ROL: Orange County lawmakers last night rejected the village’s plan to build a pair of water storage tanks in a new county park.The decisive “no” vote capped off more than a month of debate over what might have otherwise appeared a simple request for a favor: Kiryas Joel said it needed to erect the tanks in the Gonzaga property to boost water pressure for firefighting.The towns that surround the Hasidic community, however, argued the move was an unnecessary land grab by Kiryas Joel. Thus, the water tank proposal provided yet another rallying cry against the village’s explosive growth and strong political influence.

“The fact that it would be inconvenient or more expensive to the village to install pumping stations versus water towers on high ground should not scare you on this Legislature from deciding this issue for a village that builds first and plans later,” said Phyllis Rampulla of South Blooming Grove, one of more than 100 in the audience.

The Legislature agreed. The proposal failed 2-17 with one absence and one abstention.

But if anything, last night’s vote underscored how the political influence of Kiryas Joel’s critics has eclipsed that of the village in the county Legislature. The result follows the Legislature’s 2004 decision to sue the village and stall its unrelated plan to draw water from the New York City Aqueduct.

As during that vote, County Executive Ed Diana stayed silent during the water tank debate, even though he had carried the proposal to the Legislature. Like two years ago, Legislator Michael Amo, R-Central Valley, whose district is dominated by Kiryas Joel, argued that the village was being singled out.

But several lawmakers who said they might have otherwise supported the water tank proposal said Kiryas Joel failed to convince him that building the tanks on the Gonzaga land was necessary.

After the vote, Kiryas Joel Administrator Gedalye Szegedin said the village’s options included building a pumping station, erecting a higher tower or trying to take the parkland by eminent domain.