Office of the Interim Inspector General
Mission and Purpose of the Office of the Interim Inspector General
On April 3, 2025, the Board of Commissioners of the Metropolitan Water Reclamation District of Greater Chicago (MWRD or District) established the Office of the Interim Inspector General pursuant to statutory authority set forth in the MWRD Act, 70 ILCS 2605/4. On May 17, 2025, the MWRD Office of the Interim Inspector General (Interim IG Office) initiated operations following the expiration of the MWRD Intergovernmental Agreement with the Cook County Office of Independent Inspector General.
The mission and purpose of the Interim IG Office is to detect, deter and prevent corruption, fraud, waste, mismanagement, unlawful political discrimination or misconduct in the operation of the MWRD with independence, objectivity and professionalism. The Interim IG Office also investigates possible criminal conduct and collaborates with outside law enforcement. The Interim IG Office is an independent office within the District dedicated to promoting integrity and accountability in government.
Interim IG Ordinance - April 3, 2025
Scope of Authority
The Interim IG Office is authorized to conduct investigations in response to a complaint or pursuant to the Interim Inspector General’s own initiative and may involve the conduct of MWRD Board Members, employees, agents, contractors, subcontractors, or persons or businesses seeking to do business with the MWRD or seeking eligibility for MWRD contracts, agreements, permits or leases. The Interim Inspector General is authorized to conduct interviews under oath and to issue subpoenas and seek their enforcement and has ready access to any premises, equipment, books, records and papers of the MWRD.
Rights and Duties under the Interim Inspector General Ordinance
Pursuant to ordinance, it is the duty of all District Board Members, employees, agents, contractors, subcontractors and persons and businesses seeking to do business with the MWRD to cooperate with the Interim IG Office in the conduct of investigations and to report to the Interim Inspector General any information known to involve corruption, fraud, waste, mismanagement, allegations of political discrimination, misconduct or other criminal activity.
Your Rights and Duties Under the Interim Inspector General Ordinance
In accordance with the Ethics Ordinance, all MWRD Board Members, officers and employees possess the duty to report to the Interim Inspector General any and all information known to them concerning “Prohibited Political Activity.” Additionally, pursuant to the MWRD’s Employment Plan, any MWRD employee shall also report “Political Contacts” as discussed in the section addressing unlawful political discrimination, political contacts and prohibited political activity. Please see the section for filing a complaint or submitting information to make a report of a political contact or prohibited political activity to the Interim Inspector General.
MWRD Ethics Ordinance as amended April 7, 2022
MWRD Employment Plan in Shakman litigation
Filing a Complaint or Submitting Information to the Interim Inspector General
If you have a complaint or information concerning corruption, fraud, waste, mismanagement, unlawful political discrimination, misconduct and/or criminal conduct in the operation of the MWRD, we encourage you to file a complaint and/or to submit information. This may involve MWRD employees, elected or appointed officials in the performance of their official duties, as well as contractors and subcontractors doing or seeking to do business with the MWRD. Complaints and information may be submitted to the Interim IG Office anonymously. Please provide as much detail as possible in order for the office to fully investigate the matter.
Print an Intake Form
Please submit the Intake Form directly to: Interim Inspector General, 100 East Erie Street, Chicago, Illinois 60611-3154.
Interim Inspector General Confidential Hotline: 312-751-4444
Please speak slowly and clearly when leaving information on the hotline voice mail.
Schedule an appointment either in person or via Teams with the Interim IG Office by calling 312-751-6590. Appointments are available during business hours, after hours and weekends.
Information Related to Unlawful Political Discrimination, Political Contacts and Prohibited Political Activity
Any MWRD employee who knows of or has a reasonable belief that “Unlawful Political Discrimination,” a “Political Contact” or that “Prohibited Political Activity” has occurred or is occurring, is required to report such information to the Interim Inspector General.
Unlawful political discrimination is conduct affecting a non-exempt employee’s hiring, firing or other term or condition of employment that is based on political reasons or factors. Such reasons or factors may include, but are not limited to:
- Recommendations for hire, promotion or other term or condition of employment from public office holders (and/or their staff) that are not based on actual knowledge of the person’s work skills, work experience or other job-related qualification;
- Recommendations for hire, promotion or other term or condition of employment based on the fact that a person worked on a political campaign or in a political organization or the fact that a person chose not to work for or be affiliated with a political campaign or political organization;
- Recommendations for hire, promotion or other term or condition of employment based on the fact that a person contributed money, raised money or provided something of value to a political campaign or to a political organization or the fact that a person chose not to contribute to a political campaign or to a political organization.
A political contact involves any contact of any kind whatsoever (oral or written, direct or indirect) originating from an elected public official or their staff or from any political organization regarding any employment action involving a non-exempt MWRD position. Such contacts may not be in violation of law or policy although their occurrence requires a report to the Interim Inspector General for review.
Prohibited political activity involves conduct occurring during MWRD work time that is in furtherance of a political campaign or to benefit a political organization. Such conduct may include preparing for, organizing or participating in any political meeting, political rally, political demonstration or other political event and/or soliciting contributions, purchasing or distributing tickets for any political fundraiser, political meeting or other political event. A more complete description of prohibited political activity is set forth in the MWRD Ethics Ordinance.
Interim IG Ordinance - April 3, 2025
MWRD Ethics Ordinance as amended April 7, 2022
MWRD Employment Plan in Shakman litigation
Interim Inspector General Investigation Process
Upon receipt of a complaint, a screening process of each complaint is undertaken. In order to maximize the number of complaints that will be subject to review, if a complaint is not initially opened as a formal investigation, it may also be reviewed as an “Interim IG Inquiry.” This level of review involves a determination of corroborating evidence before opening a formal investigation. When the initial review reveals information warranting the opening of a formal investigation, the matter is upgraded to an “Interim IG Investigation.” Conversely, if additional information is developed to warrant the closing of the Interim IG Inquiry, the matter will be closed.
All MWRD employees, elected and appointed officials, contractors and subcontractors who appear for an interview at the request of the Interim IG Office will be advised of their rights and duties with respect to the interview using standard Interim IG Office forms. The specific form used for a particular interview will depend on whether the interview involves an employee, appointed or elected official or contractor/subcontractor and whether the interview is compulsory or voluntary in nature. Please see below the various forms utilized by the Interim IG Office during an investigation.
The Interim IG Office may request the consent of the interviewee to make an audio recording of the interview. Please see below the Consent to Record Interview form.
Interim IG Office Investigation Forms:
• Confidentiality Agreement - General
• Consent to Record Interview
• Warning of Rights to Employee - Voluntary Interview
• Warning of Rights to Elected Official - Voluntary Interview
• Warning of Rights to Contractor – Voluntary Interview
• Attestation of Oath
• Video Conference Interview Agreement
• Confidentiality Agreement - Interview
• Warning of Rights and Duties – Employee Compulsory Interview
• Warning of Rights and Duties – Elected Official Compulsory Interview
• Warning of Rights and Duties – Contractor Compulsory Interview
At the conclusion of a formal investigation, the Interim Inspector General will undertake an assessment of all the information and evidence developed and make appropriate findings and recommendations that are documented in a confidential summary report. The confidential report is released to the MWRD Board President, Executive Director, General Counsel and Director of Human Resources. A summary report may also be released to the head of the department to which the investigation relates. Within a specified time period, the Executive Director is required to respond in writing to any Interim Inspector General recommendations for corrective action by explaining whether such recommendations have been adopted, in whole or in part, or explain the reason why they were not.
Quarterly Reports
The Interim Inspector General submits publicly available quarterly reports to the MWRD Board of Commissioners and the Executive Director. The quarterly report is released on the 15th day of January, April, July, and October of each year. Quarterly reports chronicle the number of complaints received and the number and type of investigations initiated, concluded or pending since the date of the last report and whether any recommendations for corrective action were made and whether or not the recommendations were followed, either in whole or part. Quarterly reports also describe miscellaneous activities of the Interim IG Office that may be of interest to MWRD officials, employees, contractors or members of the public.
Quarterly reports dated July 12, 2019 through April 15, 2025 were generated by the Office of the Independent Inspector General of Cook County as a result of the Intergovernmental Agreement between the MWRD and Cook County during this time period.
Contact the Interim Inspector General
Should you have any questions, please do not hesitate to contact Patrick Blanchard, Interim Inspector General:
Interim Inspector General Telephone: 312-751-6590
Interim Inspector General Hotline: 312-751-4444
Email: inspectorgeneral@mwrd.org
Address: 100 East Erie Street, Chicago, Illinois 60611-3154