[remote or in person] Metropolitan Water Reclamation District Board of Commissioners

Metropolitan Water Reclamation District of Greater Chicago

Utilities

Thursday, April 3, 2025
10:30 a.m. — 12:30 p.m. CDT

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100 East Erie Street Chicago 60611 (Directions)

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Reporting

Edited and summarized by the Chicago - IL Documenters Team

Note-taking by Angela Ybarra

The appointment of Patrick Blanchard as Interim General Inspector of MWRD was discussed.

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Live reporting by Natalie Frank

The appointment of Patrick Blanchard as Interim General Inspector of MWRD was discussed.

Natalie Frank, Ph.D

Today I'll be covering the Metropolitan Water Reclamation District of Greater Chicago for . Documenters.com

Documenters.com

10:37 AM Apr 3, 2025 CDT

Natalie Frank, Ph.D @FrankNatalie 2/22

Meeting convened at 10:30. Quorum established via role call. No public comments.

Natalie Frank, Ph.D @FrankNatalie 3/22

Chair polls commissioners for items to discuss. Several member have items.

Natalie Frank, Ph.D @FrankNatalie 4/22

Item #5 Report on the Government Finance Officers Assoc Distinguished Budget Presentation Award to District for 2024 Budget & Certificates of Achievement for Excellence in Financial Reporting to District, MWRD Retirement Fund, MWRD Retiree Health Care Trust for Fiscal Year 2023.

Natalie Frank, Ph.D @FrankNatalie 5/22

Item 2: Motion: appoint Patrick Blanchard Interim Inspector General of Metropolitan Water Reclamation District of Greater Chicago. Discussed finding wide variety of candidates in future. Chair -don't have process yet for this but can appoint own independent Inspector General

Natalie Frank, Ph.D @FrankNatalie 6/22

Adopt Ordinance O25-10 establishing Office of Interim Inspector General and establishing policies, practices for Interim Inspector General. Current Interim Inspector Gen will review selection process will be processed in house but will have no input into selection.

Natalie Frank, Ph.D @FrankNatalie 7/22

Item 12: Authority to Advertise Contract 25-105-11 Lab Analysis of Per- & Polyfluoroalkyl Substances Adsorbable Organic Fluorine in Wastewater Samples, est cost $98,000.00.

Natalie Frank, Ph.D @FrankNatalie 8/22

Item 12: Want to explore alternate tech for analysis since high cost item. want in house analysis considered. Want to know when biosolids are processed. Ans. will do cost analysis and decide if it's feasible to do inhouse analysis.

Natalie Frank, Ph.D @FrankNatalie 9/22

Item 22: Authority to award Contract to Furnish, Deliver Glass, Plastic Labware to Locations for a 1 Yr. Grp A Pacific Star Corporation,$99,525.84, Group B Fisher Scientific Company $68,308.17, Group C Crown Packaging International $65,109.12, Group D to Qorpak, $25,062.60,

Natalie Frank, Ph.D @FrankNatalie 10/22

Com Davis: Makes sense to standardize what is being advocated so not always 1 off fragmented discussion. Com Corral Sepúlveda Board follows policy but need to examine intention of policy, what policy producing. Ex. none of recent vendors minority. Doesn't match commit intentions

Natalie Frank, Ph.D @FrankNatalie 11/22

Chair points out not many minority vendors in this area as it's high skill area.

Natalie Frank, Ph.D @FrankNatalie 12/22

Comiss. Waller Wants to see expansion and dedication to work to include small businesses. Com Brady Davis points out there isn't a requirement for diversity involvement currently for Furnish and Deliver contracts.

Natalie Frank, Ph.D @FrankNatalie 13/22

As no items to be discussed in executive session, Board meeting adjourned at 11:10. Will recess and reconvene as Committee of the Whole.

Natalie Frank, Ph.D @FrankNatalie 14/22

While we wait for the Committee of the Whole to convene a little info about the Metropolitan Water Reclamation District of Greater Chicago (MWRD). The MWRD is an award-winning, special purpose government agency responsible for treating wastewater, managing stormwater in Cook Co

Natalie Frank, Ph.D @FrankNatalie 15/22

They are also responsible for Tunnel & Reservoir Plan (TARP) or Deep Tunnel used to decrease flooding, improve water quality and protect Lake Michigan from from pollution caused by sewer overflows that occurs during flooding.

Natalie Frank, Ph.D @FrankNatalie 16/22

The MWRD is involved with testing quality of biosolids, a product of wastewater treatment that supplies organic matter and improves soil to allow plants to more effectively utilize nutrients . Better soil healthier plants require less maintenance, make for better landscaping.

Natalie Frank, Ph.D @FrankNatalie 17/22

Committee of the Whole reconvened at 11:25am. Reviewed agenda items that were discussed from consent agenda. Consent agenda approved by rollcall.

Natalie Frank, Ph.D @FrankNatalie 18/22

New Business: Com. President of Board Kari Steele MWRD received certificate frrom WATER SENSE recognizing their effort to improve quality of water. epa.gov/watersense

epa.gov/watersense

Natalie Frank, Ph.D @FrankNatalie 19/22

President Steele: They will create a new 5 year agenda to help them stay on task, monitor accomplishments.

Natalie Frank, Ph.D @FrankNatalie 20/22

Com. Brady-Davis: Recognized president's efforts sending out alerts through multiple channels about overflow action day yesterday.

Natalie Frank, Ph.D @FrankNatalie 21/22

Information about Overflow Days and warnings regarding what to do: msn.com/en-us/public-s…

msn.com/en-us/public-s…

Natalie Frank, Ph.D @FrankNatalie 22/22

As there is no further business, meeting adjourned at 11:45am. This concludes the Metropolitan Water Reclamation District of Greater Chicago 3/3/25 meeting. The next meeting of the MWRD will be 3/17/25 at 10:30am. For more meeting coverage, check out . documenters.org

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Agency Information

Metropolitan Water Reclamation District of Greater Chicago

mwrd.org

(312) 751-6633

public.affairs@mwrd.org

@MWRDGC

See Documenters reporting

Created in 1889 as the Sanitary District of Chicago, the Metropolitan Water Reclamation District of Greater Chicago (MWRD) today is a special-purpose district responsible for treating wastewater and providing stormwater management for residents and businesses in its service area, which encompasses 882.1 square miles and includes Chicago and 128 suburban communities throughout Cook County.

The MWRD serves approximately 10.35 million people each day, including 5.25 million residents of Chicago and 128 suburban communities. To learn more about the agency’s management structure and departments, click here.