The Village of Munsey Park recently filed a complaint against the Manhasset Lakeville Water District citing a lack of transparency on the part of the water district to seek approvals from Munsey Park for its water tower project. On Tuesday, July 8, Judge R. Bruce Cozzens granted a temporary restraining order barring the Water District from accepting bids, entering into contract and/or commencing any work regard the proposed elevated water storage tank and communications tower at the Munsey Park Location.
The existing water tower is located on land that is situated in Munsey Park. In October of last year, the water district erected a 190 foot radio tower over the Columbus Day weekend without notifying the neighbors who’s properties abut the land on Eakins. Mark Shackel, Munsey Park resident, had contacted the Manhasset Press regarding the event “They did it on Columbus Day, there was no warning,” he said. Village officials from Munsey Park and Flower Hill, as well as angry residents, demanded the removal of the tower, which was agreed to by Donald O’Brien, theWater Commissioner, who was running for re-election. After a number of delays, the tower came down and the water district accelerated its plans for replacing the aged tower, stating it had reached it’s economic life.
According to the complaint filed by the village,”MLWD owns a certain piece of real property situated with the Incorporated Village of Munsey Park, on which a five hundred thousand gallon elevated water storage tank sits. The respondent has proposed and is presently accepting bids to demolish and replace the existing tank with a 750,000 gallon elevated the water storage tank and communications tower, elsewhere on the property and has notified select members of the public and village officials that they will not submit to oversight of or seek the consent of the Village with regards to the project.”
According to Manhasset-Lakeville Water Commissioner Andrew DeMartin, “We find ourselves in an unfortunate situation” and taxpayers will “pay for it on both ends.”
The proposed tower would cost $3.2 million that the district intends to pay for using money from its capital fund.
