Board of Commissioners

MWRD 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.

Public comments may be made during the public comment period by calling (312) 751-3299. Comments may also be made by registering under the eComment link during the live meeting: https://mwrd.legistar.com/DepartmentDetail.aspx?ID=1622&GUID=5E16B4CD-0692-4016-959D-3F080D6CFFB4&Mode=MainBody

You can follow along with the agenda here https://mwrd.legistar.com/MeetingDetail.aspx?ID=899436&GUID=19BE257C-CAEA-4AAF-B4E5-3B27FEF9C3A1&Options=&Search=

Public comment is about to begin. The first caller is Kenneth Davis, bus. agent for Iron Workers Local 1. He is asking for the commissioners to do right by Carl Malinowski, who was injured on the job in 2018. More info: https://www.nbcchicago.com/local/chicago-water-plant-explosion-survivor/172395/

Next up is a therapist who worked with Carl, who is speaking on his recovery. Her call is breaking up a bit. She says, in her professional opinion, the patient needs a leave from work.

The next caller is Ben Helphand, exec. dir. of Neighborspace, calling on the agenda item related to a permit extension with the Ravenswood Manor Improvement Assoc. for Arthur J. LaPointe Park https://ravenswoodmanor.com/lapointe-park-rededication-ceremony/

Helphand hopes the MWRD will renew this permit

The next caller is Patrick Coleman, the supervisor of Carl Malinowski, who is describing the explosion that injured Carl and its continued effect on Carl. He hopes MWRD will do right by Carl.

The next caller is Carolyn Grisko, the sister of Carl Malinowski. She says Carl’s doctors recommend that Carl not return to work, though the company’s insurance doctors disagreed. She says returning to work exacerbates his PTSD. She asks the board to resolve this matter.

Pres. Steele asks the executive director to send the board an update on the case.

The board now moves to discussion items. The following items have been pulled items 24, 26, 46, 39, 40, 42, 46, 47

Item 24 relates to the uthority to increase purchase order and amend agreement with SimplexGrinnell L.P., aka Johnson Controls Fire Protection L.P., to Provide Maintenance and Repair Services for Fire Alarm Systems several plants

Comm. Perry is asking about the contractors on these projects and the timelines on existing projects. There are no additional concerns, so it is moved back to the agenda.

Comm. Spyropoulos has joined the meeting, and adds Item 2 to the discussion, which is a resolution acknowledging the 130th anniversary of the International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers (IBEW). Item moved back to agenda

Next is item 39, authority to settle the eminent domain lawsuit entitled The Metropolitan Water Reclamation District of Greater Chicago v. RIPA, LLC, et al., Case No. 20L050195 in the Circuit Court of Cook County, Illinois, for final just compensation in the amount of $210,000.00

Comm. Morita asks if this amount was expected, and what MWRD’s eminent domain process is - why this and item 42 have gone to court

Gen. counsel Susan Morakalis says these went to court due to differences in the MWRD’s appraisal & the landowner’s appraisal. It. 39 was an agreed value w/ the landowner, the other agenda item was similar. MWRD needed to quickly acquire land while negotiating final price

Morakalis: 123 out of 129 parcels for this project have already been acquired. Item moved back to agenda

Item 40: Authority to issue a 5-yr permit extension to Neighborspace to continue to use approximately 9,522 sq. ft. of District real estate located at 4741 Manor Avenue for passive recreation, planting, and maintaining family allotment gardens.

Comm. Morita expresses support of this, and wants to expand this approach to land use to other regions of the city. Item moved back to agenda.

#42: Authority to settle eminent domain lawsuit entitled The Metropolitan Water Reclamation District of Greater Chicago v. 3000 St. Charles Road, LLC, et al., Case No. 20L050013 in the Circuit Court of Cook County, Illinois, for final just compensation in the amount of $326,250

Item moved back to agenda. Next is #46: Authority to enter into an Intergovernmental Agreement with and make payment to the Village of Lansing for the design, construction, operation, and maintenance of the Flanagin Subdivision: North Creek Flood Relief Project in Lansing

Item moved back to agenda. Next is #47, Comm. Corral Sepúlveda asks what municipalities are under this project, and if there might be cost efficiencies to working collaboratively with other agencies. Item moved back to agenda.

Items 1-47 have been moved to roll call vote, with the exception of #26. The committee as a whole meeting is adjourned. 5 minute recess until the board reconvenes

The regular board meeting is called to order, item 2 is up for a vote first. 9 yays, no nays. Item 24 passes next, with unanimous support.

Next Items 39, 40, 42, 46, 47, also pass roll call. Now the rest of items are read out, to be passed as a group vote.

Group roll call passes with 9 yays and no nays. Next is new business. On Feb 1, the district kicks off African American History Month w/ the 3rd annual raising of the pan-African flag. It will also share resources online & social media to improve physical & fin. health/wellness

VP McGowan next speaks about her retirement, and her work leading the district’s celebration of African American History Month.

Comm. Davis has 3 items. He thanks staff for finalizing vaccine policy. and thanks Comm. Spyropoulos for raising IBEW resolution, and those undergoing labor negotiations. He also thanks the public commenters on Carl Malinowski and the importance of supporting workers.

Comm. Du Buclet and Comm. Garcia have no new business. Comm. Morita also thanks public commenters on Carl Malinowski and reiterates this is a matter or urgency. She also thanks VP McGowan for her work on African American heritage month events

She also notes Feb. 1 is Lunar New Year https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lunar_New_Year

Comm. Perry thanks Carl Malinowski’s supporters and VP McGowan. Comm. Corral Sepúlveda requests previous updates on Carl Malinowski’s case and celebrates IBEW on 100-year anniversary. She also thanks staff for work on recent union contract negotiations.

Comm. Spyropoulos echoes comments on importance of vaccine policy, African American history month, and the need to resolve Mr. Malinowski’s case. VP McGowan thanks colleagues for kind words. She also asks to expedite resolving Malinowski’s case.

Pres. Steele says the whole board is anxious for an update on Mr. Malinowski’s case and for a resolution. There are no additional public callers. Meeting is called to adjourn.

Meeting adjourned at 12:10 p.m. This concludes the Metropolitan Water Reclamation District of Greater Chicago meeting. The next meeting is scheduled for 2/3/22 at 10:30 a.m. For more meeting coverage, check out http://documenters.org. #CHIdocumenters