TRANSMITTAL LETTER FOR BOARD MEETING OF SEPTEMBER 18, 2025
COMMITTEE ON ENGINEERING
Mr. John P Murray, Acting Executive Director
Title
Authority to negotiate intergovernmental agreements for plant upgrades with the Fox River Water Reclamation District
Body
Dear Sir:
On December 20, 1973, the Board of Commissioners authorized the District, then known as the Metropolitan Sanitary District of Greater Chicago (District), to enter into an intergovernmental agreement with the Fox River Water Reclamation District (FRWRD), formerly the Sanitary District of Elgin, for the treatment of wastewater originating in the District’s Poplar Creek Drainage Basin at the FRWRD’s Albin D. Pagorski Water Reclamation Facility (Main Plant).
The original agreement established the District’s ongoing financial obligations, including quarterly operation and maintenance payments to the FRWRD based on the volume of District flow conveyed to the FRWRD’s Main Plant, as well as a proportional share of capital improvement project costs for future expansion needed to accommodate increased District flows or comply with regulatory requirements.
The Engineering Department has identified the following capital improvement projects that fall within the scope of the original agreement: 1) installation of bar screens, 2) plantwide electrical improvements, and 3) a new ferric chloride system. These projects have been deemed necessary to ensure regulatory compliance at the FRWRD’s Main Plant.
Based on the foregoing, it is requested that the Board of Commissioners grant authority for the District to negotiate Intergovernmental Agreements (IGAs) with FRWRD for these projects. If the FRWRD agrees in principle, authority to enter into the IGAs will be sought from the District’s Board of Commissioners at a future Board meeting.
It is further requested that the Board of Commissioners grant the District continuing authority to negotiate future IGAs with the FRWRD for capital projects that fall within the scope of the original intergovernmental agreement. In each case, once all parties agree in principle, authority to enter into IGAs will be sought from the District’s Board of Commissioners.
Requested, Catherine A. O’Connor, Director of Engineering, KMF:LS
Recommended, John P. Murray, Acting Executive Director
Disposition of this agenda item will be documented in the official Regular Board Meeting Minutes of the Board of Commissioners for September 18, 2025