Environment Loses But Veterans Gain at Water District Board Meeting

Metropolitan Water Reclamation District (MWRD) Board Meeting - November 15, 2018

What the Board Decided:

Many of the same November 1st board meeting speakers against the MWRD authorizing an easement to the Cook County Roads and Transportation Department for the environmentally vulnerable Canal Shores land in Wilmette and Evanston, spoke again at this meeting.  However, the board voted 5-4 to grant the easement.  Commissioners Voting Yes:  Dunkin, Durkin, McGowan, Steele, and Walsh.  Commissioners Voting No:  Avila, Morita, Shore, and Spyropoulos.   Messrs. Dunkin, Durkin, and Walsh are leaving the board as a result of the November election.

• Several board members publicly recognized the overwhelming opposition to granting the easement, but decided to follow the recommendations of the MWRD legal department and do so.  It is expected that the organizations, including the League of Women Voters of Evanston and Wilmette, and individuals who asked for a NO vote on the resolution [Agenda Item #18-1159] will now turn their attention and opposition to the Cook County Board of Commissioners where some members of the MWRD board believe it should be decided.  
  
• One concern raised was the proposed five foot elevation of the road increasing greater runoff for those wetlands connected and the houses now bordering the canal along with the loss of woodland and wildlife.

MWRD Commissioners also approved Resolution #18-1147 adopting a policy to provide contractor opportunities for Veteran owned and operated small businesses.  The board would require the Veterans to be honorably discharged, released due to hardship or disability and be a member of the Armed Forces for at least six months to qualify.  The goal is that at least 3% of MWRD contracts will be awarded to Veteran run businesses.  Small business, women’s, and minority enterprises will still receive the current mandates and will not be impacted by the additional 3%.

Observer - Patricia Lind                                        Meeting Length:  3 hours