Board of Commissioners [remote or in-person]

@CHIdocumenters Meeting video and the agenda can be found here: https://mwrd.legistar.com/Calendar.aspx
I’m watching remotely.

Board President Kari Steele beings addressing “concerns by constituents” about… sounds like she said p fies. Doesn’t explain what that is.
“MWRD will always follow the science and environmental governing agencies recommendations.”

She’s apparently addressing this column that claims a MWRD program gives gardeners compost that may contain forever chemicals or human waste.
The program will be paused while it’s reviewed.
https://www.chicagotribune.com/news/environment/ct-pfas-sewage-sludge-gardens-20220910-gpkdphif7faflemajudoxrggma-htmlstory.html

The board meets as a committee of the whole while the executive director answers commissioner questions. They pass all agenda items by consent and adjourn the committee of the whole.

The @MWRDGC commissioners meet as a full board. Agenda items are read into the record and consent agenda items are passed as a group without discussion.

Board President Kari Steele wants to remind everyone about the water crisis in Mississippi. The MWRD credit union is accepting donations to provide water bottles for those who don’t have clean water.

Commissioner Cam Davis brings up PFAS again.
“We do not manufacture PFAS.”
“Yet, the taxpayers of our public utilities have to deal with this problem.”
He doesn’t explain what those are but here’s info: https://www.cdc.gov/biomonitoring/PFAS_FactSheet.html

Commissioner Eira Corral Sepúlveda thanks @MWRDGC staff and others for their work on the Monarch Butterfly festival in Berwyn. One way the Chicago region can support the Monarch butterfly is by planting native plants.

Monarchs are “a symbol of migration in the US.” They travel from Mexico to Illinois and back.

There’s also a Latinx Heritage Month event in Possum Hallow Park.
https://mwrd.org/mwrd-partners-support-stewardship-day-possum-hollow-woods-latinx-heritage-month

There’s also an upcoming mushroom hike lead in Spanish on Sept 24.

On a personal note, going on a mushroom hike can mean very different things depending on which of my friends I’m speaking to.

Commissioner Garcia speaks about supporting migrants coming to Illinois from Texas.
“Tactics to scare people…are just embarrassing.”
“The world is full of hatred and I think we all need to make sure we combat that and make everyone’s lives better. Be accepting of each other.”

There’s one public commenter. He’s “appalled” no one else from the public is there. “One reason is it’s at 10:30 in the morning instead of 6 or 7 when working people can attend.”
Comments about migrants coming from Texas.

The Water Reclamation District Board of Commissioners adjourns after meeting for about 45 minutes.
This concludes my live tweeting for #CHIdocumenters.