MWRD Board Holds 2 Special Meetings to Interview Candidates for the District’s Executive Director Position

Metropolitan Water Reclamation District (MWRD) Board Meeting 
October 16, 2025

Special meetings: 2 special meetings of the Board
The Board of Commissioners of the Metropolitan Water Reclamation District of Chicago meet twice, once in the afternoon of October 16 and also on the morning of October 17th.  The purpose of both meetings was to consider candidates to fill the vacancy in the office of MWRD Executive Director. The meetings were called to order and immediately closed for executive sessions. No action was taken by the Board following either executive session.  The district is currently led by interim Executive Director John Murray.  The previous Executive, Brian Perkovich, retired.

Board Action on October 16 at scheduled Board Meeting

Stormwater: 

• Item #39 25-0778 The Board agreed without discussion to pay the City of Markham to acquire a flood-prone property in an amount not to exceed $450,000.
• Item #28 25-0773 The Board approved without discussion a contract with the engineering firm Bowman Consulting to design a flood control project in Northfield township in an amount not to exceed $2.2 million. That stormwater project, approved previously, will address a 3-mile corridor extending from Glenwood Ave. in Glenview to the Chicago River near Oakton Community College.  It is intended to provide flood relief for 114 single and multi-family residences.

Real Estate:

• Item #15 25-0752 Authorization to accept initial annual rental bid by Sanchez Group to lease 13 acres of District lands bordering the Chicago Sanitary and Ship Canal near the Stickney water treatment plant for a 39-year term for $396,084. This item was pulled for discussion by Commissioner Brady-Davis, who asked staff what benefit could come from allowing such a lengthy lease and how would the rent be adjusted during the least term? Staff replied that long-term leases were preferred so tenants could invest in improvements on the land.  MWRD attorney Susan Morakalis explained rents are adjusted annually with the Consumer Price Index as benchmark and the property value is re-assessed every ten years. The item was returned to the consent agenda.
• Item #19 25-0751 The Board authorized without discussion the sale of less than an acre of District land located at 6861 North Milwaukee Avenue in Niles, Illinois, setting a minimum sale price of $92,130. The parcel is part of the former Niles pumping station near the Des Plaines River. 

Large purchases:

• Item 25 25-0753 The Board approved without discussion awarding Kemira Water Solutions, Inc.  a contract for $21.6 million to furnish and deliver to the District an unspecified amount of Ferric Chloride.   The chemical is used in wastewater treatment for phosphate precipitation and as a coagulant as well as for odor control.  

Forever Chemicals:

• Item 33 25-0745. Authority to increase Contract 25-105-11 Laboratory Analysis of Per- and Polyfluoroalkyl Substances and Adsorbable Organic Fluorine in Wastewater samples to Enthalpy Analytical, LLC in an amount of $36,300 from $63,500 to an amount not to exceed $99,800. Commissioner Waller pulled this item from the agenda for discussion.  She praised staff and the district for continuing to pursue research and sampling for PFAS chemicals and said that she looks forward to the ability for in-house testing with reports available to the public. The item was then returned to the consent agenda.

New Business:

• President Steele told the Board plans were being made for celebration of the 125th anniversary of the Chicago Sanitary and Ship Canal, with details available soon.  
• Commissioner Davis thanked staff for their work in a ground-breaking wetland mitigation project in Sauk Village in Chicago’s southern suburbs.  
• The Water Reuse Association of Illinois recognized Commission Waller for her passion in the pursuit of a controlling IL law that will allow expanded re-use of treated water.   The MWRD was given an award for its collective efforts.

Observer:  Laurie Morse          Commissioner Garcia absent           Meeting length: 32 minutes