Officials Look to Unclog Sewer Standstill

While elected officials are various levels of government agree that a lack of sewers in Smithtown has been an ongoing battle for businesses, they say things are happening behind the scenes to fix the problem.

For example, a $70-million project is currently underway in Hauppauge Industrial Park  nearly doubling its peak capacity to 1.65 million gallons.

The project was backed by Suffolk County Legis. John Kennedy, R-Nesconset, who said one of the things his office is looking to tackle in 2012 is a more successfully pursue funding to install a sewer system within the Town of Smithtown.

"Within 18 months, it will double the number of buildings attached to the sewer treatment plant. That allows for expansion and a great density," Kennedy said.

But while it is expected to bring hundreds of businesses online, officials say it's still not enough.

Smithtown Supervisor Patrick Vecchio told Patch the lack of a sewer system is  since it prevents growth or expansion of restaurants, bars, offices and other businesses.

Kennedy said his office in 2011 submitted an application to the Empire State Development Corp. for funds to sewer Smithtown's Main Street and was rejected. He has a meeting with Andrea Lohneiss, Long Island regional director for the ESD on Feb. 8 to find out why.

"[Andrea is] going to critique our application, beef it up, augment it and get it into a better form so we do get accepted this year and get funding," Kennedy said.

The legislator suspects one of the problems may have been that his office only had three weeks to prepare the application in 2011. He hopes by calling next Wednesday's meeting that officials can get a jump on the 2012 process, even if a due date has yet to be announced.

One step being taken in assuring the future possiblity of sewers in Smithtown is the acquisition of necessary resources. Kennedy said he's hoping to reach an agreement with St. Johnland Nursing Center in Kings Park to purchase several acres from them to transform into the necessary leeching fields.

"If we can do that, we will have all the physical pieces in place. Then we need the funding from Albany," Kennedy said.