MWRD Board to Review their Covid-19 Response Plan

Metropolitan Water Reclamation District (MWRD) Board Meeting  
June 18, 2020

The nine Metropolitan Water Reclamation District’s Board members participated in an audio/visual board meeting that included input from one public speaker via phone hookup. Participating in today’s meeting in addition to the commissioners were the Executive Director of MWRD and Dr.  Catherine O’Connor, Director of Engineering MWRD.

Agenda Items Approved:
The Board approved all consent items except for one item that was differed. The following items were pulled from the Consent Agenda for further discussion. All of the below items were sent to the Consent Agenda after discussion.  

• Agenda Item 20-0468 Authority to advertise Contract 10-882-BF, Streambank Stabilization Project on Calumet Union Drainage Ditch, Little Calumet River Watershed, Markham, Illinois established cost between $2,351,738.00 and $2,846,840.00. this is a project to improve the Calumet Union Drainage Ditch. Although Commissioner Shore approves of this large project, she wanted clarification as to why the Calumet Union Drainage District that is responsible for maintaining this ditch not involved with this project.  It was deferred to Dr. O’Conner for further comment. Dr. O’Connor said that she would get back to Commissioner Shore with a written explanation. 
  
• ​Agenda Item 20-0470   Authority to enter into an agreement with GIS Consortium to share Geographic Information Systems data for underground facilities. MWRD Executive Director, Perkovich explained that this is a group of suburban municipalities that pay for a membership into the Consortium.  This membership allows municipalities to share Geographic Information System Data for underground facilities.  Commissioner Shore wanted to know why Chicago is not part of this since there are suburban Consortium members that border with Chicago. The Executive director stated that Chicago has a separate agreement. MWRD is not a member of the Consortium but does share information. 

Stormwater Management

• Agenda Item 20-0474 Authority to enter into an Intergovernmental Agreement with and make payment to the Village of Bartlett for construction, operation, and maintenance of the Bioswale and Bike Path Replacement Project in the Village of Bartlett, Illinois, in the amount not to exceed $125,000.00. Commissioner Davis and Commissioner Shore wanted to know how this project and other projects like this one are maintained.  What happens to this project after three-year? Is there follow-up and if these areas need further maintenance is there a charge?  Commissioner Davis requested that the MWRD create an Annual Maintenance Plan to review all MWRD Projects. Dr. O’Connor stated this is a good idea and will follow through with an Annual Report of summaries of projects and any follow-up maintenance. 

Deferred or Deleted Agenda Items

• Agenda Item 20-0486 Authority to negotiate an Intergovernmental Agreement with the City of Chicago to reroute a section of the West Side 9 Interceptor in Chicago as part of the Chicago Lincoln Yards Project. Commissioner Shore expressed concerns about this project as this is a large development planned alongside the North Branch of the Chicago River. It is her understanding that all stormwater to this development was to be directed to the River and not to the combined sewer system where it would be treated. She stated that this would add too many pollutants to the River and questioned MWRD support of this project. Executive Director Perkovich said the stormwater from the streets and the proposed garage would go directly to the combined sewer systems but stormwater from housing would go to the River.  Dr. Catherine O’Conner stated that the developer of this project is using best management practices including using Bioswales and permeable pavement to help lessen the pollutants going into the river. She also stated that this really is a City of Chicago project and MWRD is entering into an intergovernmental agreement with Chicago to reroute only a small part of this project. Dr. O’Connor also stated that there is a Design that shows how the water will be directed.  Commissioner Davis requested the Design be sent to all Commissioners and that this project be deferred to discuss further. The item was deferred.

New Business

• A Study Session concerning a review of the MWRD Covid-19 Response Plan is planned for June 29 at 1:00 PM. More information can be found on MWRD website.

Commissioner Request

• Commissioner Davis asked the Commissioners to consider the League of Women Voters of Cook County  request to schedule Executive Sessions at the end of the meeting. The Commissioners will think about this and discuss this later.

Observer: Nancy Marcus                    Length of Meeting: 2 ½ hours