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Council prioritizes bond funds to address Rogers High School excavated soil after neighbors’ complaints
Summary
Council voted to prioritize use of $10 million (included in a proposed $98.5M bond description) for disposal of excavated soil at the Rogers High School site, following months of resident complaints and council debate about reuse, costs and health concerns.
The Newport City Council voted to make remediation and disposition of the excavated soil at the Rogers High School site a priority use of the $10 million item described in the proposed $98.5 million bond package.
Councilor Carlin outlined residents’ concerns about a growing stockpile near the school and said the pile had reached "currently 54,000 cubic yards" of excavated material that neighbors find disruptive and potentially hazardous; he said a U.S. Navy removal at a nearby site had cost roughly $19 million, raising concern the council’s $10 million placeholder may be inadequate.
The city manager and finance staff clarified that the current communication from the school building committee is the council’s initial receipt of a funding request and that the administration considers this $10 million an item in the bond description; any specific allocation would be decided in subsequent council votes. The city manager said changes to Rhode Island DEM arsenic thresholds (effective 10/01/2024) may allow partial reuse of some soils, but that reuse would likely not absorb the whole stockpile.
Neighbors and public commenters described daily noise, dust and heavy construction activity adjacent to residences and urged faster remediation. Council debate centered on two priorities: completing Rogers High — which several councilors said must remain a nonnegotiable priority — and addressing neighborhood impacts from the excavated soil. Several councilors argued both needs could be met: that the city could finish the school and also prioritize soil remediation if the bond structure and follow‑up budgeting were clear.
Council passed Councilor Carlin’s resolution to make soil disposition a first priority if voters authorize the bond; administration will return to council with specifics should bond proceeds be available or when project‑level requests are brought forward for council approval.
