Metropolitan Water Reclamation District of  
Greater Chicago  
100 East Erie Street  
Chicago, IL 60611  
Regular Board Meeting Minutes  
Thursday, January 22, 2026  
10:30 AM  
Board Room  
Board of Commissioners  
Commissioner Precious Brady-Davis, Commissioner Yumeka Brown, Commissioner  
Cameron Davis, Vice-President Patricia Theresa Flynn, Chairman of Finance Marcelino  
Garcia, Commissioner Beth McElroy Kirkwood, Commissioner Eira L. Corral  
Sepúlveda, Commissioner Sharon Waller, President Board of Commissioners Kari K.  
Steele  
THE FOLLOWING PROCEDURES WILL GOVERN THE MEETING PROCESS:  
1. Board Members who vote "Nay, Present, or Abstain" or have a question on any  
item may request the item be removed from the Consent Agenda.  
2. Citizens in the audience who address the Board on any item may request the item  
be removed from the Consent Agenda.  
3. Items removed from the Consent Agenda are considered separately.  
4. One roll call vote is taken to cover all Consent Agenda Items.  
Call Meeting to Order  
President Kari K. Steele presiding, called the meeting to order at 10:30 a.m.  
Roll Call  
9 -  
Present:  
Precious Brady-Davis; Yumeka Brown; Cameron Davis; Patricia Theresa Flynn;  
Marcelino Garcia; Beth McElroy Kirkwood; Eira L. Corral Sepúlveda; Sharon Waller;  
and Kari K. Steele  
Approval of Previous Board Meeting Minutes  
A motion was made by Precious Brady-Davis, seconded by Patricia Theresa  
Flynn, that the minutes from the last meeting of January 8, 2026, be approved  
without having to read them into the record. The motion carried by acclamation.  
Chorus of ayes - No nays  
Public Comments  
Joe McArthur addressed the Board regarding ongoing encroachments and meeting  
minutes  
Recess and Convene as Committee of the Whole  
A motion was made by Yumeka Brown, seconded by Patricia Theresa Flynn, to  
recess and convene as a committee of the whole. The motion carried by  
acclamation. Chorus of Ayes - No Nays  
Committee of the Whole  
Approval of the Committee of the Whole Agenda  
President Kari K. Steele called for a motion to accept the agendas for each  
Standing Committee that was convened. Moved by Patricia Theresa Flynn,  
seconded by Cameron Davis. President Kari K. Steele called for any objections.  
No objections were voiced. Motion carried.  
The Committee of the Whole meeting of January 22, 2026 was adjourned at 10:50  
a.m.  
Executive Session  
None  
Recess and Reconvene as Board of Commissioners  
At 10:55 a.m. President Kari K. Steele reconvened the regular board meeting to  
order  
Motions, Ordinances and Resolutions  
Memorial Resolution  
MEMORIAL RESOLUTION sponsored by the Board of Commissioners  
26-0062  
1
celebrating the life of Rick Garcia  
Adopted  
Ordinance - Industrial Waste  
Request Authority to Review the Proposed Amended Sewage and Waste  
IW26-001  
2
Control Ordinance of the Metropolitan Water Reclamation District of Greater  
Chicago and Proposed Procedural Rules Governing All Administrative  
Proceedings Before Board-Appointed Hearing Officers Brought Pursuant to the  
Amended Ordinance  
Attachments: Board Letter_Sewage Waste Control Ordinance-Rules.pdf  
Sewage Waste Control Ordinance_clean_1.13.26.pdf  
Sewage Waste Control Ordinance_Redline_1.13.26.pdf  
Sewage Waste Control Ordinance Admin Rules 2026.pdf  
A motion was made by Patricia Theresa Flynn, seconded by Marcelino Garcia,  
that this Industrial Waste Ordinance be Adopted. The motion carried by the  
following roll call vote:  
9 -  
Aye:  
Precious Brady-Davis, Yumeka Brown, Cameron Davis, Patricia Theresa Flynn,  
Marcelino Garcia, Beth McElroy Kirkwood, Eira L. Corral Sepúlveda, Sharon Waller,  
Kari K. Steele  
Finance Committee  
Report  
Report on the investment interest income during December 2025  
26-0041  
26-0042  
26-0043  
26-0047  
3
4
5
6
Attachments: Inv Int Inc 2025-12 att.pdf  
Published and Filed  
Report on investments purchased during December 2025  
Attachments: Inv Purch 2025-12 att.pdf  
Published and Filed  
Report on investment inventory statistics at December 31, 2025  
Attachments: Inv Stat 2025 Q4 att.pdf  
Published and Filed  
Report to the Board of Commissioners on payment of restricted interest  
earnings in the amount of $544,619.52 for the 2025 calendar year, pursuant to  
the terms of a Project Partnership Agreement with the United States Army  
Corps of Engineers approved by the Board on January 24, 2019  
Published and Filed  
Report on Cash Disbursements for the Month of December 2025, in the amount  
of $43,829,069.28  
26-0056  
7
Attachments: December 2025 Cash Disbursements Summary  
Published and Filed  
Authorization  
Authority to Transfer up to $6,650,000.00 from the Construction Working Cash  
Fund to Finance Construction Fund Operations of the District in the Year 2026,  
Pursuant to the Provisions of 70 ILCS 2605/9c  
26-0044  
8
Approved  
Authority to Transfer up to $305,600,000.00 from the Corporate Working Cash  
Fund to Finance Corporate Fund Operations of the District in the Year 2026,  
Pursuant to the Provisions of 70 ILCS 2605/9b  
26-0045  
26-0046  
26-0060  
9
Approved  
Authority to Transfer up to $64,125,000.00 from the Stormwater Management  
Working Cash Fund to Finance Stormwater Management Fund Operations of  
the District in the Year 2026, Pursuant to the Provisions of 70 ILCS 2605/9e  
10  
11  
Approved  
Authority to approve Travel Expenses for Members of the Board of  
Commissioners and the Executive Director in the amount of $654.00, Accounts  
101-11000-612010, 612030, 612050, 612080 and 101-15000-612010, 612030,  
612050  
A motion was made by Patricia Theresa Flynn, seconded by Marcelino Garcia,  
that this Agenda Item be Approved. The motion carried by the following roll call  
vote:  
9 -  
Aye:  
Precious Brady-Davis, Yumeka Brown, Cameron Davis, Patricia Theresa Flynn,  
Marcelino Garcia, Beth McElroy Kirkwood, Eira L. Corral Sepúlveda, Sharon Waller,  
Kari K. Steele  
Procurement Committee  
Report  
Report of bid opening of Tuesday, January 6, 2026  
26-0036  
12  
Published and Filed  
Authority to Advertise  
Authority to advertise Contract 26-RFP-06 Employee Benefits Consulting  
Services, for a three-year period, effective July 1, 2026 to June 30, 2029,  
estimated cost $194,500.00, Account 101-25000-612430, Requisition 1649979  
26-0028  
13  
14  
Attachments: Contract 26-RFP-06 Affirmative Action Goals Report  
Approved  
Authority to advertise Contract 26-RFP-07 Flexible Spending Plan Administrator,  
for a four-year period, effective January 1, 2027 to December 31, 2030,  
estimated cost $425,000.00, Account 101-25000-612430, Requisition 1650774  
(As Revised)  
26-0034  
Attachments: Contract 26-RFP-07 Affirmative Action Goals Report  
Approved  
Authority to advertise Contract 26-822-31, TARP Mechanical Equipment  
Improvements at the Calumet Water Reclamation Plant, estimated cost  
between $24,225,000.00 and $29,325,000.00, Account 401-50000-645700,  
Requisition 1651734  
26-0037  
15  
Attachments: Contract 26-822-31 Project View  
Contract 26-822-31 Exhibit.- Calumet TARP Pumping Station  
Contract 26-822-31 Affirmative Action Goals Report.pdf  
Approved  
Authority to advertise Contract 26-360-11 for public tender of bids for a 14-year  
lease on approximately 2.5 acres of District real estate located at 15680 Canal  
Bank Road in Lemont, Illinois, known as Main Channel Parcel 23.10. The  
minimum initial annual rental bid shall be established at $75,000.00  
26-0038  
16  
Attachments: Contract 26-360-11 Aerial View - Main Channel Parcel 23.10  
Approved  
Authority to advertise Contract 26-713-11, Scavenger Services at the O’Brien  
Water Reclamation Plant, estimated cost $1,423,000.00, Account  
101-67000-612520, Requisition 1652776  
26-0048  
17  
Attachments: Contract 26-713-11 Affirmative Action Goals Report  
Approved  
Issue Purchase Order  
Issue purchase order and enter into an agreement with Envea Inc. to furnish  
and deliver Cairsens Cairpol Hydrogen Sulfide replacement sensors and  
Caircloud data management, in an amount not to exceed $119,330.00,  
Accounts 101-16000-612820, 623570, Requisition 1648991  
26-0029  
18  
Approved  
Issue purchase order and enter into an agreement with Siemens Energy, Inc.,  
to Provide Services for Inspection, Repair and Upgrades of the Aeration  
Blowers Nos. 4 and 6 at the Stickney Water Reclamation Plant, in an amount  
not to exceed $4,021,608.00, Account 201-50000-645750, Requisition 1617960  
26-0032  
26-0055  
19  
20  
Approved  
Issue purchase order for Contract 26-100-11, Preventive Maintenance for  
Laboratory Balances and Meters, to Certified Balance and Scale Corporation, in  
an amount not to exceed $58,800.00, Account 101-16000-612970, Requisition  
1647089  
Approved  
Award Contract  
Authority to award Contract 22-377-2DR (Re-Bid), Raw Sewage Discharge  
Pipe Support Modifications for Pumps 1-3, Kirie Water Reclamation Plant  
(KWRP), to John Burns Construction Company, LLC, in an amount not to  
exceed $9,657,000.00, plus a five (5) percent allowance for change orders in an  
amount of $482,850.00, for a total amount not to exceed $10,139,850.00,  
Account 201-50000-645750, Requisition 1629461  
26-0051  
21  
Attachments:  
Contract 22-377-2DR Affirmative Action Goals Report and Revised  
Appendix D and Appendix V Report - JBCC  
Approved  
Authority to award Contract 25-821-21, Furnish, Deliver, and Install Grit Screw  
Conveyors at the Calumet Water Reclamation Plant (CWRP), to IHC  
Construction Companies, LLC, in an amount not to exceed $11,496,000.00,  
Account 201-50000-645750, Requisition 1639417  
26-0053  
22  
Attachments:  
Contract 25-821-21 Affirmative Action Goals Report and Revised  
Appendix D and Appendix V Report - IHC Construction Companies,  
LLC  
Approved  
Authority to award Contract 26-625-11, Diving Services at Various Locations, to  
Global Infrastructure LLC dba Chicago Underwater, in an amount not to exceed  
$190,000.00, Account 101-66000-612490, Requisition 1639876  
26-0054  
23  
Attachments: Contract 26-625-11 Affirmative Action Goals Report.pdf  
Approved  
Increase Purchase Order/Change Order  
Authority to increase the purchase order to AVI-SPL LLC and amend the  
26-0030  
24  
agreement with Avaya, LLC. for Telecommunications Equipment, Maintenance  
Support, and E911 Calling, in an amount of $43,900.80 from an amount of  
$1,513,932.44, to an amount not to exceed $1,557,833.24, Account  
101-27000-612840, Purchase Order 3132688  
Approved  
Authority to decrease Contract 17-135-3V Roof Replacement of the Lue-Hing  
M&R Complex, Stickney Water Reclamation Plant, to IHC Construction  
Companies, L.L.C. in an amount of $5,966.40, from an amount of  
$11,907,057.12, to an amount not to exceed $11,901,090.72, Account  
401-50000-645780, Purchase Order 4000094  
26-0049  
25  
Attachments: Change Order Log - Purchase Order 4000094  
Approved  
Engineering Committee  
Report  
Report on change orders authorized and time extensions approved by the  
Director of Engineering during the month of December 2025  
26-0057  
26  
Attachments: Attachment 1 CO Report December 2025 5% Contingency.pdf  
Attachment 2 CO Status Report December 2025 - FINAL.pdf  
Attachment 3 CO Report December 2025 5% Contingency.pdf  
Published and Filed  
Judiciary Committee  
Authorization  
Authority to settle the Workers’ Compensation Claims of William Collins vs.  
MWRDGC, Claim numbers 17WC018405 and 17WC018406, Illinois Workers’  
Compensation Commission (IWCC), in the sum of $14,033.87, Account  
901-30000-601090  
26-0033  
27  
Approved  
Authority to settle the Workers’ Compensation Claim of Kevin Mathieu vs.  
MWRDGC, Claim number W003639421, Illinois Workers’ Compensation  
Commission (IWCC), in the sum of $23,427.75, Account 901-30000-601090  
26-0040  
26-0052  
28  
29  
Approved  
Authority to settle the Workers’ Compensation Claim of Ebonie Lewis Bradford  
vs. MWRDGC, Claim number 19WC025402 Illinois Workers’ Compensation  
Commission (IWCC), in the sum of $30,000.00, Account 901-30000-601090  
Approved  
Pension, Human Resources & Civil Service Committee  
Report  
Civil Service Board’s 2025 Annual Report  
26-0039  
30  
Attachments: MWRD CSB Annual Report 2025 Signed 010826.pdf  
Published and Filed  
Real Estate Development Committee  
Authorization  
Authority to issue a 5-year permit to the United States Department of the  
26-0035  
31  
Interior, U.S. Geological Survey to continue to operate, maintain, and remove a  
streamflow gauging station on the Summit Conduit outfall located on Main  
Channel Parcel 35.08 (HASMA) in Summit, Illinois. Consideration shall be a  
nominal fee of $10.00  
Attachments: RE - 5-year permit USGS Aerial.pdf  
Approved  
Consent to assignment of easement agreement dated May 5, 2016, from  
American Grading Co. to Duridge RE Holdings LLC to use and maintain an  
access road on 71,226 sq. ft. of District real estate located along the eastern  
edge of the District’s Mainstream Pumping Station in Hodgkins, Illinois, known  
as Main Channel Parcel 33.07. Consideration shall be a document preparation  
fee of $5,000.00  
26-0058  
32  
Attachments: RE - American Grading Easement Assignment Aerial.pdf  
Approved  
Approval of the Consent Agenda with the exception of Items: 2 and 11  
A motion was made by Patricia Theresa Flynn, seconded by Eira L. Corral  
Sepúlveda, to Approve the Consent Agenda. The motion carried by the following  
roll call vote:  
9 -  
Aye:  
Precious Brady-Davis, Yumeka Brown, Cameron Davis, Patricia Theresa Flynn,  
Marcelino Garcia, Beth McElroy Kirkwood, Eira L. Corral Sepúlveda, Sharon Waller,  
Kari K. Steele  
Miscellaneous and New Business  
Meeting Summary  
Speakers  
None  
Summary of Requests  
None  
Study Session  
None  
Announcements  
None  
Board Letter Submission Dates  
The next regular board meeting is scheduled for February 5, 2026, please  
prepare and submit Board items before the following absolute cutoff dates.  
Date agenda items are due to the Director of Procurement and Materials  
Management for signature and preparation: January 23, 2026  
Date all agenda items are due to the Executive Director: 1:00 p.m., January 28,  
2026  
Adjournment  
A motion was made by Patricia Theresa Flynn, seconded by Precious  
Brady-Davis, that when the Board Adjourns, it adjourns to meet again on  
Thursday, February 5, 2026 at 10:30 a.m. and also move that today's meeting be  
Adjourned. The motion carried by the following roll call vote: /s/ Kristen  
Johnson, Assistant Clerk  
9 -  
Aye:  
Precious Brady-Davis, Yumeka Brown, Cameron Davis, Patricia Theresa Flynn,  
Marcelino Garcia, Beth McElroy Kirkwood, Eira L. Corral Sepúlveda, Sharon Waller,  
Kari K. Steele  
APPROVAL:  
In accordance with the provisions of 70ILCS 2605/4, each of the foregoing agenda items duly  
adopted by the Board of Commissioners of the Metropolitan Water Reclamation District of  
Greater Chicago this January 22, 2026, are hereby approved.  
APPROVED:  
/s/ Kari K. Steele  
President Board of Commissioners of the  
Metropolitan Water Reclamation District of Greater Chicago  
January 22, 2026