Who’ll flinch first?

So now it’s out there.

The Suffolk County Water Authority ended all speculation last week when it announced that it intends to install three miles of new transmission mains out to Orient, whether or not the town approves and whether or not stimulus funds are available. Assuming the Town Board declines to alter its water map, which the authority once respected, what happens next?

Will the authority simply start digging? If so, will the town head to court?

Welcome to a governmental game of chicken, North Fork style.