Lawler Announces Key Project Funding for Four Westchester Municipalities
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Congressman Mike Lawler (R-Pearl River) joined representatives from four Westchester towns last week that received critical federal money that will provide those municipalities the ability to update key water and sewer infrastructure and public safety equipment.
Gathered at Mount Pleasant Town Hall with officials from the four communities, Lawler outlined water quality projects for Ossining, Somers and Cortlandt and new dispatching and communications equipment for the Mount Pleasant Police Department.
The nearly $5 million for the four communities was part of a combined $58 million that was awarded to the 17th Congressional District for Fiscal Year 2024, including $38 million in community project funding requests.
“Projects like these, which aren’t always the flashiest, are more important than almost any other,” Lawler said. “This funding will help improve health and safety, ensure our water quality remains strong and makes sure that Westchester County remains an even better place to live and work and raise a family, and that our communities remain safe, and that’s been my focus in Congress, making sure that every community has a seat at the table and knows that it can come to me for help and to my office.”
With the $1 million Ossining received, the town is upgrading its water distribution system, including complete replacement of the town’s old cast iron mains, which will improve water quality and cut down on expensive repairs.
Another $2 million went to Somers to address PFAS issues affecting the water in the downtown Business-Historic Preservation District.
Cortlandt received $1 million to build a central sewer that will provide the service and improve water to the Annsville section of the town, enabling that area to be developed.
Mount Pleasant was provided more than $800,000 for a new dispatch system that will improve communication and emergency response for the 52-member department. The town’s officers respond to roughly 35,000 calls a year.
Supervisor Carl Fulgenzi said the money will help defray the cost of the equipment for the town and ultimately its taxpayers.
“It helps us with our budget and the much-needed improvements, like Michael said, for our communication for our police department,” Fulgenzi said. “So we appreciate you not only talking about the needs for the local governments, but following through and making sure you come through with those gifts. We appreciate it.”
Police Chief Paul Oliva said the current dispatching and communications system is outdated and it will provide the department with crucial data, since law enforcement relies more heavily on data today.
“We have a radio system that’s 25 years old and on its last legs, so we’re going to replace the radio communications with better equipment, better transmission quality to make an officer and the public safer,” he said.
Ossining Supervisor Liz Feldman said replacing all of the old cast iron water mains will have a dual benefit – improving water quality and avoiding costly repairs. One section of main near a nursing home has had 15 breaks in the past six years, and the cost to repeatedly fix it as well as providing water to the facility has been a burden, Feldman noted.
“It’s long overdue and we would not have been able to accomplish it in a timely fashion without this funding,” said Feldman, who complimented Lawler as well as U.S. senators Chuck Schumer and Kirsten Gillibrand for their help. “So we thank you very much in moving this forward.”
Being able to secure the $1 million for the Annsville Sewer and Water Infrastructure Project will be a boon for the town in multiple ways, said Cortlandt Town Planner Chris Kehoe.
“We’re looking to both improve the economic development of the area and improve the environmental health of the area and this money is critical in that effort,” Kehoe said.
Putnam and Rockland counties received about $10 million each for similar projects and the Dutchess County portion of the 17th Congressional District picked up more than $5 million, Lawler said.
Martin has more than 30 years experience covering local news in Westchester and Putnam counties, including a frequent focus on zoning and planning issues. He has been editor-in-chief of The Examiner since its inception in 2007. Read more from Martin’s editor-author bio here. Read Martin’s archived work here: https://www.theexaminernews.com/author/martin-wilbur2007/
