MWRD Board Welcomes Newly Appointed Commissioner

 Metropolitan Water Reclamation District (MWRD) Board Meeting  
 July 13, 2023

Newly appointed Commissioner Precious Brady-Davis was welcomed to the Board

Public Comments

• UIC Professor Rachel Haverlock reported on a recent study conducted with MWRD staff on reusing industrial effluent.    The report proposes that whenever there is a new approval for Lake Michigan water to be sent to a new area, that infrastructure be built to pipe industrial grade water from a MWRD facility to the area for industrial use.    This would save drinking water for domestic use.   The report is available on the Great Cities Institute website, https://greatcities.uic.edu
• Gerado Nava of a political action committee representing Cicero and Berwyn discussed the impact on the towns from the recent floods and the need for  immediate aid, but also better infrastructure planning in the area.  President Steele responded that the MWRD has been meeting with officials of the towns and will be working not only on immediate help but also infrastructure that would help.
• President Steele asked Director Perkovich to  report on what the MWRD did during the recent heavy rains.    He reviewed the need for opening outlets because the McCook Quarry was 90% full.    

Board Action

• Item 10 23-0627 Authorization for payment to the Lower DesPlaines Watershed Group for Fiscal Year 2023 Membership Dues in an amount not to exceed $125,903.69, Commissioner Garcia asked that the Board be given a report of what the various groups that the MWRD belongs to, and pays dues to, are doing about flooding.
• Item 39 23-0699 Authority to award Contract 11-187-3F, Addison Creek Channel Improvements, SSA to Judlau Contracting, Inc., in an amount not to exceed $77,297,500.00,plus a five (5) percent allowance for change orders in an amount of $3,864,875.00, for a total amount not to exceed $81,162,375.00, Commissioner Davis questioned what controls the MWRD had on cost and schedule overruns on the project.  On schedule delays, how is the critical work prioritized.   Since the contract is for a large amount of money, delays could result in significant costs.  Director Perkovich and Dr. O’Connor discussed the contract change order process.   On average, the MWRD encounters less than 5% on cost overruns and less than 20% on schedule delays.  The item was initially deferred as Commissioner Davis asked for more specifics on how overruns would be monitored.   He met with Director Perkovich and Dr. O’Connor during the break and they agreed to a monthly report to the Board on all overruns.  The item was then approved.

Deferred Items

• Item 20 23-0688 Authority to advertise Contract 23-RFP-07 Small Business Program, estimated cost $75,000.00. Commissioner Corral Sepulveda asked to see the draft language for the RFP.
• 41 23-0651 Authority to increase purchase order and amend agreement with Interpersonal Frequency LLC, for Contract 21-RFP-07, Enhancements to the District’s New Website in an amount of $100,150.00, from an amount of $299,950.00 to an amount not to exceed $400,100.00. Commission Corral Sepulveda had questions about this item and needed to talk to staff.
• 42 23-0657 Authority to increase purchase order to Load Spring Solutions, Inc. for Web Hosting and Support of Oracle Primavera Software, in an amount of $8,889.00, from an amount of $78,225.00, to an amount not to exceed $87,114.00. Commission Corral Sepulveda had questions about this item and needed to talk to staff.

New Business

• Item 55  23-0687  Appointment of Sean Kelly to Director of IT.  Mr. Thaddeus J. Kosowski was appointed as the new HR Director. President Steele requested Mr. Kelly to implement a process of text messages for overflow action days.

There was an Executive Session.

​Observer:   Kathleen Graffam