Rye Wins County Flood Cash for Sluice Gate

Late Tuesday night the Westchester County Board of Legislators voted to fund 50% of Rye's Bowman Avenue sluice gate flood mitigation project. Rye Mayor Steve Otis is an original member of the Westchester County Flood Action Task Force.

In an email titled "It passed unanimously!!!!" to fellow pols night Tuesday night, County Legislator Judy Myers said: "Hoooooray! We just voted 15-0 (2 legislators are absent) to approve and fund the flood mitigation projects in Rye (sluice gate) and Mamaroneck Town (Gardens Lake), as well as a Scarsdale project and Tarrytown project. Thank you for testifying at the public hearing tonight. Judy Myers (still in meeting…)"

Councilman Andy Ball spoke at the county hearing before the vote Tuesday night.

Otis told MyRye.com "I am very pleased that our long term planning efforts on flood mitigation have resulted in this important funding. We will continue our efforts to aggressively seek outside funding to implement flood mitigation projects and shield local taxpayers from these costs where grants are available. The sluice-gate project is one of a number of projects we need to pursue."

Otis sent thanks to City Council and City staff, County Executive Andy Spano, Legislator Judy Myers, County Planning Commissioner Jerry Mulligan, and the Rye Flood Action Committee.