The Riverhead Water District is moving forward with plans for $5 million in improvements to its facilities.
The improvements include a number of extensions to existing mains — totalling 4,800 linear feet — the purchase of two emergency generators, and the installation of a 2-million-gallon ground storage tank.
The water district would bond the cost of the improvements, which are the first phase of a $10 million facilities plan initially aired last year, prior to the town board’s approval of an increase in water rates and fees. The increase was intended to help cover the debt service for the improvements.
The town board on Tuesday scheduled May 2 public hearings on the the bonding associated with the improvements.
The main extensions will cost a maximum of $962,000. They will “increase our capacities in getting water from our well fields, addressing bottle necks dead ends, so we can keep our pumps running,” Riverhead Water District Superintendent Mark Conklin told town board members at last Thursday’s work session.
The emergency generators would be installed on Pulaski Street and Edwards Avenue, said engineering consultant John Collins of H2M. The maximum estimated cost of the generators will be $1.15 million, he said.
The ground storage tank is proposed to be located at Plant 15 on Tuthill’s Lane, Conklin said. Three-quarters of the 2-million-gallon concrete tank would be buried; it would rise 28 feet above ground.
“We have to keep moving forward, investing in the infrastructure,” Conklin told the town board. The district has been collecting key money from developers of large projects but has not invested in its infrastructure as it should have, he said.
“It’s something that we have to keep on top of,” Conklin said.
In other action Tuesday afternoon, the town board:
- set a May 2 public hearing on the special permit application of Jeffrey Nazar to construct a 4,000-square-foot professional office building at 189 Main Road in Aquebogue, in the Rural Corridor zoning use district;
- set a May 2 public hearing on proposed “no parking” zones
on the south side of Sound Avenue from Osborn Avenue to Baiting Hollow Lane and on the north side of Sound Avenue from Osborn Avenue to Baywood Drive; - set a May 2 public hearing to restrict turns out of 2711 Sound Avenue (Grapes and Greens/Riverhead Ciderhouse) to right-turn only;
- reappointed Judy Jacunski Barth and Roy Sokoloski to the Architectural Review Board;
- approved a special event permit for Animal Rescue Fund of the Hamptons’ “Spring Fling Adoption Event” at the Tanger Outlets on Saturday, April 29 from 11 a.m. to 4p.m.; and
- approved a special event permit for East End Arts Community Mosaic Street Painting Festival on Sunday, May 28, (rain date: Monday, May 29) from 12 noon to 5 p.m.
The town board on Tuesday also proclaimed April as Autism Awareness Month in the town of Riverhead and presented a proclamation to the autism advocacy organization, Autism Speaks.
Anthony Belvedere, 7, accepted the proclamation on behalf of Autism Speaks. Anthony was accompanied by his brother Kayden, 3 and their mom Dawn.
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