(Editor's Note: The following letter was also sent to the Hicksville Water District, County Executive Thomas Suozzi, County Comptroller Howard Weitzman, Newsday and New York State Assemblyman Rob Walker.)

I have followed the stories concerning the Hicksville Water District you have published, including the one you published on Dec. 19, 2008 and those in Newsday in which there has been talk on the county level of eliminating some "special districts," including water districts like Hicksville's.

While I appreciate the county comptroller's efforts and the efforts of our county executive to find ways to cut costs, I keep thinking of the phrase "if it ain't broke, don't fix it."

In my opinion, the Hicksville Water District is a shining star in a sea of government bureaucracy and mismanagement. The few times I have had to contact them they have proved to be friendly, effective and responsive. Most importantly, unlike almost every other branch or service of government, they are cheap! When I tell friends and relatives who live outside of Hicksville what I pay for water they are amazed. I do not want my water district to be merged with others that are charging their residents more. The end result will probably be an averaging of the higher and lower rates resulting in an increase to Hicksville residents.

It sounds like Long Island had too many special districts that are wasting taxpayer dollars but we should not lump them all together. Maybe our government leaders need to look at the ones that seem to be working well and emulate them rather than destroy what works.

As a Hicksville resident I want my water to be clean, uninterrupted and inexpensive. Right now that's exactly what it is. If it ain't broke, don't fix it!"

John A. Colonna