TRANSMITTAL LETTER FOR BOARD MEETING OF JANUARY 19, 2017
COMMITTEE ON Procurement
Mr. David St. Pierre, Executive Director
Title
Authorization for MWRD to become a member of DIGGER, the City of Chicago Department of Transportation’s One-Call System for underground utility damage prevention, and make payment to the City of Chicago Department of Revenue for the annual fee in an amount not to exceed $16,000.00, Account 101-50000-612430
Body
Dear Sir:
Authorization is requested for MWRD to become a member of DIGGER, the City of Chicago (COC) Department of Transportation’s One-Call System for underground utility damage prevention, and make payment to the City of Chicago Department of Revenue for the annual fee in an amount not to exceed $16,000.00.
The Illinois One-Call System is made up of reviewing utility members, including the District outside of the COC with its participation in JULIE. A recently passed COC Ordinance now requires the District to be a member of DIGGER, the One-Call System within the COC. DIGGER handles the review of any underground excavation taking place, and the District will be notified of excavations in the vicinity of District underground facilities based on a GIS database. The District will participate in DIGGER with the principal purpose of protecting its underground facilities. The District’s participation in the Office of Underground Construction (OUC) process has been used in the past for this purpose, but the new ordinance requires the District to participate in DIGGER in addition to OUC.
The ordinance requires the District to become a member of DIGGER by January 1, 2017. However, we have requested an extension to April 1, 2017, to allow us to integrate our system with the COC’s to accept and respond to tickets and to train our office and field personnel to manage the tickets.
It is hereby recommended that the Board of Commissioners authorize the District to become a member of DIGGER and make payment to the City of Chicago Department of Revenue for the annual fee in an amount not to exceed $16,000.00.
Funds are available in Account 101-50000-612430.
Requested, Catherine A. O’Connor, Director of Engineering, WSS:KMF
Recommended, Darlene A. LoCascio, Director of Procurement and Materials Management
Respectfully Submitted, Barbara J. McGowan, Chairman Committee on Procurement
Disposition of this agenda item will be documented in the official Regular Board Meeting Minutes of the Board of Commissioners for January 19, 2017.