furnish and deliver to the District an unspecified amount of Ferric Chloride.   The chemical is used in wastewater treatment for phosphate precipitation and as a coagulant as well as for odor control.  

Forever Chemicals:

• Item 33 25-0745. Authority to increase Contract 25-105-11 Laboratory Analysis of Per- and Polyfluoroalkyl Substances and Adsorbable Organic Fluorine in Wastewater samples to Enthalpy Analytical, LLC in an amount of $36,300 from $63,500 to an amount not to exceed $99,800. Commissioner Waller pulled this item from the agenda for discussion.  She praised staff and the district for continuing to pursue research and sampling for PFAS chemicals and said that she looks forward to the ability for in-house testing with reports available to the public. The item was then returned to the consent agenda.

New Business:

• President Steele told the Board plans were being made for celebration of the 125th anniversary of the Chicago Sanitary and Ship Canal, with details available soon.  
• Commissioner Davis thanked staff for their work in a ground-breaking wetland mitigation project in Sauk Village in Chicago’s southern suburbs.  
• The Water Reuse Association of Illinois recognized Commission Waller for her passion in the pursuit of a controlling IL law that will allow expanded re-use of treated water.   The MWRD was given an award for its collective efforts.

Observer:  Laurie Morse          Commissioner Garcia absent           Meeting length: 32 minutes

Metropolitan Water Reclamation District (MWRD) Board Meeting 
August 14, 2025

​In opening public comments, Tessa Murray of the Friends of the Chicago River announced the first annual Chicago River Open Water Swim, slated for September 21, and sponsored by the Friends.  She thanked the Board for the vision and investment of the MWRD for making the river clean enough for human contact, saying even a decade ago such an event would have been unthinkable at a time when people considered the River an extension of the sewer system.  She credited new EPA water quality standards enacted in 2018 and the MWRD’s compliance as instrumental in creating conditions allowing the first Chicago River swimming event in more than a century.  She said access to swimmable rivers enhances recreation opportunities for all urban residents. In addition to swimming, the cleaner river now boasts 77 different species of fish.

Agenda Items Discussed

• Commissioner Davis pulled agenda item 2. 25-0631 asking for a roll call vote and saying he intended to vote no on a motion to hire David Ormsby, Inc as public relations consultant for an additional year at a cost not to exceed $48,000.  In discussion Commissioner Davis and Commissioner Waller said they thought the District would benefit from someone with different skills in this position.  Commissioner Flynn countered, saying the firm was qualified.  The motion passed, with Davis the only Commissioner to vote no. 
• Commissioner Davis also pulled agenda item 14. 25-0621 which authorized paying annual membership dues of $35,000 to the Chicago Area Waterways Chloride Workgroup.  The Commissioner understood this was to be a temporary working group, and asked when it’s work, and the need for dues, would end.  Staff explained the importance of the MWRD’s lead working with municipalities reducing salt impacts on waterways, and acting Executive Director Murray said he expected to group to continue indefinitely. The item was returned to the agenda and approved.
• Commissioner Garcia pulled item 39. 25-647-11, a $1.2 million dollar boiler service contract without discussion, and asked for its deferral. The deferral passed in a roll call vote.

Items approved without discussion:
Stormwater Management

• ​Item 17. 25-0590 The Board agreed to seek bids to purchase Rain Barrels at an estimated cost of $450,000.   
• Item 40. 25-0578 The Board awarded a $2.2 million contract to construct a Green Schoolyard Pilot project at Burnham Elementary School to Foundation Mechanics LLC and other partners. The project, which combines stormwater management with a new playground in Burham, was approved to go out for bid at the October 17, 2024 Board meeting.  
• Item 18.  25-0593 The Board agreed to seek bids to rehabilitate the Upper Des Plaines Intercepting Sewer at a cost between  $16.1 and 19.5 million dollars.

Pollution Control-Phosphorus Removal

• Item 48.  25-0609 The Board agreed to increase the amount of a previously contract award to IHC Construction Companies LLC to modify phosphorus removal equipment at Battery D of the O’Brien Water Reclamation Plant, to $15.5 million from the previous $15.4 million; an increase of $117,170,72.

New Business

• President Steele announced three ribbon-cutting events celebrating MWRD project completions, including a dam removal at Salt Creek in DuPage County; completion of a new levy providing flood relief to 29 structures in Glenwood; and green alley stormwater management projects in Markham.

Observer:  Laurie Morse                No Executive Session Held         All 9 commissioners in attendance

Metropolitan Water Reclamation District (MWRD)
Board of Commissioners Meeting 
May 15, 2025
Public Speakers

• Speakers from the Calumet Harbor area environmental group, ETHOS, asked the MWRD to monitor water pollution issues that could occur at the old US Steel site at 8080 S. Lake Shore Drive.  The last EPA soil tests are from the 1990s.  The group wants to get updated testing on the soil and is concerned that disturbing the soil during construction will lead to massive air and water contamination.  

Agenda Items Discussed

• Com. Waller pulled items #11&12, 25-0349, 25-0351 to make sure that when the MWRD hires attorneys to begin the process of eminent domain in flood areas, that they are required to do community engagement plans that include small group education, in addition to town hall-style meetings.  Director Murray assured them that MWRD requires small breakout groups to give community residents a chance to ask questions before a larger meeting occurs.  He will forward communication plans.
• Coms. Brady-Davis and Waller discussed item #28 25-0365, The Bally’s casino development at the old Chicago Tribune plant on the Chicago River.  Com. Waller was concerned about ensuring public access and emergency egress, while Com. Brady-Davis was thankful that the MWRD was proactive at the site.  Director Murray said this is not MWRD land and so it has no Chicago River jurisdiction other than to protect MWRD infrastructure.
• Coms. Davis and Waller discussed item#32, 25-0398, the sub-lease of land by Lakeshore Recycling Systems to ORA composting.  Com. Davis was concerned that ORA could be an SIU (significant industrial user of water), while Com. Waller wanted to make sure emergency egress was possible at the site.  Director Murray assured her that a marina was adjacent to the site.  The board will be apprised of water usage by ORA.

Stormwater Management

• Passed without comment were 15 intergovernmental agreements (IGAs) for stormwater management through green alley re-pavement and roads with Arlington Heights, Berwyn, Calumet City, Cicero, Countryside, Forest Park, Glenview, LaGrange Park, Lyons, Markham, Maywood, Oak Park, River Forest, River Grove, and Westchester. 
  
• The board also passed an IGA with the Forest Preserve for land acquisition, concept planning, and engineering for a multi-benefit flood control project located in Southeast Cook County

New Business

• Com. Waller announced the PFAS regulation bill moved from the house to the senate, HB 2516, with Julie Morrison as sponsor.  She urged people to call their senators to get the bill passed. 
  
• Com. Davis announced the Federal cuts by 90% to EPA Clean Water Revolving Funds ($3billion).

No Executive Session Held                               All 9 commissioners in attendance
Observer:  Amy Little

Metropolitan Water Reclamation District (MWRD)
Board Meeting
April 17, 2025

The request to advertise a contract to furnish and deliver lamps and emergency lighting was deleted by the Acting Executive Director (Agenda Item # 18, 25-0294).  All other agenda items were approved, with no discussion of the merits.  

• Ann Hokum of ETHOS (Environment, Transportation, and Open Space, a registered block club in the South Shore Community) raised concerns about the proposed Quantum Computing development at the South Works site and the potential toxic pollutants at the site that could impact Lake Michigan through storm water run-off.  The group is also concerned about the issue of industrial water usage at the site and wants to make sure there is a closed system used to prevent any discharges.
• Commissioner Waller did pull the reappointment of two people to the MWRD’s Ethics Commission for discussion, but in order for an explanation as to how the public can find out how to submit a complaint to the Ethics Commission.  Acting Executive Director John Murray said that the information is on the MWRD web site.  Note:  This Observer did a search on the MWRD web site and found the information is located at https://mwrd.org/what-we-do/management-and-administration/ethics-commission-and-ethics-advisor
• During the New Business section, President Steele and Commissioners McElroy Kirkwood and Brady-Davis talked about the MWRD’s trip to Springfield the prior week to meet with legislators of both parties to lobby for their legislative priorities.  Commissioner Waller mentioned one bill that the MWRD supported, HB2515, that has passed out of the House and is now in the Senate.  This bill is called the PFAS Wastewater Citizen Protection Act.

While not discussed, there were 2 items pertaining to Stormwater Management:  

• A report on submittals from municipalities and townships seeking assistance through the MWRD’s Voluntary Flood-Prone Property Acquisition Program (Agenda Item #29, 25-0308.)  There were 3 submissions, identifying 40 properties.  After review, 2 of the 3 proposals in Lyons and Markham are recommended as projects, but for a total of 22 properties.  There will be a subsequent request for Board approval to negotiate intergovernmental agreements.
• A request for authority to enter into an intergovernmental agreement with the Village of La Grange Park for the MWRD to fund $4 M of the total estimated cost of $13.2 M for a Central Area Sewer Separation Project.  This project is expected to mitigate flooding, benefitting an estimated 522 structures, and to reduce impacts on local roadways by increasing sewer capacity ad providing detention for excess stormwater runoff.

Length of Business Meeting:  30 minutes, with an Executive Session of 1 hour and 10 minutes prior to New Business at the end of the meeting.

Observer:  Priscilla Mims