“This is a very important day for Kings Park,” said Deputy County Executive Peter Scully, colloquially known as the ‘Water Tsar.”
Elected officials and community leaders gathered in the heart of the Kings Park Sewer District on January 27 to witness and commemorate County Executive Steve Bellone’s (D) signing of legislation that authorizes $5 million to ‘push the project over the finish line.’
The project in question is no other than the over one decade in the making expansion of Sewer District #6, which will provide increased wastewater capacity to Kings Park’s Downtown, allowing revitalizing in the process.
The project is also receiving a $20 million state transformative investment grant made possible through the collaborative efforts of Senator Mario Mattera (R-St. James) and Assemblyman Fitzpatrick (R-Smithtown).
“I’d like to acknowledge this project has been a long time coming with the longtime involvement of the Kennedy’s, both the Comptroller and the Legislator,” Scully added.
“And of course, the local Suffolk County Legislator who has been shepherding these matters through the Suffolk County Legislature, Legislator Rob Trotta is with us,” stated Scully.
The construction contracts have been issued to G&M Earth Moving, Inc., ALAC Contracting Corp., and L.E.B. Electric LTD. for the constituent parts of the project. The project itself is designed by Melville-based H2M and is expected to break ground in early Spring.
Speaking on the importance of the project, Bellone noted, “It matters not just for the Kings Park community but for our region and our future,” and not soon after, highlighted other sewer projects in the region, such as St. James.
Project costs have increased since a 2014 estimate from the state that placed initial costs at $20 million. With the million provided by Friday’s announcement, it is “less than a third of what is needed.”
Supervisor Ed Wehrheim (R-Kings Park) remarked that it would not be possible without “our communities, chambers, our civic groups.”
Mentioning the investments made in St. James, Wehrheim noted, “Our initiatives for the environment, water, and economic success are coming true, and we have proof of this,” adding that the number of storefront vacancies in St. James’ Downtown has decreased to three.
“I think it is the beginning of the road,” said Toni Tanzi, president of the Kings Park Chamber of Commerce. “This is literally going to transform our community… in a way that’s going to turn a downtown into a downtown.”
