Commissioners Address Concerns about Harvey Stormwater Project

Metropolitan Water Reclamation District (MWRD)
Board of Commissioners Meeting
October 3, 2024

In a meeting that lasted over two hours (excluding the time spent in Executive Session to discuss labor negotiations), the MWRD Commissioners addressed several issues raised in public comment and discussed several agenda items, ultimately approving all except two items which were deferred.

Issue of Harvey Stormwater Project

• There were 7 public speakers who expressed opposition to the MWRD’s and Harvey’s project to build a stormwater retention basin which was previously authorized by the Board and which includes the acquisition of 31 land parcels, some of which are vacant and some of which include occupied residences.  The MWRD expects the project will provide flood reduction benefits to approximately 209 structures.
• Some of the speakers alleged that Harvey does not maintain its property and so they are worried about the upkeep of the retention basin, and others expressed concern about displacing those whose homes were being taken to do the project.
• President Steele addressed the speakers’ concerns by stating that the MWRD had negotiated the purchase price with all the owners of occupied homes, with just 2 agreements left to finalize.  The President said that as of the day before the meeting, all the homeowners, including the 2 who have not yet finalized a deal, have said that they are satisfied with the process.  In fact, Item 37 on the meeting’s agenda was to authorize the purchase of one of those homes, with the contract to include an amount for relocation, as agreed to by the homeowner.  (24-0870)  President Steele said that eminent domain has not been used to acquire any of these occupied parcels, but has been used only for vacant parcels where the owner has not been able to be contacted.
• President Steele also said that part of the intergovernmental agreement with Harvey addresses maintenance of the retention pond.  The MWRD held town hall meetings in Harvey to allow citizens to ask questions and raise concerns.  Several other Commissioners , including Brady-Davis, Davis, Corral Sepulveda, Brown, and Flynn, commended the MWRD staff and the project which Commissioner Brady-Davis referred to as an example of environmental justice addressing an area that needed stormwater to be addressed.

Other Public Comments

• Two members of the SEIU Local 1 union asked the Board to make a reasonable offer to the union during the ongoing negotiations.  President Steele said that the health and safety of employees is the Board’s number one concern and said that she wants the union members to know the Board appreciates their hard work.  She also said that some recent emails which had been sent to the Executive Director and some of the Commissioners contained false information:  specifically, the allegation that the MWRD had offered only a 1% raise was not true.  
• Cook County Commissioner Scott Britton spoke expressing gratitude for the Board including Item 2 on the agenda, recognizing Cook County United Against Hate, which he had started. (24-0872)

Agenda Items Deferred

• Comm. Garcia deferred the authorization to make payment to Current Innovation, NFP, for the 2024 annual membership dues of $100,000.  (Item 14, 24-0863)  Comm. Garcia said that he wonders if there are other similar groups in the area and wants more information as to where Current is working and what partnerships Current has.  President Steel and Commissioners Corral Sepulveda, Flynn and Spyropoulos all expressed support for Current, which the MWRD helped found, and praised the activities of the organization, particularly under the current Executive Director.
• President Steele deferred the proposal to enter into an intergovernmental agreement with the School District in Burnham for the design, construction, operation, and maintenance of the NatureNook Pilot Project 1.  (Item 40, 24-0866)  This would be the first of 4 pilot projects in the Suburbs along the lines of what the MWRD has been doing with Chicago schools.  It would include green infrastructure in the school playground to reduce stormwater runoff, as well as to educate the students and public about the benefits of green infrastructure.  President Steele said she was deferring to allow time for her questions to be answered by the MWRD staff.

Other Agenda Items Discussed (and approved)

• Commissioner Davis called for a roll call vote on authorizing the payment of $103,005 as membership dues for the National Association of Clean Water Agencies (NACWA) so he could vote no.  He said that NACWA was supposed to provide quarterly reports to the members, which it hasn’t.  Executive Director Perkovich, who is also on the Board of NACWA, was able to tell Comm. Davis that it will support a resolution/bill on PFAs, once the legislation is introduced.  Comm. Corral Sepulveda said she had talked with MWRD staff and was satisfied as to the value of NACWA, but said she would like to see the organization be more pro-active, rather than reactive.  The item did pass with 7 yeas, 1 nea (Davis), and 1 present (Spyropoulos). (Item 10, 24-0842)
• Commissioner Garcia praised the 3 items authorizing contracts with entities to provide services for the upcoming bond sale under the District’s Financing Program.  Comm. Garcia noted that these reflect the District’s goals of awarding a minimum of 30% of the work and services to one or more MBE/WBE firms and a minimum of 3% to one or more VBE firms.  (Items 11, 12, and 13, 24-0847, 24-0948, and 24-0849)
• Commissioner Davis asked about the item which authorizes the increase by $1 M of the existing $10 M contract to haul the increase in biosolids from MWRD facilities due to the unusually dry late summer.  Comm. Davis expressed surprise that a dry summer had not been anticipated in the original contract and bid.  Exec. Director Perkovich explained that the excessively dry conditions in downstate Illinois has resulted in farmers wanting more biosolids, which provide moisture.  The Executive Director said that in the future, the MWRD’s estimates for this type of contract would anticipate more demand due to dryer summers.

Time of meeting:  2 hours and 9 minutes (excluding the Executive Session)

Observer:  Priscilla Mims