MWRD Board Approves 2023 Budget

Metropolitan Water Reclamation District (MWRD) Board Meeting
December 15, 2022

Board Action

• The 2023 budget of $1,624 Billion with 1957 FTEs was approved with no discussion.  The number of FTEs was a reduction from 1972 FTEs in the 2022 Budget with most of those reductions at the Stickney plant.  
• Also approved without discussion were amendments to the Sewage and Waste Control Ordinance. The primary changes were to replace the term Standard Methods with US-EPA Approved Methods; and to increase and simplify the Noncompliance Enforcement Charges Table which has not been changed since 2012.    (Agenda Item #IW22-001A)
• Resolutions calling for the payment of 2023 dues to the U.S. Water Alliance and the Water Research Foundation were approved after twice being deferred by Commissioner Davis over his concern that these two organizations were not being sufficiently pro-active in lobbying for legislation and regulation holding PFAS chemical manufacturers responsible for cleanup and removal.  (Agenda Items #22-1190 & 1191).   Note:  The 3M Corporation recently announced that they will eliminate the production of PFAS chemicals by 2025.

Stormwater Management

• Blue Island Washington Street Flood Control purchase order previously approved was rescinded.  The staff expects to resubmit with Blue Island and MWRD sharing the costs.  #22-1129.
• Additionally, ten other inter-government projects were approved without discussion most for either green alley or permeable pavement contracts.
• Two end of year reports were accepted:  Prioritized Projects covering 2022 and into 2023; Future projects to be considered; and a map showing the locations.  #22-1148.

Commissioner Requests

• Commissioner Sepulveda asked for a list of projects that were not accepted for consideration under #22-1148.
• Commissioner Davis asked that the recent PSAS Board Directions be transmitted to both the U.S. Water Alliance and the Water Research Foundation and the “Polluter Pay Principle” applied to these two and any other Water organization membership that the MWRD has.  Commissioner Sepulveda asked for quarterly reports on these requests; a list of MWRD activities on this issue, and a list of the organizations’ activities.  She also requested a list of committees with whom our staff is in conversation.
• Commissioner Garcia asked if there is an increase in participation goals when change orders increase by significant dollars including those contracts where change orders take them from under to over the $100,000 floor.
• Commissioner Garcia asked for a Study Session on Procurement.  He listed several issues to explore.  The League will monitor this request.
• Commissioner Sepulveda attended an EPA meeting on the Robbins water problems and suggested that when projects are considered for water main replacements, the MWRD also look at whether the sewers should be replaced at the same time so as to perhaps qualify for some state and federal monies.

Board Attendees:  Davis, DuBuclet, Flynn, Garcia, Pogorzelski, Sepulveda, Steele, Spyropoulos
Absent:   Yumeka Brown                                                                 

​Observer:  Diane Edmundson                                Length of Bd meeting: 75 min.