So much is happening on this vexing issue that it deserves its own page.

Like a bad penny that won't go away, the owners of Douglas Lumber keep hammering away at the chance to tie in their sewage system to the Lincoln town sewer.  Even though they tried this as recently as 2005 and were soundly defeated, they are back again, claiming they need to tie in to our system in order to maintain their 5 working toilets. 

The fact is if this happens, it will make the business more desireable to sell off to developers, a fact not lost by the building by a very large competitor down the street, Lowe's Home Center. A tie in to our sewer will allow Douglas Lumber to sell off for any kind of development at all, since Smithfield has no restrictions at that particular location.  Some possibilities are a hotel, gas station, 24 hour convenience store, restaurant or fast food operation....even a helicopter landing pad!  Already other nearby businesses are clamoring to join in on the bandwagon and siphon off the town of Lincoln's sewer system to promote their own businesses as well.

This issue came up in 2005 and was soundly rejected by the town council.  Nearly 60 residents attended that town meeting and all spoke against the tie in except one, a friend of the owners of the business.

The council members agreed there was no benefit to Lincoln to allow this to happen and in fact, it would only promote more development at the border of Lincoln and Smithfield, bookending the two ends of Twin River Road with new businesses, adding only more traffic and litter to a residential neighborhood already being overun by the huge expansion at Twin River Casino.

If the connection is allowed, it will require a new pumping station...subject to failure...as the current station located on Angell Road is already functioning at capacity...with even more connections coming to it with the addition of new building lots at Camp Meehan.

Several reported incidences of discharge of raw sewage have occurred at the Rollingwood sewage pump station, located just up Angell Rd due to power outages and power surges.

These discharges resulted in a formal Notice of Deficiency from the Division of Water Resources, which if not corrected, would result in a substantial fine to the town.

Furthermore, the connection was started without any permission from the town in 2000, ostensibly as a water drainage line.  The problem is, the road cuts and sewer lines were being installed illegally and without a permit or with any approved plans by the Douglas Lumber company, with the intention of connecting to our sewer system before being granted any such authority to do so.

Although councilor O'Grady initially opposed the idea based on sound evidence that was presented in 2005, as well as overwhelming public opposition, once more he appears to be caving in and has already started asking for some kind of payment from Douglas Lumber if this were to be allowed.

Mr. O'Grady:  The people have spoken.  They do not want this connection made to our already overburdened sewer lines.  They do not want the inevitable new development that will be spurred by allowing this sneaky deal to be consummated.  Development, that in fact, the Town of Lincoln will neither see any tax benefits nor be able to exert any influence on what type or what impact the development may have on the Lincoln neighboorhood it abuts.

Please contact your town council man as well as Mr. O'Grady jeremiah_ogrady@hotmail.com and let him know your thoughts on this issue before a vote is taken.

See Letters to the Editor for more on this.