Chicago Regional Future City Competition Resolution

At the March 21, 2013 MWRDGC Board Meeting, I was honored to present a Resolution to St. Paul of the Cross School (Park Ridge, IL) students who won first place in the Chicago Regional Future City Competition. The Future City Competition challenges sixth, seventh, and eighth graders to design a city 150 years in the future, with the goal of encouraging students to consider future careers in engineering and science. The theme for the 2013 Future City Competition was "Rethink Runoff: Design Clean Solutions to Manage Stormwater Pollution."  The competition challenged student teams to design a solution to a stormwater runoff problem that would prove detrimental to their cities.  The St. Paul of the Cross student team created the city of Futura Paradisus where the system of stormwater management included pervious pavement, geotextile filter fabric, stormwater detention units and pipes that lead the water to water treatment plants. I was one of the judges for the competition and found all the student teams' cities impressive and inspiring. The students exercised thoughtful critical thinking in designing their cities and developing innovative solutions to stormwater issues. We need bright young minds to go into engineering and science to help shape the profession and make positive impacts on our ever evolving world. 

Above is a picture with the St. Paul of the Cross School student team: 

Front row left to right: Zachary Cmiel, Michael Marino, Samantha Ritter, Jack Kohler, Margaret Cahill

Back row left to right: Philip Spagnolo (mentor engineer), Michael OBroin, Ben Paoletti, Commissioner Avila, Christine Stypka (teacher), Catherine Coyle, Laurie Moran (teacher)

Reducing Pesticides on MWRD Land

I presented a motion that was passed at the District’s May 5th, 2011 Board Meeting to develop a policy to reduce, restrict, and ultimately eliminate the use of chemical pesticides on District-owned Land through the use of sustainable pest control practices. Pesticides are linked to a variety of known adverse health effects in people as well as environmental impacts to water, soil, air, and wildlife. Sustainable pest control practices depend on effective long-term solutions that emphasize prevention and methods that cause the least harm to people and the environment. The reduction and ultimately the removal of pesticides through the adoption of sustainable pest control practices will reduce the run-off of pesticides in our watershed and promote public health and the environment. The policy will be developed in the next couple months and presented again for board approval. This is an important step for the District to be a leader in environmental issues.

Board Meeting Notice

A friendly reminder that there is a MWRDGC Board Meeting at 10:00am on Thursday, August 6, 2009. The Board Meetings are held in the Board Room at 100 East Erie Street, Chicago. All members of the public are welcome to attend. Click here for Board Meeting details and agenda.

Board Meeting Schedule 2009

August 6

September 3

September 17

October 1

October 15

November 5

November 19

December 1 (Annual Meeting)

December 3

December 17

Board Meeting and Public Hearing

At 10:00 a.m. on Thursday, June 3, 2009, the Metropolitan Water Reclamation District will be holding its bi-monthly board meeting in the board room at 100 East Erie. All members of the public are welcome to attend.

In addition, the Board will be holding a public hearing at 12:00 p.m. This hearing will allow public comments on a proposed $600 million bond issue which would allow the District to renovate aging facilities while also building new pumping stations and sewers.

Board Meeting Schedule 2009
May 21
June 4
June 18
July 9
August 6
September 3
September 17
October 1
October 15
November 5
November 19
December 1 (Annual Meeting)
December 3
December 17

Board Meetings

The MWRDGC holds public board meetings twice a month (except in July and August). The next board meeting is this Thursday, May 21st at 10am in the board room at our main office building (100 E. Erie, Chicago). I want to encourage the public to attend these meetings and to be actively involved with the Board. Click here for board meeting details and agenda.

Board Meeting Schedule 2009
May 21
June 4
June 18
July 9
August 6
September 3
September 17
October 1
October 15
November 5
November 19
December 1 (Annual Meeting)
December 3
December 17