League of Women Voters of Cook County
  • Home
  • About
    • LWVCC Interest Groups >
      • Cook County Budget & Structure Group
      • Criminal Justice
      • Forest Preserve Interest Group
    • LWVCC Action and Testimony
    • LWVCC Activities
  • Observer Reports
    • Cook County Board Observer Reports
    • MWRD Board Observer Reports
    • Forest Preserve Board Observer Reports
    • CCH Board Observer Reports
  • Voter Info
  • Resources
    • Cook County Board
    • Forest Preserve Board
    • Cook County Elected Officials
    • MWRD Board
    • Cook County Health Board
    • Member Resources

MWRD Receives Clean 2015 Audits

6/7/2016

0 Comments

 
Metropolitan Water Reclamation Board Meeting - June 2, 2016

Topics Discussed:
  • The MWRD received the best possible results from the audit of the 2015 Comprehensive Annual Financial Reports of the MWRD and the MWRD Retiree Health Care Trust.  Both audit letters contained no recommendations for any changes to the controls in place or in the numbers on these financial reports.  In the words of the auditor, both letters reflect “unmodified opinions.”  
  • One contact for up to $13 million was not awarded to the low bidder for failure to comply with the Minority Business Enterprise (MBE) requirement of 2%.  Instead, the contract was awarded to the second lowest bidder who did comply with the MBE, Women Business Enterprise, and Small Business Enterprise requirements, at an additional cost of about $700,000 (agenda item 17, 16-0587). 
  • Commissioner Santos requested deferral on an item so she could discuss it with staff. The item concerned an intergovernmental agreement with the Cook County Sheriff’s office for up to $100,000 for drug collection receptacles and collection and safe disposal of the drugs collected.

Study Session on Pension Funding
  • As of December 31, 2015, the Pension Plan is deemed funded at 55%, and is expected to be fully funded by the end of 2049. 
  • The Retiree Health Care Benefits program is deemed funded at 52%, and is expected to be fully funded by the end of 2026. 
  • Finance Chair Avila expressed concern about the current funding percentages.  However, the MWRD is capped by statute as to how much it can contribute to fund the plans each year.
  • While employees are vested in the Pension Plan at 10 years (which is fairly standard), vesting in the Retiree Health Care Plan occurs after only 6 years.  Commissioner McGowan said she remembered the time for vesting was reduced to 6 years in 2008 when Commissioner Horton was leaving the Board, the inference being that it was done to cover her.  Executive Director St. Pierre said that the staff should be able to find out more about the circumstances of the change in vesting.

Study Session on Rain Barrel Program

Executive Director St. Pierre presented an overview of the MWRD free rain barrel program.  
  • Under a consent decree entered into in January 2014, the MWRD was required to distribute 10,000 rain barrels by January 6, 2017 and 15,000 rain barrels by January 6, 2019. 
  • To date, the MWRD has already exceeded those requirements by distributing 52,000 rain barrels.  In addition, 17,000 have been ordered. 
  • From January 2014 thru May 2016, the cost has been $2.7 million, with the cost thru 2016 to jump by an additional $3.4 million to $6.1 million. 
  • Should the program continue through 2017, the additional cost is estimated to be $4.8 million.  
Given these costs and the fact that the consent decree has been complied with, Mr. St. Pierre is recommending that the program be discontinued at the end of 2016, but that the MWRD continue to offer rain barrels at cost to municipalities and non-governmental organizations.  The Committee members all agreed, with the emphasis on the need to have a good plan in place for publicizing this change.  During the public comments at the end, George Blakemore noted that the MWRD had failed to require municipalities to report on how many rain barrels had actually been connected to downspouts, and he urged that accountability be included in any “at cost” distribution so the success of the program could be properly evaluated after 2016.

Items to watch for in the future:: 
  • More Information on why vesting for the Health Care Plan is only 6 years.
  • Will the full board discontinue the free rain barrel program?

Observer:  Priscilla Mims
0 Comments

Your comment will be posted after it is approved.


Leave a Reply.

    Author

    Individual authors are credited at the end of each report.

    Archives

    April 2025
    March 2025
    February 2025
    January 2025
    December 2024
    November 2024
    October 2024
    September 2024
    August 2024
    July 2024
    June 2024
    May 2024
    April 2024
    March 2024
    February 2024
    January 2024
    December 2023
    November 2023
    September 2023
    August 2023
    July 2023
    June 2023
    May 2023
    April 2023
    March 2023
    February 2023
    January 2023
    December 2022
    November 2022
    October 2022
    September 2022
    August 2022
    July 2022
    June 2022
    May 2022
    April 2022
    March 2022
    February 2022
    January 2022
    December 2021
    November 2021
    October 2021
    September 2021
    August 2021
    July 2021
    June 2021
    May 2021
    April 2021
    March 2021
    February 2021
    January 2021
    December 2020
    November 2020
    October 2020
    September 2020
    August 2020
    July 2020
    June 2020
    May 2020
    April 2020
    March 2020
    February 2020
    January 2020
    December 2019
    November 2019
    October 2019
    September 2019
    August 2019
    July 2019
    June 2019
    May 2019
    April 2019
    March 2019
    February 2019
    January 2019
    December 2018
    November 2018
    October 2018
    September 2018
    July 2018
    June 2018
    May 2018
    April 2018
    March 2018
    February 2018
    January 2018
    December 2017
    November 2017
    October 2017
    September 2017
    August 2017
    July 2017
    June 2017
    May 2017
    April 2017
    March 2017
    February 2017
    January 2017
    December 2016
    November 2016
    October 2016
    September 2016
    June 2016
    May 2016
    April 2016
    February 2016
    January 2016
    December 2015

    Categories

    All
    Affirmative Action Plan
    Bio Gas Production
    Bio-gas Production
    Bio Solids
    Bio-solids
    Bonds
    Budget
    Climate Action Plan
    Contracts
    Environmental Cleanup
    Ethics
    Flood Control
    Independent Inspector General MWRD
    Metropolitan Water Reclamation District
    MWRD
    Nutrient Trading
    Odor Control
    Pensions
    Prescription Drug Disposal
    Public Comments
    Rain Barrels
    Real Estate Issues
    Storm Water Management
    Taxes
    Tree Planting
    Water Quality
    Watershed Management

    RSS Feed

LEAGUE OF WOMEN VOTERS OF COOK COUNTY
332 S. Michigan Ave., Suite 634
Chicago, IL 60604

312/939-5935 
[email protected]
Terms and Conditions of Use
© Copyright League of Women Voters of Cook County, Illinois. All rights reserved.
Membership Information
CONTACT US
  • Home
  • About
    • LWVCC Interest Groups >
      • Cook County Budget & Structure Group
      • Criminal Justice
      • Forest Preserve Interest Group
    • LWVCC Action and Testimony
    • LWVCC Activities
  • Observer Reports
    • Cook County Board Observer Reports
    • MWRD Board Observer Reports
    • Forest Preserve Board Observer Reports
    • CCH Board Observer Reports
  • Voter Info
  • Resources
    • Cook County Board
    • Forest Preserve Board
    • Cook County Elected Officials
    • MWRD Board
    • Cook County Health Board
    • Member Resources