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

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

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.

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

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.

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.

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.

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,

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

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

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.

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

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

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.

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.

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

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

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

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

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

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