A 5 year plan is being assembled by the Massapequa Water District to properly address the funding required to complete several critical capital improvements over the next five years while minimizing the financial impact to taxpayers of the District. In doing so, the Massapequa Water District staff has worked very hard to create a plan which gradually phases in the cost of repaying the bonds required to fund the work over the next five (5) years. Under this proposal, the District can take full advantage of all time low interest rates and the taxpayers will only see modest increases in both their rates and taxes for the next several years. Indeed, if these much needed improvements are postponed to future generations the capital plan will be much more costly to implement given the projected increased rate of inflation and long term engineering estimates for this work.

As is the policy of the Massapequa Water District Board of Commissioners we have kept our district's books and records open to you at all times as we have with our policies especially regarding the cost of running this district. Of paramount importance to us all over the past decade, has been the misinformation supplied by both local and state government officials and the media regarding consolidation of water districts and requisite costs. This volatile combination led mainly by former Nassau County executive Tom Suozzi, and supported by long islands only newspaper, Newsday, was met with stiff resistance by the Massapequa Water District Board of Commissioners and in fact at every turn clearly showed the misrepresentation presented to taxpayers. Through the efforts of MWD certain events such as the release of Mr. Suozzi’s report on consolidation was never made public simply because it was untrue, the media failed to inform the public about the actual facts regarding consolidation costs. However, mixed in with this consolidation initiative were further misrepresentations regarding the ability of special districts to utilize special funds to keep the cost of borrowing or bonding under control. As this board had informed you previously on February 17, 2009, over the past decade we have saved you, our taxpayers almost $3,423,258.00 in taxes by utilizing the special funds accrued and available for projects. Again politics enters the picture with the former Nassau County Comptroller, and state Comptroller chastising special districts for using the accrued special funds instead of borrowing money and in fact costing our taxpayers more money with the interest rates on the borrowed money.

The Massapequa Board of Water Commissioners has continuously kept you, our taxpayers apprised of all of the MWD special funds and exactly what they are designated to be used for. Following guidelines and procedures set down over the last two decades by state Comptroller's we have set aside money for such major needs as:

* The EPA/DEC/DOH ever-changing and more stringent water quality requirements including the need for the water district to fight the impact of the Navy Grumman plume drinking water supply, and the need to meet iron removal requirements, among others. Current balance in this fund is $207,455.38

*The need to keep our May Place elevated water storage tank well-maintained and in continuous operation. This includes an upcoming (within the five-year plan) and very costly repainting that also includes a lead abatement procedure, structural repairs and upgrades. The district has just completed required safety improvements, interior repairs and interior painting of the bowl, along with an exterior cleanup of the tank. Current balance in this fund is $438,559.67

* A fund that was formerly called a “rainy day fund” that all special districts including school districts are required to have, but allows the district to function in the face of a loss of revenue. Current balance in this fund $697,258.00.

This water district like all other public entities continues to be faced with ever increasing costs brought about by operational necessities such as: power that represents approximately 11.25% of our budget; our employees that represent approximately 42.54% of our budget; chemicals especially chlorine as required by the DEC and DOH that represent 8.05%of our budget, set-asides for employee benefits as now required by the state Comptroller, and of course ever more stringent regulatory requirements (EPA/DEC/DOH/OSHA/MTA) that control all aspects of our operations. In keeping with our policy to keep you our consumers informed at all times the Massapequa board of water commissioners has looked at these ever increasing and numerous regulatory burdens on the costs of water supply and found it necessary to embark upon a detailed study of district requirements, and costs, necessary over the next five years. Our study was directed specifically at the balancing of tax increases, with increased costs to water rates, the aforementioned regulatory influences, and the media frenzy and misinformation regarding special funds.

This task lead by our new Superintendent Stan Carey required the assistance of the entire District staff, the Districts consulting engineer, and a specialized financial consultant who created a complex model which allowed staff to create options to fund the necessary capital improvements.

Sometime this spring, the Board of Commissioners will hold a public hearing so that district residents have the opportunity to participate in this process. We encourage all residents to watch this web site and local newspaper for updates and postings. Please keep in mind that this effort is driven by the Districts commitment to deliver and preserve a water supply of the highest quality for the welfare, health, and safety of the inhabitants of the Massapequa Water District. When compared to what many pay for cell phones, electric, and cable TV, your water costs are still very reasonable considering water is life’s most precious (and needed) natural resource.

We would especially like to thank the grassroots efforts of our local community, started by The Old Harbor Green Civic Association, and bringing forth our concerns regarding the Grumman Bethpage plume has been recognized and responded to by our Senior Senator Chuck Schumer.

On Monday, September 27, 2010 a meeting was convened by Senator Schumer at the Massapequa Water District bringing together top officials from the EPA, New York State DOH, New York State DEC, the Navy, and Grumman, as well as the US GS and other local water districts. The Senator and the summoned officials sat through a brief technical presentation by the Massapequa Water District (Mr. Paul Granger, P.E.) summarizing our concerns regarding the ominous constituents of that plume and the fact that it continues to migrate towards our drinking water wells. After a brief discussion Senator Schumer addressed the assembled group and outlined the following course of action: Monday's meeting convened by Sen. Charles Schumer (D-NY) led to developments in the ongoing campaign to protect drinking water from two chemical plumes. Among them:

• Scientists from the U.S. Geological Survey will begin a probe to better define the dimensions of the plumes. Officials hope to finish the work in six months.
• A technical committee of public health officials, environmental regulators, water district representatives and the Northrop Grumman and the U.S. Navy is being established. The committee is to meet next month to review existing cleanup efforts and recommend additional steps.
• Schumer asked Northrop Grumman and the Navy to create a dedicated fund to pay for any cleanup costs that water districts absorb so that ratepayers "aren't stuck with the bill".

The Board of Commissioners wishes to thank their employees, Massapequa Park Village, all local civic associations, and most of all the residents of the water district.

In the far left picture, l. to r., Commissioner John F. Caruso, Lt. Thomas Golder - NCPD Communications Bureau, Commissioner Vincent Guadagno, Insp. Edmund Horace - NCPD Communications Bureau, Commissioner Frank Flood, N.C. Legislator and Presiding Officer Peter Schmitt, N.C. Executive Edward Mangano

On August 2, 2010, Commissioner Frank Flood was inducted into Massapequa High School Hall of Fame during the annual induction dinner, attended by some 290 guests.

At 7:00 PM Hall of Fame President Mike Hanna and MHS Principal James Grossane welcomed guests. Directors Pauline Koller and Carol Ann Habeeb awarded 12 $2,000 scholarships to MHS Class of 2010 members.

Master’s of Ceremonies Gary Baldinger and Linda Hanna inducted Christie Welsh, MHS 99, Andrew McCaffrey, MHS 76, Richard Cassaro, BHS 78, Vance P. Zider, BHS 72, Bob Nelson, BHS 76, James Karpen, MHS 72 and Matthew J. Simeone, BHS 76 to the Massapequa High School Hall of Fame. Three Community / Staff Honorees were also inducted. They are, Cynthia Krieg, Frank J. Flood Jr. and John Devine.

Commissioner Flood received his award "For Outstanding Achievement As A Community Leader And For Your Exemplary Service To The Youth Of The Massapequas".

The Massapequa Water District prides itself on having a knowledgeable staff that can handle the various concerns that develop during the day-to-day operations as well as those that are somewhat out of the ordinary. During this past year, it was brought to the District's attention by both consumers and local environmentalists two different situations that the District was able to handle with the aid of its consulting engineer, Sidney Bowne.

The first was brought to our attention by local environmentalists who expressed their concern about the District's practice to blow-off or the initial purging of raw water from its supply wells at the Northwest well field onto the preserve south of Jerusalem Avenue and west of Hicksville Road. This practice was originally endorsed by the preserve as it was a natural way to recharge Long Island's groundwater aquifers. However, over the years, the preserves nature trails were utilized more and more by hikers and bird watchers. This discharge of clean water onto the preserve began to affect the walking trails used by these people. Once brought to our attention, the District met with Nassau County representatives and devised a plan that would divert the blow-off water from the preserve to drainage pools on the District's property. This served two purposes, first, it eliminated the flooding of the nature trails and second, it allowed for the continued recharge of our aquifer system.

The second was brought to our attention by NYS Assemblyman Joseph Saladino on behalf of a resident located adjacent to our New York Avenue facility. They expressed concerns regarding the physical condition of the site and inquired as to what the District could do to make improvements. The District, in an effort to clean-up all of their facilities had already improved the Sunrise Highway and May Place Tank sites and had budgeted to perform improvements during 2007. Once the resident expressed her concerns the District moved the project forward. In fact, the District put forth improvements not only to the New York Avenue site but also to the Northeast Well Field. Both sites would undergo sidewalk repair/replacement and replacement of the existing chain-link fence with new ornamental fencing. Both of these projects have recently been completed.

Last winter was particularly harsh and a number of residents experienced frozen pipes and other related problems. The MWD encourages all residents to take a few precautions to protect from these difficulties:

• Wrap water pipes that are exposed to outside walls with insulation and/or electric coils made
  for that purpose.
  
• Outside water faucets should be shut off from inside your home, drained and left open.
• Where faucets are prone to freezing, turn the water on to a trickle. This movement will help
  prevent freezing.
  
• Drain all underground irrigation systems.
  
• If you are leaving for an extended winter vacation, have a friend or neighbor check on your residence.
  
• Finally, be certain all members of the household know the location of water shutoffs. This can save valuable time in case of an emergency.

All persons using a Kidney Dialysis Machine at their residence or who require potable water for other medical treatment are encouraged to contact the Massapequa Water District offices at 516-798-5266 with a telephone number where they can be reached in case of a water supply emergency.