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Reposted by Allison R. Sullivan

Chicago Tribune @chicagotribune.com · 22h

In November, Chicago voters will head to the polls to elect all 21 members of the Chicago Board of Education for the first time ever.

chicagotribune.com

What to know before you vote in Chicago’s elected school board races

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Allison R. Sullivan @allisonrsullivan.bsky.social · 06/09/2026

Howwwwww did espn not give us a full view of the fit? 😭

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Allison R. Sullivan @allisonrsullivan.bsky.social · 19/08/2026

Correction: Items 1-8 and item 21 (Not 28!) are not on the consent agenda.

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Allison R. Sullivan @allisonrsullivan.bsky.social · 19/08/2026

Correction: the employee's name is Chalonda White.

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Reposted by Allison R. Sullivan

Chicago Tribune @chicagotribune.com · 18/08/2026

Commentary: Women ought to be playing more sports because even just a couple of hours a week can provide significant benefits.

chicagotribune.com

Lindsay Davenport: Women’s sports need more than fans. They need more players.

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Allison R. Sullivan @allisonrsullivan.bsky.social · 18/08/2026

Center Court is *maybe* half full while the Grandstand next door sounds like an awesome party #cincyopen

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Allison R. Sullivan @allisonrsullivan.bsky.social · 13/08/2026

Brady Davis is having a rainstorm awareness event on Tuesday in Harwood Heights. Motion to adjourn passes unanimously. Adjourned at 1:20pm. I hope you enjoyed these notes! ⛈️

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Allison R. Sullivan @allisonrsullivan.bsky.social · 13/08/2026

New business from commissioners: McElroy Kirkwood is impressed by the Stickney staff. She is doing tables around the neighborhood. Corral Sepulveda thanks staff for attending Monarch Fest in Hanover Park. She also notes the flooding challenges from this year.

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Allison R. Sullivan @allisonrsullivan.bsky.social · 13/08/2026

Steele announces IL Bill 4426 has been passed, which allows the District increased flexibility in hiring. A study session for the strategic plan is scheduled for 2:00PM on 26 Aug. Steele recognizes the recent storms and the MWRD staff's responsiveness.

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Allison R. Sullivan @allisonrsullivan.bsky.social · 13/08/2026

Regular board meeting coming to order, jumping right to new business.

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Allison R. Sullivan @allisonrsullivan.bsky.social · 13/08/2026

The video is intermittently cutting out.

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Allison R. Sullivan @allisonrsullivan.bsky.social · 13/08/2026

We are back - though the video came back on a little late! We are on Ordinance 002 (item3), which issues $185 million in bonds; it passes unanimously. Ordinance 3, which also issues bonds for the TARP project, passes unanimously. Ordinance 4 refinances existing debt and passes unanimously.

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Allison R. Sullivan @allisonrsullivan.bsky.social · 13/08/2026

Corral Sepulveda creates a security provision that is unanimously approved. Recessing & convening an executive session.

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Allison R. Sullivan @allisonrsullivan.bsky.social · 13/08/2026

1-8 and 28 are not on the consent agenda. Consent agenda unanimously approved (9 yeas because Garcia recently arrived).

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Allison R. Sullivan @allisonrsullivan.bsky.social · 13/08/2026

Cmr Garcia speaks in favor of item 45 (appointing James E. Fisher to Director of HR for MWRD) and congratulations them on the new role, then gives Fisher four suggestions for HR improvements.

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Allison R. Sullivan @allisonrsullivan.bsky.social · 13/08/2026

Engineering Committee Reports: 38 & 39. Judiciary Committee Authorization: 40-42. Maintenance & Operations Cmte 43-44. Pension, HR & Civil Services Cmte: 45. Real Estate Dev Cmte: 46. Stormwater Mgmt Cmte: 47-49. Mics & New Biz: 50.

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Allison R. Sullivan @allisonrsullivan.bsky.social · 13/08/2026

Item 8 - issue bonds; unanimously approved. Director Torres reads items 10-18 (Finance Committee Reports); 19-20 & 22 (Authority to Advertise); 23-32 (Issue Purchase Order); 33-34 (Award Contract); 35-36 (Increase Purchase Order/Change Order). Budget & Employment Committee: 37.

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Allison R. Sullivan @allisonrsullivan.bsky.social · 13/08/2026

Item 3- issue bonds "Not to Exceed $185,000,000"; unanimously approved. Item 4 - issue bonds for the TARP project; unanimously approved. Item 5 - issue bonds; unanimously approved. Item 6 - refinance other old bonds; unanimously approved. Item 7 - another refinance; unanimously approved.

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Allison R. Sullivan @allisonrsullivan.bsky.social · 13/08/2026

We're back! Some motions and ordinance this morning: Item 1 - reappoint David Ormsby Inc (back to that one!); unanimously approved. Item 2 - reappoint Steele as Comr of Public Building Commission of Chicago; unanimously approved.

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Allison R. Sullivan @allisonrsullivan.bsky.social · 13/08/2026

Breaking for 5 min until Committee of the Whole 😅

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Allison R. Sullivan @allisonrsullivan.bsky.social · 13/08/2026

Corral Sepulveda supports the RFP. Item is deferred by Steele. No other items are pulled for discussion.

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Allison R. Sullivan @allisonrsullivan.bsky.social · 13/08/2026

Item 21: Sign language interpreter services RFP. Waller notes that there are online/close captioning options and is curious about the benefit of live interpretation. Murray clarifies the sign language is for meetings, though there are "other tools". His team will put together a memo.

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Allison R. Sullivan @allisonrsullivan.bsky.social · 13/08/2026

Moving on! Next item (5,6,7) deals with refinancing bonds. Flynn notes that the refinancing project will yield $17m in savings.

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Allison R. Sullivan @allisonrsullivan.bsky.social · 13/08/2026

Corral Sepulveda wants a comms training for the Board and staff. Steele notes the crisis comms training from Ormsby is available; some take it & some don't. Davis wants a timeline for a discussion for comms strategy, doesn't want to have same convo next year.

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Allison R. Sullivan @allisonrsullivan.bsky.social · 13/08/2026

Murray wants someone to gather board availability for study session. Brady-Davis is enthusiastic about a new strategy, then asks Murray to name things Ormsby has done lately. Murray lists the Thornton odors and data center misinformation. Flynn thinks comms specialist is needed, regardless of whom

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Allison R. Sullivan @allisonrsullivan.bsky.social · 13/08/2026

Corral Sepulveda agrees an RFP process would take a year. Steele clarifies some comments from Davis about the goals of a communications "study session". Brown wants the Board to give ED Davis increased clarity on communications vision. "People are in need" of better comms.

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Allison R. Sullivan @allisonrsullivan.bsky.social · 13/08/2026

Davis clarifies that he is ok with a crisis communications specialist. He says that a contract should be bid out and not a no-compete. He worries about a year-after-year non-compete contract. Per Davis, what's best for the citizens is to put out an RFP and get the best (which could be Ormsby).

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Allison R. Sullivan @allisonrsullivan.bsky.social · 13/08/2026

Comr Corral Sepulveda asks Comr Davis what he means by past crisis point. Comr Davis responds that the original intent was to manage a specific crisis 3 years ago. Comr Corral Sepulveda says MWRD has ongoing crisis communication needs (storms, floods, odors, data centers), and asks Davis

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Allison R. Sullivan @allisonrsullivan.bsky.social · 13/08/2026

ED Murray continues that Ormsby is helpful in the meanwhile. Comr asks how to extend the Ormsby contract just until a new RFP has been issued. ED Murray thinks it will take a full year to write and evaluate RFPs. President Steele supports a full renewal today.

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Allison R. Sullivan @allisonrsullivan.bsky.social · 13/08/2026

Comr Waller asks when contract expires. ED Murray responds the contract expires 08 Sep; RFPs take several months to be completed. Comr Waller asks about logistics for setting up a competitive bid. ED Murray observes that a communications strategy refinement seems needed.

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Allison R. Sullivan @allisonrsullivan.bsky.social · 13/08/2026

Comr Corral Sepulveda wants to see the invoice(s) from Ormsby Inc. Comr Davis notes that the original crisis contract was supposed to develop internal skills and not be needed eventually. Comr Davis mostly wants to open the contract to a competitive process to ensure the MWRD has the best option

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Allison R. Sullivan @allisonrsullivan.bsky.social · 13/08/2026

Comr Brady-Davis says we need someone in place right now, though long term thinking is needed. Comr McElroy Kirkwood agrees that the MWRD needs someone right now but also needs to think broadly about communications. Comr Corral Sepulveda adds that crisis communications need to be in Spanish.

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Allison R. Sullivan @allisonrsullivan.bsky.social · 13/08/2026

Comr Brown supports the contract and the work, but also thinks a big picture strategy would be valuable. Comr Brady-Davis calls for proactive public communications and agrees that a full strategy is needed. Comr Brady-Davis is impressed with how the MWRD has responded in the past few weeks.

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Allison R. Sullivan @allisonrsullivan.bsky.social · 13/08/2026

Comr Waller noted that the contract started as crisis communications but thinks the scope has expanded. President Steele clarifies that crisis communication for MWRD is "unexpected communications"; data center messaging falls in scope per this definition.

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Allison R. Sullivan @allisonrsullivan.bsky.social · 13/08/2026

VP Flynn supports Ormsby's performance with regard to assistance in messaging for storms and misinformation. Comr Corral Sepulveda supports the contract and also wants to see a "more comprehensive" communications strategy.

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Allison R. Sullivan @allisonrsullivan.bsky.social · 13/08/2026

Item 1: Reappointing David Ormsby Inc as public relations consultant. Commissioner Davis objects to the contract being a non-compete. Comr Brady-Davis has a question about David Ormsby Inc performance. Executive Director John Murray defends Ormsby's performance.

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Allison R. Sullivan @allisonrsullivan.bsky.social · 13/08/2026

Commissioner Davis wants to pull for discussion Item 1. Vice President Flynn wants items 5,6, and 7, to be discussed together. President Steele pulls item 21. (Agenda with items here: mwrd.legistar.com/View.ashx?M=...)

mwrd.legistar.com

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Allison R. Sullivan @allisonrsullivan.bsky.social · 13/08/2026

President Steele responds to the speaker, thanking them for their comments and expressing empathy.

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Allison R. Sullivan @allisonrsullivan.bsky.social · 13/08/2026

And we're off! Public comments start with an employee, S. White, sharing her deteriorating employee experience.

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Allison R. Sullivan @allisonrsullivan.bsky.social · 13/08/2026

Hello! 👋 At 10:30CT I'll be live tweeting on the Chicago Metropolitan Water Reclamation District Board Meeting on behalf of @chidocumenters.bsky.social. www.mwrd.org

mwrd.org

Metropolitan Water Reclamation District of Greater Chicago Board of Commissioners | MWRD

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Allison R. Sullivan @allisonrsullivan.bsky.social · 05/03/2026

Motion to adjourn. Meeting(s) are concluded for the day. Thanks for following along! ❤️ 🏢🏛️🏠⛪

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Allison R. Sullivan @allisonrsullivan.bsky.social · 05/03/2026

A representative from the project notes that this is a small home and the family just wants to make a minor change. The staff has requested a modification to the plans with regard to a skylight; the owners are amenable to that request. Motion carries unanimously.

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Allison R. Sullivan @allisonrsullivan.bsky.social · 05/03/2026

Last item on the agenda: 6200 N. Mandell Ave. The address is a single family home. The house has a breezeway between the building and the garage; the applicant would like to replace the breezeway. Given the historic nature of the area, the Commission must approve any changes.

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Allison R. Sullivan @allisonrsullivan.bsky.social · 05/03/2026

Commissioner Alicia Chlebek Blakely appreciates the attention to detail in the designs. Fair echoes her recognition. Motion carries unanimously.

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Allison R. Sullivan @allisonrsullivan.bsky.social · 05/03/2026

A representative from the developer greets the Commission. No questions for him. Preservation Chicago supports the modification as an adaptive reuse project for the building. These are "working landmarks", not "museum pieces". A member of the public laments the lack of objection.

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Allison R. Sullivan @allisonrsullivan.bsky.social · 05/03/2026

Next up: 135 S. LaSalle (Field Building). The developer would like to add a new canopy for the residential entry on the LaSalle and Clark Street entries.

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Allison R. Sullivan @allisonrsullivan.bsky.social · 05/03/2026

Commissioner Gabriel Ignacio Dziekiewicz echoes Ponce's comment. The motion unanimously passes.

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Allison R. Sullivan @allisonrsullivan.bsky.social · 05/03/2026

Foster replies art will be images only and will be from local artists. Preservation Chicago Executive Director Ward Miller speaks in favor of the requests. He notes the fame of the building in the city and enjoys the reuse by the theater company. Commissioner Alicia Ponce likes the proposal.

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