RESOLUTION FOR BOARD MEETING OF AUGUST 13, 2026
Title
RESOLUTION sponsored by the Board of Commissioners affirming that the District has no existing or planned agreements relating to data center development on District-owned property
Body
WHEREAS, in furtherance of its wastewater treatment and stormwater management responsibilities under the Metropolitan Water Reclamation District Act (70 ILCS 2605/1 et seq.) (“MWRD Act”), the District owns and manages substantial real estate, such as treatment plants and reservoirs;
WHEREAS, any proposed use of District real estate by third parties must follow the requirements and procedures of the MWRD Act and all other applicable laws, including approval of the Board of Commissioners at a public meeting;
WHEREAS, policies established by the Board of Commissioners require consideration of many factors before any proposed use of District real estate by third parties is approved, including public notices, community involvement, and support of the local municipality;
WHEREAS, the Board of Commissioners recognizes that communities across Cook County and the State of Illinois have expressed concerns about data center development, including the effect on electricity costs, water resources, noise, and local infrastructure;
WHEREAS, in or about July 2026, a data center industry website published a claim, attributed to a company identified as MicroLink, that a data center was planned for development near the Stickney Water Reclamation Plant (“Stickney WRP”);
WHEREAS, on July 28, 2026, the Town of Cicero adopted a resolution erroneously “Opposing The Metropolitan Water Reclamation District's Approval Of A Data Center At The Stickney Water Reclamation Plant For The Town Of Cicero, County Of Cook, State Of Illinois”, although no such approval exists;
WHEREAS, the District has not entered into any agreement or contract with MicroLink, or any other developer, relating to a data center at or near the Stickney WRP, or any other District property;
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 our staff, do hereby affirm that the District has no existing or planned agreements relating to data center development on District-owned property; 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.
Dated: August 13, 2026