Will the MWRD Board Create an Inspector General Position?

Metropolitan Water Reclamation District (MWRD) Board Meeting - April 20, 2017

Significant Issues Discussed/Presented:

• At the very end of the meeting, President Spyropoulos requested that the Legal Department draft a resolution on developing an Inspector General position for the MWRD.   No discussion ensued.  Public speaker, George Blakemore, urged that the position be "independent". 
• A representative of the Sierra Club called upon the MWRD to actively support HB2958 calling for a statewide ban on Coal Tar pavement sealants.  Historically, coal tar sealants have been used in the central and eastern U.S.  85 million tons of coal-tar based sealants are used annually to coat driveways, parking lots, and playgrounds.  According to a study by the USGA, someone living next to coal-tar-sealed pavement has a risk of cancer that is 38 time higher than urban background exposure.  Water running off a parking lot coated with coal-tar-based sealcoat had 30 times more toxic chemicals called polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons [PAHs] than water from an unsealed lot.  The Sierra Club has produced an excellent information sheet for distribution.* The Club noted that the MWRD does not use coal tar sealants.

Three resolutions were deferred from the agenda and will likely reappear in upcoming meetings:

1. Resolution #17-0439:  Requesting authority to award a contract to HC Construction Companies at $8.85 million dollars for an Organic Waste Receiving Facility and Digester Gas Flare System Upgrade, at the Calumet Water Reclamation Plant.  Executive Director, St. Pierre, explained that this contract is part of phase one of the Strategic Plan's goal for MWRD operations to become energy neutral and will help with the need to reduce phosphorous in the water dispersed into the Chicago area waterways and ultimately the Mississippi  by getting carbon into the Calumet Plant.  The plan includes the selling of excess energy which St. Pierre stated will offset the cost of this contract.  Board members were not ready to agree and asked for deferral.  Commissioner Avila believes a study session is needed.  
2. Resolution #17-0411:  Requesting authority to advertise for a contract for Phase 1 of the Buffalo Creek Reservoir Expansion which is estimated to cost between $20 and $24 million dollars.  The expansion is along the Des Plaines River to capture storm water which will benefit downstream waters and homeowners.  It was estimated that 107 structures in Cook County will benefit.  No reason given for deferral request.
3. Resolution #17-0393:  Requesting authority to advertise for a contract to truck haul liquid sludge from the Lemont Water Reclamation Plant.  Estimated cost $262,700.  No reason given for deferral request.

Diane Edmundson - Observer