Local Officials and Residents React to Sewer Feasibility Findings

The Suffolk County Department of Public Works in its continued Sewer Feasability Study for the areas of Deer Park, North Babylon, West Babylon, West Islip and Wyandanch, including the revelation of an estimated cost of over $2 billion and construction time of until at least 2021.

Both officials and some local residents had things to say following the results at the meeting.

"First thing I recogonize is when we do these reports, it scares the pudding out of us," said Legislator Wayne Horsley (R–Lindenhurst), which got a chuckle out of a packed house of over 100 people. "We're trying several things here on the country level... I know this is scary stuff, but we have to go through these steps so we can move the ball forward."

He added: "We're playing some of this by ear, to be frank."

"I passed the original bill to do this study," said Legislator Lou D'Amaro (D–North Babylon). "We're getting info we need to see if this makes sense. We are not here to impose this on you."

D'Amaro added: "We can tell you what the benefits are to this... but this is very preliminary, what we're showing. If we don't take these steps, we can't even begin the discussion."

One of the most outspoken speakers was Matt Groh, a North Babylon resident who ran for Babylon Town Council last Fall. He said his concerns were over whether or not the plans would allow for those in each district subarea to be allowed to choose whether they hook up to the system or not.

"Some sources were not up there for funding this either," he noted. "What about a quarter-cent sales tax? We should use that to cover the sewers." Among his other suggestions was a Capital Improvement Fund to help shave off some of the estimate $2 billion to be spent on the project.