Water District Board Approves New Management and Financial Plan for McCook Project

Metropolitan Water Reclamation District (MWRD) Board Meeting - November 16, 2017
                    
Significant Decisions Made:

• Two options have been proposed and generally agreed upon to move forward with the management of funds for the final phase of the McCook project.  These may direct the lump sum of money granted to the MWRD for completion responsibilities rather than to the escalating costs of the Army Corps of Engineers.  Management would be taken over by the MWRD and their software.  
• Concern was voiced about the previous phase costing far over budget; $250,000.00/year was the proposed cost while the realized was $2,000,000.00/year.  This last phase is proposed to cost $46,000,000.00 to be used to stabilize the walls of tunnels already created along with the two tunnels left to dig.  The Board requested information about the percentage of cost overrides that might occur.  This phase of the project will not likely have as many setbacks and will be managed more closely in house.

Other Items of Interest:

• Discussion and questions were raised about using the Army Corps of Engineers instead of e-Builder Inc. for delivering a project management system and technical support services. The conclusion agreed upon found the Army Corps of Engineers to be less than satisfactory and timely on other projects and more costly.  $937,017.21 is Requisitioned for continued service with e-Builder.
• Authority to advertise contract 14-113-5F.  This is a test case for storm water retrofits for Real Time Controls and a rainwater harvesting system for the Dearborn homes in Chicago.  300,000 gallons are expected to be harvested to reduce basement back up in that area.  The cost is estimated to be between $855,000.00 and $1,035,000.00.  Chicago currently has two billion gallons of storage.
• The value of using Environmental Resource Associates, a water environment research service, over other similar organizations was raised by Commissioner Shore.  It was explained that this is a priority technology not seen anywhere else as of yet holding a patent. The hope is for them to become self sustaining, stay in the Chicago area, and that they will find better ways to target specific pollutants.  MWRD is requesting $19,000.00 for research and training.
• $50,300.00 is requested to enter an agreement for a Biocatalyst technology research project study by Microvi Biotech Inc for at the O’Brien Water Reclamation Plant.  
• ​A Resolution sponsored by the Board of Commissioners is given to congratulate the Shedd Aquarium and two organizations; “Washed Ashore” and “Art To Save the Sea” for creating sculptures of sea life made by Angeline Potsy using 38,000 lbs.of recycled materials found in or around waterways in Oregon.  
• 500 million plastic straws are used daily in the United States. The hope is to spark changes in consumer habits.  This Exhibition called “Shedding The Straw” is currently on display at the Shedd Aquarium. 
• In honor of Veterans Day Resolutions were given to Jesse White a former Army Paratrooper and Harry Sawyer a Navy Veteran and current Assistant Director of Veteran Affairs.  Mr. Sawyer talked about help and opportunities offered to homeless veterans through the Heinz facility in Maywood, the Prince Home in  Matino, and the Jesse Brown Home at Damon and Taylor in Chicago.

Observer - Pat Lind                                                     Meeting Length - 90 minutes