Nassau County Legislator Dave Mejias and the legislature recently approved a resolution to waive fees at all Nassau County pool facilities for all active duty military personnel and their families. A pool formerly used by many of the local military personnel at Mitchel Field is unusable.

The fee waiver is an amendment to an already existing ordinance that waived fees for military personnel at the Nassau County Aquatic Center when used for training purposes. This amendment expands the exemption to all Nassau County pools. The amendment was approved unanimously.

"In light of the news that the swimming pool at Mitchel Field is inoperable because of lack of funding, we are opening our doors and pools to active military personnel and their families," said Mejias. "It a courtesy that we wanted to extend to those serving our country."

Legislators are planning to write to federal officials to make sure that the Mitchel Field pool is repaired by next summer so that the military families will have their local pool back.

Legislator Mejias and the legislature unanimously approved last week a resolution to refurbish the county's first courthouse and design a new life science building at Nassau Community College.

"The return on the investment of the Life Science Center at the college is that Nassau County will retain its young, talented workforce here at home, and will fill the growing need for professionals who are tops in their field," said Mejias. "The Life Science Building at Nassau Community College offers students that opportunity."

Legislators unanimously approved $63.5 million in bonding, part of County Executive Thomas Suozzi's two-year $286-million building consolidation plan, to restore the historic old courthouse. Additional construction to the edifice includes a two floor annex which will house the county executive offices and offices for all 19 legislators on the first floor and is expected to take 16 months to complete.

Legislators also approved approximately $907,000 in costs for the design of a new life Science Building at the college and a promise of $20 million toward construction costs to match the $20 million that the school will receive in state funding.

"The refurbishment and renovation of the old courthouse is an important step toward the County's real estate consolidation plan," said Mejias.