Northeast Ohio Regional Sewer District

The Board discussed the Chief Executive Officer's report, which included recent outreach meetings with local mayors and trustees regarding stormwater and wastewater management, as well as an update on Black History Month employee engagement initiatives. The Board authorized the issuance of requests for proposals for professional services related to automation controls, Kahua application enhancements, and wastewater collection engineering. Additionally, the Board approved an amendment to a project agreement with the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency and the Cleveland-Cuyahoga County Port Authority for sediment removal in the Cuyahoga River Old Channel. The Board also moved to close out two public improvement contracts and approved a resolution to correct a vendor's name regarding occupational health services.

The Board meeting addressed public concerns regarding the Doan Brook Restoration at Horseshoe Lake project, specifically regarding funding, construction timelines, and environmental impacts such as tree removal. The CEO reported on the success of the Utility Assistance Resource Fair and recognized the District's receipt of the Auditor of State Award with Distinction. Action items included authorization to advertise for bids on various infrastructure projects like standby generator maintenance, space improvements, and the Nine Mile Debris Rack, as well as the issuance of an RFP for a comprehensive compensation study. The Board approved agreements for professional development and job training with Cuyahoga Community College and an assignment regarding occupational health services. Financial updates were provided, including a review of 2025 year-end financials for sanitary sewer and stormwater programs, capital improvement updates, and preliminary discussions for the 2026 budget.

The meeting featured a report from the Chief Executive Officer detailing community outreach and operational successes, including safety initiatives and infrastructure management during cold weather. The Board authorized the publication of bids for the Easterly Chemically Enhanced High-Rate Treatment Facility and issued an RFP for support services for Business and Control Networks. Additional authorizations included software support purchases from Oracle, agreements with the Cuyahoga Soil and Water Conservation District regarding permit compliance, and a Memorandum of Agreement concerning the Doan Brook Restoration project. The Board approved a property acquisition for the BCSO-3 Tunnels and Regulators project and a credit adjustment for the City of Cleveland. Finally, the Board reviewed the 2025 Fourth Quarter Operation and Maintenance report, which covered safety statistics, environmental permit compliance, wastewater treatment performance, and budget utilization.

The meeting included an acknowledgment of the Chief Executive Officer's report, noting that all three wastewater treatment plants concluded 2025 without any NPDES permit excursions, anticipating national recognition awards. Significant time was dedicated to honoring the Director of Operation and Maintenance for his 37 years of service and presenting him with a Lifetime Achievement Award. Action items focused heavily on authorizations: approving resolutions to advertise for bids for two-year contracts concerning sludge cake removal services and water purification systems lease/maintenance at Southerly WWTC, and for a public improvement contract for the Renewal of Culverted Streams IIA project. Other authorizations included issuing an RFP for Renewable Energy Facility Condition and Process Assessment, purchasing telecommunication equipment, entering into agreements for Green Infrastructure Grant Program projects, modifying the collective bargaining agreement to include oral fluid testing, purchasing sodium bisulfate solution, amending agreements for the Plumbing Assistance Program administration and additional testing/inspection services, adopting Hearing Officer findings regarding a sewer account adjustment, and approving the Compensation Structure and Range Management Policy granting the CEO conditional authority over employee compensation above pay band maximums. Information items detailed the Engineering and Construction Year-End Summary Report for 2025, highlighting contract management statistics, KPI achievements, and updates on Project Clean Lake progress and future 2026 construction commencements. The Board also entered into an executive session to consult legal counsel regarding pending court actions.

The Northeast Ohio Regional Sewer District's strategic plan, updated in 2013, outlines a course for the next four years to establish the organization as a premier environmental leader. It is dedicated to enhancing the quality of life and protecting water resources, emphasizing progressive sewage and stormwater management through innovation, fiscal responsibility, and community partnerships. The plan involved refining the District's mission, crafting a new vision, reaffirming core values, and developing strategic goals.