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1
HOUSE RESOLUTION

 
2    WHEREAS, The Honorable Terrence J. O'Brien, having
3dutifully served as a commissioner on the board for the
4Metropolitan Water Reclamation District of Greater Chicago
5since 1988, announced his retirement as a commissioner
6effective November 30, 2012; and
 
7    WHEREAS, Following in his father, William M. O'Brien, and
8his grandfather, John P. Hickey's footsteps, Terrence J.
9O'Brien wanted to serve the residents of Cook County by working
10for what was then known as the Metropolitan Sanitary District;
11and
 
12    WHEREAS, Terrence J. O'Brien was first elected in November
131988 to a 6-year term as commissioner and was re-elected in
141994, 2000, and 2006; and
 
15    WHEREAS, Proving himself to be an effective leader,
16Terrence J. O'Brien was elected president of the Board of
17Commissioners in 1997 for a 2-year term, and was unanimously
18re-elected by his fellow commissioners 7 times; and
 
19    WHEREAS, Making fiscal responsibility to the taxpayers a
20priority during Commissioner O'Brien's terms as president, the
21district is one of the few governmental agencies in the State

 

 

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1of Illinois to have an AAA bond rating and abated over $228
2million dollars back to the taxpayers of Cook County; and
 
3    WHEREAS, Passionate about the district's goal to protect
4our environment, President O'Brien actively pursued continuous
5funding for the MWRDGC's Tunnel and Reservoir Plan (TARP), one
6of the largest civil engineering projects ever undertaken and
7named the American Society of Engineers' Most Outstanding Civil
8Engineering Project of 1986; and
 
9    WHEREAS, It was under President O'Brien's leadership that
10the world saw the completion of the 109 mile network of
11tunnels, an integral piece of the Tunnel and Reservoir Plan,
12allowing the district to capture and treat up to 2.3 billion
13gallons of sewer overflow during storms that otherwise would
14end up in the waterways; and
 
15    WHEREAS, Recognizing that many individual Chicago land
16communities lack the technical expertise and funding
17capabilities to handle flooding issues, President O'Brien
18spent 7 unrelenting years garnering the necessary support in
19Springfield for the passage of Public Act 93-1049 (ACT)
20granting authority for general supervision of stormwater
21management in Cook County to the district, which was indeed
22passed on November 17, 2004; and
 

 

 

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1    WHEREAS, President O'Brien instituted the (800) 332-DUMP
2pollution hotline number for citizens to report illegal dumping
3of materials into sewers and waterways, enabling the district
4to take immediate action against these violators and protect
5the environment; and
 
6    WHEREAS, Other various organizations have benefited from
7President O'Brien's vast knowledge and generous dedication of
8his time through his service on their executive boards,
9including but not limited to the Ground Hog Club of Chicago,
10the Irish Fellowship Club of Chicago, his alma mater, John
11Carroll University's President's Council, and the Special
12Olympics Program for Misericordia Homes; and
 
13    WHEREAS, President O'Brien, no stranger to public
14recognition, has received, among others, the following awards:
15Statesman of the Year for the International Union of Operating
16Engineers, Local No. 150, the Illinois Committee for Honest
17Government Award, the Excellence in Community Service Award
18from John Carroll University, the Distinguished Service Award
19from the American Public Works Association, and the Public
20Service Award from the Water Environment Federation; and
 
21    WHEREAS, The House of Representatives extends its
22heartfelt wishes for as much success in his retirement as Terry
23has enjoyed throughout his career and express our sincere

 

 

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1gratitude to his family, including his wife Julie, sons Kevin
2and Patrick and daughter, Therese for allowing the district to
3take advantage of Terry's outstanding commitment and
4unparalleled talents for the benefit of all the residents of
5the district; therefore, be it
 
6    RESOLVED, BY THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES OF THE
7NINETY-EIGHTH GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF ILLINOIS, that
8we do hereby recognize Terrence J. O'Brien's dedicated service
9for 24 years to the Metropolitan Water Reclamation District and
10express our gratitude and appreciation for his work on behalf
11of the taxpayers of the district; and be it further
 
12    RESOLVED, That a suitable copy of this resolution be
13presented to President Terrence J. O'Brien as an expression of
14our esteem and respect.