RESOLUTION FOR BOARD MEETING OF JUNE 15, 2017
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RESOLUTION sponsored by the Board of Commissioners recognizing Daniel E. Collins’ 30 years of service and contribution to the field of water reclamation and biosolids reuse
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WHEREAS, Mr. Collins is a loving husband to wife Lisa and a proud and devoted father to daughters Erica and Ellen and son Benjamin; and
WHEREAS, Mr. Collins earned a Mechanical Engineering Degree from Purdue University - Calumet 1985-1990; and
WHEREAS, Mr. Collins began his career as an Environmental Engineer Intern and is the third generation of his family to work at the Metropolitan Water Reclamation District following his uncle, Frank Kornacker Jr., CAD Operator, and grandfather, Frank Kornacker, Sr., Police Officer; and
WHEREAS, Mr. Collins is a Professional Civil Engineer in the state of Illinois and an international expert in the beneficial use of biosolids; and
WHEREAS, Mr. Collins has been recognized for his dedication to Chicago Community Garden volunteers for the local beneficial reuse of residuals in community gardens throughout Chicago; and
WHEREAS, Mr. Collins is locally and nationally recognized for his ability to communicate with stakeholders, and address health and safety related public concerns; and
WHEREAS, Mr. Collins has represented and highlighted MWRD well in local and national conferences on the management and use of biosolids and residuals; and
WHEREAS, Mr. Collins evaluated new technologies for improving the efficiency and cost-effectiveness of the District’s solids management operations, resulting in multi-million dollar annual savings at the Stickney and Calumet Water Reclamation Plants; and
WHEREAS, Mr. Collins worked with other Engineers, Soil Scientists and Engineering Technicians for the beneficial reuse of over one million dry tons of biosolids on farmland, golf courses, parks and recreation areas and ceasing the practice of landfill disposal of biosolids; and
WHEREAS, Mr. Collins led the District-wide initiative to become recognized as a platinum certified agency of the National Biosolids Partnership’s Environmental Management System Program, a program recognized by USEPA, IEPA, NACWA and the Water Environment Federation; and
WHEREAS, Mr. Collins recognizes that the dedication, commitment, and teamwork of staff throughout the Metropolitan Water Reclamation District resulted in a nationally recognized and respected biosolids program; and
WHEREAS, Mr. Collins has mentored other municipalities throughout the United States and Canada in Environmental Management System Program startup; and
WHEREAS, Mr. Collins has served as moderator at local and national conferences and symposia; and
WHEREAS, Mr. Collins participated in the following local and national committees during his tenure at MWRD:
• President, Illinois Water Environment Association (IWEA) President - Present
• Member, IWEA Executive Board - 2014 to Present
• Member, IWEA Biosolids and Residuals Committee - 2002 to Present
• Chair, IWEA, Biosolids and Residuals Committee - 2009 to 2014
• Member of the National Biosolids Partnership Advisory Committee - 2012 to Present
• Chair of the National Biosolids Partnership Advisory Committee - 2016 to Present
• Member of WEF’s Residuals and Biosolids Committee - 2005 to Present
• Member of WEF’s Sustainability Sub-Committee - 2014 to Present
• Member of WEFTEC’s Biosolids Symposia Technical Review Team - 2014 to Present
NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED, that we, the Board of Commissioners of the Metropolitan Water Reclamation District of Greater Chicago, on behalf of ourselves and staff, hereby officially recognize Daniel E. Collins’ 30 years of service and contribution to the field of water reclamation and residuals reuse; and
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that this Resolution be spread upon the permanent Record of Proceedings of the Board of Commissioners of the Metropolitan Water Reclamation District of Greater Chicago and a copy of same, suitably engrossed, be presented to Daniel E. Collins.
Dated: June 15, 2017
Approved: MARIYANA T. SPYROPOULOS, President; BARBARA J. MCGOWAN, Vice President; FRANK AVILA, Chairman, Committee on Finance; TIMOTHY BRADFORD; MARTIN J. DURKAN; JOSINA MORITA; DEBRA SHORE; KARI K. STEELE; DAVID J. WALSH; Commissioners of the Metropolitan Water Reclamation District of Greater Chicago
Approved as to Form and Legality: Susan T. Morakalis, Acting General Counsel, STM:bk