Bay Park sewer bill should go elsewhere
East Rockaway resident Kristin Ochtera outside of the Bay Park Sewage Treatment Plant Thursday. She says the pungent odors have made the park and the community unbearable. Credit: Kevin P. Coughlin
The article "Sewage settlement to cost $1M" [News, June 17] reported that Nassau County was fined for environmental violations at the plant dating back to 2007. We agree with Legis. David Denenberg (D-Merrick) that "it's too bad the penalty for mismanagement by the plant's previous operators would be borne by taxpayers."
Our civic groups, along with many others, have been decrying the conditions at both the Bay Park and Cedar Creek sewage plants, and the direct impact on the residents of these communities. We have been told that money was allocated to remedy these situations. Taxpayer money was spent, yes, but for what? It does not appear to have gone toward maintaining or repairing the plants.
Denenberg, who at the time was the chairman of the Committee on Planning, Development and the Environment, knew firsthand of our communities' complaints and concerns. While he suggests that taxpayers should be notified in the future when permit violations occur, if the promises made to taxpayers had been fulfilled and we had been protected in the first place, there would be no violations, and therefore no need for notification.
We are extremely grateful that dramatic improvements at both plants have taken place in the past year, but those who allowed the plants to deteriorate should be footing the bill.
Ella Stevens, Wantagh
Connie Petrucci, East Rockaway
Editor's note: The writers represent, respectively, the Wantagh-Seaford Homeowners' Association and the Green Bay Parkers, a civic association.
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