Motor Parkway Land Survey Near Completion

Written by Rich Forestano Friday, 10 February 2012 00:00

Mineola, Town of North Hempstead meeting this week

Public Works officials revealed that Mineola is close to completing a land survey on property just north of Westbury Avenue in Carle Place. This is in an effort to move the current Bruce Terrace Flood Remediation project forward, which village officials stated in the past that the Town of North Hempstead was dragging its feet on their part.

According to a construction report, the land in question would need drainage improvements, including installation of new catch basins and pipes on three to four streets near the border of Mineola and Carle Place, provided by the Town. A recharge basin would be built on Mineola land located north of Westbury Avenue near Glen Cove Road near the old Motor Parkway.

Public Works Superintendent Tom Rini said project and village engineering consultant Dvirka & Bartilucci (D&B) sent the Town service proposals. It was confirmed the Town received the proposal in September.

The Town has previously stated that it awaited an IMA to be finalized with Mineola to take control of the parcel of land north of Westbury Avenue. Town officials stated that everyone seems to be on the same page.

An IMA can’t be drafted until the land being used is “defined,” according to village officials. In turn, a land survey is required. The board passed a resolution on Jan. 11 to pay subconsultant AK Associates $6,500 to commence land surveying of the Town of North Hempstead’s portion of the project.

“We will do this project,” Mayor Scott Strass said. “We will get it done as quickly as possible.”

Rini said that the topographical survey would be completed on Feb. 3. A 480-foot overflow drainage pipe would have to be installed on Dow Avenue from existing drywells located on Pilgrim Street to the yet-to-be Nassau County built Sheridan Boulevard bypass, according to Rini.

A notice would be sent out to Dow Avenue residents, in which engineers would need access to homes to examine where the sanitary sewer pipe exits the basement. Public Works needs to get an exact location so that the sewer line is not interfered with.

“Last Wednesday (Jan. 25) night, myself and trustee George Durham attended a Carle Place Civic Association meeting,” trustee Paul Cusato said. “I can honestly tell you that for the first 15 minutes there was a feeling of confrontation between myself, Supervisor [Jon] Kaiman, and trustee Durham. It was heated for a while. But as Mr. Rini said, things are not moving along but we’re trying.”

Durham announced that Legislator Rich Nicolello confirmed that funding for Nassau County’s part of the project was made available.

“I confidently state that the Village of Mineola is doing everything possible to move this project along for the residents of Bruce Terrace,” Durham said.

Rini said the notification would read that representatives from Public Works and D&B, who also represent Nassau County, would need approximately 10-15 minutes in each home to check the sewer lines. The same process would be needed on Liberty Avenue, where the village will install 1,420 foot 18-24 inch drainage pipe. That pipe takes water off of Union Street before it gets to East Second Street where flooding is also an issue.

Nassau County has authorized its end of the project. As of Jan. 26, Mineola received a confirmation letter that was sent to D&B from the County, which gave the go-ahead on the County’s end of the project.

The County would install two new catch basins and five new 6-foot diameter manholes and 1,715 feet of 36 or 48-inch bypass on Sheridan Boulevard from Raff Avenue, crossing Westbury Avenue and entering Mineola’s recharge basin, the report stated. All existing drainage structures would be reconnected to the new bypass.