North Shore Water Reclamation District Trustees Tap Board Officers

WAUKEGAN, IL — Trustees elected in last month's election were last week sworn in at the annual organizational meeting of the North Shore Water Reclamation District, the second-largest water reclamation district in Illinois.

After taking the oath of office, trustees in each of the five wards in the district decided to stick with the same leadership team for the next two years.

Stephen Drew, a 20-year veteran of the board and recently retired superintendent of pubic works in Waukegan, was named president. The Democrat and lifelong Waukegan resident represents the 2nd Ward in north Waukegan.

In last month's election, Drew received more than 67 percent, while his Republican opponent Kenneth Arnold had less than 33 percent.

Beverly Sugar Young, a retired contracting officer for Great Lakes Naval Training Center who has served on the board for the past 10 years, will return as vice president. She represents the 3rd Ward, which includes North Chicago and south Waukegan and ran unopposed last month.

Rhoda Pierce, whose 5th Ward includes Highland Park, Highwood and portions of Lake Forest and Deerfield, was chosen as the board treasurer. First appointed to the board in 2020 to fill the vacancy left by the death of her husband, Daniel Pierce, the Highland Park Democrat defeated her Republican challenger, Jeffrey Cohen, by 72 percent to 28 percent.

Preston Carter, a North Chicago native and longtime district employee who has served on the board for the past decade, was unopposed by Republicans in the 1st Ward, which is composed of Beach Park, Winthrop Harbor and Zion.

Thomas Swarthout, a former Lake Forest alderman, was first elected to the board in March 2012. The board's lone Republican trustees represents the 4th Ward, which includes Lake Forest, Lake Bluff and North Chicago. He was unopposed in last month's election.

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The district's service area includes more than 250,000 Lake County residents who live east of Interstate 94, as well as additional areas, like Grayslake, through an agreement with county officials.

The NSWRD operates water reclamation facilities in Gurnee, Highland Park and Waukegan, as well as 10 pumping stations, more than 100 miles of sewer lines and additional facilities in Zion, Waukegan and Gurnee.

Trustees also named NSWRD Executive Director Dave Miller deputy treasurer, Mary Jo Bryant was named secretary and Gregory Jackson was named NSWRD attorney at the Dec. 14 meeting.

Board meetings for 2023 have been scheduled for the second Wednesday of each month.