Stormwater Management on Agenda at MWRD Meeting

METROPOLITAN WATER RECLAMATION DISTRICT BOARD MEETING
January 20, 2022 - 10:30 a.m.

The Board meeting was routine, with little discussion. Items of interest involved stormwater and flood control, contract settlements and public comments centering on the ongoing claim of an injured MWRD employee. 

Agenda Items:

• The MWRD Board of Commissioners acknowledged the 130th anniversary of the International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers (IBEW). (Agenda Item 22-0050).
• The Board unanimously granted authority to approve the following agreements between the MWRD and 

1.     a. Local 399 (AFL-CIO)  - (Agenda Item 22-0074)
2.     b. SEIU Local 1 - (Agenda Item 22-0075) 
3.     c. Local 9 EITM-  (Agenda Item 22-0077)
4.     d. Local 9 Electrical Operators- (Agenda Item 22-0078)
5.     e. Local 9 Motor Vehicle Dispatchers- (Agenda Item 22-0079)

Stormwater Management:

• $50 million was transferred from the Stormwater Management Working Cash Fund to finance the   Stormwater Management Fund operations for 2022.
• A report was submitted on the Green Infrastructure Detention & Compensatory Storage Volumes required by the Watershed Management Ordinance.
• Board granted authority to negotiate an intergovernmental agreement with Northfield & Maine Townships for Flood Control Project on Central Road. (Agenda Item 22-0059)
• Board granted authority for an intergovernmental agreement with Calumet Park for South Throop Flood Project in the amount not to exceed $750,000 Agenda Item (22-0057) 
• Granted Flood Control Project with the Village of Lansing in the amount not to exceed $1,600.000. (Agenda Item 22-0057)

New Business:

• Commissioner McGowan was lauded for her work in organizing the annual African-American History Month for the MWRD. The Commissioner will retire from the Board after 31 years of service.
• Commissioner Davis thanked the staff for their work on the Covid vaccination policy and on reaching resolution of contract negotiations.
• Several commissioners strongly urged a timely and fair resolution to a worker’s injury claim stemming from an explosion in 2018. President Steele charged E.D. Perkovich to keep the Board advised. Commissioner Corral Sepulveda was disturbed that the union and the employee’s family had to resort to using the public comment period to push for resolution of the claim. Perkovich assured the Board he would keep them apprised.

Meeting was adjourned unanimously by a roll call vote at 12:08 p.m.

Note: Placement of Executive Session remained unchanged between the Committee of the Whole and the business meeting. There was no executive session at the Jan. 20 meeting.

​Observer:  Georgia Gebhardt