Grazing of Goats Discussed at MWRD Board Meeting

Metropolitan Water Reclamation District (MWRD) Board Meeting
May 6, 2021 

Board Action:
Four items were pulled for further discussion though all were approved.

• Resolution #21-0390 regarding the hiring of grazing goats was pulled by Commissioner Shore.  The contract was scheduled to be awarded in January, and Commissioner Shore is concerned about its effects on ground nesting groups.  She requested a list of the locations that the grazing group will be deployed, the timeline for deployment, and asked that staff work with birders to take into account ground nesting birds.
• Resolution #21-0415 was pulled by Commissioner Spyropoulos to request more information as this major project has been on the books since 2019 and the District has rejected several bids for Odor Control Systems at two-Tarp Shafts and the decommissioning of the Thornton Transition Reservoir.  Cost $14.5 to $17.6 million.  Commissioner Davis asked the staff to examine the possibility of breaking down the contract into smaller sections.  
• Resolution #21-0399.  Report on green infrastructure, detention, and compensatory storage volumes required by the Watershed Management Ordinance (WMO).  Commissioner Shore suggested the District have a development plan to proactively reach out to developers to help them meet the WMO requirements.

Stormwater Management

• Resolution #21-0385 is to honor retiring Mayor, Arlene A. Juracek of Mount Prospect, and to thank her for being a great partner on flood control issues.

New Business

• Commissioner Shore requested a memo detailing the vaccination rate within the District, the approximate timeline for full vaccination, and a detailed plan for staff to return to work.

Public Comment

• There was one public comment by phone stating that he hoped that Commissioner Garcia would consider resigning from one of his two public positions.

Length of Meeting: Public meeting lasted 45 min - a very short business meeting with a very long Executive Session in the middle of the meeting

Observer - .Diane Edmundson