RESOLUTION FOR BOARD MEETING OF NOVEMBER 21, 2024
Title
RESOLUTION sponsored by the Board of Commissioners honoring Commissioner Daniel Pogorzelski for his years of dedication and service to the Metropolitan Water Reclamation District of Greater Chicago
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WHEREAS, the Honorable Daniel Pogorzelski was elected Commissioner of the Metropolitan Water Reclamation District in 2022; and
WHEREAS, Commissioner Pogorzelski served as the District’s Chairman of the Engineering and Information Technology committees and the Vice-Chairman of the Maintenance & Operations and Monitoring & Research committees; and
WHEREAS, Commissioner Pogorzelski has advocated for the District to implement flood management tools which utilize grey and green infrastructure, flood prone property acquisition, regulation of development and numerous regional and local flood control projects and has always recognized and been a strong advocate for District staff; and
WHEREAS, Commissioner Pogorzelski’s long career in public service connects the region’s robust tradition of civic activism, economic development, environmental action, empowering the arts, and community organizing; and
WHEREAS, as the proud son of immigrants, Commissioner Pogorzelski’s passion is to link people with resources, especially with communities for whom English is a second language and this has been a constant in his wide-ranging record of volunteerism; and
WHEREAS, Commissioner Pogorzelski’s moniker as the “unofficial Mayor of Avondale” is a nickname he holds exceptional pride in; and
WHEREAS, Commissioner Pogorzelski has been a constant presence of positivity and joy at Board meetings where he regularly recognizes fellow commissioners and staff birthdays by leading the singing of “STO LAT…STO LAT”; and
WHEREAS, Commissioner Pogorzelski has played a role in projects in West Englewood, Bridgeport, Forest Glen, Dunning, Portage Park, Brighton Park, and West Town, some of which were featured in the “Art in Chicago Neighborhoods,” booklet published by the Chicago Department of Cultural Affairs and Special Events for the Year of Public Art; and
WHEREAS, Commissioner Pogorzelski has been the coauthor of four books on different neighborhoods of Chicago and has collaborated with reporters, TV producers, an Oscar-nominated film director and was even sought out to assist on a media project by a partner of the U.S. Department of State; and
WHEREAS, Commissioner Pogorzelski is deeply committed to the mission of organized labor, having served as an organizer for the United Food and Commercial Workers International Union and as a member of the DRIVE Committee for Teamsters Local 916; and
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, do hereby honor and express our sincerest gratitude to Commissioner Daniel Pogorzelski for his extraordinary dedication and service to the residents of the many municipalities that are serviced by the Metropolitan Water Reclamation District of Greater Chicago; 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 that a copy of same, suitably engrossed, be presented to Commissioner Daniel Pogorzelski.
Dated: November 21, 2024