Objections Raised to Proposed MWRD Land Annexation Policy

Metropolitan Water Reclamation District (MWRD) Board Meeting
April 15, 2020 

Public Comments
All the public comments concerned these two agenda items:

• Agenda Item 43#21-0357  Termination of annex agreement with Elk Gove Village
• Agenda Item 44#21-0358  Policy adoption on limits on municipalities’ actions following an annexation of MWRD land.   If the municipality then annexed land adjacent to the MWRD land, it could not condemn those properties for three years. 

Seven residents  that lived near the MWRD land  that was subject to the annexation   by Elk Grove Village spoke against the proposed policy of the MWRD to prohibit condemnation of annexed property for only three years. They were concerned that once the MWRD land was annexed, Elk Grove Village would then try to annex their area.  The lawyer for Elk Gove said the  village was able to acquire the needed land and no longer wanted to annex the MWRD land.  The policy consideration was withdrawn at the beginning of the meeting by Executive Director Perkovich.  During the meeting, the Board approved the termination of the annex agreement.

Agenda Items
Commissioners pulled 10 agenda items for discussion.  Once discussed, all items were returned to the agenda and approved.

• Agenda Item 10 #21-0356  Treasurer Boyle spoke to this item that would allow the MWRD to participate in the federal-state Clean Water State Revolving Fund (CWSRF) program. It  would provide up to $100,000,000 in low-cost financing for local projects.  They are reviewing which projects would be eligible for this grant.
• Agenda Item 36 #21-0331 Authority to increase the contract for reuse of biosolids.  This is an ongoing multiyear contract with Stewart Spreading, Inc.   Commissioner Spryopoulos asked that a more detailed report be given at a future meeting for the specific amounts last year, this year, and future projections. 

Administrative

• Executive Director Perkovich deleted Agenda Item 44 #21-0358 Authority to adopt a policy relating to requests submitted by municipalities on annexation of unincorporated District land. The policy would limit a municipality’s ability to pursue involuntary annexations of private property contiguous to District land.

Stormwater Management

• Agenda Item 45 #21-0254 Authority to enter into an intergovernmental agreement with the Village of East Dundee to allow East Dundee to enforce the Kane County Stormwater Management Ordinance.   This item was deferred from the April 1 meeting.  There was no discussion.
• Agenda item 46 #21-21-0342  Authority to enter into an intergovernmental agreement with the village of LaGrange Park for construction of a permeable pavement reconstruction not to exceed $272,000.
• Agenda Item 48 #21-0344 Approval of an intergovernmental agreement with Park Ridge to help with flooding problems.  A stormwater capture facility will be built.  MWRD’s payment not to exceed $950,000.

New Business

• President Steele announced that the public relations department created an animated video of the book, Where Does It Go.   It will be available on the web site.
• Commissioner Morita announced that MWRD materials are being translated into Chinese.

​Observer - Kathleen Graffam                                             Length of meeting  1 hour 45 minutes