Maintenance of DEI Program at Risk in View of New Federal Policies for Grants.

Metropolitan Water Reclamation District (MWRD) Board Meeting –
March 5, 2026

 

Agenda Items Of Interest
All Consent agenda items approved 9/0 after three roll call votes for the following: 
26-0149 Funds for MWRD picnic (9/0), 
26-0159 Change MBE/WBE/VBE De-watering facility (8/0, 1 Abstain Coral-Sepulveda)

• Comm. Waller concerned about cost, right-of-way under railroad tracks, improved public information and quantifying ROI in dollars.
• Comm. Coral-Sepulveda questioned the Memo of Understanding (MOU) with CTA which had included the MWRD DEI commitments, but which CTA cannot accept due to federal source of grant.  Waller supports accepting the CTA grant. 
• Comm. Garcia appreciates that managing MWRD DEI while complying with federal mandates for grant funds will be more challenging for next three years at least.
• Comm. Brady-Davis suggested a name for the de-watering facility. Pres. Steele recommends that percentage of $82 M contributed by each Agency be taken into consideration before naming.

26-0132 Lease Assignment for Village of Crestwood Board votes “No” (7-No, 2 Abstain Brown and Flynn) on partial assignment of lease from the Village of Crestwood to permit sale of alcohol and video gaming.  

• Village of Crestwood Mayor, Ken Klein, returned to ask for approval citing Village’s need for funding. Lease assignment for alcohol and video gaming is appropriate use of property and within the authority of the Village under the current lease agreement, per Village’s attorney, Burt Odelson. 
• Tessa Murray, Friend of the Chicago River is opposed and considers this development a risk to the ecosystem adjacent to the waterway; but if approved, offered to work with the Village to make highest and best use of the land. 
• Michael Voltentesda (Crestwood resident since 1990) is opposed.  Cited drop in property value, increased loitering, littering and crime.  Crestwood already has video gaming and alcohol.  Better use of this land is green space, walking paths, veterans’ memorial.  Development should reflect sustainable uses and strengthen family accessibility. 

​New Business and also in items 1-6. 
Recognition of Women’s History Month and events, contributions of Irish Americans, Shannon Rovers 100 years.  MWRD marches in two St. Patrick’s Day parades: Countryside on March 7, and Chicago on 14 March. Approve funds for MWRD picnic. Government Finance Officers Award for 2025 Budget (42nd yr).

Commissioner Requests

• 26-0147 Comm. Waller asks MWRD staff to consider lessons learned from last reverse auction which did not beat the market and doesn’t end until Aug 2026
• 26-0138 Sharon Waller requested consideration to allow staff to use MWRD charging stations.  C. Davis requested the projected timeline to meet the 2030 electric vehicle goal and asked for options to reduce greenhouse gas emissions, if goals are not met due to lack of available e-vehicles.  M. Garcia and ED Director Murray agreed that it is time to revisit the biogas issue in a Study Session.

Observer:   Victoria L Cerinich                        Commissioner(s) Absent: None    Executive Session (No)