Budget Message / Highlights - Metropolitan Water Reclamation ...

METROPOLITAN WATER RECLAMATION DISTRICT OF GREATER CHICAGO
2009 BUDGET
30000 LAW OBJECTIVES AND PROGRAM SUMMARY
OBJECTIVES BY PRIORITY: Cost Percent
1. Provide prosecution, defense, and appellate services in litigation. Provide other direct legal services and
counseling, as necessary, to the Board of Commissioners, the Executive Director , and the Officers of
the District to further the corporate purposes and protect the interests of the District. $2,220,245 27.1%
2. Monitor all state legislation and legislative activities. $259,813 3.2%
3. Review and revise contract language in an effort to standardize District contracts. $242,194 3.0%
4. Work with other departments to manage legal aspects of employment related matters and litigation
before the Civil Service Board and in the State and Federal Courts. $692,493 8.4%
5. Provide for the administration of all vacant and unoccupied District real estate; administer the leasing and
disposition or other use of District real estate when not presently needed for its corporate purposes; assist
in and administer the acquisition of right-of-way for District construction and improvement projects and
other corporate uses; administer environmental and remediation activities; supervise real estate tax
litigation; provide assistance in developing and processing the real estate agenda for meetings of the Board
of Commissioners.
6. Through its leasing, permit, and easement grant activities, the Real Estate Division will generate
approximately $10.5 million income in 2009. $3,034,974 37.0%
7. Provide legal services to ensure the proper disposal of wastes through the sewer systems in the Chicagoland
area. Oversee the diversion of water from Lake Michigan for water quality services. Provide legal
representation, counseling, and administrative support in connection with enforcement of the Sewage and
Waste Control Ordinance, Sewer Permit Ordinance, and User Charge Ordinance of the District. $748,823 9.1%
8. Sewer Rehabilitation. Upon referral from the Engineering Department, the Law Department conducts
administrative hearings to enforce compliance with the Sewer Permit Ordinance and the Manual of Procedures. $40,654 0.5%
9. Investigate and process all liability claims and employee injury claims against the District. $956,804 11.7%
Total $8,196,000 100.0%
MEASURABLE GOALS: 2007 2008 2009
Unit of Measure Actual Estimated Proposed
1. Revise lease procedures and policies to enhance marketability of District
real estate. $6.4 million $9.0 million $10.5 million
2. Replace below market value expiring leases with new interim short term
occupancy permits requiring payment of fair market value upon expiration
of lease and during pendency of compliance review. Interim permits 9 3 5
3. Expedite compliance review for expiring leases or interim permits in
order to advertise an increased number of new long term leases. New leases 5 7 5
4. Resolve unpaid user charge cases to increase collections and District
revenue. Cases 7 10 12
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