MWRD Board Postpones Consideration of the Watershed Management Ordinance Amendment

Metropolitan Water Reclamation District (MWRD) Board Meeting
May 2, 2019

​Items of Interest that were discussed:

• Executive Director Brian Perkovich pulled from the agenda at the start of the meeting, Item 9 (File #O19-004), the proposed Amendment to the Watershed Management Ordinance (“WMO”).  This Amendment contains a number of changes to the WMO (1) to effectuate Watershed Specific Release Rates by June 6, 2019, as required by Article 5 of the WMO, (2) to incorporate updated rainfall data for the State of Illinois, and (3) to provide clarity on the regulatory requirements and moving guidance and explanatory information from the WMO to the Technical Guidance Material.  Based on comments from Commissioner Davis, it appeared that the Amendment was pulled to allow more time to respond to questions from individual Commissioners.  The Executive Director told this Observer that he expects the Amendment to be on the agenda for the May 16 meeting.
• During the “New Business” section of the meeting, Executive Director Perkovich gave an update on the status of the Tunnel and Reservoir Plan (“TARP”) in light of the heavy rains the past week.  The McCook system, which serves central Chicago and 36 suburban communities, was at full capacity, storing approximately 5.1 billion gallons. The Kirie TARP system in the center of northern Cook County was storing nearly 300 million gallons. The Calumet system serves the far South Side of Chicago and 13 south suburban municipalities and was storing 3.5 billion gallons. All of this water will be pumped back to MWRD water reclamation plants for treatment when conditions permit.  The Executive Director did not expect to have to release any water into Lake Michigan.  The Commissioners praised the MWRD staff for all that they had been doing.
• The Commissioners were also given an update on the status of the Intergovernmental Agreement with Cook County for the County’s Independent Inspector General (“IG”) to provide similar services to the MWRD.  It is expected that the Agreement will be fully executed in the next week or so.  The IG (Patrick Blanchard) is planning a series of meetings with employees at the plants and main office to explain the role of the IG and how to contact him.  A brochure about the IG is being prepared that will be sent to all employees.  The IG says he expects to have the two employees called for in the Agreement to be at the MWRD very soon.  
• The MWRD is celebrating its 130th anniversary by hosting open houses on May 18 at its Calumet, O’Brien, and Stickney plants, which include tours, free compost, free oak saplings, and kid-friendly activities.  People are also encouraged to bring unused medications for proper disposal.
• Commissioner McGowan said she had given a package of information to each Commissioner concerning the time capsule that was installed with the Nicholas G. Melas Centennial Fountain (located on the north bank of the main branch of the Chicago River to the east of the Sheraton Hotel) in 1989, the centennial of the creation of the Chicago Sanitary District, now known as the MWRD.  This time capsule is to be opened in 2089, and Commissioner McGowan wants to make sure that, in case she isn’t around, the other Commissioners will continue to pass on the information so that the time capsule is not forgotten.  

​Observed by:  Priscilla Mims                                                       Meeting Length:  1 hour 45 minutes