KJ water-tank plan sparks hot debate

KJ water-tank plan sparks hot debate
Pedestrian killed

Goshen - No issue requiring agreement between the Orange County Legislature and the Village of Kiryas Joel is simple these days.

That's why the village's seemingly simple request to build a pair of water holding tanks on a defunct Jesuit retreat would spark a half-hour debate and inspire a heated exchange between County Executive Ed Diana and Blooming Grove Supervisor Charlie Bohan yesterday.

Placing the tanks on a hill on the county-owned Gonzaga property would improve the village's water pressure, Diana told the Legislature's physical services committee. He pressed the panel to vote on the measure immediately.

But legislators, who have been sparring with Kiryas Joel since blocking its plans to tap the New York City Aqueduct in 2004, balked. The Gonzaga property is scheduled to become a county park. Legislators had some concern about whether the plan would set any precedent for other county parks.

Things got dicey when Diana said the three neighboring towns, Blooming Grove, Monroe and Woodbury, had been notified about the project. Bohan, who was sitting in the room, angrily denied the claim. Committee Chairman Frank Fornario, R-Blooming Grove, had to call Bohan out of order.

In the end, Fornario denied Diana's requests for a vote until lawmakers could get more information. The issue will return to the committee next month.

Brendan Scott

Pedestrian killed

Goshen - No issue requiring agreement between the Orange County Legislature and the Village of Kiryas Joel is simple these days.

That's why the village's seemingly simple request to build a pair of water holding tanks on a defunct Jesuit retreat would spark a half-hour debate and inspire a heated exchange between County Executive Ed Diana and Blooming Grove Supervisor Charlie Bohan yesterday.

Placing the tanks on a hill on the county-owned Gonzaga property would improve the village's water pressure, Diana told the Legislature's physical services committee. He pressed the panel to vote on the measure immediately.

But legislators, who have been sparring with Kiryas Joel since blocking its plans to tap the New York City Aqueduct in 2004, balked. The Gonzaga property is scheduled to become a county park. Legislators had some concern about whether the plan would set any precedent for other county parks.

Things got dicey when Diana said the three neighboring towns, Blooming Grove, Monroe and Woodbury, had been notified about the project. Bohan, who was sitting in the room, angrily denied the claim. Committee Chairman Frank Fornario, R-Blooming Grove, had to call Bohan out of order.

In the end, Fornario denied Diana's requests for a vote until lawmakers could get more information. The issue will return to the committee next month.

Brendan Scott