Rep. Tom Suozzi announced more than a dozen local village and district projects in the Third Congressional District have been included in the first draft of the federal 2025 spending bill, which includes upgrades to pump stations, addressing shoreline erosion and sewer upgrades.
“Today we are seeing the first good news in Congress’s bipartisan funding process: more than $15 million has been set aside to come back to New York’s Third Congressional District. Today’s announcement is the first step in what will be a long process and I will continue fighting to bring more of our tax dollars back home,” Suozzi wrote in a press release.
Of the 15 local municipalities and organizations included in the spending bill, seven are in the Town of North Hempstead. A total of $6,354,000 will be awarded to these seven municipalities and special districts.
This includes the villages of Baxter Estates, Flower Hill, Manorhaven, Sands Point and Williston Park, as well as the Great Neck Water Pollution Control District and the Port Washington Water Pollution Control District.
The largest chunk of money being awarded to a project is $1,105,800, which is drafted to go to Manorhaven, Sands Point, Williston Park, and the two water districts.
The appropriations for these projects are not final in what Suozzi called the first step.
The funds allotted for the Village of Manorhaven would go toward rehabilitating its 60-year-old sewer system – aiding in preventing sewer failure and upholding environmental health.
Suozzi said this project is important due to the village’s connection to Manhasset Bay and the Long Island Sound.
“The project’s importance to the local community cannot be understated, as a system failure could cause a significant decline in the environmental health of the surrounding soil and groundwater due to leaks or breakage in addition to affecting nearby waterbodies and sewer service to Environmental Justice area residents,” Suozzi said in the press release.
The Village of Sands Point would use these funds to construct a Granular Activated Carbon treatment plant for pre- or polyfluoroalkyl substances, otherwise known as PFAS, at two of its wells. These are synthetic chemicals that are commonly found in water sources and may lead to health issues.
The project also includes the construction of a GAC building/housing, related GAC improvements, well pump replacements, the redrilling of a well and the drilling of another well.
The Village of Williston Park would use these funds for improvements to its Well 4 Facility. This would upgrade its utility and equipment infrastructure as well as address issues of drinking water contaminants.
The Great Neck Water Pollution Control District is slated to use these funds for improvements to its Steamboat Pump Station. This includes more reliable alarm systems, energy-efficient pumps and reducing structures that obstruct residents’ views of the neighboring park.
The funds potentially going to the Port Washington Water Pollution Control District would be for upgrading wastewater pump stations.
The two pump stations that would be upgraded are the district’s highest flow capacity stations. These stations handle about 70% of the district’s area flow with a capacity of three million gallons a day.
The Village of Baxter Estates is drafted to receive $745,000 to address shoreline erosion and stabilize the segment of Shore Road abutting Manhasset Bay.
According to a press release from Suozzi, the erosion is causing failing gabion units, deterioration of the sidewalk, soil loss and vegetation and environmental losses. He said this is not only diminishing the natural environment but may also cause the heavily trafficked road to collapse.
The Village of Flower is initially slated to receive $80,000 for a sewer study on the feasibility of connecting homes to the Port Washington Water Pollution Control District sewer system. This is considered a first step in its project.
Long Island University School of Veterinary Medicine, although not in the Town of North Hempstead, is initially slated to receive $1 million for its mobile spay, neuter and vaccinate services for feral and stray cats.
The mobile clinics would also conduct outreach to low-income and veteran communities and provide trap-neuter-release, or TNR, training for veterinarians.
Suozzi said this will aid in the overpopulation of stray and feral cats in the area, as well as prevent diseases.