Presiding Officer Diane Yatauro: 'Sewer Consolidation off to a Successful Start'

This past Monday atour first full session of the new year, the Nassau County Legislature voted favorably on three resolutions which successfully launched the county's program to work towards consolidation of government at all levels.

At issue were three separate agreements between the county and the villages of Cedarhurst and Lawrence as well as the city of Glen Cove.

In these resolutions, the county would assume ownership of the Glen Cove sewer treatment plant
while planning for the eventual sewer installation across north shorecommunities. This will relieve residents of their dependence on antiquated cesspools and septic tanks which are not as environmentally sound as sewer systems. The Glen Cove facility has sufficient capacity to handle the added sewerage. The plan will help us safeguard our precious supply of drinking water and our north shore coastline.

We have been assured that any short term financial impact will be minimal, perhaps as low asfour or five dollarsper household per year. Long term the county hopes to realize$4-$5 million in added revenue. In Lawrence and Cedarhurst each village requested the county's assistance in closing their aging, unreliable sewer treatment plants. Their respective effluent would be pumped to the county's Bay Park plant.

County Comptroller Howard Weitzman said in a letter to the legislature, "I believe consolidation of the operation of sewer treatment and disposal facilities within the county is a sound idea...it makes no sense to continue with isolated management and governance of these environmentally significant plants. If the county took over all sewer facilities, we could do a better job of ensuring that our residents' health and the protection of our natural resources are fully taken into account....the environmental benefits from these agreements are very real even if they are harder to quantify in dollars and cents..."

This issue is a "win-win" for all concerned. Consolidation will go a long way to saving tax dollars. It will work towards streamlining the operation and cost of county and local facilities. This week'saction is an investment in the county's future.

As Presiding Officer, I am proud, on behalf of myfellow legislators,to have led the first legislative discussion and passage of a consolidation measure.

I look forward to future similar successes at upcoming legislative sessions. We anticipate similar sewer consolidation proposals involving other villages and the city of Long Beach.

Nassau County residents need and deserve long-awaited relief from duplication of services and wasteful spending. We have scored a major victory in the on-going fight to protect our environment while we better allocate governmental resources. The county'sfuture deserves nothing less.