South Farmingdale Enters Water Source Race

will be in the running to be the new water provider for the Village of Farmingdale. Commissioners and representatives from South Farmingdale met with the at Monday's work session and decided they would have a proposal within a few weeks.

According to Mayor Ralph Ekstrand, Farmingdale is faced with two scenarios for dealing with the water issue.

"One is buying the water from another entity like South Farmingdale and if we can still run the water department with that…that would be great. We could keep everybody and maintain our system," he said.

Bethpage Water District has come up with a similar proposal and will soon submit their final draft, according to the board.

The second option Suffolk County Water Authority has proposed would supply the water and repair the village's infrastructure. This proposal would require state legislation and would make Farmingdale the

Ekstrand said he was confident in South Farmingdale and that they had a "good inclination of where we're going" in the water plans. He wouldn't confirm which direction the board is leaning and said all the final proposals would have to be in before deciding.

Former Farmingdale Mayor George Starkie called the water issues the "last unfinished project" from when he was in office and encouraged the board to get the public involved.

"There are some things that the public doesn't need to know, but at what point will the public get involved," he asked.

"What it comes down to is what's best for the residents," said Ekstrand. "The final proposals from each will most likely be made public."

Starkie agreed that the choice should be made for the residents and not about "keeping Suffolk out."

The next Village Board meeting is June 4.