Politics & Government

Residents Sound Off On Sewers For Wickford, Shore Acres

More than 25 people spoke – a few suggesting the cost of sewering Wickford be spread townwide.

It was past 11 p.m. by the time the last person spoke about sewers at the Town Council meeting Monday night. By then, more than 25 people had posed questions and offered opinions on proposals to bring sewers to Wickford and Shore Acres.

Notably, no one spoke about the third sewer proposal, Post Road North, which would affect largely businesses.

The continuing refrain for both residents of Wickford and Shore Acres – and it was residents, not business owners, who spoke Monday night – was that for those who complied with earlier dictums to replace their cesspool or septic system would now be punished if sewers were passed.

Another popular theme was that the council consider having the entire town help pay for sewers in Wickford, especially since the whole town would be voting on bonds to pay for the sewers. 

"I think everybody, if they are going to vote on it, this bond issue, then the whole town should share in the expense of this," said Bill Nevitt of Wickford.

Under the sewer proposals outlined Monday, everyone with property on a new sewer line would be required to pay for that sewer line – a sewer assessment – regardless of the age or sophistication of their septic system. For Wickford, that could range from a $67,000 assessment if only the smallest portion of the village was sewered, down to $33,000, if most of Wickford was sewered.

The assessment would be paid over 20 years, so for the most expensive assessment, that would be an annual payment of $4,500. If sewers were extended for most of Wickford, the annual payment would drop to the $2,000 range.

Hooking into a sewer line would be an additional expense – a cost determined by the number of feet from the property line to the structure. Sewer consultant Jim Geremia estimated it would cost property owners of Wickford about $2,500, but it could cost – again, based on footage, up to $5,000.

"Going after big polluters is easy. This is hard," said Tom Kutcher, North Kingstown resident and Save the Bay's Baykeeper. "Save the Bay supports extending sewers throughout Wickford, option E, because sewers will provide a number of environmental and public interests." 

He continued, "Although advanced onsite systems will reduce by 50 percent, the other 50 percent will go into the harbor.... And the harbor is poorly flushed."

Amy Sonder, who owns three properties on Elam Street, spoke of both her desire to do the right thing, environmentally, but also to the harsh economic realities of Wickford property owners. In particular, she noted the Jan. 1, 2014, deadline for owners within 200 feet of the bay who have cesspools that need to be replaced. Additionally, she noted this year's large increase in the cost of flood insurance.

At the end of the meeting, Council President Liz Dolan said, "We are not making any decisions.... The next meeting is Jan. 13. We will have it on again for council discussion."

Past stories on extending sewers in North Kingstown:

From Dec.:
Public Invited To Talk About Sewers Monday Night
Letter To The Council: Wickford Sewer Survey

From Oct.:
Council Continues To Explore Costs To Bring Sewers To…
Sewer Updates: Post Road North Price Reduction, Shore Acres…

From Sept: 
Council Wrestles With Sewer Issues Present & Future

From August: 
Figuring Out Assessments For Completed Sewer Lines
Council Contemplates Extending Sewers To Wickford, Post Road…
Sewers For Shore Acres Could Cost $21K Or More Per Residence


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