It would not make me happy if I stopped harping about certain things and let them subside so I am at it again.
I imagine that most everyone is familiar with what is happening in our highest levels of government especially the race for President.
I decided I would instead begin with the lower levels of government here on L.I. and work my way up.
Recently I read about Tom DiNapoli having come down on the Mineola School District for being lenient with protocol regarding vendors.
Mineola’s defense was that three vendors for an item were charging the same price and therefore evaded the requirements. However, the law is the law.
I consider that at least one of the vendors could be like some credit cards that offer cash back rewards. Need I say more?
A few years ago the Mineola School District was also talking $300,000 for a standby generator for the Jackson Avenue School.
The reality is that a maximum of $30,000 would do the job-installed. The requested amount would have been a ‘big bonanza.’
To my knowledge, there is still not a backup if the grid should go down.
The next step up the political ladder could be the Village of Mineola a few years ago wanting to spend $350,000 for backup plus I believe $37,500 for their engineering buddies.
This only for the Village Hall.
That didn’t go and a few years have gone by. Still no backup.
Last year past Mayor Bob Hinck got involved in wanting to get a $500,000 federal grant for the Village Hall and maintenance building’s backup generators.
A while back The Village of Mineola honored Mr. Hinck by naming a one-way alley that goes from Willis Avevue, behind the Western Beef Supermarket next to the LIRR tracks to Roslyn Road called Hinck Way.
Last week I clipped a Lowes ad for a Generac (top of the line) 10,000 watt (10 kwh) with automatic transfer switch for $2,843. Natural gas or LP
That would be 10 kWh every hour.
Should Mineola receive that grant, I believe Sen. Gillibrand would like to know where We The People’s money would go.
Anyway, I wonder if getting involved in something like that is Hinck’s way. Maybe I shouldn’t say it.
Mineola’s next project is to repair three short one block streets East of Birchwood Court between OCR and the LIRR tracks.
It was said that some trees need to be removed and some curb work is needed. For that they are bringing in their buddies as consultants.
I looked at the three streets. They are smooth and nothing is urgent.
There was utility excavation work done on Roslyn Road and on 2nd Street. After this work they are left rough and the finishing touch is never that good.
At 30 mph it is really bumpy. First things first and maybe a different paving company.
For the next time I am considering the next steps up the political ladder.
Charles Samek
Mineola
