Farming Project at Hanover Park Water Reclamation Plant Approved

Metropolitan Water Reclamation District Board Meeting - March 2, 2017

Major Items Discussed

1. The Board authorized a contract for farming at the Hanover Park Water Reclamation Plant.  The purpose of this contract is to procure farming operations. They are planning to do sub-surface injection of bio solids for the fields at the Hanover Park Water Reclamation Plant. They will grow corn on the land and by using the bio solids they will be able to observe if this is an economic way to deal with this material. This will be for a three-year period.  This project will not interfere with the 8 acres of a plant nursery. Commissioner Avila wants to make sure the commissioners receive a report on the progress of this contact. (Item #8, 17-0229)
2. Recommendations for the State of Illinois 2017 Legislative Program - Reference is made to Legislative initiative #2-Authorization to amend the Resource Recovery Section of the District’s Act to provide the District with the authority to invest in agricultural land outside of its service area for purposes of meeting more stringent nutrient criteria limits at its water reclamation plants. This Legislative initiative was proposed at the February 23, 2017 Study Session Committee on State legislation and Rules. Commissioner McGowan wanted to make sure as they are studying this initiative that they get the proper language in this report so that this initiative is clear and everyone understands this. (item #26, 17-0252)
3. Executive Director David St. Pierre announced that the MWRD has two licensed drone operators. They expect to use the drones to survey streams, looking for storm damage and other issues.

Observer - Nancy Marcus                                                           Length of Meeting - 45 minutes