MWRD Board Looks to a Study Session On Communications

Metropolitan Water Reclamation District (MWRD) Board Meeting
August 13, 2026

A motion to reappoint David Ormsby as a public relations consultant for one year for up to a maximum amount of $48,000 generated a great deal of discussion.  This discussion ultimately appeared to lead to a consensus that Commissioners should hold a study session to discuss the overall strategy for MWRD communications.  The reappointment was also subsequently approved by a unanimous vote. (Agenda Item 1, File No. 26-0546)

• Comm, Davis pulled the item for discussion stating that he was planning on voting “no” on the item because he thinks that the MWRD should be issuing a request for proposal (RFP) for a public relations consultant and allowing bids for the service.  Comm. Davis said that this was at least the 3rd time this non-compete contract had been entered into with Mr. Ormsby.  The original appointment under such a contract without seeking bids was done so under emergency circumstances.  That is no longer the case, said Comm. Davis, and as good stewards of taxpayer money, the MWRD should seek bids from others, as well as Mr. Ormsby, for this service.
• Executive Director Murphy said that he has used Mr. Ormsby to advise how to handle crisis situations facing the MWRD, including the recent storms and the misinformation that the MWRD was leasing land for use by a data center.  President Steele and several others also commented on how helpful Mr. Ormsby has been.
• Comm. Brown suggested that the Board consider having a study session on what the MWRD should be looking for -  that is what the scope of work should be.  Other Commissioners stated support for this and suggested expanding to a comprehensive strategy for communications.  
• Executive Director Murphy stated devising what the RFP should encompass and then preparing it and seeking bids would likely take at least 6 months.  Therefore, he recommended going forward with the one-year reappointment.
• Comm Davis said he could support the reappointment with the understanding that an RFP would be developed.

Deferred Agenda Items:

• Authority to advertise for sign-language interpreter for a 3-year period. President Steele said she was deferring but wanted to allow Commissioners to discuss.  Comm. Waller raised the number of free tools available for online captioning in lieu of sign-language, but Exec. Director Murphy explained that the sign-language interpreter would be used for in-person meetings.  Look for this item to come up at a future meeting.  (Agenda Item 21, File No. 26-0545)

All other items were approved, including:

• The appointment of James E Fisher as the Director of Human Resources.  Mr. Fisher’s resume, included in the Board packet, shows that he has worked for the MWRD since 2004 in various human relations jobs, including, most recently, Associate Director of Human Resources.  Comm. Garcia congratulated Mr. Fisher and said he had four challenges for him:  (1) to expand the programs with community colleges to help develop the workforce for the future; (2) to have the testing for jobs take place at more than one site to expand the number of candidates; (3) to address hard-to fill positions; and (4) to develop year-round internships. (Agenda Item 45, File No. 26-0556.)
• The Resolution that states that the MWRD has no existing or planned agreements relating to data center development on MWRD-owned property.  While this item was not discussed, the Resolution explains that a data center industry web site published a claim that a data center was planned for development near the MWRD’s Stickney Water Reclamation Plant.  The Town of Cicero then adopted a resolution erroneously opposing the MWRD’s approval of a data center at the Stickney Plant.  (Agenda Item 50, File No. 26-0562.)
• Two items granting the authority for the MWRD to negotiate inter-government agreements with Melrose Park and Northfield for stormwater projects, with the amount the MWRD would contribute to be decided during negotiations.  (Items 47 and 48, File Nos. 26-0548 and 26-0553)

New Business

• President Steele said apropos of Comm. Garcia’s comments on expanding testing sites, she was happy to announce that Governor Pritzker signed into law HB 4426 which the MWRD had been supporting with provides flexibility to the MWRD as to when and how often to hold exams for civil service jobs.  She said that this will allow interns to be able to take exams and then be hired for permanent jobs without delay.  President Steele thanked the House Sponsor, Michael Crawford, and the Senate Sponsor, Adrienne Johnson, along with Governor Prtizker.  This is now Public Act 104-0607.
• President Steele also announced there would be a Study Session on the proposed new Strategic Plan on August 26 at 2 pm.

Public Comments

• Shalonda White, who has worked for the MWRD for 25 years, expressed her worry about what she sees as a disconnect between MWRD leadership and employees. She said she and others do not feel known or appreciated, in contrast to the past.  She said there had been mostly silence from leadership after all the recent storms even as employees also have been dealing with flooding and other damage while they have been showing up to do their jobs.  
• President Steele said she appreciated Ms. White’s comments, which President Steel said could not have been easy for her to make.  President Steele also expressed surprise, but said that “we will work on that connection.” During New Business, President Steele thanked the employees of the MWRD for all that they did during the recent storms, saying that she had planned on doing this before hearing Ms. White’s comments.

Time of meeting:  2 hours and 50 minutes, including a 1 hour and 10-minute Executive Session and 2 breaks of 5 minutes and 10 minutes.  (Started at 10:30 am and adjourned at 1:20 pm.)

Observer:  Priscilla Mims