FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASESeptember 22, 2026Email: jillb@shestokas.com
MWRD Candidates Question Harvey Demolition Award to Contractor Cited by OSHA
KLF Enterprises also named in 2024 state lawsuit alleging asbestos was released into the air
ORLAND PARK, IL - A contractor cited for 36 alleged OSHA safety and health violations and named in a 2024 state asbestos lawsuit received a contract for up to $1.1 million to demolish buildings for Harvey’s long-delayed flood-control project from the Metropolitan Water Reclamation District of Greater Chicago (MWRD) on September 3.
In 2024, OSHA cited KLF Enterprises for violations involving asbestos removal, worker notification and protection, training, medical surveillance, and exposure to asbestos, silica, and lead.
The 2024 state lawsuit alleges KLF, and others involved in the demolition failed to properly inspect for asbestos before work began and failed to properly handle and dispose of asbestos-containing materials, leading to asbestos being released into the air. Carl Fioravanti, president of KLF’s asbestos-removal subcontractor, Alliance Environmental Control, was sentenced September 10 to 80 months in federal prison after pleading guilty to wire fraud and tax fraud involving asbestos-removal work at the Waukegan hospital and an earlier Harvey hotel demolition.
MWRD leaves safety review unclear
MWRD’s public award memorandum discusses KLF’s price, labor agreement, and participation goals. The work includes tearing down 16 homes and four garages, removing asbestos, and restoring the land. It does not say whether the District examined the OSHA citations or the 2024 state lawsuit before declaring KLF the “lowest responsible bidder.”
“If MWRD considers this responsible, show the public the review,” said MWRD commissioner candidate Jill B. Shestokas. “Did commissioners look beyond price? Did they review the OSHA citations and the 2024 state lawsuit? Harvey residents deserve to know what commissioners reviewed and what questions they asked.”
Published costs rise as projected reach shrinks.
The Central Park Stormwater Detention Basin project in Harvey is also getting more expensive. A 2023 public description put the cost at about $9.85 million. MWRD now lists the estimated construction cost at about $13 million, roughly 32% higher before principal construction begins.
An earlier City of Harvey proposal projected flood mitigation for nearly 600 structures. MWRD’s current project would benefit 209 of the 1,494 structures identified as affected in the 1,560-acre study area during a 100-year storm—about one in seven.
MWRD also increased its property-acquisition legal services agreement from $400,000 to $894,969.
“MWRD records show construction estimates and legal fees are rising while the projected project impact shrinks,” said MWRD commissioner candidate Michelle Pennington. “Taxpayers deserve a clear accounting of what has been spent and why costs have changed. While they wait, MWRD must maintain and secure the properties it owns. Harvey residents should not face fires and other dangers at vacant buildings while waiting for flood protection.”
Eight years - Harvey still waiting – with nearly three more
MWRD and Harvey began the Central Park stormwater project in 2018. Eight years on, construction of the detention basin and storm sewers has not begun.
While waiting, nearby abandoned buildings have burned multiple times. A June 2 fire spread through at least four abandoned homes near 155th Street and Turlington Avenue. On September 1—two days before MWRD awarded the demolition contract—another house burned at 153rd Street and Myrtle Avenue, the planned detention-basin site.
The timeline keeps extending. An earlier MWRD fact sheet expected construction to begin in 2026. The current project page now points to a main contract award in early 2028, followed by about 18 months of work—pushing completion to around 2029, nearly 11 years after planning began.
“Harvey residents have waited too long already,” said MWRD commissioner candidate Timothy Rueckert. “A project that began in 2018 should not still be waiting on a main construction contract in 2028. Beleaguered residents deserve a clear timeline for when promised flood protection will finally be delivered. Right now, Harvey residents appear to be at the bottom of MWRD’s priority list.”
Supporting records
MWRD’s September 3, 2026, KLF contract award
MWRD Central Park Stormwater Detention Basin project page
MWRD Central Park project fact sheet
MWRD’s April 2, 2026, meeting record
MWRD’s December 4, 2025, meeting record documenting the legal-fee increase
Illinois Attorney General’s asbestos-lawsuit announcement
OSHA’s KLF citation announcement
Harvey World Herald’s 2023 project report
CBS Chicago’s report on the June 2 fire
ABC7 Chicago’s report on the September 1 fire