Cook County Committee Meetings and Environment Committee Vote on Waterway Resolution - May 13, 2026
Cook County Committee Meetings and Environment Committee Vote on Waterway Resolution - May 13, 2026
On May 13, 2026, the Cook County Board of Commissioners convened a series of committee meetings, including the Environment and Sustainability Committee, which conducted the primary substantive business. The meeting began by recalling the Environment and Sustainability Committee, then briefly called to order and recessed the Workers' Compensation, Human Relations, Technology and Innovation, Asset Management, and Contract Compliance committees before returning to the Environment Committee for public comments and a vote on a resolution.
Consent Calendar
- Commissioner Britton moved approval of the minutes from the January 14, 2026 meeting (Item 261425). The motion was seconded by Commissioner Trevor and passed unanimously without discussion.
Public Comments & Testimony
- George Blakemore addressed the committee, criticizing the county government as a "toxic environment" with a one-party Democratic system, lacking representation for families and communities. He accused the chair of disrespecting him by speaking to an attorney during his testimony.
- Zoe Lee spoke after Mr. Blakemore, accusing the board of hypocrisy, incompetence, and neglecting the West and South Sides of Chicago. She referenced a pending lawsuit against the city and county for violating the Open Meetings Act and warned that commissioners would either resign or face jail.
- Both speakers were permitted three minutes each, with the chair reminding them of the time limits.
Discussion Items
- Resolution 26-1239 – Chicago Area Waterway System Ecological Health
- Commissioner Miller moved the resolution, seconded by Commissioner Kevin Morrison.
- Commissioner Marita (joining remotely) introduced the item, noting her prior service on the Metropolitan Water Reclamation District (MWRD) and her collaboration with Commissioner Cam Davis.
- Commissioner Cam Davis of MWRD was granted leave to speak remotely. He explained that the resolution supports the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers and the U.S. EPA in identifying and cleaning up legacy pollutants (toxic hotspots) in the Chicago Area Waterway System (CAWS). He emphasized that these pollutants, discharged decades ago, continue to threaten public health, especially for subsistence anglers. He noted that the MWRD and City of Chicago had passed similar resolutions, and that the Cook County resolution would show federal support amid budget and staffing cuts.
- No questions were asked by committee members.
Key Outcomes
- Resolution 26-1239 was approved by a roll call vote: 6 ayes (Commissioners Britton, Miller, Marita, Trevor, Vasquez, and the Chair) and 1 absent vote (Commissioner Kevin Morrison). The motion carried.
- The committee then adjourned on a motion by Commissioner Vasquez, seconded by Commissioner Trevor.
Meeting Transcript
Now make um a motion to recall the environment and sustainability committee, please. Madam Chair. Yes, sir. Would it be okay if I call a couple committees? Yes, of course. We are not going to uh recall environment and sustainability. What we're going to do is allow Commissioner Morrison to call his committee. Should we call all committees? Yes. So if you give me a minute, please. We're going to call all of those that uh time has elapsed. And so environmental is holding for a second. It is. We're going to go to workers' comp, please. Yes. Thank you, madam secretary. The hour having reached and passed 11 30 a.m. I'd like to call to order the Cook County Finance Subcommittee on Workers' Compensation. Madam Secretary, please take a call. Thank you. Commissioner McCaskill. Commissioner Marita. Morita present. Commissioner Rita is present participating remotely. Commissioner Trevor. Here. Commissioner Vasquez. And Chairman is present. Chairman, you do have a quorum. When we return, uh you will need remote participation. All right, very good. Uh we will recess a meeting to call the chair. Human relations, one o'clock. With the time of one o'clock having come and gone, I would like to call the human relations committee to order. Thank you. Commissioner Naya. Present? Yes, thank you. Commissioner McCaskill is present. Thank you. Commissioner Miller. Thank you. Commissioner Stamps. Commissioner Trevor. Uh-huh. Commissioner Vasquez. Present. And Mr. Chairman is present. You do have a quorum.
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