Sandy Leads to Purchase Cutbacks

Trustees awarded bids to local nurseries this month for the purchase of trees, shrubs, flowers and mulch for its annual spring spruce up.

Though recreation director Kevin Ocker said he cut "way back"on the amount of mulch being purchased, Grove Street resident Bob Orosz questioned why the village is buying it at all.

"With all the trees knocked down during Sandy why aren't we selling mulch? Why are we buying it?" he asked.

Ocker said the village did chip and stockpile some wood from downed trees but most of the storm debris was carted away to a county disposal area.

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"They tend to break down much faster and can carry different types of disease with them," he said of the natural wood chips. "We don't want to use them in our show beds."

Eberhard Voellm Nurseries, Inc. of Franklin Square, lowest overall bidder for mulch, will provide the product at a total cost of $1,850. Bisset Nursery Corp. of Dix Hills, the lowest overall bidder for trees and shrubs, will provide the greenery for a total of $15,000. (Nine vendors were invited to bid; the village received four.)

Bisset Nursery will also provide perennials and bulbs at an approximate cost of $14,500 while Otto Kiehl Florists, Inc. of Huntington will provide annuals at an approximate cost of $7,100. (Seventeen vendors were invited to bid; the village received four.)

Where else do you think the village could cut back? Let us know in the comments section below.