It’s been a long time coming, but the Village of Williston Park has finally received a $100,000 state grant for the Williston Park Fire Department.
Village of Williston Park Trustee Teresa Thomann announced receipt of the funds, which had been originally promised to the village by then state Sen. Craig Johnson in 2010, at Monday night’s board meeting.
After Johnson lost his seat to Jack Martins (R-Mineola) in the 2010 election, the Democratic leadership in the state Senate left approximately $2 million in grants to fire departments in the 7th state Senate district in limbo as it rescinded about $8.5 million in grants to municipalities and school districts.
Martins then worked with the Republican-controlled state Senate to get the grant restored.
“When we lost the grant, we didn’t do the project,” Thomann said.
The project was to include an upgrade in the Williston Park Fire Department’s headquarters security system.
Village of Williston Park Mayor Paul Ehrbar said the money will be used for needed upgrades for fire department radios and other equipment including life-support Scott Air Packs that fireman wear in burning buildings.
The grant was among more the $4.7 million Martins has succeeded in restoring to different entities in his district.
“It’s important for all levels of government to support our fire departments and emergency services. I’m pleased I was able to do that on the state level. By directing these funds to the Williston Park Fire Department, they will directly benefit the entire community,” Martins said in a statement.
Thomann said the village also received a so-called “bullet” grant of $15,000 for the village library.
Meanwhile, Ehrbar said the village has received $500,000 in reimbursements from the Federal Emergency Management Association for damage sustained during Hurricane Sandy and is still awaiting additional reimbursements .
“It’s a slow process,” Ehrbar said. “We have gotten some reimbursement. We’re expecting more.”
He said village support staff had made two or three submissions for reimbursement and credited them for their persistence.
Since FEMA is now picking up 90 percent of the costs related to storm damages with the state covering the remaining 10 percent, he said, he expected the village to be made whole for expenses it sustained. He declined to say how much the remaining balance of reimbursements would total.
In other developments:
• Village Trustee Michael Uttaro said the June 14 Flag Day barbecue and concert that was rained out last Friday will be held at the village gazebo on Thursday, June 20 at 7 p.m.
• Village Trustee William Carr announced the village Recreation Committee will hold movie nights at the municipal pool on June 21; a seniors night film on July 17; and screenings on July 29 and Aug. 21.
• Ehrbar announced a group called Glass Houses will be giving a free concert at Kelleher Field on July 18.
