Board hustles to OK sewage plant project

Riverhead’s town board had to fit in a special meeting before its regular work session Thursday so it could vote on a $9 million upgrade to the town’s sewage treatment plant in time to qualify for low-interest financing through the state Environmental Facilities Corp.

“We couldn’t wait for our regular meeting. This has to be in by the end of the month,” Supervisor Sean Walter said.

The town is under a federal mandate to reduce nitrogen from the plant, which discharges effluent into the Peconic River. That project is expected to cost $23.5 million, but with grants and other revenue, the town’s cost of the project will be $8.96 million.

Walter said the state can get lower interest rates than the town on bonds needed to pay for the work. The exact interest rates will not be known until the bonds are actually sold by the Environmental Facilities Corp.