MWRD Board Defers Strategic Plan: Measurable Goals Sought

Metropolitan Water Reclamation District (MWRD) Board Meeting
September 3, 2026

Com. Waller Urges the MWRD to Require Measurable Goals in its Strategic Plan

• Com. Waller asked to defer item 6, adoption of the MWRD strategic plan for 2027-2030, until measurable goals are included in its timeline.  She also asked for revisiting the plan on a yearly basis to understand MWRD progress.  V.P. Flynn, Pres. Steele, and others reminded her that it has taken 60 staff members six months to come up with the strategic plan.  Com. Coral-Sepulveda asked ED Murray why there aren’t metrics.  Murray said that with the advent of AI they will have metrics faster and number goals by March, 2027 in some treatment plants, but it had not been possible before the plan was written.  Murray explained that metrics can be added to the plan in 2027, but Com. Waller believes numbers rather than improvement is better for a strategic plan.  Coms. Flynn and Coral-Sepulveda prefer to give a directive to ED Murray, but the deferral stands.  It will return to the agenda unchanged for the next meeting while Com. Waller seeks information.

Public Urges Slow Decision on Lucas Berg Wetlands

• There were two speakers in favor of postponing the MWRD’s sale of wetlands in the Worth area known as Lucas Berg for mixed use development.  Both speakers, one from the Friends of Chicago River, one from the Chicago Harbor Safety Committee and a resident of Worth, spoke in favor of putting off a decision on the sale of the MWRD property because it is currently a wetlands and absorbs stormwater, until the Cook County Forest Preserve can make a decision on purchase of the land.  Item 30 on Worth Woods (Lucas Berg) potential sale for mixed use development was deferred.

Other Items

• Item 27, a decrease in the MWRD’s purchase order of Ferric Chloride (a routine purchase), which ameliorates Phosphorus in treatment plants, was questioned by Com. Davis.  Apparently food processors generate large quantities of Phosphorus.  Com. Davis asked if it was possible to require reducing the effluent before it comes to MWRD.
• Com. McElroy-Kirkwood asked about item 10, an asphalt repaving project PO, to see if permeable pavers could be used instead.  ED Murray said the MWRD always tries to use the pavers when appropriate.
• The MWRD honored the Friends of the Chicago River and Doug McConnell for its second annual Chicago River Swim on September 20.  The swim raises awareness and generates funds for ALS and supports swim education for Chicago kids in need.  The event has raised awareness of river cleaning projects worldwide, including in Berlin, and has prompted a similar event in the Thames River, London.

Time of meeting:  1 hour and 15 minutes with no Executive Session

Observer:  Amy Little