The Williston Park Village Board unanimously approved issuing three bonds totaling $2.6 million for road repairs, improvements to village buildings and the upgrade of village playgrounds at a board meeting on Monday night.
Village of Williston Park Mayor said the largest of the three bonds – for $2 million – would be used to repair village roads.
“The $2 million will not complete all the needed roadwork in the village,” Ehrbar said.
But, he said, the money would cover costs to upgrade roads in the worst condition.
Ehrbar said the village also hoped to get grant money to help cover costs for the road and building repairs. He said the village has $90,000 in its current budget to pay debt service of $1 million of the road repairs. The village board may have to increase next year’s budget to cover the cost of the bonds, he said.
Ehrbar said the village will also apply $200,000 it has accumulated from the state Consolidated Highway Improvement Program for engineering costs for the road repairs.
The two other bonds are for $525,000 for improvements to village buildings and $75,000 to upgrade village playgrounds.
The $525,000 is intended to cover an estimated $400,000 for installation of an elevator at the Williston Park Fire Department headquarters, an estimated $75,000 for improvements to the front steps at Village Hall and an estimated $50,000 for improvements to the village highway building.
“We were very sensitive to the taxpayers so we were very judicious on the repairs needed to be done,” village Trustee Teresa Thomann said, adding that interest rates are at historic lows.
Village Trustee Michael Uttaro said there are no extravagances at the fire department headquarters and the elevator is a “good investment.”
Ehrbar said the “main goal” of the bond for the playground upgrades is to replace equipment and playground surfaces at Kelleher Field and at Nassau Boulevard.
In other developments:
• Ehrbar presented village auxiliary police officer Betty Ann Pristupa a senior citizen award for 17 years of service to the village.
• The village will hold a free concert featuring “Glass Houses,” a Billy Joel tribute band at Kelleher Field on July 18 at 7 p.m.
• The village will be observing the 50th anniversary of the opening of Roger Fay Pool on Aug. 10 in a celebration dubbed “Saturday Under the Stars.” The evening will include live music. Admission is $50 per adult.
Reach reporter Richard Tedesco by e-mail at rtedesco@theislandnow.com or by phone at 516.307.1045 x204. Also follow us on Twitter @theislandnow1 and Facebook at facebook.com/theislandnow.
