A month before the new coronavirus shut down the state, the Warwick Sewer Authority opened four bids to bring sewers to a collection of neighborhoods lumped under the name Bayside, seemingly signaling the start to a service to more than 900 property owners that has been promised for at least the last 25 years.

But the sewer authority has yet to act on the bids, and now Ward 5 Councilman Ed Ladouceur, who has made it a personal crusade to bring sewers to Bayside, fears the project will get shelved. If that happens, he reasons, the project will only cost more in the future. Meanwhile, residents will have to put up with failing septic systems or cesspools that prevent them from selling their properties and run them the risk of being fined by the Department of Environmental Management.

Mayor Joseph Solomon has expressed concern over the cost of the project – D’Ambra Construction submitted the low bid of $19,650,132 – and what it will mean to property owners who will pick up that cost through assessments. While the precise cost of assessments won’t be known until the project is completed – the projection is two years – according to Ladouceur’s rough calculations, assessments would be less than $25,000.

On Tuesday, Solomon said he remains concerned whether Bayside residents can afford the cost of sewers; that he continues to seek other options to address waste water; and that despite Ladouceur’s claims that the Narragansett Indians are in agreement with the plan to use directional drilling to avoid disturbing artifacts, the tribe could sue and halt the project.

“I’m not going to do something that is going to cost the homeowner an exorbitant amount,” Solomon said.

Furthermore, he said, National Grid and the tribe are at odds over Bayside work and he would like that to be resolved first.

Ladouceur sees two factors pushing up costs if action isn’t taken soon. Foremost is the assumption that construction costs will escalate. Secondly, he points out that interest rates are at a record low. This works to the advantage of the homeowner who will benefit from the lower rates the sewer authority will face to finance the project.

Also, a delay risks the chance of losing the D’Ambra bid and incurring the cost, and the delay, of re-advertising the project.

Ladouceur voiced his frustration in a letter appearing in last Thursday’s Beacon and that he is sending to constituents.

When the bids were opened in February, the councilman was hopeful WSA approval followed by that of the council would come in time for construction to have started this summer. It was assumed with the start of the project, DEM would have extended its waiver for homes within 200 feet of a waterway and using a cesspool or an unapproved septic system.

WSA has advised DEM that it is committed to moving forward but is experiencing delays coordinating with National Grid and the archeological requirements.

“DEM continues to work with the WSA to ensure that the goals of the Cesspool Act are met along with the City’s goals to provide sewer service where it has been deemed necessary through the wastewater facilities planning process. DEM and WSA are engaged in ongoing discussions and it is DEM’s intention to work with WSA and affected homeowners to minimize hardships while still protecting public health and the environment,” reads a statement issued by DEM.

Michael D’ Ambra, president of the construction company, is also prepared to wait it out for an unspecified period. In a telephone interview last week, he said “given the state of the economy and COVID there will be delays. We’ll hang in there.”

Asked about directional drilling that is key to not disturbing to Native American archaeological artifacts in the path of the sewers, D’Ambra called the method a “specialty” that the company has not used. The bids specify directional drilling that involves digging pits along the course of the sewers and then drilling underground so as to connect pipes between the pits. D’Ambra said he would be subcontracting for the directional drilling.

As for when the project could start, assuming it gets the green light from the council and mayor, D’Ambra said there’s no reason it couldn’t begin this summer.

“There’s still plenty of time left,” he said.

In response to questions emailed to the mayor, his office issued the following statement last week:

“In May, National Grid began upgrading their gas services in a defined archaeological area in the Bayside neighborhood of Warwick – it is known that there are Native American artifacts buried in that vicinity. Since it is considered an area of archaeological significance, National Grid must work with representatives of the Narragansett tribe to reach a memorandum of understanding (MOU) before proceeding with any work. The City of Warwick is awaiting the results of that MOU to determine how to move forward with the sewer project, since the two projects are being implemented in the same locations and the MOU will delineate the scope of work needed for any work done in that archeological area. Until the scope of work needed is made clear, it is not possible to accurately determine the costs associated with the sewer project.”

It goes on to read: “Mayor Solomon has raised concerns about the costs associated with the project and the finances. Before moving forward with the sewer project, the Mayor wants to make sure that homeowners have the full information on the scope of work and associated costs so that it does not become unexpectedly burdensome for taxpayers.”

In an email, Ted Kresse, spokesman for National Grid, said: “We were doing work to upgrade gas utilities in that area and learned that a portion of that work was within an archaeological site. We immediately stopped work in that area and we have been working with the City of Warwick, the Rhode Island Historical Preservation and Heritage Commission and the Narragansett Indian Tribal Historic Preservation Office to determine next steps. RIHPHC will require a permit to allow National Grid’s archaeological consultant to monitor the construction.”

The email goes on to say: “The Tribe has also requested an opportunity to monitor the work, which National Grid will accommodate. An MOU between National Grid and the Tribe would facilitate payment for the time spent by the Tribe monitoring construction. However, the Tribe is not presently conducting field work due to the pandemic. Once the Tribe commences field work, National Grid will work with the Tribe to get an MOU in place.”