League of Women Voters of Cook County
  • Home
  • About
    • LWVCC Interest Groups >
      • Cook County & MWRD Group
      • Criminal Justice
      • Cook County Health
      • Forest Preserve Interest Group
    • LWVCC Positions
    • LWVCC Action and Testimony
    • LWVCC Activities
    • Archived Newsletters
  • Observer Reports
    • Cook County Board Observer Reports
    • MWRD Board Observer Reports
    • CCH Board Observer Reports
    • Forest Preserve Board Observer Reports
  • Voter Info
  • Cook County Gov. Contacts
    • Cook County Board
    • Forest Preserve Board
    • Cook County Elected Officials
    • MWRD Board
    • Cook County Health Board

Land Use Options Topped the Discussion at MWRD Board Meeting

12/17/2021

0 Comments

 
Metropolitan Water Reclamation District (MWRD) Board Meeting
December 2, 2021


Board Action:
  • Of the 40 agenda items, six were pulled for discussion:  Among them was a request to advertise for contract farming at the Hanover Park plant.  The purpose of the farming is to allow for continued disposal of MWRD created biosolids on the land.  By planting corn, the nutrients from the biosolids are absorbed, thereby allowing for continued disposal. Cost of contract to the MWRD is estimated at $628.4 thousand. Commissioner Spyropoulos requested a deferral and asked for a report to include the history of the property, how the growing process came about, and what other options including planting tree samplings can be grown.  Commissioners’ Garcia and Morita respectively asked for a status report of the biosolid project and a list of other options for this land including cost.  (Agenda Item #11 21-1114)
  • Another land use issue was the request to advertise for bids on a 5-year lease on 3.78+ acres of vacant district property in Forest View.  Initial rental bid set at $155,000.  This is the 2nd time this request has been on the agenda; and after initially deferring at this meeting, Commissioner McGowan lifted the deferral.  The property would be paved over for truck parking because, according to staff, it is not suitable for recreation due to its location.  Commissioner Davis said that the Land Use Policies need to be looked at and applied to this type of property.  Commissioner Garcia, Chair of the Land Use Committee, noted that 80% of MWRD land is already in conservancy and that the adjacent canal was created for business. He said that the committee and staff are working on a draft of two polities on Land Use and expects there will be a Study Session in January 2022.   (Agenda Item #14  21-1135)
  • After receiving a report of the significant violations of pretreatment standards or other requirements by industrial users, Commissioner Spyropoulos asked if there is a public list of non-compliant businesses and was told that the staff would provide a list.  She noted that in 2019 there were 61 on the list and in 2020, 66.  The 2021 data should be available by mid-year 2022.  The EPA has said that the MWRD needs to be tougher on industrial users who are non-compliant.  (Agenda Item #36  21-1106)

Stormwater Management
  • The Board approved an intergovernmental agreement with and to make payment to the city of Prospect Heights to acquire flood-prone property in an amount not to exceed $376,000.  (Agenda Item #40 21-1142)

New Business
  • Commissioner Davis noted that the last Inspector General’s report noted significant cost overruns.  Davis said that the board regularly receives change orders with more than 5% cost overruns and 20% delays. He said he will be monitoring future requests.
  • The Board approved a motion to authorize Juneteenth as a District Holiday.
  • The Board also authorized the extension of the sunset provision of the Affirmative Action Ordinance to be moved from December 31, 2021 to June 30, 2022 to accommodate the yet to be received new Disparity Study.

Board Requests
  • Commissioner DuBuclet requested a list of Media vendors used by the District to advertise.  
  • Commissioner Spyropoulos requested staff provide a memo on the District’s process and violators for the last five years and also include what other agencies are doing in this regard.  

After Meeting Public Hearing on the 2022 Budget
  • Commissioner Davis said that the Budget is a statement of values and asked that a dashboard on budget progress towards climate change goals be created and an Environmental Justice Office be created within the agency.   He also asked that the Space to Grow Project be expanded to include the suburbs of which there are 120+ in Cook County.  His third request for future budgets is the hiring of an attorney reporting directly to the board.
  • There was only one public Speaker, Mr. Michael Archie.  He said that the board, based on its current trajectory, cannot reach its goal of energy neutrality by 2023.  He said the technology is out there to meet it by 2030-35, but the District has to embrace the technology.

Observer:  Diane Edmundson
0 Comments

Your comment will be posted after it is approved.


Leave a Reply.

    Author

    Individual authors are credited at the end of each report.

    Archives

    March 2023
    February 2023
    January 2023
    December 2022
    November 2022
    October 2022
    September 2022
    August 2022
    July 2022
    June 2022
    May 2022
    April 2022
    March 2022
    February 2022
    January 2022
    December 2021
    November 2021
    October 2021
    September 2021
    August 2021
    July 2021
    June 2021
    May 2021
    April 2021
    March 2021
    February 2021
    January 2021
    December 2020
    November 2020
    October 2020
    September 2020
    August 2020
    July 2020
    June 2020
    May 2020
    April 2020
    March 2020
    February 2020
    January 2020
    December 2019
    November 2019
    October 2019
    September 2019
    August 2019
    July 2019
    June 2019
    May 2019
    April 2019
    March 2019
    February 2019
    January 2019
    December 2018
    November 2018
    October 2018
    September 2018
    July 2018
    June 2018
    May 2018
    April 2018
    March 2018
    February 2018
    January 2018
    December 2017
    November 2017
    October 2017
    September 2017
    August 2017
    July 2017
    June 2017
    May 2017
    April 2017
    March 2017
    February 2017
    January 2017
    December 2016
    November 2016
    October 2016
    September 2016
    June 2016
    May 2016
    April 2016
    February 2016
    January 2016
    December 2015

    Categories

    All
    Affirmative Action Plan
    Bio Gas Production
    Bio-gas Production
    Bio Solids
    Bio-solids
    Bonds
    Budget
    Contracts
    Environmental Cleanup
    Ethics
    Flood Control
    Independent Inspector General MWRD
    Metropolitan Water Reclamation District
    MWRD
    Nutrient Trading
    Odor Control
    Pensions
    Prescription Drug Disposal
    Public Comments
    Rain Barrels
    Real Estate Issues
    Storm Water Management
    Taxes
    Tree Planting
    Water Quality
    Watershed Management

    RSS Feed

LEAGUE OF WOMEN VOTERS OF COOK COUNTY
332 S. Michigan Ave., Suite 634
Chicago, IL 60604

312/939-5935 x 127
info@lwvcookcounty.org
Terms and Conditions of Use
© Copyright League of Women Voters of Cook County, Illinois. All rights reserved.
Membership Information
CONTACT US
  • Home
  • About
    • LWVCC Interest Groups >
      • Cook County & MWRD Group
      • Criminal Justice
      • Cook County Health
      • Forest Preserve Interest Group
    • LWVCC Positions
    • LWVCC Action and Testimony
    • LWVCC Activities
    • Archived Newsletters
  • Observer Reports
    • Cook County Board Observer Reports
    • MWRD Board Observer Reports
    • CCH Board Observer Reports
    • Forest Preserve Board Observer Reports
  • Voter Info
  • Cook County Gov. Contacts
    • Cook County Board
    • Forest Preserve Board
    • Cook County Elected Officials
    • MWRD Board
    • Cook County Health Board