Mineola’s Board of Trustees Wednesday night approved a resolution calling on the village to seek a grant to help fund the reconstruction of one of their water facilities. 

The board also approved the installation of eight new security cameras at Memorial Park and the purchase of four parking meters to be installed downtown. 

“This is the work that we and other villages are dealing with to keep our water clean,” Mayor Paul Pereira said of the work to be done on Water Well No. 6 on Westbury Avenue. “Over half of it will come from grants and we will bond for the rest.”

Pereira said the grant, which is for $5,000,000 of the $8,491,000 maximum appropriation, is to get ahead of the curve on upcoming work. 

The board in July also approved a resolution for an engineering services proposal with D&B Engineers and Architects, the village’s engineering firm, worth $1,224,500. 

Last year, Mineola unveiled its new water and sewer department headquarters on Westbury Avenue and expects this year to its construction project on Well No. 4, according to the village’s annual water quality report for 2022.

Williston Park’s Board of Trustees during their July meeting also approved two resolutions for grants on village wells.

One grant would be for constructing a treatment system to remove chemicals at wells 1A and 2. The project has and a maximum cost of $13,810,000.

Williston Park is applying for a $5 million grant to partly cover the cost and would use a bond for $8,810,000 to cover the difference if authorized.

Another $5 million grant would be for the construction of a treatment system to remove chemicals at well 4 with a maximum cost of $8,429,000. If approved for the grant, Williston Park would authorize a bond up to a maximum of $3,429,000 if approved. 

For the new parking meters, Pereira said it is part of replacing old meters with new solar-powered ones that accept payment by credit, cash or an app. 

“We are in the process of moving into the 21st century by slowly acquiring these and are starting downtown,” Pereira said. 

In unrelated village news, Building Superintendent Liam O’Keffe reminded residents the village recently launched a building permit amnesty program that allows homeowners with unpermitted and previously completed improvement projects to apply for permits without penalty. 

O’Keefe said the program will run through the end of the year and those interested can contact the building department at 516-746-0750 ext. 255. 

Pereira added that he asked O’Keefe to more aggressively pursue property management issues with businesses in the village’s commercial areas. 

“With this rain and heat weeds have grown out of control and we are addressing that,” Pereira said. “More than anything, we are looking for compliance and I expect that in the coming weeks.”