Bow town officials may be forced to make a decision within the next two months on whether to go forward with a $10 million water and sewer project on Route 3A without having any developers waiting in the wings. Selectmen will discuss the issue further at its Thursday, Sept. 25, meeting, which begins at 5:30 p.m. Part of the discussion will be if they should proceed and how to abide by voters’ wishes.

A warrant article was approved in 2002 that gave the town the $12 million bond, and close to $2 million of that has been spent installing a well and paying engineering costs.

Recently, Stephen Heavener, executive director of Capitol Region Development Council who is working with the town on the project, said if the board wants to get the best prices for the construction it needs to make a decision within the next 30 to 60 days.

Because of increasing costs, Heavener said the town would only be able to get a full water system and partial sewer system installed for the $10 million.

“That way, there can be a marketing plan and they can go out and start recruiting companies,” said Heavener. “Right now, we can’t do that to know what kind of companies to go after. If they (Bow selectmen) don’t pull the trigger, I know the status quo will continue.”

If the town decides not to go forward with the project, it will likely be more difficult to attract larger developers because they would have to install their own water and sewer systems, officals said.

“We need to decide. If we’re going to do this project we need to get at it. It’s a great time to buy construction,” said Kenison. “If there’s ever a good time to seek bids, it’ll be this winter. We need to do this to aid in the marketing of the properties or enjoy the status quo.”

Along with the decision to go forward with the project comes a risk.

“One of the problems right off the bat is, if we bond this issue, the tax rate would go up,” said Selectman Tom Keane. “If you add the fact that the tax rate will go up with revaluation this year and then add the bond, you have a problem. You have to figure out a way to make this work for everyone in town. We have to get the answers to some of these questions.”

Although there would be an initial hit on the taxpayers if the project is done, Kenison said in the long run if developers come to town, the value of the land would double and add extra value to the tax base to help lower residential tax payments.

Bow is appealing because of its access to both Interstates 89 and 93, but Heavener said there is no way of telling if developers will step forward with the promise of water and sewer systems.

“It’s impossible to predict the future. What we can say is that towns and cities across the country make the decision to invest without knowing,” Heavener said. “Many have been confronted with this very question. There’s zero guarantee. We can use models and illustrations, but can a political elected offical guarantee that? No.”

One of the biggest concern Keane has is going against what Bow taxpayers have already voted upon.

Keane said on two occasions there have been votes on the issue. The first told selectmen not to build unless there was an identified developer lined up. A second on a petition article asked voters to approve telling selectmen to ignore the previous warrant article and go forward with the project, which was voted down.

“The town voted twice to not do this project unless there was a user,” said Keane. “I loathe to go against what the town vote was. I’m hard-pressed to override what the voters said they want.”

Selectmen will be discuss the issue further at its Thursday, Sept. 25, meeting, which begins at 5:30 p.m.

Keane doesn’t believe the board needs to rush to a decision.

“It’s one thing to take a leap of faith, but I think that’s irresponsible without having some questions answered before,” he said. “I don’t know how it’ll play out. Do I think we’ll run out of time and money and it’ll come to a crashing hault if we don’t do this in 30 days? No.”