TRANSMITTAL LETTER FOR BOARD MEETING OF SEPTEMBER 18, 2014
COMMITTEE ON ENGINEERING
Mr. David St. Pierre, Executive Director
Title
Authorization to execute a memorandum of understanding with the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers for the design of the McCook Reservoir Des Plaines Inflow Tunnel project (As Revised)
Body
Dear Sir:
Authority is requested to execute a memorandum of understanding (MOU) with the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (Corps) for the design work associated with the McCook Reservoir Des Plaines Inflow Tunnel.
The McCook Reservoir Des Plaines Inflow Tunnel will increase the conveyance capacity from the Des Plaines tunnel to the McCook Reservoir beyond that provided for in the Corps' original design, thereby further improving the operation system. The Corps is currently seeking approval to add the new tunnel to the existing McCook Reservoir project to make it eligible for cost sharing; however, since the District is proceeding ahead of the approval, the Corps requires the execution of the MOU in order to allow for the possibility of future crediting of the District's design costs. The terms of the MOU require the District to keep books, records, documents, and other evidence pertaining to costs and expenses for this work and to make such records available for review by the Corps. The MOU also subjects the design work to a Corps compliance review for engineering, real estate, and environmental factors as they pertain to applicable Federal laws, regulations, and policies. Though the MOU makes no guarantee of eventual acceptance by the Corps for cost sharing purposes, the intent is to ensure the framework for such an arrangement is in place at the time of performance of the work.
Based on the foregoing, the Engineering Department recommends that the District be authorized to execute a memorandum of understanding with the Corps for the design of the McCook Reservoir Des Plaines Inflow Tunnel, and that the Chairman of the Committee on Finance, the Executive Director, and the Clerk be authorized to execute said memorandum of understanding on behalf of the District, upon approval by the Director of the Engineering as to technical matters and by the General Counsel as to form and legality.
Requested, Catherine A. O'Connor, Director of Engineering, WSS:KMF
Recommended, David St. Pierre, Executive Director
Respectfully Submitted, Frank Avila, Chairman Committee on Engineering
Disposition of this agenda item will be documented in the official Regular Board Meeting Minutes of the Board of Commissioners for September 18, 2014