Tunnel to Alleviate Des Plaines River Flooding Gets Approval

Metropolitan Water Reclamation Board Meeting -  June 16, 2016   

Significant Decisions Made:
Approval of funds for a 20 foot wide Inflow/Tunnel to the McCook Reservoir (Agenda Item 18-16-0629)

• Project over rides the Army Corps of Engineers proposed eight foot tunnel. 
• To relieve flooding along the Des Plaines River at LaGrange and Hillside
• Project will be  accomplished through blasting and digging and not by the more expensive tunnel boring machine  
• Construction will begin promptly with proposed completion by 2020 
• Projected cost not to exceed $113,158,880
• Will employ approximately 1,077 people.  .

Prescription Drug Take-Back Program Expansion (Agenda Item 37-16-0629)

• The MWRD Board approved a $100,000 Intergovernmental Agreement to partner with the Cook County Sheriff’s Office (CCSO) for expansion of this program. 
  
• Up to 2/3 of the funds will be used for operational/administrative expenses. 
  
• Remaining 1/3 of funds will be used for purchase and installation of drug collection receptacles.
  
• The agreement is for one year and is renewable. 
  
• Currently more than one-half of Cook County districts are considered “collection deserts” with fewer than 5 takeback sites.  

Restriction of Herbicides (Agenda Item 31-16-0618) 
The Board passed a motion to adopt a policy restricting the use of toxic and persistent herbicides on landscaped areas and around facilities and infrastructure of the MWRD. 

Other Items of Note:

1. The Board gave formal recognition to the Midwest Pesticide Action Center and their Midwest Grows Green Initiative for their 22 years of providing safer alternatives to the “90 million pounds of herbicide product on lawns and gardens each year”. (Agenda Item 34-16-0642)
2. The Comprehensive Annual Financial Report of the MWRD Retirement Fund for 2015 was given an unqualified opinion by the Fund’s independent auditor, Legacy Professionals LLP.   (26-16-0615)
3. The MWRD will end rainbarrel distribution on December31, 2016.  
   
4.  All regular board meetings will begin at 10:30 a m until the end of 2016.  

Eleanor Prince - observer