MWRD reacts to demolition debris at casino site falling into Chicago River

Metropolitan Water Reclamation District commissioners expressed grave concern about the Chicago River after demolition debris accidentally spilled into it.

Days prior, Bally’s Casino leadership formally apologized after a wall collapsed during the demolition of the former Chicago Tribune Publishing plant, slated to become a casino, over that preceding weekend. Bally’s cleaned up the area.

Even then, commissioner Precious Brady-Davis stressed additional caution and vigilance concerning developments around regional waterways.

At the board’s regular meeting on Dec. 19, 2024, the District made adjustments to an approved $1.69 billion budget for 2025, marking an 18.6 percent increase over the 2024 budget.

Stormwater management fund and community impact

The 2025 budget allocates $134.7 million to the stormwater management fund, a resource for addressing flooding, water quality issues, and regional stormwater infrastructure.

Tax levy and financial adjustments

The estimated 2025 tax levy is $709.7 million and represents a 2.6 percent increase from the 2024 adjusted levy of $691,679,040 and is intended to support the district’s operational and capital needs. 

Adjustments to the Corporate Fund include reallocating $1.4 million from the Personal Property Replacement Tax, which was shifted from the Construction Fund to address operational requirements. 

Infrastructure projects and appropriations

The board approved sizable contracts related to work in and around the Stickney plant in west suburban Cicero.

A $1.9 million contract was awarded to Track Service, Inc. for specialty railroad track services in the Stickney Service Area. This contract encompasses the maintenance, repair, and replacement of the District’s railroad track system, which supports operations at the plant. The district rescinded a previous contract for the same project with Harbour Contractors, Inc., citing undisclosed reasons.

The District’s Diversity Section reviewed the contract and determined that affirmative action goals were not feasible for this project. The decision was based on a lack of qualified minority, women, and veteran-owned businesses capable of performing the specialized railroad work. Federal safety standards and the technical expertise required for the job further limited the pool of eligible firms.

The scope of the railroad track services contract requires the contractor to provide all necessary labor, vehicles, tools, and materials. Each worker must be trained according to federal safety standards focused on railroad workplace safety. The contractor must also have at least three years of experience in railroad maintenance and repair.

The board also approved a $2.36 million agreement with Emerson Process Management Power & Water Solutions, Inc., for multi-year support and updates to the Ovation Distributed Control System, a generator system, used at several reclamation plants. 

These updates include software and telephone support for the Stickney, Kirie, Egan, Hanover Park, and O’Brien plants, as well as the Lockport Powerhouse Control Center and the Waterways Control Room.

A $98,722 purchase order was issued to Remtech Services for a Crystal Growth Enhancement Device for the Ostara Phosphorus Recovery Facility at the Stickney plant. This device is intended to improve phosphorus recovery processes, which are crucial for environmental sustainability.

The board authorized a $56,385.60 purchase order to Xylem Water Solutions USA, Inc., for replacement submersible mixers at the Stickney plant. These mixers are essential for wastewater treatment operations, ensuring efficiency and reliability in handling large volumes of water.

Public comment

An employee with the District criticized it for its human resource practices.

The next regularly scheduled meeting is Jan. 9 at 10:30 A.M.